What in Amtrak like for long trips?

Question

Im thinking of taking a cross country trip on Amtrak,,, Im wondering what they are like.. Are they clean? Are they safe? What are the passengers like? Are there alot of lowlifes?

Answer 1

taking Amtrak is fun and people are very nice! its not taking

a bus at all

and since you got a sleeper even your meals are included in that  price (just remember to tip your sleeping car attendant at end of the trip)

lots of families take trips on Amtrak as well

and the views WIOW

the down part is that Amtrak is sometimes slowed

by freights  so sometimes Amtrak can run late (sometimes

hours late)

Answer 2

OMG ,,no there are not alot of lowlifes that ride the rails!! It is actually a very nice trip! The sleepers are very small though!!

I went from Virginia, cross -country to Portland Oregon on an Amtrak and met some very nice and interesting people. The scenery on the trip was absolutley beautiful...Especially if you get on one of the sightseer trains, you actually go upstairs and its all glass..It was a beautiful trip for me. I would take that trip again on Amtrak in a heartbeat!!!!  I loved it. I would NEVER take a trip cross-country on a bus though. I dont even like riding the bus to one state away!!!!  Enjoy your trip!!!  Have a safe and happy one and remember to go to the lounge car that is where you can get yourself a few cocktails for the trip....LOL..........

Answer 3

Expensive. It's not much cheaper than taking a regular flight and with all the budget airlines around these days it's probably more expensive than flying.

Answer 4

They are for the most part clean and very safe.  I've never run into too many "lowlifes".  Just be prepared for a VERY long trip.  Keeping a nice alcohol buzz definitley makes the time pass quicker.

Answer 5

I take amtrak a lot, but only for the one hundred mile trip to see my family. It is a thousand times better than taking grey hound. It is clean and spacious. You can walk around and get stuff from the cafe, use the *usually* clean rest room. I guess it depends on what you mean by "lowlifes." It's not like New York subways if that's what you mean. You can get a private room, but that's pricey. Sometimes I am overwhelmed by old lady perfume, but I just move to a different car. I'm a timid 24 year old woman and I've never felt unsafe while traveling by train. You travel through places that the highways dont go, so you see some really amazing scenery that you wouldn't otherwise see. I've only had postitive experiences on the Amtrak.

Answer 6

In my experience, trains are really nice, i enjoy trains, you got allot more room and space, you can get up and move about without having to worry about others getting in your way or getting in their way, they have a nice dining car, and some trains have a smokers car (not all but longer destination ones do) if your a smoker, also i think allot of the scenery is much better, i put it to you this way, i cant even describe how much better it is than a bus, where on countless occasions i had to sit next to some weirdo who smelled like urine or something, even though that's not saying much.

Answer 7

Your going to have weirdo's anywhere you go, so there's really not a way to describe what the passengers are like.  You should be pretty safe, but always be prepared and keep your surroundings in mind.  Riding the Amtrak isn't really too bad, it seems to be kind of smooth.

Answer 8

You're gonna love it.  They're very clean, very safe.  The passengers are usually a mix of "retired early and enjoying the good life" folks, students and families.

Lowlifes, perhaps you have Amtrak confused with Greyhound :)  They couldn't be more different.  

The sleeper experience is truly deluxe.  All your meals are included in the sit-down, full service diner - so don't blow your appetite with the convenience store fare in the cafe-car.

The one thing you need to brace yourself for is late running - REALLY late running.  "I can't believe they're this late" running.  Worst I've ever had was 6 hours, oh wait, that was on JetBlue.  Worst on Amtrak was 5 hours.

On the other hand you could be on-time and have 3-9 hours of layover.  Do not sit around the station; there's a place to check your day-bags and an amazing city right outside your door!  Research some things to do in those cities before you go, so you can enjoy the time!

Answer 9

Its like a vacation in itself.  Yes they are clean.  There is always some one watching out for you.  Not many lowlifes because of the cost.   They like to use the bus BUT you get a few.  Its just a cool way to travel I think you would like it.

Answer 10

Plenty clean, and safe.  I never see lowlifes.  It's hard to get comfortable sleeping, though, sitting in the seats.

Answer 11

I take a cross country AMTRAK trip every April and love it. Most of the passengers are older types but there are many younger groups that travel during the Summer months. Take along a road atlas and it will keep you abreast of where you are at. You will meet many nice, friendly people and it is clean for the most part. The food is excellent but a bit expensive (unless you get a sleeper). Relax and enjoy the great scenery

Answer 12

No enjoy the trip

Answer 13

its like riding a bus but less crowded you could upgrade from a seat to a cabin they are clean there's a club car and bar with food average prices you get an assortment of passengers but there is staff to handle people like that you have frequent stops you can walk about the Amtrak conversing with the other passengers from car to car its a bit longer on a train than taking a bus but is more comfortable if your going to be on the Amtrak longer than 36hrs I would splurge on the cabin.

Answer 14

Years ago I took Amtrak in coach from Denver to Oakland, CA. I felt safe, I did a lot of sightseeing by train. The seats are reclinable and I slept well there.

Answer 15

all i know is that go for your dreams dont think bout wht there like just go for it!!!!

tell me bout it if you are going to go????