Journey via Amtrak made her a real fan

I read your article on the status of Amtrak with great interest this morning. My husband and I have just recently returned from a vacation where we took Amtrak's Southwest Chief from Chicago to Flagstaff, Ariz., and back again.

Our experience with Amtrak and its personnel was wonderful. The train was clean and well-run. The car attendants and dining car servers were friendly and very helpful. The selection and quality of the food was exemplary.

This had been the first time for me to travel by train since I was a child. We were quite impressed. As for punctuality, the train ran more or less on time, even with short delays. On our way home, the train was about a half-hour late picking us up in Flagstaff. But by the time we reached Chicago, we were early.

My husband and I want to travel with Amtrak again. We are hoping Amtrak can get the funding it needs to update equipment and tracks and add more trains. This is an excellent alternative to driving or flying. The traveler can see the countryside, move about the train at will, and meet interesting people from all over the country and other parts of the world.

This made getting to our destination just as fun as being there. Thank you for an insightful, interesting article.

Pamela Fox

St. Charles