So, in the past I have attempted to inquire as to how one would travel long distance on Amtrak. I met with mixed results. Outside of the Northeast corridor, finding a way to get from point A to point B, with a possible stop in between for sightseeing lets say, has been frustrating at best.
Dan Padova said:
So, in the past I have attempted to inquire as to how one would travel long distance on Amtrak. I met with mixed results. Outside of the Northeast corridor, finding a way to get from point A to point B, with a possible stop in between for sightseeing lets say, has been frustrating at best.
Dan
How can I help. e travel coast to coast on Amtrak at least once a year.
Stan
Yeah, I’ve found the gummint inspired website to be user unfriendly, at best, and the folks at AAA really didn’t want to fool with it, either. I’ll watch this thread closely.
The only long distance Amtrak train I have ever been on was the Silver Star to Florida, way back in 1989, when we took the kids to Disney World. And that booking was easy as pie. I simply called Amtrak, which happened to have their office about a mile from me in Fort Washington, Pa. (no longer there). I spoke with a real person, told him where we wanted to go, gave him the credit card info, and we had out tickets in a few days via mail.
A couple of years ago, we had a wedding to attend in Martha’s Vineyard. I thought about taking the train, but the connections from Providence by bus to a ferry, then to the island seemed too cumbersome and costly.
Last September, my wife and I attended a Seabee reunion in Washington, DC. That went smoothly because it was the NE corridor. The fares were reasonable, although I just missed getting lower fares by one day.
I guess my question would be how does one take a really long distance train these days? Let’s say I want to go to California by train. Is that still an option and what would the cost be? Once again the website leaves something to be desired.
Dan, a couple of my train club friends have been back and forth across the country several times recently via Amtrak, and quite enjoyed it. Can I give them your e-dress and contact you directly with their experiences and recommendations?
A couple years ago when we took Amtrak cross country LA to Boston, booking was a piece of cake online thru Amtrak’s website, I had to go to Union Station to get the tickets at will call on the day we left. I really enjoyed the trip. 3 days to Chicago, with a 9 hour layover then overnight and a day to Boston. Food on the Chief was great, the Lakeshore was more like a Pacific Coastliner in that of was more like a commuter train than a cross country train.
We planned the layover time to visit places downtown Chicago and eat at two restaurant we always wanted to try.
The only thing I would do the next time will be if it’d more than a single nights trip I will spend for a cabin, it’s just too tough for my aging bones to sleep in coach. Even the cheapest cabin gets you a lay down bed and that’s worth spending the extra coin on in my opinion. Also a cabin gets you all your meals in the dining car included. That’s a good perk.
Back in January, I took Amtrak from Portland OR to Oxnard, CA to visit my son, and was both pleased and disappointed. I really wanted to start the trip in Spokane, but the stupid computer wouldn’t let me. I decided to drive to Portland, spend the night with my daughter, catching up, then leave my truck at her house and catch the Starlight at noon. 'Twas a good thing, because by the time we left Portland, the Empire Builder had yet to arrive, delayed by storm in Maria’s Pass in Montana.
The train was pretty much on time, the whole trip, the only real delay came when Uncle Pete decided to test Amtrak’s compliance with signals. At one point, we were so close to schedule that we had our entire 45 minute stop over over in Klammath Falls.
The food sucked. Microwaved steak, cold French toast, plastic plates, coffee ( brown water, really) served in a paper cup, outrageously high prices. It was so bad that my daughter in law packed a food basket so I didn’t have to rely on Amtrak on the return trip.
I wish people weren’t such slobs in the toilets. I always left them better than I found them.
The best part of the trip? I met some fascinating people, had some great conversations.
Dan Padova said:
The only long distance Amtrak train I have ever been on was the Silver Star to Florida, way back in 1989, when we took the kids to Disney World. And that booking was easy as pie. I simply called Amtrak, which happened to have their office about a mile from me in Fort Washington, Pa. (no longer there). I spoke with a real person, told him where we wanted to go, gave him the credit card info, and we had out tickets in a few days via mail.
A couple of years ago, we had a wedding to attend in Martha’s Vineyard. I thought about taking the train, but the connections from Providence by bus to a ferry, then to the island seemed too cumbersome and costly.
Last September, my wife and I attended a Seabee reunion in Washington, DC. That went smoothly because it was the NE corridor. The fares were reasonable, although I just missed getting lower fares by one day.
I guess my question would be how does one take a really long distance train these days? Let’s say I want to go to California by train. Is that still an option and what would the cost be? Once again the website leaves something to be desired.
Dan
There are 4 long distance trains to California. And each has unique scenery.
The Zephyr has perhaps the best scenery west of Denver.
For long distance trips we prefer a economy room but upgraded to a full bedroom for the trip home a few weeks ago.
The least expensive way to travel Amtrak is through points. Both Deb and I have the Amtrak credit card and we put almost all expenses on this card so the points add up quickly.
Best place to get god info about Amtrak trips is
http://discuss.amtraktrains.com/
Hope that helps.
Stan
I am putting a hypothetical scenario into the Amtrak reservations page. In this make believe trip we are traveling from Philadelphia to Los Angeles. We board at 30th Street Station and go to Washington, DC Union Station where we are to board the Capital Limited for the next leg of our trip. On the page between the two trains I just spoke of is a box that says “TRANSFER-WAS (3 hr)”. I asked the Virtual Assistant three different ways, what this meant, and each answer had no connection to my question. I presume it means a layover of three hours.
Dan Padova said:
I am putting a hypothetical scenario into the Amtrak reservations page. In this make believe trip we are traveling from Philadelphia to Los Angeles. We board at 30th Street Station and go to Washington, DC Union Station where we are to board the Capital Limited for the next leg of our trip. On the page between the two trains I just spoke of is a box that says “TRANSFER-WAS (3 hr)”. I asked the Virtual Assistant three different ways, what this meant, and each answer had no connection to my question. I presume it means a layover of three hours.
Dan
There are a lot of different ways to go from Philadelphia to Los Angeles.
With the reservation system it is often best to decide how you wish to go and then force the route by using multi city.
For example you can take the Crescent to New Orleans spend the night (or a few days) and then take the Sunset Limited to LA
Or take the Cardinal to Chicago and then take any of the 4 western trains.
Or go to DC take the Capital to Chicago and then again take any of the 4 Western trains.
Or go to NYC take the Lake Shore Limited to Chicago and then again take any of the 4 Western trains.
One caution, this is not Europe. Trains in the US are often late and sometimes very late. Long connection times (layovers) can reduce stress.
Stan
I’ve been traveling Amtrak all my life, so if you or anyone else have any specific questions I’d be happy to try and answer them either on the forum or by email: [email protected]
Yes that is my email address, so it kind of shows I like Amtrak.
Dan,
That’s exactly what it means. Change trains in Washington with a 3 hour layover between trains.
I’ve done both the Lakeshore Limited Chicago to Boston and the City of New Orleans from Chicago to N.O. I enjoyed the experience both times. I would advise paying the upgrade charge to a roomette (cheapest upgrade). It’s better than a long distance coach and the dining car meals are included.
Also, the first time I traveled I went to my closest Amtrak station and a nice young lady took care of all my arrangements with no issues whatsoever.
Mike McCormack
mocrownsteam
Hudson, Massachusetts
In the words of a Harrisburg Terminal Dispatcher I know:
“Good day & safe journey the rest of your travels”