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Portland Pages by Geoff_Wright
Tips 1 - 3 of 3 Portland Transportation
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Transportation: Let The Train Take The Strain
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'Mode': TO
Category: Train
Getting TO/AROUND: I have already mentioned that it was my original intention to travel to Portland by train, and how my good VT friend, Phil, drove all the way to LA in the blistering heat (!!) to meet me, and eventually to drive me back to Oregon. He flatly refused to take me back to LA, haha (joke!!!). So, my intention was to leave Portland by Amtrak, and travel in the general direction of Los Angeles, and stop off in a couple of 'nice places' en route. The trouble was that I didn't know of any such places, and the train doesn't stop very often anyway. Cutting a long story short(er!!), I took the advice of Phil and Deni, my VT hosts in Portland, and decided to go to Sacramento, and out to Lake Tahoe. (See those pages).
Booking the train ticket was easy, and I actually did it the day before travelling, at the Union Station in Portland, although you can book on the internet. You need to produce evidence of ID (passport in my case) when you collect your ticket.
The train left Portland, on time at 2.25 pm for Eugene, where we transferred to a bus (coach) for the 5 hour journey to Klamath Falls. I'm not sure just why this is necessary, as the rail line runs all the way through from Eugene to Klamath Falls, and to Sacramento. It may have something to do with freight trains using the line, as these usually have priority. Anyway, arriving at Klamath Falls at 10 pm, we again boarded the train for Sacramento, arriving at 6.15 am next morning. The fare for this journey was $101, and I think well worth the cost. Unfortunately, the nicest part of the journey seemed to be through the night, when you couldn't really see anything!
If you wish to travel on to LA, I think the single fare from Portland was $178 (June 2003 prices).
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Website: www.amtrak.com
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'Mode': TO
Category: Train
Getting TO/AROUND: OK, so you decide to use Amtrak, and why not? You have some travel options. You can chose 'coach' travel, or 'business class', and a sleeper for your overnight travel if you wish. I opted for the straightforward 'coach' class. Unlike the British trains, there was ample leg room, with reclining seats, and a foot rest. The allocation of seats is rather different than in Britain. On departure from Portland, you will be allocated a coach. You will have been given a boarding pass, with (for instance) 'SAC' on it (Sacramento). It's then up to you to find a vacant seat, and you place your boarding pass above your own seat. This enables the Conductor to see who is going where on the train!
the Union Station is located near Broadway Avenue and Broadway (river) Bridge.
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'Mode': TO
Category: Bus
Getting TO/AROUND: Now if you don't want to use the train, why not try the Greyhound Buses? Unfortunately I never had the time to use the Greyhound service, although I did enquire about it in the Portland Depot, which is just opposite the Amtrak station (5th Avenue/Hoyt Street). If I remember correctly, the fares for both Amtrak and Greyhound were more or less the same.
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Website: www.greyhound.com
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 Comments for Geoff_Wright about Portland | | | | |
EGeorgeR Tue Jul 4, 2006 17:05 UTC
What is this? Random photos? | XenoHumph Fri Oct 14, 2005 19:48 UTC
Great page on portland! You got blue skies... lucky you, each time i go there, i get grey skies... You think there are lots of churches in Portland??? Just come to Houston and you'll see one every block!!! | XenoHumph Fri Oct 14, 2005 19:48 UTC
Great page on portland! You got blue skies... lucky you, each time i go there, i get grey skies... You think there are lots of churches in Portland??? Just come to Houston and you'll see one every block!!! | tpal Fri Sep 16, 2005 20:03 UTC
Hi Geoff, As it turns out, Carol and I will make the same trip next month...from LA to Portland (we will continue to Seattle). Your tips are great. I love the British perspective...I've never appreciated Dairy Queen and Home Depot so well. Thx...Tom |
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on Jul 25, 2003
