The Zephyr has been noticeably cleaner and less smelly than the Coast Starlight, and the scenery has been absolutely stunning. That said, the onboard staff have been surprisingly unfriendly they really seem like they don’t want to be there.
The train is pretty empty, so I’ve had two seats to myself, which is almost like having a makeshift bed. Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to sleep because the ride through Nebraska is incredibly bumpy. On top of that, the restrooms keep running out of toilet paper.
Overall, it’s been a mixed experience. I grabbed a rail pass at a great price, so for what I paid it’s fine but I definitely wouldn’t recommend paying full fare. At that point, you’re probably better off just flying.
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