Crossing America with Amtrak (Amtrak (USA))

Member Name: allanjk

Product:	Amtrak (USA)
Date:	10/05/03 (1259 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Cheap Prices, Comfy seats, Good atmosphere

Disadvantages: Slow, Sleepers very expensive

In April 2003 I took a holiday to the good ole US of A to do a coast-to-coast trip, but as I don't drive I was in quite a dilema as to the best way to get around. Really there are three options:

Flying - Expensive but fast
Greyhound bus - Cheap but very slow
Amtrak - Cheap (by UK standards) but still quite slow

I chose Amtrak mainly because of the price and the idea I didn't have to sit in a cramped bus seat for my journey.
I looked at the Amtrak website, and planned my route which was

Washington DC - Charleston WV
9 hours $35

Charleston WV - Chicago IL
12 hours $40

Chicago IL - Reno NV
47 hours! $85

Sacramento CA - San Francisco CA
2 hours $15

So as you can see once I'd paid for my travel with my VISA card i'd sorted out all the travel costs for my trip for just under £100 (at a £1 = $1.5 exchange)
Given I was travelling a total of 3500 miles, you can appreciate what great value this is in comparison to UK rail travel.

Getting to Washington Union station a huge wonderfully arhitectured building was very simple as unlike airports railway stations tend to be in the heart of Americas citys.
Amtrak often offer a checkd baggage service so if you have large items of luggage you can check them as soon as you get to the station, saving you the effort of carrying it and worrying about it while onbaord the train.

My first two journies was on the Cardinal viewliner train, this was a single decker train with huge recliner style seats. In fact the seat size was very similar to 1st class on a flight and I had no problem in sleeping in the seat overnight with a blanket and pillow for comfort.
If you are getting off at a stop in the early hours of the morning you needn't worry about staying awake as the conductor tags your seat with the station you're leaving at so he'll wake you up before your stop.

The onboard staff are
as a rule curtious and friendly, being more than happy to answer any questions I had during the trip. Food and drink is expensive by US standards but not by UK standards, so if you're rtying to save money buy your snacks before you get on the train.
The second train ride was on the California Zephyer a double decker superliner train, with seating on the top deck and toilet facilities below. Again the huge reclining seat were very comfortable but 47 hours on the train was a very long time, be prepeared to bring some books/games to keep you occupied for the duration of the journey. The Zephyer also had a lounge/viewing car with huge windows offering great views as we passed through the Rocky mountains.

Both trains also had a full dining car offering breakfast and dinner, although I never took a full meal I heard good reports from other travellers on board who did.
My final train journey seemed to fly by after the Zephyer ride, again on a superliner train this one being the very modern Capitol Corridor trains. These trains were very modern i'd imagine less than 5 years old and were a joy to ride on.
Of course the real beauty of train travel is meeting people and I can guarnatee you'll meet a wide variety of people all travelling Amtrak from one side of the USA to the other. Amtrak do have a reputation for horrific delays at time. but none of my trains were ever more than an hour late.

If you require a 'proper' bed to sleep in anight Amtrak do have sleeper cars, these are not cheap however! 1 night in a sleeper on the Zephyer costs $300! If you can make do with sleeping in your seat you'll save yourself a lot of money.
So to summerise, if you're travelling long distance in the USA and you are on a budget Amtrak could just be a great way too go. If you're on a sleeper service you'll save yourself a night in a hotel and by uk standards the ticket prices are very cheap. You'll also have plenty of roo
m to yourself something you wouldn't get in a Greyhound.

P.S If anyone has any more questions feel free to email me and ask :)

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