Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with amtrak

Taking a later train

Brennus — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 11:27:29 -0800

Are amtrak tickets train specific? I am a little confused as to how the amtrak ticketing system works. Is it like an airline where I buy a ticket for a specific train and the ticket is not valid on any other trains? Or is it like some of the commuter trains where you buy a ticket for a certain destination and can ride any train that goes there?

train food

mustcatchmooseandsquirrel — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 07:37:31 -0800

Train ride from Portland to Chicago. In coach. I don't want to buy food on the train. What should my food strategy be? Limitations:
1. Food should be vegetarian (no beef jerky!).
2. As far as I know, there are no microwaves or refrigerators that I can use.
3. Food should be sufficient to sustain me for the entirety of the 46 hour train ride
4. I won't have access to a kitchen or cooking supplies while in Portland.
5. I would like some variety (I've tried just doing fruits&nuts on previous long journeys [though not this long] and it got boring fast.

What delicious things can I bring with me to sustain myself for the entire 46 hour journey?

Please hope me Amtrak rite!

Anonymous — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 20:19:54 -0800

Travel trips? I have read the Amtrak archives for some great advice but I have some different detailed questions! I'm taking my two teen age daughters to NYC for Christmas where we will be met with relatives at the train station. I have never taken Amtrak and have some questions about what to expect:

I understand there are no seat assignments. Should I be worried about being seperated from my daughters boarding an 8am train in Wilmington, DE on Christmas Eve morning? Similarly, on our return - we are leaving out of Penn Station on Sunday 12/27/09 afternoon for Wilmington. I'm assuming it will be very crowded but really have no idea and would like to be armed with more information.

Has anyone taken Amtrak from Wilmington to Penn Station (or similar route) that can tell me a little of what to expect?

Bonus help: I'm prone to mild claustrophobia (although I often fly on airplanes) and would like any travel tips for a happy Amtrak Adventure!

Tips for a train trip across the West.

the jam — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 21:00:53 -0800

In September, I've got 10 days to see everything I can see from Minneapolis to Portland, OR along the route of Amtrak's Empire Builder. Know anything about these places? I'm looking for some Metafilter reconnaissance about my route. My vague plans so far:

Camping at the Minnesota State Fair

Camping in Glacier National Park, being eaten by bears

Another yet-to-be-determined stopover in Idaho or Washington

Powell's Books, Stumptown Coffee in Portland

That's all I have so far. While I'm a fan of winging it, I'd still appreciate any suggestions of things to see, hikes to take, sites to camp, friendly coffee shops and bars in the cities, or anything you can throw at me, really -- this is my first time visiting this part of the country.

Chicago to New York for cheap with a week of notice?

jordanlewis — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 11:26:00 -0800

Please help me find the cheapest way to get from Chicago to New York late next week! I need to travel from Chicago to New York on Wednesday, Thursday or Friday of next week to celebrate my father's birthday. I don't have a car. Is there a cheaper way of doing this than taking the major train/bus/plane carriers? The prices I've found are:

JetBlue: $199
Southwest: $199
Amtrak: $~130 (and super slow, according to this question)
Greyhound: $77

What I'm wondering is whether there is a sneakier way of traveling, perhaps using multiple cheaper carriers. For example, a MegaBus to Cleveland is only $35, and perhaps there is a cheap way of getting from Cleveland to New York that I am unaware of. Do you know of any routes like this?

All suggestions are welcome.

Source of rising locomotive sound?

Mapes — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 09:51:30 -0800

What is the MMM ^{M^{M^M!}}sound an idling locomotive makes every few minutes? I used to live by a rail yard, and recently took a long train ride from Boston to Chicago. I've noticed a weird rising sound that idling locomotives make occasionally. It's very loud, has a rising pitch, lasts a second or two, and is so unusual and distinctive that it sounds like God's own spaceship being charged up. What is it?

Amtrak security measures

Anonymous — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 21:25:52 -0800

How strict are Amtrak security regulations with regard to marijuana? About a year ago, Amtrak announced that they would be implementing new security restrictions which would include bomb-sniffing dogs and guards with automatic machine guns. My father, who resides in Oregon, is planning to take a trip up to Washington state and he'd like to bring his medical marijuana in his carry on luggage. He does have paperwork stating he is approved for medical marijuana usage in Oregon, but is still concerned about getting in trouble with federal agents.

I know you are not a lawyer and this doesn't constitute legal advice, but does anyone know if these random bag searches have been implemented or if any k9 units they use are also checking for drugs? Even anecdotal answers regarding whether or not you've experienced these new security measures on recent Amtrak trips are welcome.

Thanks for your help!

West Conshohocken to NYC by train?

sydney54 — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 04:30:04 -0800

West Conshohocken to NYC by train? I need to get from West Conshohocken to NYC by train on a Monday around lunchtime. Do I head back into the center of Philidelphia or is there a better way? I am just over the bridge from Conshohocken station. Plus, how do I get to West Conshohocken from the international Airport - do I cab or is there an easy alternative? I have never been to Philidelphia.

should i take the train from oly to wenatchee?

dahliachewswell — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 23:29:22 -0800

Should I take the train from Olympia to Wenatchee, WA? Am I going to get stuck running hours late on these particular routes, even travelling a relatively short distance?? I am looking at riding Amtrak from Oly to Wenatchee for a conference to avoid driving a gas guzzling minivan. I'd be riding the "Cascades" from Olympia to Seattle, and the "Empire Builder" from Seattle to Wenatchee. There is also an option of taking a bus for the Seattle/Wenatchee leg, apparently.

I know first-hand all about the tardiness that is commonplace during rail travel in the U.S. One hour late I could handle, 3+ I could not. I'm curious if someone has experience with either of these routes specifically.

Do they run late even though they're shorter trips? Has anyone ever taken the bus option? Any info would be helpful.

Traveling by train from Seattle to Vancouver, BC.

bamassippi — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 10:31:33 -0800

Traveling by train from Seattle to Vancouver, BC. I'm planning a weekend getaway across the border from Seattle to Vancouver BC and looking to travel by rail via Amtrak. Why does the Seattle-Vancouver BC route only offer train trips once per day?

Is this only temporary?
Why the odd hours?
Have any of you traveled to BC via Amtrak?
What was your experience?

Cheap travel from Delaware to NYC?

viewofdelft — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 13:23:54 -0800

What are the cheapest ways to get from Newark, Delaware, to New York City? I'm a research assistant at the University of Delaware and as part of a long and wonkish I-95 corridor project, we've decided to produce a map or informational pamphlet letting students know the cheapest ways to get from here (Newark, Delaware) to New York City.

A few things to keep in mind:
1. Any mode of transportation is fair game (air, rail, highway, seaports, etc.), as is any type of vehicle (plane, train, automobile, bus, shoes, etc.).
2. Be creative, but within reasonable limits of safety (i.e., no airmailing oneself).
3. It's alright if many of the suggested travel methods begin in Philadelphia (and maybe even Baltimore) if these departure points are more familiar to you.
4. Cost is the most important factor, although I don't want to discourage that outlandish teleportation idea you've been waiting to uncork.

After we've completed the map or pamphlet, I'll contact each of the contributors about mailing them a finished product. Thank you.

SeaTown Luggage Logistic

pranalaxmi — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 10:34:36 -0800

I'll be getting off the amtrak in Seattle on Thursday with a bicycle, a cumbersome backpack, and a laptop bag. Within an hour, I need to hit an appointment with a stock agency fairly near to the station. The only friend I know in Seattle is finishing up his term finals and can't pick me up - with car and roof rack - until later that evening. Question is: how should I lighten my load for 4+ hours, so that I can hit my appointment, and wheel around downtown?

Getting to the SF Amtrak Station?

UnnotciedTypo — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 06:35:17 -0800

How do I get from San Francisco airport to the Amtrak station in Emeryville very, very fast? I am landing in San Francisco International at 8:55 PM tonight. I'd like to catch a 10:12 train from the Amtrak station in Emeryville. I am clueless about the SF area. Is this possible? If so, how? Amtrak has coaches that leave from various areas in the city, but they all depart between 8:50 and 9:10, and none of them leave from the airport. Would a cab be excessively expensive?
Would appreciate any advice from someone who knows the area well. Thanks!

Bicycle on Northeast Corridor Amtrak?

neustile — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 10:29:29 -0800

Has anyone successfully traveled with a bicycle on an Amtrak Northeast Corridor train? (Specifically Boston to New London ferry terminal) I am getting all sorts of conflicting information. Some sites just say "no bicycles on NE Corridor." Some say you have to pack it. (How?) I'm looking for someone that has done this recently on this particular route who can give me advice/tips.

Current state of US train travel?

flapjax at midnite — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 17:09:16 -0800

Can anyone give me any firsthand (or reliable secondhand) impressions of US (Amtrak) rail travel these days? I'm planning on doing some rail travel in the US, with wife and 8-year-old child, when we next visit. Our child is a pretty hardy traveller, so no particular worries about that, especially. But anyone who has solid information on Amtrak travel these days, would you be so kind as to share it with me? I'm wondering things like, are the trains reasonably clean? Are the seats reasonably comfortable? Are they crowded? Any and all impressions most welcomed.

Also, I'm particularly interested in info on the "Crescent", running between New Orleans and New York City. But all info on any other lines as well would be great.

Is there any reason this Amtrak trip won't work?

Quidam — Tue, 20 May 2008 10:03:55 -0800

This summer I'd like to take the Amtrak from Cincinnati, OH to Holland, MI, by way of Chicago, and I'd like to take my bike. Help me figure this out. Probably some time in July, I'd like to visit from friends in Holland, MI. Partially because of the price of gas, partially because I'm familiar with Holland and I know it's bikeable, and partly because, uh, I think it'd be kind of fun to take a train, I'd like to take the Amtrak, and bring my bike.

A search for train schedules on the Amtrak website shows that the train would probably leave Cincinnati about 1:10am, get into Chicago at 10:35am, leave Chicago again at 5:45pm (bonus! 7 hours of free time in Chicago!), and get into Holland at 5:45pm. Essentially reverse and repeat on the way back, with the train leaving Holland at 8:20am and getting into Cincinnati at 3:17am.

I guess I'm sort of trying to figure out if this is feasible/if there's any reason this would be a really bad idea, assuming: a) while I've been on a train before, I'm not an experienced train traveler, and b) I'm a 5'2" 21 year old female.

But I mean, I can take care of myself. I guess my concerns more specifically are:

1) How difficult will it be for me to get the bike on and off the train (yes, I've seen this on the Amtrak site.)

2) Surely there's somewhere at Union Station in Chicago I can check a bike for 7 hours, right? Will that be complicated/expensive?

3) Ought I be concerned at all about boarding/leaving the Amtrak at 1:00am or 3:00am? I guess I'm asking about the general sketchiness of Amtrak stations, especially really late at night.

Thoughts? Suggestions? Thanks Askmefites!

Can I bring a Leatherman on an Amtrak?

box — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 11:44:12 -0800

Will I be able to take a pocketknife/Leatherman-style pocket tool on an Amtrak train, or will it be considered a weapon?

Are there any Amtrak stations that have trailheads nearby?

andythebean — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 23:45:32 -0800

How can I use Amtrak to get to a good backpacking spot? Background: I would like to go on a solo backpacking trip over spring break. I don't have a car in good enough condition for a trip but I want to get out of the midwest aways. I have very little money to spend on this.
Question: Which (if any) Amtrak stations have trailheads close by?

Amtrak Sell Out?

aetg — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 18:35:00 -0800

Amtrak Train Holiday Filter question: does a "sold-out" train ever get new tickets available? I want to take the train either December 21st or 22nd from Chicago to Kansas City. The quick, six hour train is sold out leaving my only other option as a ten hour trip with an hour layover and a train switch in St. Louis. I see on their website that tickets may come available if people cancel, but that seems like a shot in the dark to me.

Do I have any hope of getting a ticket on the Ann Rutledge (6 hr train)? and Why can't the train just add more cars if they need more seats. Yes, I have read this CNN transcript, but I'm still in the dark.

Pack em in fellas

Jonsnews — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 07:22:13 -0800

I hope to take my family to upstate NY for thanksgiving via the 48 Lake Shore Limited Amtrak Train. There will be four of us going. My wife, myself, and our two children (both over 2, under 5). With money being a bit tight, I would like to purchase 2 normal seats, and upgrade the other two seats to a Viewliner Roomette (suggested occupancy of 2, but with my kids being small, and having traveled in one before I know we could all fit). Will there be any issues just leaving the two seats unused, and all of us piling into the room? Will they ask two of us to go back to our seats? I can't afford two of the viewliners, both ways of the trip, and cannot afford to upgrade to the full room. But I know I can budget an extra 400 to get the viewliner for both ways for one set of us. We both really liked the privacy of the roomettes, and it keeps our kids in one area, so we can sleep and not have to worry about one getting up and unbuckling and running around.

How do I get picked up in New York?

peachfuzz — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 19:17:51 -0800

A small and easily answered question: If I take the Acela from Baltimore to Manhattan (Penn Station), where's the most convenient place for someone to meet me and pick me up? Is there a passenger pickup and dropoff area (or a taxi area regular cars can sneak into)? A street side it makes the most sense to wait on? A nearby coffee shop or other place that's more accessible? Or do I just tell them to park and we'll meet somewhere inside the station? If I had my druthers, I'd just take a cab or a train to their office, but they are insisting on coming to get me. I suppose they'd know, but I don't like to ask them (it's been a long, annoying, sort-of-exasperating process to set this meeting up on all sides).

My great train ride across Canada.

lychee — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 06:32:38 -0800

I'm thinking of traveling across Canada by rail. I have never been to Canada, ridden on a train, or traveled alone before, so advice requested. Also, Amtrak? Perhaps it's a leftover from a girlhood reading Anne of Green Gables books, but I've always liked the idea of traveling across Canada by train. And since I've decided to take a break from the daily 9 to 5 scene, I will now have all of September to spend indulging my whims. So, a few questions: How boring are the long-distance rides? What can you do on the train besides look out the window? Are the train stations in safe, accessible locations, or creepy and sketchy like the Houston Amtrak station?

Also, Amtrak and VIA offer a North American pass good for 30 days for what I think is a reasonable price. Should I take advantage of it to get to and from Canada on Amtrak from Texas? Amtrak's reputation is less than sterling, and I'm guessing I'd be pretty train-fatigued before I actually get to Canada, so I could always take a plane to and from Canada and use their limited, 12-day rail pass instead.

Any additional advice is more than welcome. Thanks in advance!

Ratfilter: getting around

Geckwoistmeinauto — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 08:56:49 -0800

FamilyVacationTime! I'm arriving in Orlando via air on Easter Sunday to meet up with my family. What's the Taxi situation like on holidays at the airport? Also, I am departing via Amtrak on the following Friday. What's the area around the train station like? What's the best way to get to the Downtown Amtrak station from the Kissimee area? As we all know, Amtrak can be less than punctual. Is the area around the Orlando station an OK place to hang out on a Friday afternoon while waiting for a delayed train? Any particular recommendations? I'm open to renting a car from the airport, but it might be a pain to drop the car off when I depart.

Any tips or tricks for navigating the Orlando area would be much appreciated!

Has anyone traveled the Amtrak Lakeshore Limited?

beachhead2 — Wed, 10 Jan 2007 07:37:43 -0800

Is it a good idea to take Amtrak from Chicago to New York City? I'd love to hear from anyone who has experience with this service (Chi-NYC). The train is called the "Lakeshore Limited". My wife and are considering a sleeper-car trip in June. Don't worry, we're not in a hurry! I am an Amtrak veteran (in coach) so I know there will almost certainly be delays. However, most of my experiences have been between DC and NYC which is rumored to have better service. Is the Lakeshore Limited somewhat reliable by Amtrak standards? Presumably a sleeper will make some delay more tolerable...

SF to Sac & Back - best way to travel?

treepour — Tue, 09 Jan 2007 14:10:05 -0800

I need to make a day trip to Sacramento from San Francisco. I don't own a car. What's the best way to get there & back? It seems I could rent a car for about $40, or I could take the amtrak capital corridor train for about the same amount. I've never driven to Sacramento before, nor have I ever taken the capital corridor train (anywhere).

Travel time isn't as important as comfort/reduced stress. Driving in heavy traffic gives me the heebie-jeebies, but so does overcrowded public transportation. I'd be traveling during commute hours (though my journey will be a reverse commute, I believe).

Also, once in Sacramento, I'll need to visit the Secretary of State's office in order to file some papers, which I've been told will take about 3-4 hours. This should give me enough time to catch an afternoon/evening train back to SF. It looks like the office is within walking distance of the train depot, but I've never been to Sacramento, so I don't know quite what to expect in terms of pedestrian friendliness.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.