AMTRAK: A FEW HINT TO MAKE IT ENJOYABLE AND WORTH THE EXTRA MONEY

 

As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, I retired in January 2018 and haven’t worked since. My pension and Social Security have allowed me to live very comfortably.

In retirement, I’ve traveled widely across the country, usually behind the wheel of my car. I enjoy planning each journey as much as bringing it to life.

My first major post-retirement adventure was a 36-day tour of Texas. Since then, I’ve taken a 28-day trip through the Dakotas, Montana, and Wyoming, as well as two roughly two-week journeys across the Midwest.

I had always wanted to take a long-distance train trip, and in October and November 2018, I finally traveled by rail to Phoenix, Arizona. The four-day, three-night journey included rides on the Capitol Limited and the Texas Eagle.

Since then, I’ve taken several shorter Amtrak trips and enjoyed nearly every one of them. Along the way, I’ve learned a few ways to make train travel even more enjoyable.

First, train travelers should expect a slow journey. In addition to station stops, passenger trains often wait on sidings for higher-priority freight trains to pass.

This leads to another reality of Amtrak travel: Outside the Northeast, where Amtrak owns and maintains the tracks, delays are common. Everywhere other than the Northeast, Amtrak uses tracks owned by the major freight rail companies.

I would not rely on Amtrak when traveling on a tight schedule. Amtrak is often delayed and almost always late.

Another lesson is to break up trips involving multiple trains. For example, on my return from Arizona, I booked two trains back-to-back on the same day.

I traveled overnight from Chicago to Washington, then continued from Washington to Roanoke. I was scheduled to arrive in Washington in the early afternoon and catch my train to Roanoke around 6 p.m.

Well, my train from Chicago to Washington was almost 7 hours late and I ended up missing my train from Washington to Roanoke. Now Amtrak will get you to your destination and you will have very little say on how they do it.

In my case, Amtrak put me on the Crescent, which runs from Washington to New Orleans and stops in Lynchburg, Virginia. In Lynchburg, the station master directed me to a waiting taxi that took me back to Roanoke.

Since then, I’ve planned an overnight break in connecting cities before continuing the next day. On my next trip, I took the Capitol Limited from Washington to Chicago, then the Texas Eagle to Dallas, Texas.

I was due in Chicago around 10 a.m., with the Texas Eagle departing at about 2:30 p.m. To avoid a missed connection, I stayed overnight and boarded the following afternoon.

Several good hotels are convenient to Chicago Union Station. I usually choose Club Quarters on Adams Street, a six-block walk away, or the more distant Holiday Inn downtown, which is a short Lyft or Uber ride from the station.

For a more enjoyable Amtrak trip, avoid coach when possible. Although the seats and cars are comfortable, the lowest fare can mean a noisier, less considerate mix of passengers.

Whenever possible, I choose Business Class. The modest extra cost is worthwhile for a quieter, less crowded car and more legroom. In business class you are less likely to get a screaming baby, unruly kids or just plain rude passengers.  In short, you get a better class of passengers in business class.

Another benefit of booking a sleeper roomette or Business Class is complimentary access to Amtrak’s first-class lounges at major stations. At stations such as Washington Union Station and Chicago Union Station, these spaces are typically called Metropolitan Lounges.

Metropolitan Lounges provide complimentary snacksm nonalcoholic beverages, workspaces for laptops, and outlets for electronic devices. They offer a comfortable place to wait for your train.

Another lesson I learned early in my Amtrak travels is to book early and pack light. Booking sooner usually means better prices on roomettes and Business Class upgrades. Also don’t be too eager to take the first price you see. I have discovered that Amtrak Fares can vary greatly from Day to day

For example, I checked the price of a roomette from Washington, D.C. to Chicago for a mid-April departure. The fare was initially $762, then dropped to $605 a few days later. Ten days after that, it was $712, and my final search showed a fare of $551.

Over three weeks, the fare for the same departure date varied by more than $200. Start checking early, compare prices, and revisit Amtrak’s website a few times before booking.

I strongly recommend booking directly with Amtrak, either through its website or by calling the reservations number, rather than using a third-party booking site.

When you book directly with Amtrak, onboard staff or customer service can address concerns promptly. In my experience, Amtrak is willing to resolve problems quickly and satisfactorily. Depending on the disruption, assistance may include complimentary lodging, travel vouchers, refunds, or other accommodations.

When you book through a third party, Amtrak typically directs compensation or accommodation requests back to that provider. The reservation secures your ticket, and that all. The booking service must handle any additional support or compensation.

Pack light—this cannot be overstated. Train storage is limited, and some stations do not accept checked baggage. A 50-pound suitcase can be difficult to stow because large bag areas fill quickly and oversized luggage will not fit above the seat.

This advice also applies to overnight roomettes. Although private, each room is only about 3½ feet wide by 6½ feet long, with two chairs that form a lower bed and a fold-down upper bunk. Large bags leave almost no extra space.

For train trips, I bring one backpack for clothing and toiletries and a smaller bag for daily essentials and electronics. Five or six days of clothing has proven sufficient.

Even on my month-long trip to Arizona, most hotels had laundry facilities. In a few hours, I could wash clothes in the evening and repack for another week, usually for no more than $7 or $8.

One of the biggest benefits of Amtrak is If you book a Roomette or family-bedroom fares include meals. Before COVID, most overnight trains offered traditional dining, with all three meals cooked to order in the dining car’s lower-level kitchen. The food on the traditional dining menu is excellent.

Although the entire menu is appealing, my favorites are the three-egg omelet for breakfast, the Angus cheeseburger for lunch, and, above all, the flat iron steak for dinner.

Traditional dining features communal seating, so travelers share tables. I’ve generally enjoyed meeting new people and have had many pleasant dining companions, with only two notable exceptions.

As of this writing, every overnight long-distance train heading west from Chicago serves traditional dining at all three meals. These routes include the Empire Builder, California Zephyr, Southwest Chief, and Texas Eagle/Sunset Limited.

Since COVID, East Coast overnight trains have served Amtrak’s Flexible Dining meals, which are prepared in advance and reheated onboard. They are tasty and generally good, though I still prefer traditional dining.

Trains heading east or south from Chicago use Flexible Dining, including the City of New Orleans, Cardinal, and Floridian.

Finally, I enjoy Amtrak for its relaxed atmosphere and the courtesy and professionalism of its onboard crews. Train travel feels entirely different from flying.

Whenever I had to fly, I disliked the experience. Arriving two or three hours before departure and navigating extensive TSA screening made air travel nearly unbearable.

Traveling by train, I usually try and arriver at the station about 45 minutes to an hour before my scheduled departure. There is none of the TSA bull crap to put up with. Basically, you just show up, wait in the lounge and board your train.

That does not mean security is absent; it may simply be less noticeable and less intrusive. At major stations such as Washington and Chicago, local and Amtrak police are visibly present, often with K-9 units and specialized equipment, while other security measures operate behind the scenes and are less noticeable.

Amtrak police officers sometimes ride onboard and may remain unnoticed until their help is required. During my 2018 trip to Arizona, a couple of the passengers in coach became unruly and would not follow the conductors direction.

One passenger became physically aggressive toward another passenger and the train staff. At that point, two armed Amtrak police officers identified themselves and brought the situation under control.

The aggressive passenger was arrested and turned over to local authorities in Alpine, Texas. The other passenger involved in the dispute was not arrested but was also removed from the train there.

Remember that smoking and vaping are strictly prohibited on all Amtrak trains. Anyone who is caught smoking in a restroom, roomette or anywhere on the train may be removed from the train.

Also keep in mind that although many state and local governments have legalized recreational marijuana, it remains illegal under federal law. Because Amtrak follows federal law, marijuana use is prohibited on trains, at stations, and on adjacent Amtrak property. Anyone caught using it may be removed from the train, arrested, and charged with a federal offense.

I avoid Amtrak when I’m on a tight schedule because I prefer leisurely train travel. I enjoy relaxing in my roomette or Business Class seat and watching the world go by.

I also enjoy sharing a good meal with fellow passengers or relaxing in the Sightseer Lounge. Most Amtrak passengers I’ve met have been wonderful, and some have become lasting friends.

Overall, nearly every Amtrak trip has been a positive experience that has left me with lasting memories.