On May 29 we left Phoenix at 6:25 pm to take the Sunset to Los Angeles. There were 10 people on the Thruway bus… a very hot ride, the a/c did not cool us until we were almost to Tucson. I am sure if Thomas Downs had to ride this bus he would have the train in Phoenix in a short time.

The Sunset was supposed to leave at 9:05 pm but we finally left at 11:30 pm. We did arrive in time to connect with the Starlight, Amtrak’s flagship train. They even have a separate parlor car for sleeping car passengers. The scenery along the ocean was terrific, and the train was crowded…

Returning from Tucson were about a dozen people on the Thruway bus.

On our Houston trip, we arose at 3 am to catch the 4:45am bus to Tucson. The station looked deserted and very dreary. Again ten on the bus… we found the dining car staff and sleeping car attendants very friendly and helpful. The Sunset Limited is much improved…

The trip to Houston is not very scenic but we enjoyed it. Our train got back to Tucson at 11:30 pm, and we arrived at Phoenix at 2:30 am. I will never be happy until the Sunset returns to Phoenix.

[Editor's Note: While the Sunset Limited still stopped in Phoenix, annual ridership in the Valley was 31,000 — an average of about 50 people on and 50 off the train. ARPA understands that the 10 or so people Mr. Collins saw on the bus was a higher than average number. In any case, 10 people on the Thruway bus represents an 80% decline in Phoenix ridership. With UP having announced that the Phoenix West Line will not be abandoned, I see no reason the Sunset should not serve this nation's sixth largest city.]