Anyone ever take Amtrak?

[PragMantisT]

I read in the paper today that Amtrak was asking for $1.7 bln in funding. * made the counter offer of $900 mln.

I rode Amtrak a few years ago. It was not cheap, but it was fun. The folks were nice, both staff and customers. It was a bit inconvenient: late, locked up overnight in San Antonio with no power, no smoking for hours at a time. But it beat the airport lines and hassles.

I did this more in tribute to America's railroad past than for any other reason. I would hate to see passenger rail disappear after such a grand past. It was quite popular in its day.

I have also ridden on the rails in Europe via Eurail pass. Train travel was much more popular with people in Europe though it is more expensive than Ryanair or Jetblue and takes longer. There is also a varying quality of service between countries.

Anyone else have any thoughts. Anyone want to bemoan the demise of a huge American cultural icon (not necessarily Amtrak but passenger rail in general).

[Kitsune]

1. I rode Amtrak cross-country a year ago.

Took me 60 hours to go from Seattle to Pittsburgh. It was far superior to any airplane I've ever been on, the ride was smoother, and in general it wasn't a cattle car. The only downside was that the seats really didn't recline enough to sleep comfortably in, but if you stretched out across two seats you could manage.

Contrast this with trains in Europe (such as Germany's ICE trains), which are far, far nicer/faster.

[coloradodem2005]

2. I actually did it 6 years ago.

On a trip from Denver to Chicago in June 1998. It was fun except for a few things. A tree fell onto the track, and the staff had to change because they worked their limited number of hours. Then on the way back we had to take a bus from Chicago to Omaha. It did have its drawbacks but I enjoyed it.

[GreenPartyVoter]

3. More than 20 years ago I did

My dad said that when his dad was a kid, you could literally cross the country via rail, trolley and train.

Not anymore.

Thanks American, United, etc.

[HootieMcBoob]

4. I do every now and then

It's used a lot more in the northeast corridor than other parts of the country. A lot nicer than the bus. But it isn't cheap.

[Kazak]

5. I love Amtrak!

If you've got the time...it's a blast. Good food and you can relax and get nice and snookered. I'd hate to see Amtrak go away.

Edit: typo.

[dpibel]

6. Any time I can

It's far and away the best mode of travel.

Fun factoid if you ever run across anyone who wants to talk about cutting off that vast sum we waste annually on Amtrak (used to have the exact figures, but this is close):

Amtrak has been subsidized for about 30 years. In that time, the feds have turned over about 35 bil to keep the trains running.

In one day Congress handed over 25 bil to keep the airlines running.

Now tell me about self-sufficiency and vast sums. . .

[theoceansnerves]

7. i take amtrak all the time

they have near hourly service here in so cal that is very nice. i've also taken a few cross country trips. i hate airports and airplanes. amtrak for me is the most viable alternative. the "problems" that most people have-- late trains, delays, service, etc. only get worse when they are underfunded.

[Fovea]

8. I ride it evey couple of months.

I even take my bicycle.

If you are disabled, it is a godsend.
If it were subsidized as heavily as the 'private'
airline companies, we would have a fast,
efficient, and complete rail system.

And in an America where 4 planes can shut down the whole system,
it makes a hell of a lot of sense to make rail robust enough to take over in case of emergency. Air is too exposed to terrorists. We need another basket for our eggs.

A picture of my bike on Amtrak.

[kayell]

9. Occasionally

I used to ride it frequently between Richmond and DC. We should be putting into rebuilding our mass transit system to the level it was in the early part of the 20th century rather than dismanteling it. But, hey, it's the American way to drive huge old SUVs everywhere. What kinda commie would want to ride a train?

[magnolia]

37. I've taken Amtrak....

...many times from Richmond to DC...and also Richmond to NYC. It's great because you don't have to worry about parking the car! I love trains. Amtrak isn't deluxe like European trains...but nice enough.

[jpak]

10. Portland ME to Boston - about 4 times a year

Hopefully they will extend service to Lewiston and Brunswick - but I'm not holding my breath...

[PragMantisT]

25. Amtrak in Maine

The Amtrak website says no Amtrak in Maine, Oklahoma and one other state, maybe SD. Good for Maine, only two more states to go.

[SpaceCatMeetsMars]

38. Me too!

Also, I've taken it to New York, but they to need connect it between North and South Station in Boston! The scenery is really nice and the train is nice too. There is something nostalgic about the train and the scenery. I have always wanted to sleep on a train, it looks like fun in the movies anyway.

[jpak]

42. I thought the Big Dig was supposed to link N and S Stations???

Really really stupid it didn't happen.

We should have nonstop train service to NYC (and points south) from Portland.

[SpaceCatMeetsMars]

45. I checked in September and they hadn't done it yet

I hope they do. We drove down to the station that is south of Boston on Route 128 and went from there to New York, which wasn't bad, but it would be nice to be able to go from Portland to New York straight through. We did it once by taking a cab from North to South station and it wasn't too bad, but sort of a pain.

[Tesha]

58. Nope. The $14.6 Billion was only for cars, trucks, and busses. (NT)

[HFishbine]

11. No Smoking?

It's been a couple of years since I last took a trip on Amtrak, but that was one of the things I liked, that there was smoking in the club car. Is Amtrak smoke-free now?

[Kathy in Cambridge]

14. Smoke free

in the Northeast corridor anyway...

[theoceansnerves]

19. i took a cross country trip last year

and smoking was allowed in one specific ventilated area of the train.

[PragMantisT]

23. Smoke free between San Antonio and LA (Sunset Limited)

But that just creates a community of smokers at the occasional stops. You can smoke downstairs on Texas Eagle.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

12. I took the train from Portland to Seattle and back

It was a very popular route: downtown to downtown, with beautiful mountain views and a route along Puget Sound.

I tried to take the train to a couple of conventions in California, but the schedule was all wrong: one train in each direction every 24 hours between Seattle and Los Angeles.

When I lived in New Haven, I took the train to New York about twice a month.

When I'm in Japan, I get a Rail Pass and just zoom around the country. Last time I checked into an apartment hotel in Tokyo, so that I wouldn't have to haul luggage, and just took some very long daytrips to places like Nagano, Mito, and Aizu-Wakamatsu. I would have done more if the weather hadn't been so bad during my stay. (I never thought I would be chilled to the bone in a "rain blizzard" in Japan in May.)

[Kathy in Cambridge]

13. All the time

It is the most relaxing way to go from Boston to NYC. The Acela, which is expensive (200-300 RT), takes 3:15-3:30 to go from South Station and Penn Station, and it's a great way to get work done.

I was BS that would bail out the airlines, but Amtrak gets the shaft. It's definitely political. Amtrak is used the most in the Northeast Corridor, where most people don't vote Republican. And the mode of trasportation doesn't help the petroleum companies.

[lcordero]

15. I did in 1993-1994

I went on the train from Newport News, VA to NYC.
It took 8 hours but it sure beat the hell out of taking an airplane, even at that time.

[outinforce]

16. It's My Favorite Mode of Travel

If I have to ravel between Washington, DC (where I live) and anywhere north of Philadelphia, Amtrak is my preferred mode of transportation.

Amtrak beats fighting traffic on I-95.

It is ususally quicker and more hassle-free than flying up and down the East Coast.

And, although it ain't cheap, it is cheap compared to airlines, and is even cheaper compared to wear-and-tear on car and my nerves.

And it is kept cheap thanks to the "contributions" the rest of you make.

Thanks.

[m-jean03]

17. Seattle to Berkeley

Last year. It was a GREAT experience. So much fun. Even junk food tastes good on a train, due to the romance of seeing the great West roll away outside your window, sunsets and sunrises, staying up late into the night, talking with people from other places while the train bumpbumpbumps along --mostly indetectably however, as the ride is pretty smooth -- waking up, seeing the old rainbow hued factories brooding over waterfronts and riversides up and down the coast...

I sure hope this wonderful means of travel doesn't go away EVER.

[fleetus]

24. How long did it take?

Just curious, because I'm from around Berkeley but I live in Seattle.

[m-jean03]

44. About 24 hours --

It was around 6 AM from Seattle, direct to Oakland, then a brief commuter train ride to Berkeley. Arrived early AM where I saw palm trees for the first time; and the station smelled of coffee, danishes, but I drank mango juice and had 50 cents left for peanut butter crackers from the vending machine. The stomach remembers all! :) Oh, you just asked for a figure, didn't you?:)

[fleetus]

54. Thanks for the info.

And the poetry :)

[Eccho]

18. I've gone from CO to WV a couple of times.

It was fun because you could get up and move around and eat in the dining car. I think it would have been much more fun to have had a private compartment on such long trips though. It would definitely be a sad thing if Amtrak did go.

Ever look at the American Orient Express web site? The American or European trains must be amazing trips.

[PragMantisT]

39. Thanks, I'll check it out n/t

[mmm]

20. I love travel by train

It is a huge mistake to continually underfund this industry.
I would like to see high speed rail between major cities.
MAGLEV magnetic levitation systems are pollution free, quiet,
and, in many instances, could be comparable to flying in terms of cost and time.

[On the Road]

21. Take Amtrak all the Time

from DC to Phila or NY for work. Much better than the plane. It's a breeze to park, buy tickets, and get on. No airport security or satellite parking.

The seats are so much bigger. You can get up and walk around. Outside of rush hours, the trains aren't packed. I like the scenery, even going through cities.

Outside the northeast corridor, maybe it's not cost-effective. I don't know. I would just hate see Amtrak go.

[cosmicdot]

22. 'varying quality of service between countries'

which systems do you like the best?

I've heard about the German/Berlin (?) Metropolitan Line, I think that's its name ...

wasn't there some Thatcherism/privitizing of the railroads in England?

those trains ran on time, or so it seemed

the hour and minute say its time to pull-out, it pulled out

the American southwest, in particular, could do with some local train transportation ...

either Southwest Airlines or America West or both may be holding up 'progress' to protect their 'territory' ...

[theoceansnerves]

26. a high speed line

between l.a, las vegas, and phoenix would be wonderful.

[cosmicdot]

30. absolutely ... San Diego to Phoenix, too

direct ...

[PragMantisT]

36. ICE in Germany

Smoking seats were in the front behind the driver. You could look through the front window over the driver's shoulder. It was way cool. I felt sorry for the non-smokers, their view was just out the side. Always reserve a smoking seat on ICE.

Swiss rail was modern and the scenery could not be better. The ride from Lucerne to Locarno is amazing.

Brit and Irish rolling stock was generally antiquated. Privatized Virgin rail was very modern, but smaller companies could be sketchy.

There is no left luggage in Cardiff. PITA.

[RebelOne]

27. I took it a few years back from Miami to Philadelphia.

The cost was about the same as a plane ticket. But of course, I get a compartment where you have your own bed and toilet.

[PragMantisT]

28. All rail is great.

I didn't mean to single out Amtrak. O rode the rails around NY when I lived in Central Islip. It was great. No tolls, only limited traffic jams.

The views out the windows in east Texas, New Mexico and Arizona were incredible. Much better than the same from 30,000 ft.

[Quixote1818]

29. Donald Trump should buy Amtrak and put in gambeling and strippers.

It could make a tone of money if old Donald got a hold of it.

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[leftofthedial]

32. Several times

always a great trip.

Not cheap, but a real blast.

[RetroLounge]

33. Used to quite a bit

I lived in Milwaukee and a girlfriend lived in Chicago.

Then there was the time I lived in Chicago and another girlfriend lived in Milwauee.

Amtrak Hiawatha, every weekend for about 2 years.

You could smoke on one car back then too.

Smooth trip, faster than driving, and nothing beats a train.

actually met a third girlfriend while taking the Amtrak to Chicago to break up with 2nd girlfriend.

Ah, to be young again...

[Butterflies]

34. Sure, the auto-train

from Florida to Virginia about 10 years ago, and a regular passenger train from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh and back more recently. I love Amtrak, but where I live now is too far from an Amtrak station. It's a 50 minute drive to the nearest station, and the hours that the trains I'd want to ride are inconvenient.

[xxqqqzme]

35. going by rail is

civilized travel. I take Amtrak whenever I go to Northern California cuz most of the trip is along the ocean and the scenery is spectacular. I love sitting down 2 eat w/ different people every time. Last fall traveling 2 NoCA, every person I met in the dining car thought this country was in a mess and wanted squatter gone.

[Heddi]

40. Just took Amtrak in September

from Orlando to Charleston.

8 hours give or take--same as driving, but SO much less hassle.

Cheap cheap cheap!

Totally roomy seats! Our coach was relatively empty. You could smoke in the smoking lounge.

We were able to totally strech out in our seats, not cramped at all. Leg room and seat-size was better than 1st class.

The train was very well maintained, not dirty or stinky, and the staff was ultra polite. We got in about 10 minutes earlier than we should have, even.

I love it. I wish riding the rails was more.....convenient, like it is in Europe, but I guess we're a much larger country and much more spread out. But I still think you can go From SC to WA in about 3 days, which is quicker than driving!

[Malva Zebrina]

41. I took Amtrak and thoroughly enjoyed the trip from

Boston-Chicago-through the west to LA. Layover for five hours in Chicago, and toured that city which I had never seen before.

It was a wonderful trip--Boston to Chicago in the lounge where a big party was in progress for hours--someone had a guitar and we all had a great time.

Layover also in Flagstaff--this is a great way to travel, meet other people, and relax. It is expensive though for a sleeper--

[FloridaPat]

43. I roder them a year ago. Loved it. They have a new

class - business. It's just a little more expensive, so few people buy it, which means more room to spread out on. I love the railroads. Most of the time I'm in too big a rush to take the train.

[AlienGirl]

46. Cross-country with a four-week-old baby

I took Amtrak from Seattle to Milwaukee and back when my eldest son was four weeks old. It was fun. The seats were big enough to sloeep in, the other passengers were fun to talk to, and it was great to watch the scenery.

Normally I'm not big on trains, but Amtrak is good.

Tucker

[pinto]

47. cross country, round trips, x5, loved 'em all. up & down the CA coast ~10.

I support maintaining AMTRAK in the British model (they tried total privatization and it didn't work, went back to a dual public/private model). Only complaint I would have is the relationships AMTRACK has with various railroads, some are good, some shaky. imho, worth supporting.

[Nay]

48. I went from Richmond to DC on Amtrak about a year ago.

It was wonderful. The cars were clean, spacious, seats were comfy. I actually slept part of the way because I was lulled to sleep like a baby by the rhythmic movement over the tracks. Just a great ride. I too will miss passenger train travel. Airplanes really suck.

[RichardRay]

49. Since 1961, but not recently

I took my first train ride across the US before it was Amtrak (I think???) in 1961 - Portland, OR to Boston, MA. I was shocked to discover that the eastern part of the country didn't have dome cars (too tall), but I spent as much of the trip as possible in the dome cars out west, night and day.

I used to do consulting work in Boston while living in NYC and in NYC while living in Boston (go figure). Train was always preferable although the commuter plane flights were OK for the time involved.

[kerry-is-my-prez]

50. Used to take it all the time. Great way to travel...

n/t

[Rich Hunt]

51. it's okay

I enjoy the social aspect of it and the scenery. Not everything about it was pleasant, and it's not necessarily cheaper, but it would be a damn shame if it went away.

[dmr]

52. Several times

twice in a sleeper car. Its not only fun, but relaxing, giving you plenty of time to read, rest and reflect.

The cars are clean, the staff is nice, the food is good, and the lounge car is great to meet new people and have a good time.

A few months ago I was pricing how much it would cost for two to travel in a sleeper traveling from NY to Vancouver and back. It was well over 6 thousand, which is way out of my league. I thought it would be a fun little trip. Sure wish it was affordable.

[bonemachine]

53. Amtrak Rocks

The best vacation is just to get an All Aboard Fare and ride whatever trains you can catch.

[ThoughtCriminal]

55. Sure beats the bus!

A comfortable and enjoyable experience, I ride Amtrak when time permits. The long distance trains often require a bit of tolerance for the fact that certian railroads tend to give freight priority and the schedule can slip by hours (7 on one cross country trip).

If the train's late, I don't care - more time to meet and get to know fellow passengers. Something you rarely do on airlines anymore.

[skippysmom]

56. The times I've used it I really liked it

When I lived in Albany, my work used to send me to NYC for meetings and I would take the train. It was a beautiful 2 1/2 hour trip right along the Hudson. You could never see that scenery by car. I could read, do work, gaze out the window, whatever.

The only problem was the price: $80 round trip.

I wish this country was more amenable to rail. It's a great way to travel.

[smirkymonkey]

57. All the time!

I live in NYC and my parents live upstate. It's a beautiful trip along the Hudson River, and it is so convenient and easy (although Penn Station blows).

Also, the train ride to Boston is quite scenic as well, except I agree on the lack of service from South Station to North - I am usually en route to Maine when I go.

I can't imagine being with out it - and so many people commute back and forth from Albany on it. The commuter rails don't go that far. Also, I hate flying and only do it for long distances or in a pinch.

[Lizz612]

59. Yes, and I saw bald eagles mating.

It was during my spring break, I took the train to Milwaukee from St. Paul and all along the river there were bald eagles mating and flying about. I must have seen about 2 dozen in three hours. The ride was smooth and much more spacious than a plane and the viewing cars are wonderful.

[marigold20]

60. Empire Builder to Glacier Park last summer

We ride the train quite a bit - but this trip was not only fun but exciting. We got off the train in West Glacier and walked across the highway to the Glacier Highland Motel. The fires were burning close to town that night. We rented a car the next morning and drove to Many Glacier - we found out later that West Glacier was evacuated that same day. But back to trains - the Empire Builder has a smoking car - I wouldn't call it well-ventilated but it's there nonetheless. There's nothing better than eating breakfast while watching the scenery fly by - I felt like high society!

[Vogon_Glory]

61. I Have Ridden Amtrak

I have ridden Amtrak and have seen a lot of the country. Most recently, I rode the Southwest Chief between Kansas City and Los Angeles. I loved the beautiful scenery.

Over the years since Amtrak's formation, I've ridden such trains as the Sunset Limited (before it was extended to Orlando), the California Zephyr (spectacular scenery), the Empire Builder (also spectacular scenery), the Coast Starlight (best North/South route in the West), also the City of New Orleans, and the Southern Crescent.

I've also ridden several Amtrak routes which I think were unfortunately discontinued. I miss the Lone Star/Texas Chief, which once ran between Chicago and Houston. I also miss both the Desert Wind (Los Angeles to Salt Lake City via Las Vegas) and the Pioneer (Salt Lake City to Seattle). I also think that the discontinuance of the old Broadway Limited was and is a shame.

[AlinPA]

62. Yes, Altoona to Philly. 5 hours. Beats driving. Toilets not clean.

Food is Ok, just snacks and sandwiches. Take your own. Dining cars are not like old Cary Grant movies. I'd still do it again to avoid driving & parking in Philly.

[RobinA]

63. Used to Ride

between NYC-Philadelphia-DC all the time. It was OK.

Rode the Crescent from Philadelphia to Atlanta and back once and from something else Lakeshore Limited? from Philadelphia to Detroit and back another time. Loved it. Very relaxing, comfortable seats. Saw a lot of stuff you don't see from the road, if you are interested in rust belt America. Only way to see Sandusky. Skirted Lake Eria in the early morning, which was cool. Didn't exactly get me to Detroit on time, but.... Had a roomette or something on the way back that trip. THAT was nifty, although I wouldn't want to share a small space like that with another person. Couldn't really sleep, so I watched the world go by all night.

[regnaD kciN]

64. All the time, back in college...

I was going to school in the mid-Atlantic states, and lived in New England. Taking Amtrak for vacations and breaks was a lot cheaper than flying, and a lot more enjoyable than taking Greyhound.

Besides, there was the time when a girlfriend and I managed to, shall we say, join the, uh, Ten-Foot-High Club while the rest of the passengers were asleep...

:evilgrin:

[fortyfeetunder]

65. Coast Starlight & Amtrak Cascades

I prefer train travel whenever can get away with it. Kind of miffed at the lack of attention to Amtrak, especially away from the east coast routes. The railroad is one of the last cross country transportation lifelines when auto and plane travel is stymied...Ask the folks after 9/11!!

[not systems]

66. Rode the California Zephyr in 2002.

Chicago to ... Emeryville.

Great views and interesting experience, glad I was in a sleeper.