Amtrak's California Zephyr is a 2438 mile rail service connecting Chicago with Emeryville (San Francisco). The service operates daily in each direction with the Westbound Train departing Chicago Union Station at 1400hrs.

The train consists of Coach Class, Sightseeing Lounge Car, Dining Car and Sleeper Cars. Fares start from $156 for coach class but sleeper accommodation costs significantly more. Sleeper Car prices operate on a Ryanair style pricing policy so booking early is advisable.

Upon leaving the Chicago area the train spends the day crossing Illinois and Iowa, with their miles and miles of corn fields. Overnight the train crosses Nebraska and arrives into Denver, Colorado the following morning.

The train is fuelled and watered at Denver. Once out of Denver the train begins its assault of the Rocky Mountains and the scenery is breathtaking. Later on in the day the train crosses the Utah desert before arriving late that evening in Salt Lake City.

Overnight the train travels between Salt Lake City and Reno crossing the Nevada Desert. Once out of Reno the train crosses the Sierra Nevada Mountains and the famous Donner Pass. In the late afternoon the train finally arrives at Emeryville with bus connections to San Francisco.

Travelling on the California Zephyr isn't just about doing it for the train travel. It is a completely different experience with the scenery changing every couple of hours and meeting people on board the train, be it over Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner in the dining car or enjoying the passing scenery in the lounge car.

Its well worth the experience and I must admit I felt a little disappointed as the train neared Emeryville as the journey would soon be over and the people we got to know went their separate ways.