Posted on 06/16/2018 5:23:30 PM PDT by US Navy Vet
My wife and I are thinking about going from Omaha to Wash DC and up to NYC and back next May.
Wonderful way to go if you have the time, but you won’t save any money.
i’ve taken it often between NY and Philly...much more comfortable than flying but i don’t know that i would do it for a long haul unless it was a big savings...
Took AMTRAK Empire Builder to Chicago from Seattle several times. Bought the roomette accommodation, meals supplied, three choices for each meal - and - chief’s onboard. The day before arrival in Chicago they held a wine and cheese tasting party for the sleeper compartment people. Nice ride, no TSA hassle and a separate waiting room with WiFi for 1st. class passengers on the Chicago end. (sleeper, 1st. class, roomette same thing).
I went a LONG time ago from New Haven to Chicago (1990) and back. It was okay except the train was about four hours late, and seemed to crawl through Indiana. It’s kind of neat to end up right in the heart of the city, though.
I recommend it - relaxing way to travel.
Most of the Amtrak routes outside of the DC to Boston northeast corridor have trouble staying on time. So you need to be flexible in your expected departures and arrivals. You, as a taxpayer, are also heavily subsidizing those routes so might as well reap what your taxes are sowing.
I took a train from Florida back home to CT one time. One time. Spending overnight with some shady characters doesn’t make for good sleep.
Amtrak passengers are like WalMart shoppers. Fat people, old men, small screaming kids, single moms with tattoos, and everyone anxious to strike up a conversation. Some Amtrak trains have scenic cars where you can go play cards, read a book, take it easy, and see the backside, of America. See a road with no billboards, and meet a lot of nice people. You need to do this.
I’ve traveled a few times on Amtrak. As someone else said, get a roomette. It is bumpier than a plane, but you get to watch the view and see things that you can’t from the plane or if you are driving.
We took the autotrain from Lorton, VA to Sanford, FL in January. Very nice journey.
DC to NYC is an easy 3hrs, even on a packed train. Penn Station is in the heart of Manhattan. No better way to enter the city. Bathrooms are large, and the cafe car food isn’t half bad. Wifi is not very reliable though.
Don’t know about Omaha to DC, but would like to try it sometime. Good luck!
I took a trip from Philadelphia to the West Coast and back via the Grand Canyon with many stops in between. I was gone 12 days. Great way to travel, the change in terrain, wildlife - including the people - LOL - was well worth it. Highly recommend it.
Slow and expensive.
Passenger trains are definitely the one thing Europe does better than the US.
I love train travel. Sit back, relax, and look out at the world passing by. Window seat is best.
My 18-year-old daughter and her friend took the Amtrak a couple of weeks ago from Charlotte to Raleigh, where her friend’s sister met them at the station. It worked out very well. I don’t know how much it cost. Sally paid; she’s a lifeguard.
Used it between cities up north. Express is expensive as hell.
One time I took a train trip, with a group, from London to
Hong Kong. Visits to major cities along the way. But being on the train was the best, and great, but interesting differences, from country to country.
Meals were very good. Seating in the Club Car.
There can be delays, however. AMTRACK doesn't own the right of way. If there is a freight train on the same route, the AMTRACK train may have to stop and wait.
So if you have the time, I'd recommend it.
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