Needed to be in LA for an engagement and it was the perfect opportunity to cross off a bucket list item. We got a roomette for 2, which included lunch and dinner. The other added bonus was we could bring our own adult beverages. It's a leisurely ride so cannot be in too much of a hurry. It's about an 11 hour ride and not all of it is pretty. Once you get out of the graffiti and farmland areas it's really nice. Glad we did it and personally I'd get a room if there's a next time. Liked the flexibility of being able to sit or lay down and have our own space. If not a room get there fast and get a spot on the observation lounge. Another great place is the cafe, which no one was sitting in. As for our lunch and dinner, I expected it to be airline quality, but it was better with table service. Don't forget to tip your wait staff and cabin crew read more

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This is a must do if you like traveling by rail. You go from union station in Los Angeles all the way to king street station in Seattle. The Coast Starlight is the signature Amtrak ride on the west coast and offers spectacular views of the coast and mountains as you leave California. It is a reminder of life outside the city and a slow relaxing trip by yourself or with your significant others. We got a roomette which seems a bit cramped but it works. Some people might say it's a tight fit, it kind of is, but it's not really. Sleeper cars, roomette or actual room, include all meals and will have attendant service throughout. Sleeper cars are deemed first class. Or you can go coach for a lower fare. I recommend splurging on this. Our attendant Chris was very friendly and attentive with us and easy to talk to when needed. Food was really good and it's community seating, so if you're an introvert, be prepared to speak to strangers. Or lock yourself in your room. The viewing car is awesome and offers stunning forward throughout the journey. All in all, we really enjoyed it and want to do it again soon. We may look at other trips in the U.S. or Canada. read more

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This was the second time I was on a real train. The first time was when I was in maybe 5th or 6th grade and had perfect attendance and the reward was going on a train ride. I loved it then, but I really loved it now. The Coast Starlight took us from Los Angeles to Seattle. They offer reasonable accommodations, a little tight, but reasonable. We had a roomette which had two seats facing each other and a bunk above the seats. We're both really tall, so we were almost knee to knee. I personally would have enjoyed having the bunk set up during the day to store items, but the tallness made it feel more cramped. We had an attendant, Chris. We were situated right across from him which was convenient. Luckily, we're low maintenance. Chris was great. He was friendly, helpful, readily answered questions, and helped us when we needed to set up the beds. The train made many stops along the way. Some were strictly for pickup and drop-off, other longer breaks were for fresh air and we were about to take quick walks. Inside the train, there were dining cars, an observation car, a snack bar with seating for viewing, and bathrooms and coffee stations in the sleeping cars. We had the ability to walk through the cars, but incoming traffic caused a couple traffic jams. It was a nice option for when we were feeling antsy. The views were beautiful, stunning, incredible. Words don't do them justice. It's just nice to slow down, take in the sites, appreciate the little things and enjoy the quality time. Also, the food was surprisingly good. Personally, I thought better than airline food! read more

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Took the train ride from Union station Los Angeles to Seattle, Washington. The train station in LA was ok, it's big and not really anyone helping with where to go if you are a first timer. Boarding was easy once you know where to go. I didn't get help with where to go with luggage so I just put it on the train when boarding, which was easier for me and convenient. The train stops multiple times on the way to Seattle. I opted for a room with a nice window facing the beach side when traveling north. This includes the meals, coffee, and water. The views of the beach were gorgeous, the sunrises from the observation deck were great, the sunsetting from the room was awesome. The bad thing was, the train is outdated, at night I could smell the train exhaust/smoke, our car attendant was rude to others and always had an opinion. We are quiet ppl but on several occasions just the way he handled questions of others was very rude. The food on board was ok, nothing was like wow that was so good, just cafeteria type food. We did hit someone once in Washington, which delayed our train for 2 hours. Sad event but they said it happens often. Once in Seattle, debarkation was easy but the station was crazy getting out of the street. Overall it's ok if you want to travel and do something different than flying, which we wanted the experience of doing it. We drove back once spending a few days there. On the way back we stood in Portland and Redding California read more

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I traveled this train between Los Angeles, California and Portland, Oregon. I might do it again, but it needs improvement. It is capable of improvement. To the plus, it was on time, actually a few minutes early to arrive. Also a plus, the Amtrak staff was generally lovely and earnest. The skycap service was nice in connecting the Pacific Surfliner and the Coast Starlight across the many platforms in the Los Angeles station. It would have been fun to see that station at peak busy when trains were as crowded as airlines today. And a plus, there are 120V power outlets on the wall by each pair of seats. Airlines are just getting these and USB power ports. Also a plus, though the rolling stock is dated, it started out clean. Of course public transportation is the great mixer, an adventure, and can be a learning experience. Each car in the seated, non-private-compartment-class has seating upstairs, and seating for disabled passengers, luggage storage, and the bathrooms, downstairs. The bathrooms of course have a blast flush system like airplanes. All the bathrooms on one car are one one system. A passenger flushed paper towels in the toilet which broke all the toilets in that car for half the trip. Very rude to the disabled passengers and everyone. There is no way to fix it en-route. No WiFi. The windows needed washing, including the observation car. It's easy to do. I have always enjoyed and respected the Amtrak staff. Our car attendants were always helpful and safety-oriented. They were understandably unhappy a passenger broke the toilets. The observation car for compartment passengers and seat passengers alike has a snack bar. It has hot - cold drinks, and packaged food including some green and noodle salads. The prices were reasonable considering the situation. The snack bar person was ultra earnest, probably spectrum, announcing when it was open and closed. That was touching. The dining car is included in the compartment fare. It is open to the seated passengers too. The maître d/server and the other server were stelar for a lunch and a dinner. It is not exactly like a land-based restaurant Yelpers love, but the quality was good. The meals are a great opportunity to converse with strangers which I enjoy. Not many people were chatting in the observation car, disappointing. The route goes through industrial areas in cities, and along the beaches and agricultural areas South of San Francisco. Of course some of the route rolls by at night. It travels through the ponderosa forests of Southern Oregon, and has a stop at Chemult, the gateway to Crater Lake. It is a forested route paralleling Oregon Rte 58. It's a window on Willamette Valley farms. The price is similar to flying depending on when each is booked, with bigger seats, more walking en-route, at the cost of time. Trains are worth the experience in any country, and in the US before they disappear. read more

The Amtrak Coast Starlight train runs daily, from Los Angeles to Seattle, WA. And one train daily, coming back. Train riding has it's good and it's bad. The good, It has breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean to the mountains, miles and miles of agricultural farmlands, and unseen views that you would normally not see, from an airplane or car. Other things that were good, is the staff, very friendly and helpful, the food in the dining car was great tasting, (little expensive though) and just overall, relaxing. Now for the bad, if you're in a hurry, impatient, or have a tight schedule, the train is not for you. It is slow, and sometime even more slower. They have to stop at numerous stations, some with smoke breaks, crew changes, and refueling. Every once in awhile, you have to stop for other trains to pass or clear from tracks ahead of you. So, if your in a hurry, the train is not for you. For me, loved it, took in the scenery, had my snacks, played cards, listened to music, nice conversations with fellow riders, and took a couple of naps. Very relaxing, 4 stars from me. read more

Took the train from LA to PDX. The views were amazing. We decided to try their three course dinner for the experience, and was pleasant for a train meal. Train felt safe and clean. Only con is the tiny restroom with a tiny sink. read more

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Meh. Went from Oxnard to Portland. 28 hours as scheduled. We booked a roomette. The pluses: the scenery was amazing along the SoCal coast and Northern California into Oregon. The food was better than expected. The minuses: too many really. Firstly the customer service. Every member of the Amtrak staff we interacted with was at best neutral and at worst obviously bored and annoyed by their job. Not a single member of staff so much as smiled. The heater was running full blast in our roomette and we couldn't turn it off. Amtrak staff said there was nothing they could do without turning it off for the whole carriage. 2 hours before we disembarked it mysteriously was fixed. The restrooms are about the same size as those on aircraft. Strangely small given the amount of room available. We stopped in Oregon in the middle of nowhere for 2.5 hours due to an issue with the locomotive. The power also went out 4 times over the course of the journey, requiring the train to be stopped so they could flick a breaker. Oh, and the observation car was full almost the entire time - nowhere near enough seats for the number of passengers on the train. All in all I can't really recommend it unless you are a real train buff. read more

I love train rides! Nothing beats seating at your window and watch the world go by while reading a good book. Amtrak offers that, which is nice, I love sitting back and enjoying the views. The actual train could use some scrubbing, inside and out, especially the windows. The trains are kind of old, not as modern as I imagined. Also, the delays are way too many and I wasn't impressed with their staff. Food choices aren't great, if your ride is just a few hours, bring some. So, mixed feeling, hope they will improve the services and add more routes. read more

Amtrak Coast Starlight - Trains Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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The staff in the dining area were exceptional! The ride was comfortable & pleasant. my only complaint is the bathrooms were horrible!!!! no toilet paper & no seat covers & it was just dirty & disgusting. read more

Went to complete the survey and it had expired, pretty quick and I get why. We were on the Texas Eagle and things with Amtrak have changed a lot. Very hard to find any employees. Meals were not with others but separate tables so don't meet people like we used to. it was 5:15 pm the second day and I walked the entire train to find out when we could schedule our dinner and could not find an Amtrak employee. When we did get to eat the diner car server said she had worked 16 hours two days in a row with no help. The observation car is full of coach people swearing and sleeping and no employees to be found. We called the number on the card in the room to report problems, and the woman made it clear we were bothering her and told us to ring for our room attendant. The food was awful, both regular and flex. We had a room and had to walk through all the coach areas, a long way, to get to the dining and observation cars. The bed in the room was also too small for two adults, despite the comments people had written before we tried it (prior trip was a roomette, and the top bunk felt like sleeping on concrete). I will never go on another Amtrak trip, if they are still around. read more

I purchased a roomette for my journey south from Seattle to Los Angeles. Yes it takes a long time about 35 hours. The food was pretty good overall could've been hotter, but I ate each meal in the room. The flat iron steaks pretty good but the shrimp appetizer both times literally they were like room temperature other than that desserts were really good. Average hamburger but that's to be expected. I'm on a train just like airline food middle of the road. I'd say, however my breakfast quesadilla minus the red peppers was pretty good. Meals are cooked to order. I find that pretty impressive. My service from the room attendant Mikey was great! Please be sure to give him a big shout out ! Nice and helpful. I think it was his first run, but he did a great job very friendly and went above and beyond to make me comfortable. The views once you get to Monterey and it's daylight again are fantastic so many seabirds, etc. yes it's probably two or three times as much money as flying, but it's an experience that I will not forget anytime soon. A positive experience that if you could share it with a family or a spouse, enjoy a larger room and just experience the ride it's smooth and quiet. read more

Amtrak Coast Starlight - Trains Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Usually a good experience but this trip was extremely unpleasant due to the racist staff in the dining car. March 30, train 14, L.A. to Eugene Oregon. I've dealt with it before growing up in the Los Angeles area I've always seen how people can be when they don't like the color of my skin. Amtrak better get a handle on it. Racism is an ugly thing, especially when its tolerated or allowed to continue in a work or business environment. Antoine and his buddy on train 14 are a disgrace to your company, I'll tell you that much for sure. No class, no manners, immature and racist. read more

Love the Amtrak, despite the trains being outdated. I travel in rooms as the price pays for room service, all food and the experience itself of having a room. read more

Amtrak Coast Starlight - Family room - Trains Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Taking Amtrak from Los Angeles to Seattle, this 34 hour trip took my wife and me through scenery that the Pacific Coast is blessed with: the rocky shores of the Pacific Ocean to the deep, green forests of the Pacific Northwest. There was a yearly Roomette sale last year (2nd guest free), so got a room for $504. It is considered First Class, so we had the opportunity to use the Metropolitan Lounge (as nice as last time), and Red Cap service using a golf cart to take one right to the train. Baggage check was not offered this time, but we later had no problem finding space on the luggage space on the lower floor. We were taken there about 20 minutes before scheduled departure, and we left right on-time at 09:51 on Wednesday (was excited that we would spend Leap Day on Amtrak). Mahdee was our attendant for the whole trip and he was great throughout. We had been on a upper Roomette earlier in the month, going to Chicago, so we noticed right away that the seats/beds had upgraded leather cushioning this time. The climate controls were better as well. There were 4 bathrooms in our car (1 top deck, 3 below), with the dining car on top floor adjoining, and the observation deck right beyond that. We were in Room 2...next time we would pick an odd numbered room going North, since you definitely want to be on the left side of the train for the scenery. There is an upper bunk which requires careful maneuvering and flexibility to sleep in, but is a great storage space if traveling alone. There were 5 meals included (2 lunch, 1 breakfast, 2 dinner) and we chose to have each one delivered to our room. It was the same exact menu as the Southwest Chief earlier in the month, and we ended up getting similar things. Alcohol was included for dinner (Corona for me, wine for my wife), and dessert was always too rich for more than a couple of bites. The flat iron steak tasted like a strip steak (even though it is supposed to be chuck)...very tender and delicious. ...a lot better than before where it DID taste like flat iron. I also tried the chili topped baked potato which was good (though the potato tasted nuked instead of baked). Some not so great were the vegetables in every meal (tasted about as good/bad as airline food...the wax vegetables truly did taste like 'wax'), and the kid's mac'n'cheese where the roux base was bad (making it inedible). The best meal before had been the goat cheese salad for lunch,..this time it wasn't nearly as good...so it definitely matters who is preparing the food. They don't have deep fryers on board, so only chips instead of fries (though a future refresh could include air fryers which would significantly increase the crispiness of the meals). Breakfast was great..they have large single serving of cereal (frosted flakes or bran), and we enjoyed the fresh strawberries/blackberries. The hot dogs and cheeseburgers were good..coming with packets of ketchup/mustard/mayo. Strangely, I don't think I found any pickles anywhere nor relish in any meals. There are 27 stops between LA and Seattle (Van Nuys, Simi Valley, Oxnard, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Paso Robles, Salinas, San Jose, Oakland, Emeryville, Martinez, Davis, Sacramento, Chico, Redding, Dunsmuir, Klamath Falls OR, Chemult, Eugene, Albany, Salem, Portland, Vancouver (WA), Kelso, Centralia, Olympia, Tacoma), with some being as short as one minute, while others being almost 40 minutes. For the one night onboard, Davis (23:11) to Dunsmuir (04:58) were the stops we missed because of sleep. The two stretches definitely worth looking out the window for long stretches: Between Santa Barbara (12:20) and San Luis Obispo (14:50) on the first day: the train hugs the coast with beautiful views of the Pacific Ocean and shores from the left side of the train. Definitely worth being in the observation deck. (also noticed that Vanderberg is now a 'Space Force' base. Between Chemult (08:59) and Eugene (12:37): We crossed into Oregon at 07:21, and from that point, no shoreline. You do pass by the Crater Lake area (deepest lake in US). Around 09:40 we lost cell service and was in the deepest part of Willamette National Forest. There was a lot of snow on the ground, and it truly was a winter wonderland, polar express sort of set-up. Final tidbits: there is no wi-fi on the train, so remote working isn't possible. There is decent cell service throughout, though none at all for 3 hours while going through the Williamette Forest. There are US power outlets, but space for a standard plug (bulky plugs won't stay on). And there were many times where we had to stop to wait for other trains to pass by...sometimes for 5 minutes, one time for almost 20. But we still got to Seattle ahead of schedule (19:40)...so obviously this is baked in. read more

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Los Angeles - Seattle. June 2022 Pack your lightest carry-on, a thirst for conversation, and be fully charged on patience, then, let life unfold in front of you. Many rail enthusiasts consider the Coast Starlight Amtrak's most scenic route in America. There are lots of articles online about all the details on the train and the sights. Read everything you can before you book. And remember that this is real life, not Disneyland. Things can happen that none of the guides can cover. Lightest carry-on. Space is at a premium. You can book a coach or business class seat - they have good legroom and seats recline - if you enjoy hardship. Book a sleeper car room. A room, not a roomette. Trust me on this. You might be disappointed that it is smaller than the college camp you had while in minimum security prison, but a private shower/toilet, lay flat sleeping space, personal room steward, priority (and sometimes exclusive) seating in the dining car are sought after premiums. A thirst for conversation. WiFi is not available on the Coast Starlight. Cellular coverage can be spotty. There are stretches, between Dunsmuir, CA and Klamath Falls, OR, and during the climb up into and down the Cascades, where there is no service. Reading a book is boring. Go to the Observation car and ask someone why they got on this trip. Your sit down dining service privilege means you will share a table, company, and conversation (parties of less than three must be prepared to sit with other guests). You are more interesting than you think - and so is the person you dine with. Be fully charged on patience. The train is a tight shared space. People will naturally respect your privacy. If you have a sleeper room with preferred dining privileges and private shower/toilet, wonderful. Otherwise, you may not have access when you want or need them. Amtrak does not own the rail line so there may be delays as they defer to the freight carriers. Crew members need to swap out and a replacement might not show up. Accidents can happen - a breakdown in the middle of nowhere, a pedestrian or vehicular accident, nature decides to remind us we do not have free reign. Do not sweat what you cannot control. Leisure upscale domestic rail travel is a mind expanding adventure that too few of us attempt. The Coast Starlight is a wonderful journey to begin your adventure. read more

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If you love traveling and want to have a fun and memorable experience, I highly recommend taking the Amtrak Coast Starlight all the way down the coast to Seattle. I enjoyed taking this trip so much. I opted in for the private room, which included all meals for the 34 hour trip. The private room is a little pricey depending on when you go, I went last September 2024 and it cost $876 for the room. I stayed in Seattle for four nights and also took the Coast Starlight back to Los Angeles. Overall it was such an amazing experience and I absolutely plan on doing an Amtrak trip like this again soon. read more

Pros: -I had a roomette, and Bryan the attendant was the best part of the trip. -The meals were solid and the steak was way better than I expected. Cons: -No Wifi, and my phone hot spot didn't work between Santa Barbara/SLO. -One plug in the roomette that is blocked from taking the large plugs from a laptop (the bigger block ones). I was in full panic until Bryan my attendant saved the day and let me borrow his personal surge protector for 12 hours. -Half the passengers had a deep smell to them. Glad I had my own room. -Everything felt a little gross, like bus seats after 30 years of use. I'm sure the train was sanitized but you can't wipe down decades of wear and tear. 4 Stars mostly for Bryan. I booked it so I could do my remote job for 12 hours uninterrupted, but the lack of WiFi and access to a plug nearly ruined the whole mission. read more

Amtrak Coast Starlight - Large plugs are blocked by Knob and framing. Need adapter. - Trains Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I had a really great review but this was just such an awful experience it takes too much space that Yelp won't give me. Everything is super outdated and dirty. No employees are there to help with anything. There's nothing to do and the constant stench of porta-potty was pretty disgusting. The food was absolutely awful. They clearly let a lot of it sit around because they serve cold food that should be hot. For that amount of money I think we can do better than microwaved food. There was an employee named Itel (I believe) or something like that. No name tags and her co-workers didn't even know her name. She had an awful attitude all the time and actually had a complete tirade about the guests (the ones she ignores when she's supposed to be serving them). She made a real scene and was threatening to throw people off the train (which supposedly they aren't allowed to do or even say, but she did in front of a bunch of people). She should have been kicked off the train herself as a fired employee (or at least one on suspension). It's not like there are cool views either (and we were on the side to get the better views). You expect more for the money and you feel like this is the absolute worst they could actually provide. I will never take a train like this ever again, it truly ruined the experience. And to think I could have spent a quarter of the money and been home in a couple hours and instead wasted my time and money here. AVOID! AVOID! AVOID! read more

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The first time I was on Amtrak was in '92, my wife and I went from Pasadena to the Bay Area. Not the greatest experience. For one thing, they lost our luggage. Nit sure how you manage that on a train. However, I recently took the train south from Portland OR to Santa Barbara to meet up with my wife. The trip went better than expected. It took 28 hours, and I had trouble sleeping, but that's just me, so no foul. The seats were roomier than airplane seats, and lots of legroom between myself and the seat in front. Food: I went coach, so was forced to buy food from the snack bar when I got tired of my own snacks. Sandwiches and such. Not gourmet food, but I'm not a picky eater. I was fortunate in that, although I had two different seat mates throughout the trip, I saw very little of them as they preferred to hang around in the lounge car. The best part was that for each set of 2 seats there were 2 powerplugs, allowing me to charge my phone and run my laptop, so I got some work done during the trip. Train is slow of course, so bring books, your laptop, etc. Occasionally, as on my trip, there was also on-board entertainment. In one case there was an altercation when someone boarded, and someone else had his stuff in newguy's seat. F-bombs were lobbed, voices were raised, and everyone started punching their yellow call button. After a few minutes they put the seated guy off the train - amidst threats of lawsuits - since he was causing the root of the problem. In another case, a woman missed her stop because, although the train was stopped for a good 15 minutes, she didn't realize it! After a little freakout one of the attendants told her to calm down and collect herself, and at the next stop they would arrange for her to get on a train going the other direction. read more

We arrived at the Amtrak window at L.A.'s Union Station well over an hour before our scheduled 9:51am departure time on the Coast Starlight train to Portland. The Amtrak rep. at the window said. "Your train is cancelled." (long pause) "And the train tomorrow is cancelled too." Another worker nearby yelled over something I couldn't make out because of the glass, then our rep. said, "If you go upstairs they might be able to do something for you." We went upstairs and a nicer rep. told us she was working on something for us, so we waited till she worked out details and informed us that instead of our Starlight Express train with a lunch, dinner, breakfast & lunch, we would take a bus that left L.A. (over 3 hours later than our train would've left), at 12:55pm and went to Bakersfield. Then we'd take a train to Stockton at 4:12pm. Then from Stockton we'd take another (8:45pm) bus to Sacramento. Then at about midnight we'd catch a train from Sacramento to Portland. So instead of one scenic train ride from L. A. to Portland that ran along the coast in part of S. California, we had two busses and two train rides. Instead of going to bed when we wanted, we got settled into the crowded train after midnight. Instead of 4 meals we got two. It cost $759, not including the extra cost of transporting my daughter's bike, which was broken while it was transported by Amtrak. Despite that I slept fewer than 4 hours on this bumpy, too small, windowless upper bunk bed, we did have a mostly nice time the next day after we woke and rode to Portland. Amtrak has some excellent employees, but there are others like the Roz-like (Monsters Inc.) one behind the glass in L.A., and whoever was responsible for breaking my daughter's bike. The food wasn't nearly as good as the food was on our Amtrak trip from Chicago to L.A. about 8 years ago, but it wasn't horrible. They'd run out of onions & burger buns & didn't have great/healthy options. I'll avoid Amtrak -- especially overnight trips -- in the future. read more

So many long stops for traffic and other trains. Super slow speeds. I could have walked to Seattle Washington and made it faster than this train. The train was hot and just kept stopping and stopping! I wish the windows could open! I had a ticket for Tuesday depart 9:51am arrive 7:51pm Wed. I couldn't wait to get off. 1st Class, Bedroom , Coach and Roomettes are your choices for seating. I suggest the Bedrooms, the roomettes are super tiny and Coach...just don't! The staff was friendly and helpful and food was good though. read more

I really enjoy the train so I could almost give them another star but I so often run into incredibly rude employees. They really take away from many of the other employees who are very nice. During my last trip the guy in the snack bar was SO rude it really stunned me. Fire that guy, Amtrak. You know who he is. Part of the reason I still enjoy the train is that I know the tricks to make it much more pleasant. For starters, bring your own booze and food! There's a great sandwich place right near the depot I use and I always get a good sandwich and a bottle of wine. You're not supposed to bring booze on the train but screw that! Especially now that they've stopped serving meals to anyone except people with rooms (I still can't call it "first class."). Let me repeat that - they no longer offer dining car services to coach passengers! I see a lot of people getting on the train w/ no food, thinking they'll get their meal on board. You will, if by food you mean frozen pre-made burgers and burritos. I've posted a pic of a sandwich I bought in the snack bar last March 2022. I think it's significant that the expiration date is 12/2022. Makes you think...But still, it was the closest thing to real food they offer and I ate it. One of my other tricks is to immediately head to the observation car and commandeer either a good viewing chair or a table. That way I can spread out a bit and relax w/out worrying about sitting uncomfortable close to a stranger. It's not secret that Amtrak could be better. We should have outsourced our rail to the Germans or Japanese decades ago. It's crazy how bad ours suck and how expensive they are. read more

Amtrak Coast Starlight - Bought this in March. Doesn't expire til December! - Trains Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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My little baby kitten Starlight would love this train, I very much hope that she gets to see it someday soon. This is an absolutely amazing passenger train that will take you from San Diego to San Luis Obispo. I didn't even know that it was such a long journey, but with all the stops, it takes awhile. I thought it was way faster. It carries about 3 million passengers a year and is nothing short of gorgeous. The train goes all the way along the coast and sometimes the train literally goes along the beaches, it's amazing. San Clemente and Capistrano Beach and Dana Point are a great examples of that. I absolutely love it. It's been going since about 1938 but Amtrak took over in the early 1970s. The state of California help to fund it and at first it was extended to Santa Barbara and then it was extended up to San Luis Obispo. It's good for Surfers who can take their boards on the train and you will often see that. You can hop from Beach to Beach or stay in one place then go home, whatever you're in the mood for. So it's pretty awesome across-the-board. Definitely one of the best railway lines that I've ever seen in the world, and it's sort of like driving the Pacific Coast Highway without having to drive it. The funny thing about it is that a lot of the people on the train will always be on the left side of the carriage. When you're heading north that is. For the view. read more

If you take this ride keep an open mind to the fact it is an adventure. If I were recommending this trip to anyone I would say to board it in Santa Barbara and end it at Portland. Nothing to see between LA and Santa Barbara nor is there anything great after Portland to Seattle. Also there are some odd people who take this trip so be prepared. We had "weed" smokers next to our room and it drove me crazy. No! There is no smoking on the train but some people seem to think that it does not apply to them. It was only late night this happen after we went to bed. Drove me crazy. Smelled horrible. Also regarding the "fresh air" stops.... Those stops should be called, "smoking stops". The only people that mostly got off the train were SMOKERS! There were NO FRESH AIR stops. The stops are brief smoke stops. You will be surrounded by cigarette smokers , weed smokers and vapors. God knows what you are inhaling but fresh air is a joke. We had a room with our own bathroom. I cannot imagine taking this train ride lol and not having my own bathroom. It may be small but you will be glad you got one. Room attendants were nice. Helped us carry our luggage to our room and help unload them. We sincerely appreciated that since i had just had surgery and needed the help. Meals were ok but nothing great. I had steak the two dinners I was on the train and glad I did. I noticed the other two entrees were left untouched by most passengers. If you get the steak do not get the steak with the sauce already on it. Ask for the sauce on the side. I was not a fan of the sauce at all. The first night of dinning was not that great because my steak came with the sauce and it did not compliment the steak at all. The chocolate cake is also the better desert. Meal reservations are interesting. Since we had a room we had to make a reservation for meals. They were never ready for us when it was our reservation time. They were always running 15 minutes behind and kept announcing for passengers NOT TO COME TO THE DINNING ROOM BECAUSE they were not ready for us. This was EVERY MEAL!!!!! The good thing was they never rushed you to eat and get out. If you were enjoying your dinning experience they let you enjoy it. The dinning people were nice and attentive. We appreciated them. This train DOES NEED an additional observation car. One is NOT enough. There are way more people than room for in them in the observation car. It was always crowded and not enough room. If they would add just one more observation car this would help. Also they need a person to overlook the observation car. Parents let their kids run around yelling and playing while the parents ignore them. The parents had their ear buds on and totally ignored their kids. Then there were passengers who would make face time calls on speaker that was so annoying. No common sense at all. Don't expect a good nights sleep but just roll with it and hope you do not have weed smokers next to you. The train crew should walk the cars and enforce the no smoking rule. So go open minded knowing it is not so much a vacation experience but an adventure. Views were nice in some areas. I enjoyed the overall experience. read more

0 stars. We planned our first trip and it never happened because we arrived at LA Union station with our 2 kids (5 & under) ready to go to Seattle and the train was delayed from 9:50 am to 10:20 am, then the delays continued every 10 minutes or 20 minutes after that. It delayed time after time, after 3 + hours of waiting we decided to head back home with crying kids who were soooo disappointed! read more

Amtrak Coast Starlight - Kids sleeping on train 14's platform 10. - Trains Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Passengers getting stoned and drunk then vomiting. AC and air circulation not working been like a cucumber in a hot house for 40 hours . Passenger collecting aluminum cans from the trash bins inside the train and crushing them in the middle of the night. Some one lost his machete knife in the lounge. Train arrive 3 hrs late. What really impressed me is that Amtrak is still in business and had not been put out of business by a lawsuit. Overall... if you offer me a free ticket I would rather walk the getting on Amtrak. On the positive side you can experience a third world country travel by boarding Amtrak and you don't need to go to a developing country.....the experience is in your backyard !!!! read more

This is the most scenic Amtrak route. The trip between Oxnard and San Luis Obispo is the best train scenery anywhere on earth. Pack your patience because the train can often be late but worth it for a once in a lifetime experience. read more

Coast Starlight is supposedly one of the most beautiful train route in the US, and I always wanted to try. Took Amtrak #11 from Seattle to Los Angles, scheduled for 35 hours. If you book the first class, you have your own private compartment with beds and access to shower, parlor car and priority booking at dining car. Meals are included when you book sleeping car. I had 5 meals there and actually enjoyed my meals. Community seating and they will pair you with others. I ended up having great conversation with so many fellow passengers during meal times. Alcohols are sold and enjoyed my wine and cocktails. Service was very good, friendly and prompt. Roomette is very small but gives you privacy and seats become flat and bedding is provided. It was difficult to get deep sleep as train kept moving but at least I was able to lay flat. Some asked if I became bored. I enjoyed doing nothing but gazing out the window. Sceneries kept changing, through some natures, industrial area, residential area, farming area... although I missed the coast area as train was 3 hours late and by the time we passed the coast area, it was dark and couldn't see anything, I really enjoyed the views throughout. Most of all, bad cell signal and weak wifi, I didn't work at all. Not doing anything was very nice especially after having busy months at work. They have wine tasting on board. They sell champagne and other drinks. Relaxed at the parlor car with a drink, drink price was all reasonable. Drink a little, take a nap, look outside, eat and repeat for 35 hours. I like this kind of vacation too. read more

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The Coast Starlight route is considered one of the most scenic of all of the Amtrak routes. Running from LA to Seattle, the #11 train runs south and the #14 north. With stops in both major cities and small rural towns, this train traverses areas on the western edge of the continent that can only be seen by this method of transportation. The modern day train routes are owned by or shared with the freight trains and invariably causes it to run behind, as the passenger train must give right of way to the freighters as the freight lines own the routes except a very few anymore. This does cause delays but there is always "pad" built into this schedule for both directions and usually the end destinations is close to on time, if not on time. It can also be hours behind through no fault of its own, my most recent trip, a fuel truck spilled fuel across the tracks causing a hazmat situation and that stop and reroute resulted in three hours behind my scheduled stop, my plan B I hopped off a couple stops earlier and caught a Lyft to my place and was only a 1 1/2 hours late instead of 3! That being said, if something goes wrong along the way you must be prepared to either roll with it or think outside the box with a quick change of plans. I've traveled this route on several occasions and my best suggestions are to get the sleeping accommodations if your journey on this route is scheduled for more than 8 or so hours, and to have a contingent plan B. If your trip is one end of the route to the other or over that 8 + hours - you will want sleeping accommodations, which are considered upgraded services and include your meals and access to the parlor cars. A private space to rest on this route is in my opinion, the difference in the train experience. Take the train at least once in your life, you'll most likely be glad you did. It's a slower pace of travel, with no standing in line for how ever long it is to be body scanned just to get somewhere else and your luggage is lost. The Coast Starlight is a cool way to travel as long as you are prepared for it and what that journey brings. 3.5 Stars - rounded up for a full bar on the rails and a quiet sleeping space. 00489 read more

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I am a 35 years plus Coast Starlight rider, and I appreciate the train, warts and all. Customer service makes the whole difference and they generally do well. I am back to flying so I miss my frequent rides but I will be back on board soon. read more

Dec 2023 amtrak is falsely advertising its train service. no where when you make a booking does amtrak say that the service is a 2 hour train from LA to Santa Barbara and an 8 hour bus ride to Sf Bay Area. No where in the booking was this indicated during purchasing the tickets. this was the 7 pm to 6 am route. a comparable bus from LA would have left at 10 am or 3 hours less transit for $20 less. Amtrak falsley advertised its service, should not collect more $ for its worse service and is hurting consumers. I filed a customer complaint. I only chose amtrak for a higher cost and longer transit for more space, leg room and comfort on the train vs bus. don't use amtrak la to sfo. save your $. read more

Had a great dinner in the ride from Oakland to LA with my son after a SF trip to see the Dodgers play the Giants. This is trip worth taking. We sat in the View car for a good portion of the trip. If you are going to go into that car you want to go between Pismo beach and Oxnard, it will be pretty spectacular. Our seats are very comfortable when you are at your regular seats, we went coach. You can lean very far back and the seats are plenty wide to catch a comfortable nap. We took some snacks but they offer snacks, beer, wine, etc in the cafe. We also planned to have dinner in the Dining car. You have to make reservations and if you are two or three, keep in mind that they may add a person or two to your table as they did with us. We were seated with a very nice man that was traveling alone so he was very happy to have a conversation with us as were we. My son and I both had the Amtrak Signature steak which was cooked perfectly. We chose one of the last time slots [but not the last] so we were glad to know we were going to get our steaks when we heard the announcement that they were out of steaks.At $25 it was a complete meal with baked potato and some vegetables. I would definitely do the dining car again. As I mentioned we brought snacks onboard but we did get a few beers and some candy from the Cafe which is much more casual. My coffee was one serving but when I went back the guy working gave me a refill. See, always tip the help. AS AN EXTRA BONUS we picked up Michael Portillo in Salinas. If you don't know who that is, he is the "star" of the BBC show Great American Railroad Journeys. He came on board with his film crew and filmed a segment between Salinas and Paso Robles. Its supposed to air in spring of 2018. It made things kind of fun and his crew were a good group of people. We had some great conversations as they travel this country. Some of the restrooms are pretty tight but if you go to the train car with the cafe, they have big bathrooms. The trains were all kept clean and comfortable. read more

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Better than an Airline Trip . I truly love the scenic view of the Pacific Ocean. Peaceful and Beautiful experience from Seattle to San Francisco. Shout out to YASHEDA ( Employee ID # 7129 ) For Customer Service Representative Booking my Reservation. So helpful with a positive attitude Always get a Roomette or Bedroom because it is Fun . Comfortable with Great Professional Attendants . read more

My husband and I traveled on this train from Los Angeles to Seattle and I have to say I am very pleased with the experience! For the scenery and experience of traveling up the pacific coast, it was worth it. The staff were pleasant especially in the dining car. We were lucky and didn't have to fight anyone for a seat in the observation lounge which is the car with the panoramic view of both sides. It was also well worth the extra cash to get a private room. My husband and I spent a lot of time here, relaxing, talking, surfing the internet and even the ancient ritual of reading! the food was good considering this is just a more relaxed and fun version of a plane. I had the steamed mussels with garlic butter and a roll. By getting a "sleeper" as they call it, all of our meals were included which is everything on the menu including dessert. Only thing you pay out of pocket is alcohol and tip which I was more than happy to oblige. The roomette was well worth the money especially if you are traveling the long haul. The rooms are small, basically and enclosed area with two seats facing each other with a stow away bunk above. What's nice is that you can let your hair down, kick off your shoes and nap if you want without fear of anyone disturbing you. Fair warning: they only lock from the inside, so I would take with you a small bag or purse to bring your cash/cards with you at all times. It is significantly more expense to get the suite which will include the private bathroom. The pro for this is the privacy and not having to wait your turn. The con is whatever your bathroom smells like, so will your suite! If I was commuting a shorter distance the coach seats are roomy enough and the people there looked very happy. But remember, for coach class, meals are extra and you are not guaranteed time in the dining car. There is a cafe that sells an assortment of snacks, food and alcoholic beverages to everyone. Overall, it was a once in a lifetime experience that I wouldn't trade for anything. Highly recommend as a bucket list experience. read more

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We recently rode the Coast Starlight from LA to Portland and I have to say that we have no complaints. I was impressed on how efficiently they run these trains and to our surprise, the train arrived early to our destination. We splurged a little bit and booked a roomette which is basically a closet sized room that fits two seats that turn into a bed and there is a bed that comes down from the ceiling. The room includes a coat hanging area, night lights, a small storage area, an AC hook up, and a fold out table. You have to use the communal bathrooms and there is one shower per car which is of good size with good water pressure. There are also larger bedrooms that sleeps more people that have a private bath and shower. With the sleeper you get first class service. This includes a private parlor car with a bar, lounge and small dining area that is separate from the full service dining car. They also offer a complimentary wine tasting in the afternoon. I have to give our car attendant Rene credit for doing a great job of taking car of everyone including keeping hot coffee on hand, clean bathrooms, and assisting in making up and down the rooms and most importantly the complimentary champagne. Also to Jose in the parlor car who also took care of us with his efficient service. Food and prices are about what you'd expect. If you have a sleeper, your food is included in your fare. It's good, but not great. It's better than airline food by far and you have much more of a selection. The salads were good and I went with the Amtrak Signature for dinner which was a steak dinner. Overall, it kind of reminded me of what you get at the Soup Plantation. Although my wife did order the ribs which she thought were really good. As for the route itself, the highlights are Oxnard to San Luis Obispo which traverses along the coast. In the morning you wake up to Mt. Shasta and later in the day you travel along a large valley and along Point Lookout Lake in Oregon. I definitely would recommend trying this at least once, it's not meant for getting you somewhere fast, but for a leisurely trip where you can just sit back and relax. read more

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We were very disappointed in our South bound Coastal Starlight trip last week. We had a land side bedroom so we staked out a good viewing spot in the scenic car in preparation for the three hour stretch of fabulous ocean views. As we were nearing that stretch the scenic car was abruptly closed so passengers from a train with mechanical problems that were getting on our train could sit in the car. They hadn't paid for the Coastal Starlight trip but got the benefit of the scenic car while we had to see everything from the edge of our room looking across a hallway out of smaller windows. We called Amtrak when we got home and were on hold (ignore?) for 33 minutes and 42 seconds before we hung up without speaking with anyone. Don't spend your money on this trip. read more

We took Amtrak Coast Starlight trains from Emeryville to Paso Robles, and San Louis Obispo to Los Angeles. It was my first time on Amtrak trains so I was a bit nervous. Turned out the experiences were quite pleasant! It was unfortunate that our train to Paso Robles was delayed so many hours, but the entire time on the train was surprisingly comfortable. The seats were very spacious that can be reclined almost completely, leg rests that can be lift up to completely flat. So we were able to take good naps even though we weren't in sleeping carts. I was much more relaxed on a train cause it's on the ground the whole time, I am terrified of flying! There is an observation cart, sit down restaurant dining cart and snack bar. We dined at the dining cart for lunch and dinner, the menu was extremely limited. I liked the lunch food much better, the prices and portions were not bad. The dinner food tasted almost horrible, and with more than $20 each dish price tag, they were so not worth it. The alcohol drinks were inexpensive, but selections were limited too. I was surprised most restrooms were very clean, the lounge ones were very spacious with stools to sit on. The staffs were friendly and helpful, I'd lost my bag if it weren't for the dining cart lady called me on the radio. I lose things all the time on trips it's really annoying. Passengers were friendly and chatty too, always try to speak that few words in Chinese to us. Well, we actually do speak English and we actually live in Los Angeles! but it was funny though! We'd take Coast Starlight again cause I liked how relaxing the train trips were, and the coastline ocean views were very beautiful. Just need to bring our own healthy food next time! Really not much of healthy choices of food on the train! read more

We took this ride twice, from LA to Seattle and back. It is a cool ride, especially when you take it with a group op 25+ people. 40 hours on a train, expect delay, expect a nice view; Lake Shasta, Oregon and Mt. Rainier. The chairs are comfortable enough to sleep in and walking around is a pleasant activity, being in the train for so long. At the stations you can rent those portable DVR's with like a whole lot of movies for a reasonable price. By arrival at your destination you simply return it. The food in the diner-coach is okay, but the experience is priceless. read more

Amtrak Coast Starlight - Trains Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Cant even get through on the phone dial over and over and over. I'm not paying $400.00 for something and cant even ask a question about it. lazy employees. read more