travel by amtrak questions

[locolala]

I haven't used Amtrak yet, but will be next month for a trip down to Virginia Beach, about a 4 hour trip. I've used trains all over Europe, so it'll be interesting to compare train service in the UK and Germany to trains here!

 

[akcire]

I haven't used Amtrak yet, but will be next month for a trip down to Virginia Beach, about a 4 hour trip. I've used trains all over Europe, so it'll be interesting to compare train service in the UK and Germany to trains here!

Make certain you wear long pants, no shorts!

Trains in Europe are great. Trains in USA not so much.

My father-in-law is a huge train fan, mostly because he is afraid to fly. He convinced my husband and I to take the train from Chicago to New Oreans--it was 28 hours late, and it was dirty (we had a sleeper). Arlo Gutherie owes me those 28 hours.

Short trips are fine NYC to DC or even Chicago to Milwaukee--but extended trips not a chance. As I often tell my husband I have an ID and I can get through airport security, no need for me to take the train.

 

[kaytieeldr]

we started out with around a 4 hour wait at our departure station (staff said if we had called them directly vs. amtrak's national number they would have told us to ignore the departure time b/c the train never arrived at the time reservations told riders). then there were multiple delays when the train stayed at other stations along the route longer than they were advertised to.

Commercial rail (CDX, I think) owns the tracks, so commercial/freight trains take precedence over passenger trains - a major (but not the only) cause of delays. However, if the train STARTS at one's station - as does 'mine' from Boston south and west - it's much less likely to be delayed at the outset.

so we had to arrange taxi service to the hotel we were staying at (which luckily we had been able to contact by cell to request they hold the room for a late check in).

General rule of travel: a one night's hotel deposit guarantees one's room until 6 AM the morning following the actual reservation day - although notifying the hotel of any 'late' arrival doesn't hurt.

i don't know how old your kids are, but one of the best things we found available were these little portable dvd like things that some of the stations rent to take on the train. they are pre-loaded with movies, tv shows and music. they come with a headset.

Just one of many electronic entertainment items readily available for purchase at many stores nationwide and at reasonable prices.

--
As for the actual trip: I've done it twice from Boston. Once, at twelve, with fifty other kids; and once at 42 alone. The adult trip, I got reserved business seating on trains that left in the evening and arrived in the early morning. Both ways, the car was not full, so I had both my seats and - being short - was able to curl up and sleep.