Anyone have experience with amtrack?

Question

someone recommended amtrack for travel from atlanta to washington D.C. i've heard good and bad experiences. can anyone give thier opinion? what about overnight sleeper cars ?

Answer 1

this ain;t bad but just don;t let freight trains slow you down as they mostly do those trains arrive but enjoy the ride

Answer 2

It's been a while (about 12 years) but I had a great experience with Amtrak. My dad and I took a train from Chicago to Seattle and booked a sleeper. It was great sevice and a really fun way to travel. If you book a sleeper, it includes the cost of your meals, so we ate in the dining room for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Because space is limited, you have to sit with people you don't know to maximize the space in the dining car, and you have to eat in time blocks. We didn't mind, because we both like meeting new people, and thought it was a great adventure.

I guess I did have a bad experience, well not BAD, but negative. I took the train from Minneapolis to Chicago. It was only a 6 hour train ride, so need to book a sleeper. I didn't want to spend the money to eat in the dining car, so I just went to the snack bar. We weren't even halfway to Chicago, and the snack bar ran out of food. I don't know why, and I think I remember they had some reason, but I ended up having a coke and a bag of chips for dinner, because that's all that was left.

Anyway, the seats are huge and they recline way more than an airplane seat. A lot of people don't book a sleeper and just sleep in their seats (that's how far back they recline). They also have a foot rest that comes out from under the seat.

If you don't book a sleeper, and you want to eat in the dining car, you have to wait until all the people with sleeper berths make their reservations, because they've technically "paid up front" for their meals, so they get first choice of dining times.  That kind of sucks, if you're starving, and the only dining times left are late at night, or you're not that hungry, but the only times left are at 5:00.

Answer 3

Kylie - high mortality rate??? Are you kidding? There were more fatalities on one of the 911 flights than in the entire history of Amtrak! Back to the question. If you are willing to accept that there may be delays (similar to airlines - seen news lately?) then you should enjoy the trip. coach seats are comfortable and you can easily sleep in them to avoid the cost of the sleeper whis is very high. Amtrak is great in that as far as food is concerned, you can bring anything with you to eat on the way from snacks to sandwiches. I don't think they let you use a snack car seat for eating - you have to use your regular seat.

Overall, great way to travel.

Answer 4

My wife and I are avid Amtrak riders.  We live on the west coast and use the Coast Starlight to travel between San Jose, CA and Seattle, WA to visit family.  Its always been a nice trip, except for the time we could not get our sleeper reserved and used Coach.

That was not a very nice trip.  Mainly because we got stuck in the car with a mother who would not get her children under control.  Thankfully, she and the rug-rats were getting off the train in four stops, but in the mean time, it was pretty miserable.

Since then we always reserve the Roomette.  Its pretty small, but comfortable enough for the two of us to make the 22.5 hour trip, (Normally closer to 30.0 hours).

The food is good, and I have never had a complaint about the staff.  Those are really good folks, and very helpful too.  They actually like to socialize just as much as the passengers do on those long runs.

No my wife and I are not some old Fuddy-Duddys who just like trains.  We are both 36 and work for Department of Homeland Security in the Airport.  Since we have to process the folks who don't like having to jump through those hoops, we just avoid the whole situation by taking the train.

As for the other fool who said that trains are not safe, all I have to say is she had better do her homework.  More people are killed in cars and planes every year, than trains have ever been responsible for.  Quite frankly, how the heck do you call a tow truck at 30,000 feet when your engine dies, and what good does using your seat cushion as a floatation device over Arizona do you?  Hmm!

Not that I am paranoid of flight, just don't like walking out of the airports having a need for Preparation H, and a chair with a very soft cushion.  

Besides, when you fly you miss all of the scenery.  Not that I like looking at the Gang Grafitti when I am in the City, but outside the city, its really quite a nice view.

As for your run from Atlanta to Washington DC, I have never made that trip, but I can't think it would be anything less that what my wife and I have expereinced out here.

Good luck and enjoy your trip.

Answer 5

I have ridden Amtrak very rarely.  I wish I could use it more.  It's pretty nice.   Beats driving hands down.

Answer 6

I'd rather fly.Much safer.Trains have a high mortality rate.