Travels with Kev

05/06/2025

Due to infrastructure work being conducted by BNSF, Southwest Chief service will be affected on Sunday, June 8, 2025. Train 1003 will operate in place of Train 3 and will depart Chicago 90 minutes later at 3:55 pm.

31/05/2025

Check out Amtrak's Southwest Chief, an excellent way to travel from Los Angeles to Chicago or vice versa. This train offers numerous great intermediate stops.

Explore whether this train is suitable for you. The link is in the description.

31/05/2025

June is my birthday month, and to celebrate, you can get 48% off your first month if you join my Patreon.

With Patreon, you receive a postcard from me to you every month, and more.

Your support helps keep Travels with Kev on track for when you and others need it. Consider helping out today. Use code: 605BD.

A site and podcast to help you travel on Amtrak.

17/05/2025

The Cafe Page was updated with the current menus.

Eating is essential, even when you are traveling. This article covers the necessary information on what you should know about Amtrak Café Cars.

09/05/2025

How neat!

09/05/2025

Wolverine Trains 350 and 353 Temporarily Suspended
Effective: May 5 – October 30, 2025

Amtrak and the Michigan Department of Transportation are making track improvements that will affect some Wolverine Service trains. Here’s what you need to know:

🚆 Service Changes:

Mondays through Thursdays

* May 5 – June 26
* August 4 – October 30

Trains 350 and 353 will not run Monday through Thursday during these dates.
They will still run on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

✅ These Holidays Are NOT Affected:

Trains 350 and 353 will run as usual on:

* Memorial Day – Monday, May 26
* Juneteenth – Wednesday, June 19
* Labor Day – Monday, September 1

🚉 Other Trains Still Running:

* Wolverine Trains 351, 352, 354, and 355 – No changes, full schedule.
* Blue Water Trains 364 and 365 – Running as usual and stopping at shared Wolverine stations in southwest Michigan.

💻 Tip: Amtrak.com has the most up-to-date schedule info. Check before you travel!

08/05/2025

How neat!

08/05/2025

🚆 Planning Your First Amtrak Trip? Here's a Must-Know Tip! 🚆

If you're diving into Amtrak schedules and stumble upon terms like "receive only" or "discharge only," don't fret—I've got you covered!

🔹 Receive Only: You can board the train here, but can't get off.
🔹 Discharge Only: You can get off the train here, but can't board.

These designations help Amtrak maintain efficient schedules and prevent long-distance trains from becoming local commuter services. For instance, the Empire Builder treats Glenview, IL, as a discharge-only stop when heading east and a receive-only stop when heading west.

Want to learn more about how this might affect your travel plans? Check out my latest blog post for a detailed breakdown and tips to navigate these stops like a pro!

You can learn more from the post in the comments.

Happy travels! 🚄✨

01/05/2025

🎉🚆 Happy 54th Birthday, Amtrak!🚆🎉

On May 1, 1971, Amtrak hit the rails—and 54 years later, it’s still going strong, connecting over 500 communities across the U.S.

If you’ve ever dreamed of kicking back and watching the country roll by, there’s no better way to travel than by train. Whether it’s your first ride or your hundredth, Amtrak offers something for everyone:
🚉 Scenic routes
🛏️ Roomettes and Bedrooms
☕ Café and dining cars
💺 Comfortable coach seating

As an Amtrak travel expert, I enjoy assisting people in planning their first (or next!) rail adventure. If you're curious about what to expect, how to book, or which route might be right, I have resources to help.

🎒 Start your journey at TravelswithKev.com

Here’s to 54 years of unforgettable views, friendly crews, and miles of memories.
Let’s keep riding! 🚄

26/04/2025

What fun!

WASHINGTON — The National Park Service has firmed up this year’s Trails and Rails program, which features volunteers offering commentary and one-on-one discussions with passengers aboard regional and long-distance Amtrak trains. “We’re 25 years strong, and looking forward to our upcoming sea...

21/04/2025

FYI!!

21/04/2025

I updated my page about the on-time performances of Amtrak Long-distance trains.

Discover essential insights into Amtrak's long-distance train performance for February 2025, including on-time metrics and tips to manage travel expectations.