They dropped a lot of coin on that trip.
The meals have to mentioned, because once they are, they are tax-deductible as an expense (against what the writer gets paid for writing).
For $250, they could have rented a nice, big car (like a Mercury Grand Marquis) for 4 days, and had a leisurely drive, going wherever they wanted, and spent less time traveling, too (it’s only 7 hours to drive, versus 11 hours on the train).
And had a car when they arrived in Montreal, if they wanted to see anything.
And had a secure place to store their things out-of-sight when stopping off along the way.
But if the trip is part of the vacation, then I guess the cattle-call lineup at the start, the 11 hours in a seat, the mandatory stops along the way are worth it.
No way it works other than as a fun, vacation activity, though!
It's a BEAUTIFUL drive, by car, most any time of the year, with lots of scenic spots off the beaten path that one can stop at, get out and appreciate and actually experience along the way (I have made the trip several times); and then you don't need to rent a car when you get to Montreal. And it's about a six hour drive.
The accommodations for the one over-night stay the author and his wife had, mid-trip on the way to Montreal comprised at least half the $306 each ticket, because the usual round-trip train fare is about $126 each, which is a highly subsidized fare to begin with. And a ten hour plus train trip, one way.
http://tickets.amtrak.com/itd/amtrak
Why the taxpayers should be subsidizing these folks' travel is beyond the ability of normal human beings to understand.