Amtrak train info w/pics!All Aboard-Choo-choo!UPDATED

[lisa-upnorth]

MAJOR UPDATE!!

I'm on the 97 Silver Meteor that left Penn Station NYC at 3:15 PM today and just passed Trenton, NJ.

The roomette is surprisingly big. Well not big BIG as in an actual bedroom but it's doable. My wife & I are sitting facing each other. No problems with bangin knees.

Wish I can post a photo right now but I'm on an iPhone.

I'll update more later after our dinner.

JEALOUS!!!!!!

 

[NJGirl]

I'm in a bedroom on Tuesday...so I'll take some pics and post here so people can see the size.

Cant wait...tomorrow needs to go fast!

 

[DMass]

Is it better to go on weekends or weekdays?

Or does it not make a difference?

 

[DanBoris]

Orlando or Kissimmee station. Which do you prefer?

And if you're not renting a car, do you use a taxi or a car service?

Thanks!

I've been to both and it's really a toss up for me. Kissimmee is a little closer to the parks, but it's an additional 30 minutes on the train so you don't end up getting there any quicker. You should be able to get a taxi at either station, but I found that there are more car services that pickup at Orlando the Kissimmee.

Dan

 

[lisa-upnorth]

Is it better to go on weekends or weekdays?

Or does it not make a difference?

I've done both and not much difference to me.

 

[BillyBuff]

We've hit a bit of a snag today on the 92 Silver Star going northbound to NYC. Looks like we are ending at Richmond, VA and connecting to a bus there sue to flooded tracks!

 

[disneymarie]

We've hit a bit of a snag today on the 92 Silver Star going northbound to NYC. Looks like we are ending at Richmond, VA and connecting to a bus there sue to flooded tracks!

Oh no, not a bus all night? Can you reconnect? Oh I just saw the time and you are probably back at NYC now. How stressing, especially after the Irene woo's and worry's. Must be that guy, "Murphy"
Terrible to hear this news for you.

 

[BillyBuff]

Oh no, not a bus all night? Can you reconnect? Oh I just saw the time and you are probably back at NYC now. How stressing, especially after the Irene woo's and worry's. Must be that guy, "Murphy"
Terrible to hear this news for you.

Finally back in NYC!

They put us on a bus from Richmond, VA to DC to connect to the 92 Silver Star going northbound. The only bad part was sitting in coach since they didn't connect the sleeper cars. I need to see if I can get back a partial discount since I had paid for a roomette.

Overall we waited an hour for the train at Union Station in DC and got to NYC about an hour past its estimated arrival. Not bad.

We're glad to be back but yet sad we left WDW!

 

[BillyBuff]

Sleeping on the top bunk of the 97 Silver Meteor Viewliner Roomette

 

[babygirlamg]

hey just curious if the train from NYC to orlando will be crowded leaving on feb 29th and returning 3/9.....also does a train have the same amount of room as a bus...i have been on a bus never a train to florida...

 

[DC7800]

hey just curious if the train from NYC to orlando will be crowded leaving on feb 29th and returning 3/9.....also does a train have the same amount of room as a bus...i have been on a bus never a train to florida...

The train has so much more room than a bus there is no comparison.

 

[GetGlowing]

BillyBuff, thanks for that picture. Now I understand where the luggage gets stowed.

 

[pepe of ohio]

We've hit a bit of a snag today on the 92 Silver Star going northbound to NYC. Looks like we are ending at Richmond, VA and connecting to a bus there sue to flooded tracks!

But we were stuck in DC headed south.....after the 6 hours layover in DC (we came by train form Ohio) we board and sit in station for 2+ hours and then they tell us to get off the train is going nowhere....

Back in the terminal, Union Station, they initially tell all of us passengers to go home......after Amtrak employess get it together, a few hours, they issue us 30 dollars apiece for food, put us up in a hotel and bus us to that hotel and for us to call the next am for a progress report..

Next morning we call at 7am and are told trains running....we hear conflicting stories form all the other stranded guests and decide to go to Union Station for an actual account from customer services.....we get there and they say train are "not" running but to stand by......we wait and wait and they finally say they are chartering buses to get us from DC to Richmond to board there to head south......many hours later the buses come in, 5 chartered buses, and off we go schlepping our bags again for a 4 hour bus ride to Richmond...

We get to Richmond with our luggage and board and away we go south to Kissimmee.....lost first night in Disney, we called them the first night the trouble began and they removed it from our reservation, no cancellation fee, and we arrive in Kissimmee on time but a day late....

Going home was great, everything back to normal.....good train trip but I wish they would tighten up the layover time in DC to connecting train headed to Chicago....6 hours is a long layover....

A follow up: 2nd day we're home we get a call from Amtrak asking if we were on train 97 and we have our case number from customer services, and they granted us a 155.00 voucher for the disruption....all in all not a bad deal over a mother nature issue.....30 bucks a piece for meals, hotel room in DC, Marriot, and 155.00 voucher for the trouble.....though we missed the first night in Disney, it was no ones fault really, they made decision to bus around and got us to where we were going.....just a reminder that things can go wrong and to expect whatever comes along can be fixed...may take time but we got there.....

 

[Melanie230]

We are going on the train for the first time Sunday, October 2, 2011. I hope all goes off without a hitch! Reading all these disruptions here is making me nervous!

 

[pepe of ohio]

We are going on the train for the first time Sunday, October 2, 2011. I hope all goes off without a hitch! Reading all these disruptions here is making me nervous!

It's just the way it is and you just have to go along with the flow.....We've taken over 20 Amtrak trips to WDW.....some alot better than others but we've accepted that they hardly run on schedule......our departing train is always 1-2 hours late picking us up.....still we get to that station on time because those trains can make up time and will leave with or without you....we constantly call Amtrak for up dates while sitting at the station....

Plus it makes the layover in our connecting station shorter being the first train is late......DC trains south are normally on schedule (except for 2 trips) so we're off to Kissimmee by 6:30 pm most trips........headed down you can lose time by being side line by CSR freights (they have priorty) medical emergency or who knows...but you will arrive....

I still stand by Amtrak, (I will not fly , and driving is not a good option) it's an adventure in all how you take it. For us it's a pleasant comfortable way to Florida....barring mishaps....not for some but should be experienced once....great way to see the country and relax....for us, speed is not an issue....being comfortable and no stress of driving is what Amtrak does for us....this last trip disruption was mother nature...who can argue...

Hope your trip goes smooth and you enjoy the rails and become a train traveler...

Just wanted to add....with over 20 trips by Amtrak, I never come on to post of the great, troubleless trips....only the ones that cause delays or mishaps so others know what to expect and how issues are resolved...plus I like giving out tips we've gotten thru our train trips.....

 

[Melanie230]

Thanks! We are getting on in Raleigh so hopefully we won't have delays here. We ride all night long...I could care less about coming back...I just want to get there as quickly as possible!

 

[pepe of ohio]

Thanks! We are getting on in Raleigh so hopefully we won't have delays here. We ride all night long...I could care less about coming back...I just want to get there as quickly as possible!

Ah, Raleigh.....so you board in the evening and are there in the afternoon....fantastic.....Usually a decent run out of DC....

We're of the same breed.....want there yesterday and don't really care how the ride home is.....always sad to leave WDW and return to reality....

Wishing you the best......

 

[torinsmom]

Thanks! We are getting on in Raleigh so hopefully we won't have delays here. We ride all night long...I could care less about coming back...I just want to get there as quickly as possible!

Well, the train was 4 hours late when we rode it from Cary, so it CAN be late. The time we took it from Raleigh it was 1.5 hours. You will get a call if its running late earlier in the day and you can call or go online to check if its on time, or more likely, how late it is running. Have you considered traveling out of Cary? They just renovated the station and it is nice. There is a huge lighted parking lot right beside the town hall, too, so it is a really safe place to leave a car.

Ah, Raleigh.....so you board in the evening and are there in the afternoon....fantastic.....Usually a decent run out of DC....

We're of the same breed.....want there yesterday and don't really care how the ride home is.....always sad to leave WDW and return to reality....

Wishing you the best......

Actually, you board around 9:30pm and arrive around 10:30am if the train is on time. We were sad we didn't get to ride the train home; my dad ended up having surgery and it would have cost too much to get earlier tickets. We rode back squished in a van. At least Amtrak is good about refunds and vouchers though.

 

[BillyBuff]

BillyBuff, thanks for that picture. Now I understand where the luggage gets stowed.

My rolling luggage is 26" x 20" x 14" and fits nicely in that compartment. The Amtrak carry-on baggage limit is 28" x 22" x 14".

 

[Melanie230]

Ah, Raleigh.....so you board in the evening and are there in the afternoon....fantastic.....Usually a decent run out of DC....

We're of the same breed.....want there yesterday and don't really care how the ride home is.....always sad to leave WDW and return to reality....

Wishing you the best......

We leave Raleigh at 9:14pm and are suppose to arrive in Orlando at 10:15am.