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If you’re in east Tennessee, have you ever wondered how you could connect to Amtrak’s nearby trains to take you anywhere Amtrak goes?
Well, here’s the lowdown as of April, ’07:
From Knoxville to all points in the Northeast such as Washington, DC, New York or Boston, departures connecting to Train 20, the Crescent, at Charlotte are from Greyhound station and to all points in the Southeast including Florida connecting with Trains 74, the Piedmont, and 91, the Silver Star, by way of Charlotte. For all points in the West, daily connections depart from Knoxville Greyhound station for Train 58, the City of New Orleans, at Memphis or for Train 51, the Cardinal, at Cincinnati with connections departing Knoxville at Greyhound station.
Return trips arriving in Knoxville at Greyhound station are: From the Northeast, Train19, the Crescent, departing Charlotte. From the Southeast connections from Trains 92, the Silver Star and 73, the Piedmont depart Charlotte. Points from the West connect at Memphis with Train 59, the City of New Orleans, with departures at Greyhound station for Knoxville or with Train 50, the Cardinal, with connections departing Cincinnati Greyhound station for Knoxville.
For the latest schedules, fares and other information, check greyhound.com or 800 231-2222 and amtrak.com or 800 USA-RAIL. Driving between Knoxville and these nearby Amtrak stations is another connection with Amtrak’s national system.
T. Bledsoe
Former Director for E TN
TARP
On July 7th I completed a 1500 mile journey on Amtrak to visit some old friends. My trip involved travel on the City of New Orleans, the Kansas City Mule, and the California Zephyr.
My journey began in Memphis with the late night departure of the City of New Orleans. I'm exceptionally proud that Memphis Central Station is such as fine place to catch a train. There's plenty of safe parking and the parking lot is directly adjacent to the railroad tracks - definitely no need for a parking shuttle here! The station is clean and attractive and the staff are helpful.
My only fuss with Central Station this evening is that the trackside platform was swarming with mosquitos! Note to self - pack some insect repellant next time!
The train arrived about 45 minutes late, which wasn't so bad. I settled into my seat, grabbed a little something to eat from the lounge car, and soon turned in for the night.
Unfortunately, I would not be getting a good night's sleep on this trip. At about 4:00 a.m. I would have to tumble out of seat, step off the train, and then board a connecting bus to St. Louis. Definitely not my "cup of tea".
I got a call from Amtrak a few days before my trip began informing me that I would not be boarding a train at St. Louis. I would be boarding a bus instead that would carry me to Jefferson City and there meet the train. Evidently the Union Pacific Railroad was doing major track repairs and did not have the capacity to run freight and passengers at the same time.
Normally this would not bother me, but seeing that I did not get much sleep on the train the night before, I really did not care to spend more time on a bus. Oh well...
The new station at St. Louis is a big improvement over the old one. It's cleaner and more comfortable and there's a hint of landscaping unlike at the old one. I understand that a new station is being built in St. Louis and that this "new" station will become a crew base office. Sounds like a wonderful plan!
Our bus left on time. The ride was very scenic as most of it was along the back roads instead of the Interstate. However, it's not much fun having a seat that barely reclines and not having access to a lounge.
We made all the station stops that the train normally makes before arriving in Jefferson City. The station at Jefferson City is barely adequate. With all the people changing from the bus to the train there was scarcely enough space. Instead of a station staff, this location has volunteers to help passengers get situated and on their way. It's a nice touch, but I believe that the capital city of Missouri deserves a paid staff.
Our train was due to arrive from Kansas City, drop off passengers going east, pick up all us westbounders, and then makes its return trip to Kansas City. This train was running nearly two hours late because all the railroad construction had the entire line completely choked up. Passengers were growing frustrated as we had almost nowhere to sit comfortably while waiting, especially in the hot weather!
The train did finally arrive and the station was extremely busy as people sorted themselves out between the train and the bus. I was so looking forward to a reclining seat and a visit to the lounge car; however, due to the truncated operation of this train, Amtrak did not bother to open the lounge car. It was a bummer of sorts, but Amtrak did send along a snack pack and bottled water for everyone. That certainly was better than nothing.
We arrived at Kansas City some two-and-a-half hours late. This was my first time ever going through Kansas City Union Station now that it has a new lease on life. Besides its renewed purpose as a train station, it's also a museum and a welcome center. Arriving here definitely gives you a great first impression of the city.
I went through Amtrak to reserve a rental car. I did not realize how convenient that was until I arrived. The rental car office is located in the hotel complex diagonally across the way from Union Station and you can walk there by way of an elevated, climate controlled walkway! It also helps that you get a special rate when you book through Amtrak. How nice!
I was so tired from my mix of bus and train connections that I phoned my friends in rural Kansas and told them I would be a day late. I got a hotel room so I could sleep, shower, and be a bit more rested when I arrived at my friends' house.
The next leg of my journey would take me from rural Kansas to an area just south of Omaha, Nebraska. Sadly, there is nary a hint of train service between these two areas (unless you want to spend two days making bus and train connections via Colorado!).
I initially planned to return my rental car, taxi over to the bus station, and board a Jefferson Lines bus to Omaha. I almost went through with this plan, but I am extremely apprehensive about bus stations, especially big city stations that are served by Greyhound. Also, Jefferson Lines has only one departure that would put into Omaha late at night.
I called the rental car agency to inquire if they could change my reservation and let me return the car I had to Omaha instead of Kansas City, but they would have to charge me a higher rate plus a convenience fee. I did not know what I was going to do, but just before I returned the car I figured it out.
It was cheaper for me to return the car I was driving and then rent a different car to drive one-way from Kansas City to Omaha. This would spare me from taking a bus and would get me to my friends' house about five hours sooner than I had initially planned.
After a few days with my friends in Nebraska, I ended up at the Omaha station for my return trip. Although they keep the Omaha station clean, it's in an out-of-the-way location that's a little sad and depressing. The station is dwarfed by the old Omaha Union Station and the old Omaha Post Office - two elegant but empty buildings. Maybe one day they'll breathe life back into these just like Kansas City did with their Union Station.
I expected the California Zephyr to be late, and sure enough it was. It was four-and-a-half hours late pulling into the station! I was definitely tired and frustrated, but so were the other passengers.
I was so grateful to settle into a seat and rest a little. I was also very glad to have full access to a lounge car and a dining car. The staff on this train was very friendly and helpful, but our late train only got later as the trip wore on.
I was getting nervous because I had to connect with the City of New Orleans in Chicago, and at the rate we were going I was going to miss my connection. It soon became inevitable that almost all of us on this train were going to miss our connections, so a couple of customer service agents boarded the train in Galesburg to help us get alternate transportation.
People traveling to Michigan and Milwaukee were given bus tickets, but those of us going longer distances had to be placed in hotel rooms and put on the next day's train. Fortunately, they gave us cash money for a taxi and for dinner.
Several of us on the train banded together and made the most of the situation. We all grouped together to share taxi rides and all of us went out on the town for a nice dinner and some entertainment. One group even put together a hospitality suite in one of the hotel rooms. We definitely made the most of it!
I actually enjoyed getting an extra day in Chicago with a free hotel room. The following morning I took my luggage to Union Station so I could store it and be free to walk around. While I was there, I made sure that I was booked for the sleeping car on my train that evening. I then went out and did some shopping and sightseeing and even caught a free concert in one of the downtown parks.
I returned to Union Station a few hours ahead of our train departure time. Since I was going first class I got to wait for the train in the Metropolitan Lounge. The lounge is bigger and has nicer appointments thanks to a recent renovation and expansion.
The southbound City of New Orleans left on time to the minute. My dinner in the diner was very good and I enjoyed visiting with a family returning home to New Orleans. They too were complimentary of the meal and the service.
I got a good night's rest before arriving in Memphis completely on time. My car was only a few steps away from the train!
Looking back on the trip I must say that every Amtrak employee I encountered was doing a truly fine job.
My biggest frustrations with the trip was the late operation of the Kansas City train and the California Zephyr; however, I understand that most of the trackwork is now completed on the Kansas City line and that the California Zephyr has switched to a more reliable schedule.
I only wish that the River Cities was still in operation so that passengers could get from Memphis to St. Louis and Kansas City without changing from a train to a bus and then back again.
Better yet, I wish we had a train to Nashville!