[pct-l] Ground transportation information needed -- Seattle to Truckee - AMTRAK

[Shutterbug steiner]

I took this train from Dunsmuir to Sacramento and then bus to train to bus to get to the Inland Empire.  It actually caused more stress than my entire 6 weeks 900 mile adventure from KM to DM, that ended this past Wed.
   
  THE BAD
  1.  They only mail ticket to physical address - so no general delivery to PO.  I used trail angle Drew from Burney to solve this problem.
  2.  When I crossed the RR near Castle Crags (9:00 PM) they already were 2 1/2 hours late.  I changed the day 24 hrs earlier at no cost (which is a good thing).  And walked the RR tracks to DM.  By the time I arrived in DM it was 3 1/2 hours late and by the time it arrived it was 5 1/2 hours late.  I asked the conductor and he said it was normal   --- so change the schedule  DUH  --- but he did not think AMTRAK would see the logic.
  3.  Apparently the GOOD food is not available to COACH tickets ...... I got chastised for trying to go to the dining car and then got my hand slapped when I tried to get some ice water.
  4.  The food that was available sucked and there was NO food but vending machines at the different connections.
  5.  In all it took 24 hours to get home in which would have taken 10 hrs to drive and probably just a little more time to hitch.
   
  THE GOOD
  1.  With just a phone call they were able to change the dates (twice) for my return trip.  There was no extra charge for this and it was convenient since I was uncertain of my completion date.
  2.  After getting on the train and getting no sleep, I found the seats to be large and fairly comfortable if you got a double seat.  My stench most definitely rewarded me with a double seat and plenty of room.
  3,  They were accommodating with info on how to connection -  even though connections in general are a pain.
  4.  You might find this to be a very poor but maybe your only option.
   
  Shutterbugg

Rob Langsdorf <mctrob at yahoo.com> wrote:
  

Gutsy's Dan asked about getting from up north to Truckee.

Here is what I found on the Amtrak site:

Departing: Seattle, WA (SEA) to Truckee, CA (TRU) 

The choice is to take the train to Sacramento and transfer
to a Thruway bus or wait a few hours in Sacramento and take
the train Here is the way they list it:

11 Coast 
Starlight Seattle, WA (SEA) 9:45 am 15-AUG-06 
Sacramento, CA (SAC) 6:15 am 16-AUG-06 20h 30m 
3522 Thruway Bus
Sacramento, CA (SAC) 10:00 am 16-AUG-06 
Truckee, CA (TRU) 12:45 pm 16-AUG-06 2h 45m 

11 Coast Starlight
Seattle, WA (SEA) 9:45 am 15-AUG-06 
Sacramento, CA (SAC) 6:15 am 16-AUG-06 20h 30m 
6 California Zephyr
Sacramento, CA (SAC) 11:14 am 16-AUG-06
Truckee, CA (TRU) 2:43 pm 16-AUG-06 3h 29m 

Now all you have to do is to figure out how to get from
Manning Park to Seattle.

Rob

<<returning to SC--the 140-mile stretch between Sonora Pass
and Truckee, and is considering doing it southbound. That
would complete the PCT for her.

What's the best way to travel from Manning Park to Soda
Springs/Truckee, CA? I looked on the Greyhound website and
they have no scheduled stop there. Will the bus stop on
request? Would she have to buy a ticket to Reno? Is
Amtrak train or bus available out of Sacramento? I looked
at the Amtrak schedule online but couldn't make heads or
tails out of it. Soda Springs and Truckee appear to be
scheduled stops. I could have puzzled over it longer, but
decided to consult the experts (ya'll!) first.

Gutsy's Dan

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