I would like to follow up on the Blazek's Sept. 25th letter regarding their Amtrak experience . I just returned from a round trip on the Empire Builder to Portland, Ore.
Unlike the Blazeks I didn't have a sleeper unit, but was in the coach car. My seat had an extension to support my legs like a recliner and my seat reclined way back for comfortable sleeping. There was ample room between seats, even when reclined.
The cars and bathrooms were clean. The floor-to-ceiling windows in the observation car allowed me to take great photos of the sunset over Glacier National Park. Both the coach cars and the observation car had power strips, allowing me to listen to an audiobook while enjoying the scenery from the observation car or to read a digital book while keeping my phone charged from my coach seat.
The food in the dining car was tasty and no more costly than restaurant meals. My round trip ticket was $370 less than a plane ticket/ I left Fargo Friday morning and arrived in Portland Saturday noon. I will certainly be checking the train schedule for future trips, and yes, it would be nice to have an expanded schedule out of Fargo.
Norheim lives in Fargo.
