Amtrak

[nyr197]

Interested in your experience with Amtrak travel.

I'm taking a train from NY to Savannah, GA in a few weeks, and was wondering what I can expect as this is my first time traveling via Amtrak.

Is the food decent? Any tips or cool sights to see on the way?

Discuss.

 

[JHZR2]

I take amtrak all the time to DC, Ive taken it to/prom Pittsburgh a few times too, and Boston once.

I mainly take Acela/metroliner, but have takenb regional once to DC, and took it to Pittsburgh. What youll find, is that on the northeast corridor (the straight trip from DC to Boston), it is pricey, but very fast. I can go from wilmington, DE to DC in about 1hr 15min... thats at least an hour faster than if I drove, and typically more like 1hr15 to 1hr 30 faster.

Now, going to Pittsburgh is another story. Amtrak only has right of way on a few selected railroads, like on the NE corridor. Everytwhere else (I suppose everywhere they use diesel engines rather than electric), they are on Norfolk Southern, CSX, etc. lines. This slows things down a lot. A drive to Pittsburgh would be about 5-5.5 hours, on a triain is 7.75 hours or so.

So youll be the same as a car or somewhat slower than a car, but you can sit back and relax, do work, etc.

Food isnt generally great - microwave-heated junk food and pricey sandwiches mainly. Bring what food you can - you will be able to take more or less whatever you want on the train (within reason, volume-wise), so I suggest that.

Unless you switch trains, youll be on it the whole way. Some stations they stop and people can get off and then right back on after a smoke break, but its not enough to see anything real. Is your train direct, or how does it go??? Also, beware of busy interchanges, where lots of people get on. When the train is packed, though youll have plenty of legroom, its not much different than a full airplane flight. Id suggest you sit in the aisle seat (theyre usually 2x2 across, like a small airplane, but with more room all around), and then put a backpack, etc on the window seat, so that it looks taken - youll be left alone better that way. Many folks pretend theyre asleep at station stops, just so people don't try to take the seat next to them.

Have fun and relax... taking the train is really an enjoyable way to go! I recall that Savannah is a nice town - I was there a few years back training for rowing.

JMH

 

[nyr197]

Thanks for the reply.

My train is direct. As far as sitting next to somebody else, I'm not concerned. My girlfriend will be joining me when the train stops in DC for the remainder of the trip.

Is there access to electrical outlets (so I can charge my cell phone, laptop)?

I plan on taking a good book, and catching up on some reading.

 

[JHZR2]

yes, there is electricity...

 

[obbop]

Haven't done the train thing in a long time but have seen plenty of news stories about trains derailing, hitting stuff, etc.

I would ensure I sat in a seat towards the rear of the car AND that my back was facing the direction of travel.

In case of sudden deceleration I would want that seat stopping me rather than flying forward.

And, by being at the rear of the car, if everything is flying forward I don't want to be at the locus of those forward flying stuff. Better to be at the rear of the pile.

Unsure of this but I believe I recall that the middle cars of the train MAY be safest.

At the least, take a seat facing the rear of the train. Haven't heard of seat belts being provided but if they are I'd still rather face backwards since the seat is still a better "brake" to forward momentum albeit the seat belt would be valuable to keep you in place when other than longitudinal forces are trying to toss your fragile carcass in who knows what direction.

 

[alreadygone]

Great confidence builder there!

Bob

 

[nyr197]

Sweet, can't wait!

 

[obbop]

Addendum:

If engineer's name is Casey Jones you may want to consider alternate transportation!!!!

 

[wileyE]

Here the problem has been the fact that freight has track priority which knocks amtrak off schedule pretty bad.

On the positive side I know a retired couple that take amtrak trip through the rockies every winter. Pretty way to see the snow covered mountains without driving. They get off the train each night and hotel it and catch the next one and keep moving on. Got it down to fine science of where to stay and eat and which towns to stay.

 

[PF52]

Quote:

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Haven't done the train thing in a long time but have seen plenty of news stories about trains derailing, hitting stuff, etc.

I would ensure I sat in a seat towards the rear of the car AND that my back was facing the direction of travel.

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Wow! I can only imagine the precautions that you must surely take when you fly!

 

[ThirdeYe]

I've taken the Amtrak numerous times through chicago and up through wisconsin/minnesota. It's been great every time i've gone, and really reasonable too. I've never tried the food though. I usually just brought my own snacks with me. The seats are surprisingly comfortable and roomy as well. Some of the cars are equipped with a power outlet for your laptops, but most aren't.

 

[obbop]

"Wow! I can only imagine the precautions that you must surely take when you fly!"

Refuse to fly. Not out of fear, but as a protest for the, in my opinion, fascist-like unAmerican way citizens are treated during the boarding process, how some are forced to sit in that plane for hour after hour when delays occur, etc.

Airlines will never get a penny out of me. I refuse to be one of the sheep that allows themselves to be herded about.

I have also done other actions and inactions to protest governmental policies but can't go into details, want to avoid "politics."

 

[JustinH]

I've always found discount airfare (via priceline, hotwire, etc) to be much cheaper than taking the amtrak anywhere.

 

[JHZR2]

Quote:

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I've always found discount airfare (via priceline, hotwire, etc) to be much cheaper than taking the amtrak anywhere.

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Depends on where youre going... and what youre doing. If going from place to place on the NE corridor, like Philadelphia or NYC to Washington (which is the route for the majority of Amtrak riders), youre saving SIGNIFICANT time vice driving or even flying.

GOing anywhere else and youre generally giving up time for money. My pittsburgh example is a good one. Flying is almost justified there, as 2 hours in the airport and one in the air is faster than 5.5 hours in the car or 7+ hours on the train... but, I spent $43 round trip, instead of what would have been at leat $59 each way, and had a super-opportunity to get work done all day.

Trains are especially good for business travel, if youre in a group. Then, you can devote time to getting work done. Yes, perhaps if you flew, you could get to the destination faster and have our meeting, but you still loose meeting time.

So, depending upon distance, trains really are great. And, the are also a scenic and fun trip too!

JMH

 

[BOBISTHEOILGUY]

I have a friend that she t/a's(train attendant) for. she goes from miami to new york constantly. I have taken the train to jville and helped her drive to miami from jville. 400 miles. then rode the train back up. what I have seen is that it takes a long time to get there. we leave at 6am in the morning and arrive in iville at 4pm and the afternoon. obviously you can sleep all the way and don't have to drive.
the train goes side to side as you go down the track as it is not as smooth as a plan. they have compartments that have beds in them and you can lay out if you like. I guess you can also get seat instead also, although I have never done that. I go to the diner car and eat. they recently don't have cooks anymore (called sa's) like stated, most of the food is microwaved. as for sights, on the eastern trains (98 and 92) you'll see the same thing constantly (trees as your on the tracks) on occasions you'll see out and see a town but mainly trees.

alot of the time lost is because of csx. they share the same track with amtrak and you have to wait for them to go by or someone had an accident and you have to wait for them to clear up the track. trains are a lot heavier than cars they win out in any collision. they can throw you if an emergency stop is required but usually not. most people know not to take on trains. hope that helps and hope you have a good train ride. It is enjoyable. wouldn't want to do it for a living but once in a while not bad.

 

[nyr197]

Thanks for the information. I've driven to Savannah, GA from NJ, through the night, 12 hours, and it was not enjoyable.
Flying would set me back over $400. Amtrak: ~$200 roundtrip.

Somewhat disappointed to hear that most of the meals are microwaveable, I'll be sure to bring some snacks to avoid that culinary disaster.

 

[eljefino]

Took the profitable "northeaster" south then picked up a commuter rail that dropped me ~1 mile from a truck I bought.

Researched prices, policies etc on amtrak's website.

Boarded without ticket, conductor came around once we were underway and I paid cash for my fare. Had to show ID which was not mentioned on amtrak's website. As if I could hijack a train? Was told with a firmness bordering on rudeness that if a ticketed passenger boarded later and we ran out of space I'd have to stand.

As I was connecting to the MBTA at Boston's North Station I asked the snack car attendant for maps and info. They had none. Feud? Ill-preparadness? You can get airplane gate info while still in the air.

The best thing, at least about this route, is you get to see everyone's backyards and junkpiles. The most junky junk gets stashed closest to the tracks too, presumably b/c of noise.