Amtrak -never Again!

[kparc]

We took Amtrak from Washington DC to Orlando. NEVER AGAIN! When we arrived at Union Station we were told the train was overbooked. We had a party of 6 and were not able to sit together. The seats were uncomfortable - little padding and didn't recline much, the ride was rough, air conditioning was minimal, they keep some over head lighting on all night, the trip was exhausting, we could get little or no sleep. It may be a cheaper way to travel, but you get what you pay for. The train was a least somewhat on time, just 30 minutes late. I can't believe Auto train is any more comfortable. In a couple of words, AMTRAK SUCKS! Thank God we booked a flight home instead of taking AMTRAK back.

 

[gallaj0]

I've compared Amtrak with flying a couple of times over the years, and flying always came out cheaper anyways.

But thanks for the heads up, I may just have to stop comparing Amtrak when it's time to book next time.

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

When I took the AutoTrain, I booked a private compartment with a convertible bunk. A bit more expensive, but I thoughorly enjoyed my trip, and slept well.

 

[JudithM]

KPaRC, you are not alone in your thoughts! We used to drive one way & autotrain the other way, but not any longer. We used to be fans of the Autotrain until three years ago when it rocked back & forth so much more than normal. We said not any time in the near future! I wonder how much of the same tracks the Autotrain & the non-Autotrain both use? Thank you for sharing your thoughts.

 

[miche61]

We took the train from Minneapolis to Chicago just this month. The train was almost 4 hours late arriving in Chicago. The kids loved the train. I am somewhat hesitant about doing it again. The loved the room, the roaming, the movies. If we were to go farther than Chicago, I would definitely look into a sleeping car. I really doubt that my kids would get a good night sleep, and I know I would not, because I would constantly worry that someone was sneaking up on them. We may take the train again next year to Chicago, we'll see.

 

[Dopey's twin Dippy]

we are leaving this WED morning on the 630 AM train out of Dedham, Ma to Wash. have a 2 1/2 hour stop, then on the Orl. i really dont want to think about how long it takes, but i am the one who does not like to fly. i didnt mind when i was younger, but i thought after last years trip, also by train, that this year i would get medicine and fly. but dh said , no we will take the train. so , im hoping that all will go as well as it can, ......like not to many HOURS late, or anything else. The only thing that saves my sanity, is when we arrive.........hello.........we are home again for 8 day.............im really getting excited now, except for the thought of packing..........

 

[gjerseygirl]

Wow!! Am I in the minority. I luuuuvvv the train. This will be our 3rd time taking the train from NJ to Orlando. We don't have a problem with sitting together because we are the second stop. We also don't usually have a problem with the train being late....because we're the second stop. Yes, the seats are not that comfortable....we set up a little bed on the floor in front of the seats and get a decent night's sleep. We love eating in the dining car. Especially when we're passing DC and can see alot of the monuments. Then we have a game....the first one to see a palm tree wins a prize. We're bringing a portable DVD player, movies, cards, games, snacks. And to make it even more fun, we're taking a stretch limo to the train station (MY GF and I will be having mimosas on the way there...so whatever is wrong with the train....we won't care LOL). Last time the air conditioning was so high I was freezing and had to use my blanket the whole time. DH always makes friends and ends up starting this BIG poker game in the club car. I always have to go in and tell him he needs to get some sleep. Although on a negative note, the food is crappy and expensive....the conductors are way nasty...but other than that we have a ball. And to me.....its way better than the alternatives. I will never fly again (unless they knock me out like they used to do to Mr. T) and I'm the worst back seat driver so I will never drive (did it when I was a kid....hated it...so boring). I'm sorry all of you had bad experiences....but I love Amtrack!!

 

[Kim&Chris]

Originally posted by Chip 'n Dale Express
When I took the AutoTrain, I booked a private compartment with a convertible bunk. A bit more expensive, but I thoughorly enjoyed my trip, and slept well.

Ditto here. I thought that renting the sleep compartment was worth its weight in gold.

 

[tci1212]

Kparc, I totally agree with you. We took our one and only trip on Amtrak from Phila to Niagra falls Canada. Yuk! Dirty train and it stunk. The kids loved it but we will never do it again. We had the same problem with not being able to sit together although we had reserved seats. When the ticket taker realized our kids were all separated from us he did yell at some people to move. They were taking up 2 seats each when they only paid for one ticket!

 

[poohluvr]

Wow!! Am I in the minority. I luuuuvvv the train. This will be our 3rd time taking the train from NJ to Orlando. We don't have a problem with sitting together because we are the second stop. We also don't usually have a problem with the train being late....because we're the second stop. Yes, the seats are not that comfortable....we set up a little bed on the floor in front of the seats and get a decent night's sleep. We love eating in the dining car. Especially when we're passing DC and can see alot of the monuments. Then we have a game....the first one to see a palm tree wins a prize. We're bringing a portable DVD player, movies, cards, games, snacks. And to make it even more fun, we're taking a stretch limo to the train station (MY GF and I will be having mimosas on the way there...so whatever is wrong with the train....we won't care LOL). Last time the air conditioning was so high I was freezing and had to use my blanket the whole time. DH always makes friends and ends up starting this BIG poker game in the club car. I always have to go in and tell him he needs to get some sleep. Although on a negative note, the food is crappy and expensive....the conductors are way nasty...but other than that we have a ball. And to me.....its way better than the alternatives. I will never fly again (unless they knock me out like they used to do to Mr. T) and I'm the worst back seat driver so I will never drive (did it when I was a kid....hated it...so boring). I'm sorry all of you had bad experiences....but I love Amtrack!!

I'm thinking of taking the train from Penn Station because the airfares are just too darn high. I'm just concerned about being on a train for 20+ hours with three kids. How far is the station from WDW?

 

[bdcp]

We love the train also. There can be a big difference between Amtrak regular service and the Auto Train. The auto train seats were VERY COMFORTABLE and pretty much everyone slept at least 5 or 6 hours in coach when we were on board last Nov. Auto Train also doesn't overbook. Last time I was on Amtrak for a trip up north, from Union Station, they did not overbook because each person had a reserved seat, but they were full. OP obviously knows next to nothing about train travel. If you reserve seats you can ask to be seated together but there is no guarantee just like flying. Otherwise just booking a reservation guarantees you a seat, but not a particular one. The Auto train are all reserved seats and they do sit parties together who reserve together, like any other mode of transportation with reserved seats. You just have to be willing to pay for it. Although my sister just got back a week ago after taking the train from Union Station to FL and back with her husband and two kids. They absolutely loved it. No problems whatsoever. Like anything else, each trip can be different.

Sorry you had a bad time, but most people who take the train love it and that's why they continue to use Amtrak.

We also found the Auto Train to be a much smoother ride than the northeast corridor. We had little rocking and normal bumping from going over crossovers. That's perfectly normal and isnt a big deal. The tracks are maintained by CSX and Amtrak pays to use them so if the tracsk are a problem that would be CSX and not Amtrak's responsibility.

 

[jodifla]

So you have one bad train experience, and condemn it for all time? Seems excessive to me.

We've taken the AutoTrain twice. We got the pullman sleeping car. It was a lot of fun, and way better than driving all that way. My DS, 3 and 4 on the trips, was in sheer heaven.

But if you're too cheap to spring for the sleeping car, I can see that it would be tough to sit up all night. I wouldn't want to do that, either.

 

[poohluvr]

But if you're too cheap to spring for the sleeping car, I can see that it would be tough to sit up all night. I wouldn't want to do that, either.

Too cheap???? Maybe some people don't have it like you and just can't afford it. If I was going to spend another few hundred dollars just for a sleeping car, I'd just skip Amtrak altogether and fly.

 

[Henlady]

We have traveled on the Auto Train many times in coach, once in a bedroom and once in a roomette. September's trip will be coach on the way down and possibly upgrading to a room on the way back. Obviously having a room is "the way to go", but coach is not bad. We always take whatever we need to make ourselves comfortable (pillow, sheet to cover the seat, light throw). Usually there are enough seats available so that everyone can use a full (double) seat. So you can kind of curl up to sleep instead of sitting upright. We booked seats in the lower level for this trip and I think that may be better since no one will be walking thru the car.

 

[adisneynut]

I am with pooluvr on this, since this will be our first time using Amtrak. We will board in Sav. GA. I have been following the departure/arrival of our train going down will be 91 Silver Star and it seems to bee about 1 hour late most mornings.

How full are most trains? We leave Dec. 23 at 4:29 I am concerened about getting seats near each other. We are a party of 4 2 adults and 2 14 year old girls. Also worried about making too much noise when boarding. We don't want to disturb others.

I have read other threads about how dirty the bathrooms are and I have taken in consideration that this is a public bathroom and that some people just don't care how they treat them.

Also are you allowed to bring food on board?

Please I hope we haven't made a bid mistake. We thought this could be fun way to go.

 

[bdcp]

You can bring food and drinks onboard the trains. I brought some peanut butter/cheese crackers and other snacks on our Auto Train trip last year. The couple sitting across from us brought a bottle of rum and mixed their own drinks as the train pulled out of Lorton. As for noise, be as quiet as you can, but anyone taking that train should be aware that people are boarding and when. That's one thing I like about the Auto Train. They only load passengers at each end (Lorton, VA and Sanford, FL). On Amtrak on our trips to RI and NY, I also brought snacks. Watching people board the Auto Train and settle in can be comical. They bring sleeping bags, pillows, clothes, food, drink, dvd players, computers, books, etc. The rest of their luggage is packed in their autos and is inacessible during the trip so some are afraid they'll need a lot more than they really do. On the regular Amtrak trains your luggage is with you.

If only everyone would treat the bathroom as if it was their own and they had to clean them etc. that part of the trip could be nicer. One of the bathrooms on our trip going last year flooded and no one reported it til it had come out into the hall somewhat. Make sure you wear shoes when you walk anywhere. But, it was far from unbearable.

 

[adisneynut]

Thanks for the info. It helps to be a little informed!!

 

[n2mm]

I wouldn't ride the train to Orlando even if it was free. 2 hours by air from Dulles/Wash to MCO is prefect. I take a train from WV to Wash. DC/Union station to and from 4 days a week, for 9 years now and there is no way I am going to be on a train. I spent 5 hours a day commuting. I'm sick of the no air conditioning and dirty bathrooms and the DELAYS. Summer time is the absolute worse. If the temp. goes above 80 degree CSX/owner of the tracks issue a heat restriction which means you have to go 20 miles less per hour. This new feature was added when Amtrak derailed outside Wash. a couple of years ago. Add to it the freight trains and congestion and that all equals delays. Did you know that CSX owns the rails? That the freight trains get all priority over the trains that move people! Yes, the order is, frieght trains, Amtrak then commuter trains (yes that's me on the commuter train). I would have to guess when you take a train at night, all should go smoothly, but when the sun comes up...watch out. The commuter trains start, the frieght trains get moving--and I use that term loosely since they break down all of the time, usually in front of the train I'm on. Our train takes 1 1/2 hours to go 60 miles from where I board to Union Station and that is on a good day....we actually get excited when we're on time, as it is rare. Mornings are generally good unless there's a thunderstorm, then trees block the tracks, signals go out and you sit, waiting for permission to continue, and lets not forget the forever problems with the never working switches and the delays you encounter with the never ending trackwork--again always in the summer time. OK, granted these are only the few problems you encounter in the Wash. DC area. I feel 100% safer flying than taking a train, granted my chances of an accident are greatly increased considering I spend 20+ hours on a train each week.

 

[bdcp]

I wouldn't ride the train to Orlando even if it was free. 2 hours by air from Dulles/Wash to MCO is prefect. I take a train from WV to Wash. DC/Union station to and from 4 days a week, for 9 years now and there is no way I am going to be on a train. I spent 5 hours a day commuting. I'm sick of the no air conditioning and dirty bathrooms and the DELAYS. Summer time is the absolute worse. If the temp. goes above 80 degree CSX/owner of the tracks issue a heat restriction which means you have to go 20 miles less per hour. This new feature was added when Amtrak derailed outside Wash. a couple of years ago. Add to it the freight trains and congestion and that all equals delays. Did you know that CSX owns the rails? That the freight trains get all priority over the trains that move people! Yes, the order is, frieght trains, Amtrak then commuter trains (yes that's me on the commuter train). I would have to guess when you take a train at night, all should go smoothly, but when the sun comes up...watch out. The commuter trains start, the frieght trains get moving--and I use that term loosely since they break down all of the time, usually in front of the train I'm on. Our train takes 1 1/2 hours to go 60 miles from where I board to Union Station and that is on a good day....we actually get excited when we're on time, as it is rare. Mornings are generally good unless there's a thunderstorm, then trees block the tracks, signals go out and you sit, waiting for permission to continue, and lets not forget the forever problems with the never working switches and the delays you encounter with the never ending trackwork--again always in the summer time. OK, granted these are only the few problems you encounter in the Wash. DC area. I feel 100% safer flying than taking a train, granted my chances of an accident are greatly increased considering I spend 20+ hours on a train each week.

WOW! You aren't sad as your smilie indicates, you are angry! So,move closer in if it's so horrible to commute. I live in Northern VA and work in No. VA, but worked in DC during college and used to ride the subway and metro bus. You've made a choice to take a commuter train. The Amtrak Auto Train is very, very clean and the a/c worked fine. Your numerous personal issues have more to do with your commute than with Amtrak. I've never had a problem on Amtrak and as I said previously, my sister,her husband and their two kids had a great experience a couple of weeks ago on Amtrak, Union Station to FL and return. You're comparing apples and oranges.

And yes, if you read my previous post, you'll see I said CSX owns the tracks which is widely known by those that have taken the train.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Flying usually is much cheaper than taking Amtrak any long distance.

I like Amtrak for shorter trips, such as between Boston and NYC, but anything longer - forget it. Just way too many delays. You can count on a greatly delayed arrival.