Page 291 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Southwest USA & National Parks

TR A VEL INFORM A TION  289

DIRECTORY
Rail Companies
Amtrak
Tel (800) 872-7245.
∑ amtrak.com
Cumbres and Toltec
Scenic Railroad
Greyhound bus crossing south western desert landscape Tel (575) 756-2151;
(888) 286-2737.
Long-Distance Buses ∑ cumbrestoltec.com
discounts for children under 16,
The major bus company in the US students, seniors, military families, Durango and Silverton
is Greyhound. Along with a few and veterans, as well as participate Narrow Gauge Railroad
affiliated companies, it links in the Road Rewards program, Tel (970) 247-2733;
almost all the major and many of which gives discounts and other (888) 872-4607.
the smaller towns and cities benefits for future travel. ∑ durangotrain.com
across the Southwest region. Reservations are essential on
Greyhound buses also provide long-distance Amtrak Superliner Grand Canyon Railway
essential links with the major services operating in the Tel (303) 843-8724;
airports and Amtrak services. The Southwest, and can be made (800) 843-8724.
Amtrak Thruway is a van and bus up to 11 months in advance ∑ thetrain.com
service connecting train stops of the trip. Lower fares are
with the major cities. For example, available during off-peak times, Bus Companies
a van service takes passengers between January and mid-May
from the Southwest Chief train at and from mid-September Gray Line Tucson
Flagstaff on to Phoenix. through mid-December. Tel (800) 276-1528.
Some of the most useful links ∑ graylinearizona.com
operate from airports. From Albu- Greyhound
querque, Greyhound provides Public Transportation Tel (800) 231-2222.
in Cities
routes to Durango, Carlsbad, ∑ greyhound.com
Farmington, and Roswell. From With the exceptions of Santa Fe
Phoenix’s Sky Harbor airport, and Flagstaff, which are best City Public Transit
there are dozens of daily routes explored on foot, the major
throughout Arizona, as well as cities of the Southwest, such as ABQ Ride
daily trips direct to Tucson. Phoenix and Albuquerque, Albuquerque.
Greyhound and a number of cover large areas and are Tel (505) 724-3100.
other specialist com panies, increasingly plagued by traffic ∑ cabq.gov/transit
including Gray Line Tucson also problems. In these places you
offer package tours, which can might want to consider using Ollie the Trolley
provide a more leisurely way of some form of public transport. Scottsdale.
sightseeing in the area without Albuquerque’s metropolitan Tel (480) 970-8130.
the need to drive long distances. bus system, ABQ Ride, covers ∑ dunntransportation.com
Everything from national parks most parts of the city, including
such as Grand Canyon to the airport, Old Town, and Rail Runner Express
archaeological attractions such University District (see pp214– Albuquerque/Santa Fe.
as Chaco Canyon can be seen as 19). New Mexico’s Rail Runner Tel (866) 795-7245.
part of a comfortable tour on Express connects Albuquerque ∑ riometro.org
luxury, air-conditioned buses, and and Santa Fe, with connections Valley Metro Light Rail,
the package also includes meals for the Sunport International Valley Metro, and
and accommodation. Check local Airport in Albuquerque. In Downtown Dash
papers or online for listings of Phoenix, the Valley Metro Phoenix.
other bus and coach companies Light Rail system passes Tel (602) 253-5000.
that provide similar services. through the heart of ∑ valleymetro.org
Downtown as part of its
26-mile (42-km) run from
Tickets and Bookings Camelback Road to the Monday to Friday. Phoenix,
In general, both Amtrak and outlying areas of Tempe and Scottsdale, and the rest of the
Greyhound tickets should be Mesa, while Downtown Valley of the Sun are covered
booked in advance. Not only Phoenix also has the convenient by the Valley Metro bus
does this usually mean less and free Downtown Dash, system, and Ollie the Trolley
expensive fares, but you will also which travels between the is a bus service that runs
be guaranteed a seat. Through State Capitol, Arizona Center, between Scottsdale’s resorts
Greyhound you can also get and the Civic Plaza from and its many shopping districts.

288-289_EW_SW_USA.indd 289 28/11/17 12:37 PM