Train Trip
 

Has anyone taken a lond distance train trip? Not the commuters but say Amtrak from NYC to Miami?

I may have to head to south florida over the summer and am thinking about a train. Price seem reasonalbe just a little long. One way only.

Any one that has done this please chime in.

Thanks

Not quite as long a distance, but my Dad took an Amtrak to Chicago from St. Louis to attend the March Madness games being held there.

He hadn't taken a train since the 90's and was impressed at how much more comfortable the cars have gotten in over a decade!

I have but it was long ago. I was about 10, 1962, my mother, my 3 sisters, and I went to Olympia, WA from Roswell, NM. Pullman and dining cars, the whole works. It was a great time. I wish I could relive it. Amazing scenery.

took the train from JAX to Alliance OH 2 years ago. Go first class. better treatment and better layover in DC.

Out of curiosity, I looked on Amtrak's website and found that a one-way from NY to Miami is $125, which is much cheaper than driving, but it takes as much as 31 hours to get there. That's a long train ride, but still quicker than driving, once you figure in stopping to eat, sleep, etc.

I love train travel. NY to DC is the longest trip I've taken, so far, but I would like to take some longer train trips.

I've taken Amtrak from Denver to LA, Denver to SFO twice and Denver to Omaha. I love it. The trip from Denver to SFO is probably the best train ride in the country. I've taken coach and have just slept in my seat. The seats are MUCH bigger and much more comfortable than airline seats. I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

I took the train from Sacramento CA to Salem OR. It was ok on the way there. The drive was only 9 hours, but thought I'd try the train because it would be less stress. I got there in 10 hours... not to bad like driving with stops for fuel and food. on the way home it took 13 hours :eek:

The way I understand it, the Union Pacific, CSX, exc own the rail your riding on, and have to control the rail lines, much like air traffic controllers. but since Amrtak does not own the rails it gets the short end of the stick. when a freight train is coming through your Amtrak train will get side railed and not even move, some times for over 45min, then it moves again. This is pretty horrible, and one of the reasons train travel in the USA is such a joke.

In a more metro area, like the train between SF and Sacramento its pretty much on schedule... so a trip down the eastern seaboard might be batter then a trip out here in the west... but I'm still not sure if I'd ride Amtrak again.

When I was in Japan we primarily used the rails. only taking a cab or taking a flight when we needed to get to a meeting faster then the train was available. But in Japan the trains primary use is transportation, thus people have priority, not freight. also they keep their lines dedicated to the use of people, and the trains ether go over or under traffic.

Trains in the US are just different creatures all together. especially in in the west. we have more dirt then people and having a way to haul goods is more important then getting from one place to another. Now if the rail companies still ran the passenger service and they just threw a passenger car on a freight train, I might try train travel again, because I bet those freight trains are on time more often then the passenger trains.

I'd just fly its faster and cheaper. I flew Jetblue non stop from CT to Orlando last month for $250 round trip. Including driving to the airport, security, waiting for the flight and picking up a rental it was about 5 hours total of travel time each way.

Yes, you have to be prepared for delays. As long as you know this and expect it, no big deal. On one of my trips the tracks failed in the CO mountains and the train had to wait until a crew arrived to repair them.
One thing you need to keep in mind that Amtrak has an internet driven price scheme. As I understand it the more searches done on a specific route, the higher the price.

I took a train from Cleveland to Denver (twice) and from Denver to Salt Lake (one way) last year. Much more fun that flying if you have extra time. Get a sleeper car, traveling coach is almost as bad as flying. The food on amtrack is actually pretty good, and is included in the ticket price of a sleeper car ticket.

If it's a trip longer than say 500 miles - I would and have gotten a sleeper private room. They're pricey, but not that bad all in all considering the meals are paid for and they're pretty darn good. Getting to sleep on one (a train) was a challenge for me. Took Amtrak Omaha, NE to Dallas, TX - changed trains in Chicago - many years ago.

I went NY to Phoenix on Amtrack, Flagstaff actually then by bus to Phx as the train doesnt go to Phoenix. I enjoyed it. Comfortable seats. Stress free trip. Didn't like having to change trains in Chicago though. it was midsummer and the humidity was disgusting.

- Peter.

On the trip with my mother, it was pre AmTrak, we had to change trains in the Bay Area. Got off in Oakland and took a taxi about 10 - 15 miles north to Richmond. Oddly enough, I remember the granite, edifice looking train station in Oakland which has been on mothball status since the Loma Prieta earthquake in '89. I've driven by it many times. The train still goes by it but it's just a boarded up relic at this point.

Yeah, the train to SFO actually stops in Oakland at a new small station and the last leg of the trip is done by bus.

Every time I've taken Amtrak its been from New england down to Philly. Every time it has been:
- more expensive than flying
- longer than driving
- uncomfortable
- overbooked/crowded