First time amtrak ride from NJ to NC...any advice plz!!!?

Question

I am not trying to sound like a baby but i would appreciate advice from people who have used amtrak especially from NJ to NC....just let me know the basics...like if the staff is helpful, are the seats comfortable and are there outlets in coach?? thx in advance i leave next thurs and im kinda nervous lol!!!

Answer 1

You'll be either on the Silver Star/Meteor or the Crescent, depending on your destination in NC.

These are both full-service long-haul overnight trains.  They'll have a lounge car that serves microwave fare like all Amtrak trains. By all means use it to lounge around. But save your appetite for the full-service dining car that serves real meals cooked to order (they're Denny's prices but certainly better than Denny's quality).

Outlets... I haven't been on long-haul Eastern coaches for a long time and they've re-done the interiors a couple times since then.  But they know people love their gadgets and newer interiors have a lot of plugs.  (I remember when they had 2 plugs per car, intended for maintenance people to plug in a vacuum cleaner, oh how times have changed!)  If your seat doesn't have one, check around and ask to move... or check the lounge car.

It's pretty common for these really long-haul trains to be late.  Just expect it and don't be bugged by it.   It's easy to keep a train on time when the total running time is 3 hours because they get to "reset".  But when the running time is 30 hours, one delay just stacks on top of another and there's nothing they can do about it.

Answer 2

I too plan on a trip to NYC this summer and will take amtrak with a friend who used to live in NY and always took trains. It will be an adventure and lots of fun. Relax and have a good time. Peace Out

Answer 3

Don't leave your purse unattended.

Answer 4

its fun and you will have a nice trip, you can get explore the train

and some of the trains have diner cars not sure how long your trip is but you could get a sleeper (extra charge) but if you had

a sleeper all your meals in the dinning car are included in the sleeper fees)

Answer 5

DUCK!

Answer 6

not trying to scare you or anything but the national transportation safety bureau NTSB or a similar organization may have safety statistics on travel by rail available. I thought I either read or heard bad reviews of rail transportation but can't say for sure what company it was for, it seemed to indicate that whatever company it was had been written up for safety violations or lack of maintenance etc.

just something to think about, i hope you have a great trip.