News, Tips & Bargains : No More Smoking on the Zephyr

Amtrak has turned on the no-smoking signs on the California Zephyr/Desert Wind/Pioneer as part of its expansion of “smoke-free” service.

Permission to smoke on the Zephyr, which serves Chicago, Oakland, Los Angeles and Seattle, was discontinued on May 1, when Amtrak instituted smoke-free policies on all short and medium-distance day-time trains and some long-distance overnight trains. Amtrak will allow smoking stops at designated stations along the route. With this change, 82% of all Amtrak trains will be smoke free, the company said.

“While the majority of our customers are demanding a smoke-free environment, we recognize that we may lose valuable customers who will find our new policy too restrictive,” said Robert E. Gall, vice president of marketing and sales. “Unfortunately, providing separate smoking cars . . . is not a feasible option given the high cost and shortage of cars.”

Smoking is now allowed only in some cars on three trains serving the region: the Sunset Limited, which serves L.A., New Orleans and Miami and the Southwest Chief and Texas Eagle, both of which operate between L.A. and Chicago. The Coast Starlight, which operates between Los Angeles and Seattle, is smoke free.