AMTRAK Lately

[Andrew_Lubow]

It's been 3 years since I've taken the Amtrak train from Newark, NJ to Orlando. I'm curious about anybody's recent experience traveling coach.

 

[pepe of ohio]

We always use Amtrak, in the past 4 years, probably 12 times, from Ohio to Kissimmee Florida. Its about the same every year, no worse, no better. We've arrived on schedule and have been late. From all the previous trips, we have earned reward bonus points that we apply to the second leg of our trip and up-grade from coach to a roomette. Its just me and wife and the roomette fits us great.

Our journey begins in Alliance Ohio to Washington DC by reserved coach, this train is great, as it is a scenic liner upper and lower car. Smoother ride, feels better up high. We board at 3am and arrive in DC around 4pm. Short lay over here and we board the sleeper, roomette around 5pm from the second leg. This is great, we have slept in coach, its okay for one night but actually laying down in a bed, though small, it has sheets and pillows, I sleep in the lower and wife is in the upper bunk, both have a great viewing window but its a tight little room but cozy and has its own toilet and sink. When you book sleeper, all meals incurred are included. Train food is good, but expensive if you have to pay. Dinner we have a top sirloin, potatoes and corn, beverage and dessert. Breakfast we opted for the french toast, fruit, juice affair and if we're a little late we get lunch, hamburger, fries. In the sleeper car, there is juice, water, bottled and coffee for the taking and a morning newspaper, USA delivered to your room.

We like this better, we're fully rested, and relaxed, no noise, no kids, just the two of us in our little room. Some trips we opt for the sleeper coming home too for the Kissimmee to DC run, its the longest leg for us, the DC to Ohio leg is only about 9 hours and its always daylight out so we window watch.

Either way, the trains great, bring your own meals, snacks drinks. Take a blanket, AC is cold at night and some puzzle books and a novel and you're all set. Only way for us to get to WDW, we've flown years ago but I hate it. We've driven many times years ago and thats too stressful for us, too much traffic and trucks but about equal in time. We rarely pay over 450.00, round trip for the two of us and thats hard to beat flying or driving and we have never had any problems using Amtrak since 1977 other than last October with hurricane Wilma closing down the railroad for 3 days. Do it again in a heart beat. Hope this helps, rather long and alot of extra material.

 

[torinsmom]

We used Amtrak for our trip from Raleigh NC to Orlando in March. Its something I will never do again! It was bumpy and noisy, and we were delayed about 2-4 hours each way. There was NO security, either in the stations or on the trains; none of our bags were checked, which made me feel very unsafe. We did not get a roomette, so sleeping was not very comfortable, especially when the train kept stopping for freight trains to pass, and the electricity went off several times.

Oh, and did you see what happened with Amtrak this past week? Sounded like a nightmare.Amtrak outage

To each his own, but we will be driving for our next trip.

Marsha

 

[pepe of ohio]

We used Amtrak for our trip from Raleigh NC to Orlando in March. Its something I will never do again! It was bumpy and noisy, and we were delayed about 2-4 hours each way. There was NO security, either in the stations or on the trains; none of our bags were checked, which made me feel very unsafe. We did not get a roomette, so sleeping was not very comfortable, especially when the train kept stopping for freight trains to pass, and the electricity went off several times.

Oh, and did you see what happened with Amtrak this past week? Sounded like a nightmare.Amtrak outage

To each his own, but we will be driving for our next trip.

Yes, our trains has been late arriving and getting there but what see quoted about the outage was the intercity electric commuter train. Corridor trains traveling stae wise are diesel-electric and are quite reliable. Since CSX owns the rails they have priority over use, hence the siding stays and lateness. For us, even late its better than being in traffic, big town with a 50 ton semi baring down on us from the rear. We've taken the drive, its boring being in a car for 1200 miles trying to make time to get to WDW in one shot to start our fun and then thinking about the drive home after a hectic 7-9 days of Disney we prefer the "let the engineer" drive the train and us home attitude. So its late, ever been in a portable parking lot on the super slab? Thats the freeway with all the traffic stopped for how long, too late to get off the highway and around or through the big cities is a nightmare. Amtrak trains are always moving, A/C to the hilt and we arrive, even with the delays, relaxed and ready to do Disney and returning home, we board in Kissimmee, do the roomette and settle in for a chat about the whole vacation, watch a DVD and no one is griping about the route, going to the bathroom, price of gas or how long its going to be. Personally, I'ld take the train any day.

 

[torinsmom]

I don't know about the always moving part, because both ways we stopped and sat forever many times. On the way back, we stopped for 2 hours in the middle of the night because another train broke down in front of us. Yes, the A/C works really well--thank goodness we brought blankets or we would have had to rent one for some crazy price I can't remember.

I drove a few years ago, got there in less than 10 hours vs 14-16 hours on the train. I also was with my family, who was not kicking my seat and being generally obnoxious, with the attendants refusing to speak to them(on Amtrak). I know there are no guns or drugs in my car, which with the non-security of Amtrak, there is no way of knowing. I can stop when and where I want. I don't remember any really bad traffic snarls, but if there was, I have my A/C and my radio. Maybe if I was having to drive 20 hours, I would feel differently, but to me Amtrak wasn't a big help.

I guess its good that everyone doesn't like Amtrak, so that there is room for the people who DO like it.....

If you're taking Amtrak--be prepared.

1. Bring your own pillow and blanket
2. Bring some snacks and drinks
3. Don't expect to depart or arrive on time; check the staus of trains online for a few weeks to get an idea of what's average.
4. Get to the station early--if everywhere is like Raleigh, there are no assigned seats, so you line up and that is how they assign seats. My son and I were almost not seated together, because we were sitting by the wrong door.
5. Ask if there is a quiet car, because we had some really obnoxious people in our car, including loud kids and a man who was screaming racial and other vulgarities as people walked by. I asked to move, but was not allowed to move.

Marsha

 

[carolsherman]

We did the train once from Providence to Florida and I would never ever ever do it again.

 

[skoi]

We used to take the autotrain, but haven't recently because it's gotten so much more expensive. We liked it a lot, better than driving, and more relaxing than flying. I haven't traveled long distance on a regular Amtrak train since I was in college (a very long time ago) one way Phila. to Albuquerque, then the next year Phila to LA. I loved both trips.

If you go and can afford it, get a sleeper. The kids loved having the sleeper on the auto train. We recently went to China to finalize our adoption of kid #3, and my biggest regret was that we had to fly out from Beijing to her province and couldn't take the train. I would have loved to see China by train.

Julie

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Some people love the train, others hate it. I often take AMTRAK from Boston to NYC and for a trip of that length, it is very convenient. Lots more leg room than flying coach. My biggest complaint is having to listen to people having long, loud, inane phone conversations for hours on end. Drives me crazy.

I personally would never take AMTRAK for a long trip, such as Boston to Orlando. There are just too many delays and it takes too long.

 

[NJBILL]

This will be our 3rd trip from Philly to Florida. My kids love Trains as do I, so being on the train is part of the trip for us. My wife grumbles a little, but it is better than driving with 3 kids... We have always spent a few more $$ and gotten roomettes,and when you price in that food is included, we think it is worth the cost. We expect to leave on-time and arrive about 2 hours late..
Next year we may fly..but for now....Choo! Choo!

 

[Dumbo]

.....There was NO security, either in the stations or on the trains;....., but we will be driving for our next trip.Marsha

Where are the security check-points on I 95?

 

[NJBILL]

Where are the security check-points on I 95?

Good Point...The conductors and staff are trained to some extent in this area and are in contact with Amtrak should security be necessary.

 

[mlwear]

Haven't done Amtrak myself, but after seeing what MIL went through over this past weekend, I never will. She is a die hard train user. I think she is afraid to fly. She took Amtrak from Central Florida to Richmond, VA. This is when the outages in the NE were going on and likely were a factor. She had a 5 hour delay starting out! She should have left FL around 9 am (but then there was the delay) she didn't arrive to Richmond until 4 pm the next day. She claims it doesn't bother her, she just reads. (She did mention the AC being cold). She also doesn't have kids to deal with. She did say a mother was having a heck of a time with her four young boys during the delay. I'm sure! Mine would be bouncing off the walls . She had another delay on her return trip home! She was supposed to leave Richmond at 4 pm and arrive in FL at 11 am. She didn't arrive until 6 pm! To each their own...the 2 hour non-stop AirTran flight is about the same cost. It would be a no-brainer for me. But, she likes the train.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I know there are no guns or drugs in my car, which with the non-security of Amtrak, there is no way of knowing.

This is true - there are ZERO security checks for AMTRAK passengers. You may carry whatever you please in your luggage. This is not a concern for me, but it seems strange that security is so lax for rail travel.

 

[torinsmom]

Where are the security check-points on I 95?

What do I care if there are security checkpoints on the highway? The people in other cars are not in MY car, sitting right next to me, with me unable to get away from them. With all the delays, I could just see someone pulling a gun out of their carryon and starting to shoot.

Amtrak needs to be more careful. Can you imagine if hijackers decided to take over two trains and crash them into each other at full throttle in a major city? With not even minimal security checks, it is an accident waiting to happen.

Ride your train all you want, but once was enough for me.

 

[DC7800]

What do I care if there are security checkpoints on the highway? The people in other cars are not in MY car, sitting right next to me, with me unable to get away from them. With all the delays, I could just see someone pulling a gun out of their carryon and starting to shoot.

Amtrak needs to be more careful. Can you imagine if hijackers decided to take over two trains and crash them into each other at full throttle in a major city? With not even minimal security checks, it is an accident waiting to happen

This sort of thing may happen in the movies, but in reality, it's not very practical. Our would-be hijacker would face a number of problems: in most cases, it is just not possible to reach the locomotive from inside the train. It is not a matter of a locked door - there is no door in the nose of the locomotive, and no way to reach the operating cab. Second, the train can only go where the tracks and switches lead anyway, and that is controlled by a guy sitting in front of a computer terminal hundreds of miles away. Want to run two trains into each other - you'll need his cooperation too. The list goes on...

Trains are not airplanes on rails, nor are they buses on steel wheels, and the security requirements are different. Just because measures are not apparent does not mean that no precautions have been taken. While someone could possibly have a weapon on a train, they could also do so even easier just about anywhere else - the local McDonald's, service stations, Wal-Mart, buses, shopping malls, etc. There's no security checkpoint there either, but potentially a lot more people.

 

[NJBILL]

What do I care if there are security checkpoints on the highway? The people in other cars are not in MY car, sitting right next to me, with me unable to get away from them. With all the delays, I could just see someone pulling a gun out of their carryon and starting to shoot.

Amtrak needs to be more careful. Can you imagine if hijackers decided to take over two trains and crash them into each other at full throttle in a major city? With not even minimal security checks, it is an accident waiting to happen.

Ride your train all you want, but once was enough for me.

I understand that you had a bad experience, but you admit that you only did it once,which does not give you an extensive base of experience to form an opinion. While your opinion is valid based on your experience, it could be subject to change should your next trip be fine. As a person who enjoys train travel, my expectations are different going into the process. We will most likely be late, and there may be a few delays,and rude people, but those also happen in airports and at rest stops and in traffic. More people are killed by road rage than on trains, if you subscribe to your theory. The previous poster had very good points. Trains are closely monitored and subject to physical controls. Would I like to see metal detectors and baggage x-ray at Amtrak stations..of course, but it is less likely to occur than in an airplane. I respect your opinion, but I would hope you would give trains another try, as it is not always as bad as you think is.

 

[Henlady]

Good point on the Security DC7800 and very true.

torinsmom: Train travel is not for everyone, and neither is flying. I have not traveled by "regular" train, but I have traveled by Autotrain and DH and my family thoroughly enjoy the laid back atmosphere. It is all in what you make of it. The couple of times I have flown, it has been a major hassle. It was a quick way of getting somewhere, but I'm not sure it was worth the stress. Therefore I avoid flying unless it is necessary. I am luckily at a point in my life, where I no longer have to be in a hurry, so we can enjoy the longer more relaxing travel of the AutoTrain. It gives DH and I a chance to unwind from our busy "work" lives and get into a vacation mode of relaxation and just enjoying life. When traveling with our children it gave us an opportunity for some enjoyable, long conversations and time for a game or two.

Just chalk it up as individual choice.

 

[torinsmom]

Of course, it is individual choice, I never said it wasn't. I was saying that for me, once was enough. I'm sorry, but I won't give it another chance. I am not a picky person, and I went into it expecting delays, but the other issues were just too much for me. I would take a shorter train ride in business class during the day, but not an overnight in coach seats.

I don't fly unless I have to because it is a hassle. Takes almost as long as driving by the time you get there early, have delays(inevitable), pick up your luggage, get a shuttle to the hotel, etc. I'd rather drive, and if there is a big traffic mess, take a break at the nearest exit and then get back on the road when the mess is over.

Marsha

 

[QueenGoblin]

I think what form of transportation you prefer could almost be a personality test. Whether you drive, fly, take a train a bus, (or a boat/ferry) there is a high liklihood that you will be delayed, do a lot of "hurry up then wait"ing, have to deal with people who are rude, be in situations that are potentially dangerous, and ultimatly arrive at your destination stressed out and frustrated. If you like to be in control, you probably like to drive, if you are obsessed with making it in the shortest amount of time possible, you will probably want to fly, if you are okay with sitting back and letting the chips fall where they may, you probably will like the train. I have traveled using all of these modes both in the states and abroad and at this point which one is the worst/best is kind of a toss up. We are taking the autotrain to Disney this fall with our three year old. We flew with her last year and found it very frustrating because even though the flight isn't that long, by the time we drive to the airport, get there the reccommended two hours before departure, wait for the plane which inevitably is at least a bit delayed, fly, arrive, and get ourselves to WDW we had lost the entire day anyway and DD was stir crazy. This year we will hop on the train, settle into our spot and if DD needs some action we will stroll to the lounge car or check out the other parts of the train. We still lose a day, but I am hoping it will be a less stressful day and that DD will be ready to have fun when we arrive in WDW. I love a little uninterrupted reading time and DD loves her portable DVD player. I'd rather have my feet up in a delayed train than be rushing through an airport...but that's just me.

 

[Sandy22]

I've travelled on Amtrak from Syracuse via NYC to Orlando several times in the past few years and here are my comments:

-You WILL arrive late
-You WILL depart from Orlando late
-Bathrooms get VERY nasty very quickly
-You WILL come to a complete stop for hours at a time and no one from Amtrak will tell you what's going on
-When the engine breaks down (3 for 4 on my trips) you'll have no electricity, no a/c, no working toilets...
-Paying the extra $$$ for a roomette is worth it just to have your own toilet
-Speaking of roomettes, I don't think they are ever cleaned. Bring your own pillow and blankets because the one's they give you are GROSS.
-Bring your own snacks because when the train is late by over 10 hours, they WILL run out of snacks and food
-The complete lack of security is alarming
-Your fellow travellers will range from friendly to downright scary

What drives me crazy about the train is that once you get on and get stuck in the middle of nowhere for hours on end, you can't get off no matter how bad it gets!

Next trip...I'll do the driving.

That being said, Amtrak beats Greyhound anyday. Options are so limited for non-flyers. Even though I'm no fan of Amtrak, I may try the Autotrain one day. I wish there was a cruise ship running up and down the eastern coast.