Something I love about rail travel (in the US) is that you see the backside of every town and city. The highway shows you the front they dress up for company. The railroad shows you the real place, history, neglect, weeds, and all.
I grew up in a railroad town, a place that exists because the railroad needed a stop there. Riding through these towns, it's like seeing my hometown turned inside out.
I'm trying to buy a ticket for one of those famous European trains with designated bike spaces, and it seems like I'll need to do that at the counter.
So far, #Amtrak 1 : 0 #NSInternational 
@civicDetroitDan Travels with Kev seems to have some historical on-time performance information for each train.
https://travelswithkev.com/amtrak-regional-and-long-distance-schedules/
Question for anyone who loves taking Amtrak (i.e. all you train foamers):
Is there a way to find out how long the delays usually are on a given Amtrak route?
Amtrak Coast Starlight headed up Cuesta Pass north of San Luis Obispo, a beautiful sunset, and the California Men’s Colony (I feel like if you’re a guy and you have to go to prison this would be at least a pretty location).
I will now post one million pictures of the Pacific Ocean because it’s very pretty.
so much citrus growing along the route today; I wish I could have an orange and a lemon tree on my tiny apartment back porch. 
We’re so late we made a stop in Camarillo to meet another train. This is not a stop on the Coast Starlight route. Too bad we don’t have time, there are some interesting looking food trucks next to it.
3 1/2 hours late leaving the departure station. But there’s water in the LA River!
Heading home, train is again delayed at departure but it’s a lovely day to sit and wait.
I just posted this at work and it seems like not everyone knows this.
You can take the Amtrak Coast Starlight from Seattle, Portland, Sacramento, Oakland, San Jose or LA in the other direction, to the Monterey Bay aquarium. On Amtrak.com, simply put Monterey Bay Aquarium as your destination and when you arrive in Salinas station at 12:20pm (daily), there will be a bus that waits for you and picks you up to send you to the doors of the Aquarium by 1:30pm (usually takes just 20min)
For a true car-free experience, book a hotel room in New Monterey near the Aquarium, like the Clement Intercontinental, Monterey Plaza, or Wave Street Inn or anything on that side of the tunnel (including Pacific Grove). You can walk / bike the coastal trail.
Rent a bike from Work Horse bicycles downtown.
If you bring your own bike on the train (check in without boxing!) you can put it on MST city bus no 20, the bus station is 5 min ride away. Wait at and have a taco at Tacos Don Beto next door. There is a small outdoor area for Covid cautious folks.
After a Slow Start, High-Speed Rail Might Finally Arrive in America http://dlvr.it/TJwKBv #Amtrak #Brightline #HighSpeedRail #RailNews
