Hello Reader,

Welcome back; I am glad you are here!

Do You Want to Ride the NextGen Acela or an Old One? It is Your Choice (if the schedule works out)!

Last week, we discussed the rollout of the new Amtrak NextGen Acela scheduled for August 28, 2025. But I have an update!

If you want to ride the NextGen Acela trains, Amtrak has made it easy to know which train you'll be riding. When you book on either the website or app, Amtrak displays a tag that says 'NextGentag ' so you know.

I think the NextGen rides will cost more because of higher demand.

Amtrak Long-distance Trains On Time Performance

This week, Amtrak released its report on the on-time performance of its trains. I have updated each of my LD train pages; you can view them all on my Amtrak​ Long-Distance Trains On-Time Performance page.

Should You Rent a Car After an Amtrak Trip?

When I took my very first Amtrak ride, it wasn’t about the train; it was about the destination. A buddy of mine had just moved to Chicago, and his only request was, "Don’t drive here.”

That trip taught me a valuable travel truth: often it is easier and cheaper to tour big cities without renting a car, as they can become a costly headache.

But there are no set rules; there are questions you should ask yourself. It comes down to you.

On the other hand, if you are heading to a rural area or want to visit a national park after riding the Empire Builder, you need to rent a car!

Wondering when it’s worth it, and when it’s not?

I break it all down for you in this post about Should You Rent a Car After Riding Amtrak?

What has Kev been up to

Last weekend, I found myself doing something a little out of the ordinary, yet still familiar to me, helping one of my best friends move a theatre organ he had purchased.

The Publix organ originally came from the Baumont Theatre in Chicago before being moved to Manitowoc, WI. While there, it temporarily provided entertainment for a restaurant, then sat unused or lightly used for years, and gradually became increasingly unplayable.

Unfortunately, it sustained water damage during its time there, causing some parts to rot. The good news? Many of those pieces can be either salvaged, replaced with old stock, or carefully recreated, so there’s still hope for restoring this historic instrument.

Meanwhile, on my side, I’ve been putting together a different kind of project, my September coast-to-coast trip.

I finally booked a hotel near O’Hare and scored a great deal on Amtrak Hiawatha tickets thanks to a flash sale. Initially, I considered taking Metra, but the timing, convenience, and price made Amtrak the more suitable option.

Plus, it saves me time—and that’s a deal I can’t pass up.

Looking at the Markers

Thanks for reading and riding along with me!

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Until Next Week…

Happy planning and safe travels,
Kev Monteith