Amtrac questions?? Need help fast!!!

[Pegg]

We have been planning on taking the greyhound all the way to orlando. But i started checking into the Amtrak and if we take a bus for 12 hours then can transfer to a train. The total trip would be longer, but the price is only a little more. Daughter really wants to ride the train. I got a really good deal New orleans to orlando for both $136. Got to pay for it by saturday so not much time to make up minds. What is it like riding the train? Do they have food on board? is it good or really expensive? We train stops at the different cities to board new passangers can you get off for a walk? Tell me anything you know? Thanks

 

[RumpleMom]

Sorry, I can't comment on your train route, but we have taken the Auto Train from Lorton, VA to Sanford, FL twice. The food was very good, several choices of entrees for dinner- linen tablecloth, breakfast was bagel, small muffin, cereal, juice, coffee, & milk. Just thought I would add my $ .02. Good Luck

 

[Pat Marlton NJ]

We did the train one year from Philly to Orlando, and there was a dining car, and there are snacks available. You can also bring a cooler and your own snacks if you want to. The different stops are usually very short from 5 to 15 minutes, I would not advise getting off the train as you never know when it will start to pull out! There is alot of room in the cars to walk around so the children will not be constantly seated, they can get up and walk about.

 

[4merlurkerchris]

Hi Pegg,
We have taken the Auto-Train and Amtrak from New York. Check the website for some more detailed information at www.amtrak.com
There are dining cars and sleeper cars on board and the crew will let you know if you have enough time to get off the train to walk around the station area, if you want to. Usually, there are only a few stations that there is time for that, but you can ask. The food wasn't bad, but I don't know what the cost was, as we get a sleeper car and the food is included with that.
Chris

 

[travelcoupons]

The only time you can get off is at a refueling stop or when they have a service stop. They will tell you that you can get off, but to stay within earshot. Usually it is for 15 minutes or so. My hometown is a refueling stop, so I see lots of people out walking around when the train is stopped.

Food in the dining room is very good. You usually have to 'reserve' a particular time to eat, especially for lunch or dinner. (Breakfast too, if you are not an early riser.)

They also have a snack type area on the lower level of the lounge car where you can buy sandwiches, chips, etc. at lower cost than the dining car.

Its a fun experience the first time, but not something I'd like to do every year.

 

[karensi]

DD, 3 year old grandson and I are taking Amtrak in Aug. from Penn Station,NY to Kissamee. I was surprised when I saw that you mentioned to "reserve" a table for meals. Could you please tell us alittle more about that. Such as who,where do you call and are you talking about reservations as in a restaurant? Thanks for any info

 

[4merlurkerchris]

Hi Karen,
I know when we took the train from NY Penn Station, we got a sleeper and they asked us which dinner seating we wanted when we boarded the train. There were three to choose from.
Chris

 

[DC7800]

You make a "reservation" for breakfast, lunch, or dinner after you board the train. It isn't really a true reservation; the dining car could not possibly hold everyone on the train at once, so there have to be multiple calls for each meal. The Lounge car is also available for snacks and beverages; some people (particularly coach passengers, whose meals are not included with their tickets) eat some meals in the lounge.

Pegg, since you are coming from New Orleans, you will be on the Sunset Limited, which runs between Los Angeles and Orlando. This is the only possible problem you might encounter - since the eastbound train must come all the way from California, it has many chances to fall behind schedule. However, there is dwell time built into the schedule, so a Sunset two hours late in Texas might leave New Orleans nearly on time.

The train carries the sleepers, coaches, diner, and "sightseer" lounge car. It is far, far more comfortable than travel by airplane, bus, or automobile. You can get up and stroll around whenever you wish; take pictures; use your cell phone (poor reception in rural areas, though); listen to a radio, etc. Persons familair with the hassles of air travel should be very pleasantly surprised. The food is usually excellent; like any good restaurant, if there is a problem they take care of it. Amtrak also has a relatively new satisfaction guarantee to assure this.

If you have any more questions regarding Amtrak or the Sunset Limited, I can probably answer them. I encourage you to try the train.

 

[karensi]

Dear 4merlurkerchris and DC 7800, Thank you for your postings and helpful information. I usually prefer to take the plane but will be doing Amtrak with DD and grandson,3 years old, in August. The last time I took Amtrak to Fla. was about 30 years ago so this will be somewhat of a new experience for me. I look at it as a new adventure. I think it should be fun (hopefully )

 

[JohnTBap]

We rode the Sunset Limited from Houston to Orlando in May of 1999. From this I learned:

* A train can hit a boat and that will set you back a couple of hours

* New Orleans is the only stop between Hou/Orl where you can get out and walk around - and if you are late, perhaps you hit a boat, then you'll only be stopping for as long as it takes them to put more H2O and food on the train - ie not long

* You can sit outside of Pensacola all night because of a freight train derailment

* You can run out of certain types of food/drink in the dining car

* You will more than likely be LATE

Please note that the trains in the northeast corridor are a completely different animal than the Sunset Limited as they have better trains and tracks.

GOOD LUCK!

Also, we ate in the dining car once and just walked right in - no waiting or reservation. Now THAT was a challenge.

 

[Pegg]

Not sure it is worth the extra time and money. Traveling would take 10 more hours and not knowing about late trains and late busses I would be afraid of missing the connections. Oh well there is a next time.
One good thing about the busses is they do stop every few hours and let you walk around. And I will take food on board for DD so i am not hearing all day I'M HUNGRY. Thanks for all the help.

I knowq last year the bus trip really wasn't that bad, knowing we would be at Disney World in a few hours. And the return trip we were so tired We slept most of it.