Riding Amtrak: The Rise and Fall of America on Rails

How is Amtrak doing compared to the great passenger trains of yesteryear? All aboard for honest answers! Rail from California to New York and back with critic-at-large Lionel Steel, whose candid account of the journey describes every twist and turn up the tracks — from unexpected delays and bizarre customer service episodes, to strange tales shared by strangers across dining car tables. Along the way, too, take a ride down memory lane — onto the Shasta Daylight and the California zephyr, among other heyday rail blazers. Get set for a fascinating overview, midway during the trip, of American passenger train history. And be prepared for a challenging critique of America’s failure to embrace true high speed rail. Riding Amtrak is unlike any other train book you will ever read!