Hello Reader,
Thanks for taking the time out of your day to chat with me about travel. This one is a little longer, but there is some time-sensitive info that I couldn’t wait to share.
How Amtrak Deals With Daylight Saving Time
We’ve been "observing" Daylight Saving Time since around 1916, and despite its unpopularity, it’s almost time to “fall back” again. So, how does Amtrak handle the time change?
I always wondered about this and was fortunate to be on the Silver Meteor one year when it happened. While I did get more sleep and train time, the experience was less exciting than I thought.
The times on your ticket and Amtrak’s timetables are always shown in local time, which works well for most of the year. However, keeping track of your train's performance is especially important if you take a multi-night train and board on day two or three.
In the spring, when clocks move forward on the second Sunday in March, overnight trains are usually about an hour behind schedule after the time change. While Amtrak works to recover the lost time, it can temporarily affect the schedule.
In the fall, on the first Sunday in November, when clocks move back, Amtrak trains typically hold at the next station after the time change and depart on time. If a train runs an hour or more late, it will continue and try to catch up.
A quick reminder: Arizona doesn’t observe Daylight Saving Time!
There is more to learn. If you are interested, check out my newest article, "Amtrak & Daylight Savings."
Save on Your Next Amtrak Adventure with a Roomette Flash Sale!
Amtrak offers an incredible flash sale on Viewliner And Superliner Roomettes. Book by October 31, 2024, for travel between November 1, 2024, and January 31, 2025, and experience the beauty of train travel with some serious savings.
This flash sale is available on the Northbound Auto Train, California Zephyr, Cardinal, City of New Orleans, Coast Starlight, Crescent, Empire Builder, Floridian, Lake Shore Limited, Silver Meteor, Silver Star, Southwest Chief, Sunset Limited, and Texas Eagle. For more information on any of these trains, visit my page on Amtrak Long-Distiance Trains.
How to Book: Click the link below or enter code C104 on the Amtrak app to take advantage of this deal.
Ready to book? Head over to Amtrak’s Flash Sale page and get started!
Amtrak Long-Distiance Train Performance Is Updated!
I recently updated my post on Amtrak’s on-time performance. It’s interesting how the potential for lawsuits and legal changes has helped improve performance this month. Most trains have seen better results!
In August, long-distance trains had a 51.8% customer on-time performance, but in September, it jumped to 65%—a 25.5% improvement. These numbers mark an impressive turnaround, with things moving in the right direction.
What Kev Has Been Up To!
I’m finding it quite exhausting to be an uncle to two-year-old twins and a six-year-old. Maybe I’m getting old. No, that can’t be it.
The most challenging part is finding time to get work done. The twins like to sit next to me with their tablets and “work” with me, which works better than typing on my computer. However, they still try to help me write.
My trip to Florida went well overall. The flights were smooth, and my checked bags reached my destination. I discovered a new part of the Destin/Fort Walton Beach airport: the baggage carousel.
We haven’t done much other than shopping, playing, getting annoyed sometimes, and having fun. While the kids communicate better, there’s still a language barrier.
We went to Buc-ee’s this weekend, a place I love! If you’ve never been, it’s quite an experience. While it can be overwhelming for me, I do love it.
Bringing this email to a close
Thanks, Reader, for your time today! If there’s anything you’d like me to cover or if you have any questions, feel free to email me anytime. And don’t forget to like us on Facebook!
A big thanks to MJ for helping with Travels with Kev this past week with a “coffee” from Buy Me a Coffee. As a solo entrepreneur, I increasingly rely on support from readers and listeners like you.
If you can help, there are a few ways to do so. But if not, no worries—I’m still here to offer you value and insights. For those who’d like something extra, like a personal postcard from me, check out my Patreon page. You can support me by clicking the big blue button below, or for more ways to support me, visit my support page. Just sharing my work with others will help immensely.
Keeping these emails, the website and the podcast going isn’t cheap, and I’m genuinely grateful to all of you who are part of this adventure!
Happy planning and safe travels!
Kev Monteith
