I've never taken a train ride........?

Question

What is the cheapest, shortest trip I can take, just to experience it? Departing from New Orleans......

Answer 1

choose a park in which their is a train,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,a dummy Train

Answer 2

Okay, this answer is a little unlike the rest. Of course you can take Amtrak... that's obvious...

1st: Do you get car sick? If so, take short train rides.Consider visiting a city (New York, Chicago, San Francisco, etc.) and using mass transit to get around. If you like it, you can take more trains in the future. If not, take taxis during the trip and at least you've had the experience :)

2nd: If you know you like trains (from short trips) but would like to take a longer ride, leave the country. Sounds weird, I know, but I grew up on trains... American trains are like American everything, built to last, built for the masses, but not built for comfort and style. Go to Europe and take the RE (Rail Europe). When I did this I was amazed by two things: 1-that trains could be so nice, and 2-that trains could travel at such high speeds and not be bumpy. You'll be able to buy beer, smoke (if you do), and enjoy countryside that you just won't see here.

3rd: I'm afraid if you take an Amtrak train from state to state, you may not enjoy it as much as you would abroad. Not because our countryside isn't beautiful, but the engineering is so much better over there. In summation: smooth... it's just more turbulent over here... not to the roller coaster extreme, but enough to notice, and if you're skeptical at all, enough that could break your experience... food for thought...

Best of luck... Also, I hear the trains in Japan are wonderful, however this is not experience talking and I could be wrong... Europe gets a definate recommendation :)

Answer 3

Do you live in the city?

Most cities have a subway, and they are very cheap.

Answer 4

I dont know but your gonna love it. Ive taken the train alll over europe and it was fantastic. One of these days wanna go through Canada to Alaska....in the summer...lol

Answer 5

Take a look at Amtrak's system map, and decide where you want to go:  http://www.amtrak.com/pdf/national.pdf

Then, make a reservation on Amtrak's website:  http://www.amtrak.com .

Enjoy your trip!

Answer 6

go to amtrak.com and see. Enjoy.

Answer 7

Travel by rail can be very nice. For fares I'd recommend contacting the rail station near your home, or perhaps, if you know the carrier name, you may be able to look it up online just like for airfares.

Answer 8

$1.25 for the streetcar in your own town, http://www.heritagetrolley.org/existNewO...

http://www.norta.com/st_charles.php

Then try Amtrak's City of New Orleans or Crescent.  

The Crescent: leaves New Orleans at Can you think of a reason to spend a day in Slidell or Picayune or Hattiesburg?  

http://www.amtrak.com/timetable/apr07/P1...

The Crescent leaves NO at 7:20a and returns 7:23p, so you could make a day's outing by train to Hattiesburg or Meridian.



I recommend this because you'll get to enjoy the pleasure of breakfast and dinner in a proper dining car.  (don't spoil your appetite on the junk snacks in the cafe car.)

The City of New Orleans

http://www.amtrak.com/timetable/oct04/P5...

is a problem because arrives nearly when it leaves, so if you ride north you'll pass the southbound you need. Call Amtrak every morning to see if the southbound City is more than 2 hours late. If it is, then take the northbound at 1:45, arriving Hammond LA at 2:48, then catch the southbound (scheduled for 1:34) when it comes.  Make sure the southbound is late enough, or you'll be finding your own way home those 53 miles.