Amtrak
By Faye
@FayeHazel (40246)
United States
July 24, 2017 12:15pm CST
So far I have only experienced rail travel once - and have found it to be a great experience.
The attendants are helpful and polite, and the seats give you a lot of leg room. There are huge windows, though if the windows aren't sufficient you can walk a few cars down to a car that houses a community living room/refreshment bar. Unlike the plane you are allowed to bring liquids, which is something I would recommend so that you can avoid the murky water that is offered, and because buying refreshments on the train is quite expensive. Also expensive is meals, though I do recommend the dining car experience , even though it is high priced - for the experience of eating a nice meal on the train, community style - you will be seated with others to conserve room.
I would highly recommend Amtrak for your next vacation.
A popular discussion forum for Amtrak passenger train service.
14 people like this
14 responses
@TiarasOceanView (70035)
• United States
24 Jul 17
Never traveled by Amtrak but would love to.
3 people like this
@FayeHazel (40246)
• United States
25 Jul 17
I hope you get the chance, it's a cool experience
2 people like this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
24 Jul 17
My friend and I went to a conference in Virginia on the train from CT and enjoyed the experience at least most of the experience, on the way home we were delayed 2 hours in New York so that wasn't that much fun but it was more fun than the hour we spent stuck on the train.
2 people like this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
26 Jul 17
@FayeHazel It was the same train that had the terrible accident in Philadelphia just a few weeks later. That is scary.
@FayeHazel (40246)
• United States
25 Jul 17
Getting stuck for 2 hours sounds a bit tedious. :/ I know there was a delay or 2 from MN to Chicago - but nothing like 2 hours... eee.
1 person likes this
@much2say (53944)
• Los Angeles, California
24 Jul 17
We have yet to do this! We have been thinking to do some local trips via train/Amtrak but have never gotten around to doing it. On any trip, I am one to carry a backpack with our own waters at least . . . and food/snacks if possible. I don't doubt buying these things on the train could be pricey. How far did you go with the train?
2 people like this
@much2say (53944)
• Los Angeles, California
26 Jul 17
@FayeHazel We hope to this year! Side note: Yesterday we were out and about (though not on a train) and we stepped into Trader Joes to get the 3 of us bottled waters. It came out to 61 cents total. I cringe knowing some places charge sky high for bottled waters, just because they can 
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.@FayeHazel (40246)
• United States
25 Jul 17
We went from MN to Chicago-- I hope you get to experience it, I would love to hear what you think of it You are wise to take water -- buying bottled water can be so expensive.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (130114)
• India
25 Jul 17
I have done that too. From San jose to Oxnard a aroute almost parellel to the sea. It was a great experience
1 person likes this
@allknowing (130114)
• India
26 Jul 17
@FayeHazel When I was working my boss got an assignment in Switzerland and his wife mentioned this route to me. I kept dreaming about it and it finally happened.
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40246)
• United States
25 Jul 17
Oh wow, I imagine that view was incredible!
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40246)
• United States
26 Jul 17
@allknowing That's awesome. I wonder if there was something to do that "power of dreaming/positive thinking" to it
1 person likes this
@just4him (307136)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
25 Jul 17
@FayeHazel It could have been, not sure anymore. The only thing I am sure about is the urine reek the way there and back.
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40246)
• United States
26 Jul 17
@just4him Oh... ick. I did notice that downtown Chicago had a "smell" not a nice one, either....
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40246)
• United States
25 Jul 17
Aw, that's too bad. Was it one of those "elevated" trains?
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43419)
• Denver, Colorado
25 Jul 17
I rode Amtrak to Modesto, California once. 36 hours, but it was fun.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43419)
• Denver, Colorado
25 Jul 17
@FayeHazel - I slept in my seat.
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40246)
• United States
26 Jul 17
@teamfreak16 Doable I imagine thanks to the luxurious amount of leg room as compared to the plane
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40246)
• United States
25 Jul 17
Wow! That's a long trip. Did you have a sleeping car? Or sleep in a seat? (I saw people do that... it actually looked pretty comfortable)
1 person likes this
@popciclecold (35419)
• United States
25 Jul 17
I have never been on a train, but I think I would like to try it once.
1 person likes this
@ptrikha_2 (45546)
• India
24 Jul 17
The Train service in India is not very well. There are deficiencies in cleanliness, food quality. It is not as if such things do not happen in other countries and efforts are underway to improve things here as well, but it needs to be much better.
And you certainly had a great experience in the train.
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40246)
• United States
25 Jul 17
I have heard that rail travel is far different in different countries. I hope that rail is improved soon in India :-)
@FayeHazel (40246)
• United States
25 Jul 17
I hope you get the chance to experience it. Actually I was surprised that it was (relatively) cheap , unless you wanted a private "sleeping" car, but then - that would be quite an experience sometime too....
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (49130)
• United States
25 Jul 17
I've only been on very short train rides, but enjoyed it.
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40246)
• United States
25 Jul 17
Oh wow. How far away are you from NYC? I can't imagine such a large city
1 person likes this
@DianneN (247191)
• United States
26 Jul 17
@FayeHazel We are 75 miles away. NYC is fabulous!!!!!! Of course, my son and his family live there, so we basically see his place and neighborhood unless we sneak in without telling them. lol
@HazySue (39264)
• Gouverneur, New York
25 Jul 17
My daughter and her family used Amtrak to come from Washington DC to Florida and they were very pleased with it. You have the same good things to say about it. It has made us think about using Amtrak instead of driving the next time we go on vacation.
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40246)
• United States
25 Jul 17
Oh that's awesome, I hope you do use Amtrak - I would to know if you find the same :-)
1 person likes this
@kobesbuddy (74767)
• East Tawas, Michigan
25 Jul 17
I've never experience travel by train, even though I want to some day! Two times I traveled by airline, but wasn't very impressed at all. A cold, hard bagel, one packet of cream cheese and a cup of instant coffee, isn't my idea of a balanced breakfast:(
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40246)
• United States
26 Jul 17
Oh yes... the airline food - I didn't eat but so others --- the airline food looked a little unimpressive
