Traveling to Montreal via Amtrak, anyone else ever done this and your experience?

Question

I am traveing to Montreal via Amtrak. The train ride is 10hours, but i got a good special. I allways fly, and have never been on amtrak.

Answer 1

My wife and I use Amtrak to do our long distance traveling to see our relatives that live in Seattle.  So we take the Coast Starlight out of San Jose since we live there.

Amtrak is really nice, the staff on the train are always great, the only thing I can say is not to be in a hurry on Amtrak.  Often our trains are late, but on our route that is mainly due to Geography and the fact that when Southern Pacific owned the rail they never improved the main line routes to Dual Track Main Line.  So significant sections are single track and trains are required to wait on sidings until those sections are clear for passage.

Union Pacific now owns the rails and has been left with Southern Pacific's mess.  I will have to say this though, the travel has become far smoother than it used to be under SP's control, and Union Pacific is now making the effort to improve those single track sections to their traffic flows smoother too.

The biggest reason we don't fly is the fact that my wife and I both work for Department of Homeland Security.  We have to jump through their hoops every day, and on Amtrak you don't have the same lengthly and intrusive inspections.

But that is not the real issue in that department.  The contractors that supply the Security Force in the Airports are normally extremely substandard.  Pretty much like NASA.  Expensive equipment built by the cheapest bidder for the contract!

So to avoid the BS we just travel by train.  Plus we are train fans anyway so it also provides entertainment for the hobby.

The food is pretty good, and if you are interested they do serve booze on the train.  Though we seldom travel coach just because we like the privacy of our own compartment.

Anyhow, have a good trip.  It should be nice!

Answer 2

Since you didn't tell us where you are coming from, there's not much we can say.

I have used Amtrak.  It is slow but pleasant.  Nice experience.

Answer 3

I've ridden Amtrak many, many times, but never on the Adirondack (the train that goes between New York and Montreal).  I can tell you a bit about it, though.  Parts of the trip will be quite scenic, such as the trip along the Hudson just out from New York City.  It's not an overly fancy train, using basic Amfleet equipment, rather than the double-decker cars used on other routes (the double-decker cars won't fit in Penn Station in New York).  There's no dining car, but there is a lounge car that serves snacks.  Also, there's no sleeping car, but since the trip takes less than 12 hours, there's no need for one.

The trip will be fairly lengthy, but should be comfortable and relaxing.  Bring along a good book or an iPod with music, and just sit back and enjoy the ride.  None of the fussing that usually goes along with air travel.

There's a good website managed by folks who like riding on Amtrak, that includes an unofficial guide to riding the train in the United States.  The URL is www.on-track-on-line.com.  Look for the "Amtrak Rider's Tips".