Has anyone taken a LONG train trip in the U.S.? Where have you gone and what was your experience? I am thinkin

Question

of getting on a train and stopping here and there and I would like to hear some feedback from other people as train travel is different in the U.S. versus Europe. Also, what about Canada?

Answer 1

I have taken a few Amtrak rides.  My longest was from Greensburg, PA to Los Angeles, CA.  It was on the Southwest Chief.  It was a very nice ride, a good way to see the desert and stay cool.  The best view I saw from my window was a bald eagle sitting on the edge of a cliff. . . very cool.  It was a very relaxing ride and a good way to meet and talk to people you wouldn't normally be able to.  It was a great experience and I look forward to doing it again sometime.

Answer 2

i never rode a train in europe, however i rode the amtrak train from chicago to billings montana one time and another time i took it from boston to orlando, and i think its a great time as long as you have some cool people on there to chat with , but you HAVE TO get a sleeper car ticket, yes it will cost you a little more money but it is well worth it, if you don't than its not a good time, the trip from chicago to billings was 20 hours and i had a sleeping car ticket, the trip i took from boston to orlando ( 30 hours ) i had only a coach seat ticket and that trip was not fun.  but over all i think it can be a good thing, and trains go to alot of weird place that are very expensive to fly to, but again if you ride the amtrak get a sleeping car ticket so that you will have your own room

Answer 3

I rode the Super Chief in 1961 from Chicago to Los Angeles. The CPR Empress in 1965 from Montreal to Vancouver. Both were memorable trips with fantastic scenery. I had sleeper car tickets on both occasions and naturally being a railway emplyee I did not have to pay for the coach fare, only  the sleeping car fare. I bought a upper birth but on the Super Chief the sleeping car conductor had a spare roomette for me. Again on the CPR train I bought an upper birth and ended up with a lower birth going west and a roomette going east. The people I met on the trains were great and I highly recommend it.

Answer 4

It's absolutely wonderful if you have the time.   I've made a dozen 2-day+ trips and it's how I prefer to cross the country.

It is a totally different experience than day travel on train.   American overnight trains almost take the flavor of a "land cruise"... especially the western trains.   These trains are not short-haul cattle cars, they are designed for comfort and luxury, even in coach.  First class service includes sleepers, free meals, and even showers!   There are several bathrooms in each car, ranging in size from airplane lavatory to spacious changing room... so it's no problem to change clothes and wash up if you travel in coach.

It's intended that you spend much of your waking hours in the diner or lounge/cafe, and/or socializing with other passengers.

All Amtrak trains have a "cafe" open most hours, with chips, drinks and packaged sandwiches. Overnight trains also have a full-service dining car, with good meals cooked to order.

However...  European trains stay on time because they run short runs on dedicated tracks.  2-day runs (on freight railroads) leave the trains very vulnerable to running late.   How do you feel about that?  What if you were on the Coast Starlight and you just passed an emu farm... 8 hours late.  What would you be thinking of?

- Cool...  Emu's!     or

- We'll miss our connection and be delayed a whole day!

If you would be more upset about the delay, then don't ride Amtrak.  It's very common for a 2-day run to be delayed 2-8 hours.  That varies a lot by route, and you can research that, but your trip will be a lot more fun if you don't care if you're late.

Answer 5

I rode from Chicago to Seattle a few years ago.  It was really relaxing, and people are friendly and chatty because you all know you're going to be there for a few days.  Sleeping in the upright chairs isn't the most comfortable thing in the world, but it's much cheaper than getting a bunk.  I would totally do it over again.  

Highlight: dining while crossing the wide Mississippi River at sunset.