Anyone ever taken an Amtrak train to anywhere?

Took the pacific surfliner from LA Tto Del Mar during horse races then to san diego.

Rode business class and it was really comfortable. Bought food and stuff for drinks which we had along the way.

Went to a quick lunch one day so hopped on economy and that wasn't quite the same kind of trip.

Great scenery and views on that line which runs all the way to Washington. Just stick with business as its worth the price.

I've taken several amtrak trips. 2 or 3 times Dallas to Chicago in a sleeping compartment. 1 time Dallas to alpine, TX in a sleeper. San Antonio to Dallas in coach. Glenwood springs to Denver and portland to Eugene. Generally it's very comfortable but very slow and you reach your destination several hours late on those overnight trips. In most of the country outside the northeast, amtrak uses the same tracks as freight trains and those tracks are very congested. You will sometimes sit still for 20 minutes waiting to get your turn through the track switches.

It is a more leisurely style of travel. More expensive than flying or driving. You can watch the country go by or go to the Cafe car and have a drink.

I went from New Orleans to Chicago once on a guys trip, flew back. I probably wouldn't do it again, maybe when retired.

About 15 years ago I took Amtrak from Philly to Charleston, SC just to try it out.

I’ll just say it was dark and it smelled like feet and Jheri curl. It was mostly clientele traveling from New York City to North Carolina.

Other than that, it wasn’t bad. Reasonably comfortable seats along with snacks available but it just takes a LONG time.

Washington Post has a recent article about an Amtrak trip in the covid era. He talks about the pros and cons of the room choices, how food options are now more limited, reduced schedule, etc. Pretty informative.

Aboard Amtrak’s Crescent, surprising comfort and welcome seclusion on a slow train to Mississippi

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just say it was dark and it smelled like feet and Jheri curl.

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Never realized the “Jheri” spelling; learned something new today.

Taken an Amtrak train from DC to Baltimore and from New York to Philadelphia.

Leisurely way to travel. Easier than going to an airport or having to drive. I think it’s great for short trips in the northeast to go to different towns. That being said, I probably wouldn’t want to be on a train across country unless it’s the Canadian cross country or California coast trip.

I’ve also rode on the Royal Gorge train in Colorado, although that’s more like a brunch/booze cruise than a real train ride. Although I’d highly recommend it if in the area.

I rode from New Orleans to Williamsburg when I was a kid. We had a room in a sleeper car, and I thought it was the best thing ever. Having a bed at night was great.

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I’ve done Birmingham to N.O. A half dozen times. None in the past 15+ years. Used to be fun but much easier to drive (or take the direct SW flight back in the day).

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We did that route, and the return, about 8-10 years ago for a quick anniversary trip. Times may be different now, but I remember it leaving Bham around noon, and getting to New Orleans around 7:30. Return trip left at 7, and got back around 2:30.

Best comparison I can give is that it is more spacious than airplane seats or charter/greyhound busses, but takes a good bit longer. I think I can drive to New Orleans in under 5 hours, but the train took about 7.5 hours. There are tons of little stops in these small towns in Mississippi. The worst part was the return trip leaving at 7 AM. No one wants to have to wake up that early after spending their last night in New Orleans.

We just got seats, didn't fool with a cabin or anything, since it was just a same-day trip. If we ever went somewhere overnight, I would recommend the cabin. The dining car was ok, maybe a notch better than cafeteria food. But you can pack a small cooler and bring it with you. We did that on the way back home. Just a few drinks and snacks.