Anyone ever use Amtrak?

[TruBlu]

Just wondering. It would cost us 1/2 as much as flying, so I'm considering taking the train. Any opinions?

 

[nbodyhome]

From NC, it isn't so bad. I don't really like Amtrak anymore, I loved it as a kid - but it is often late (by hours!), smells bad when the attendants aren't keeping at it, etc. I don't love to fly, but I can get to DC way quicker that way.

The seats are large, so a 10 hour trip or so wouldn't bother me - it's the overnight one I wouldn't want to do again. I actually like it for a shorter trip, I just don't have any shorter trips to make.

 

[Finny]

We took the train down in january from NY to FL, and hated it. Here is my post on it.

For a shorter trip, it probably wouldn't be that bad, but for an overnight it was not fun at all.

 

[pepe of ohio]

We've been using the train to WDW from northeast ohio for about the last ten trips, 29 plus hours. We have no problems other then it being late but I do not like flying and driving is too hectic and stressful. Amtrak has its ups and downs, as stated above the seats are huge, plenty of room. We've down the whole trip in coach but prefer to do the first leg, Alliance, Ohio to DC coach and from Dc to Kissimmee, we get a roomette, it includes meals, its a very small room, just for two but at least you can lay down to sleep, we arrive in Kissimmee around noon, refreshed and ready to go. Usually runs the two of us $450.00 round trip and the cab fare from Kissimmee depot to say Poly or Wl, runs 35-38.00 plus tip.

We through in a car trip couple of trips ago, 1150 miles, and that was enough of that,, same time frame, about same money, room and gas but too stressful with the traffic. We waited to long to book the train and had no other option. Now we book early for the train. Its not for everyone but for us its very relaxing, peaceful, mostly, and gets us there.

 

[nbodyhome]

$450 is great for a roommette for the 2 of you! They tried to talk me into one previously (called me in fact), I think the total for everything would have been about $400 - maybe more, like $500, including my coach fare.

On one of my last trips, there was a great attendant in our car. Cleaned the bathrooms so everything smelled fresh the whole trip. Stopped kids from playing in the aisles too much, adults from talking on their cell phones. Offered me the other attendants seats, they were off doing something else at night - so I got to spread out over 2 seats and sleep better.

Now I still fly - because you never know!

 

[ValDisney]

I took the train from NJ (penn) to Kisseemee last dec. The seats were fine, plenty of room. My children had all their electronic games, portable dvd's, (dd had her iPOD).
we were lucky that the train going down had outlets for each set of seats.
I couldn't sleep at night and it was cold. that is my only complaint. we made excellent timing and I believe we were 10 min behind schedule (i read about all the delays, I really didn't care as I was traveling during the xmas vacation and the price was great)
coming home, we had a different train which only had one outlet in each car. we were the first one so we got that seat. Again, I couldn't sleep. my children loved the train , we didn't hit any delays back either. I would only do it again if the airplane costs were too high.
we are leaving thursday and i almost booked the train again but found a great price on airtran.
I didn't think it was so bad . I was nervous after reading alot of posts. The attentant kept the bathroom clean. I have to admit it did smell towards the end of the trip.
Like I said i would do it again condidering the price.

 

[Teacher03]

We took Amtrak from Kissimmee to DC, spent a day at DC, and then home to Ohio. The trip from DC to home wasn't bad, the trip from Kissimmee to DC was terrible! The crew was downright rude, we made reservations in the dining car and they were out of everything except salisbury steak, the toilets backed up, and we were six and a half hours late getting into DC. We kept our sense of humor though and thought of it as an adventure. The way home from DC was fine, and we were only 15 minutes off schedule. I think I would use it again for a short trip, but not to or from Florida again.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Personally I wouldn't take a long haul Amtrak trip even if it were free. Short trips (5 hours or less) are fine.

There are MANY threads with all the info you need about Amtrak; just do a search.

 

[Ana~n~Joseph]

I've taken Amtrak from Houston to Orlando a few times, actually like 5. It's a long trip but we enjoy it. If you're in a rush, I wouldn't recommend it; trains get delayed for all sorts of reasons so you have to be ready for that. At night people are usually pretty respectful and everyone goes to sleep. The entertainment area where they play movies is a nice place to sit and enjoy the scenery. The dinning car can be good at times but they do run out of stuff.

 

[Poohbear123]

Personally I wouldn't take a long haul Amtrak trip even if it were free. Short trips (5 hours or less) are fine.

There are MANY threads with all the info you need about Amtrak; just do a search.

I agree, I used to take AMTRAK all the time, but a 4 hour trip became 6-7 hours a few times, enough for me, I fly now! Plus I get FREE transportation from the Airport=ME!