im taking the amtrak for the first time on friday morning around 9 am..and im going to be on the train for 5 and a half hours..and im going by myself. im just wondering what its like?? is it boring?? is it similar to a plane or a bus??
2007-08-20 01:40:23 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Travel ➔ Travel (General) ➔ Other - Destinations
Get your ipod all charged up! It's pretty boring, but there is a lot to see out of the windows; that's better than a plane. It's somewhere between a plane and a bus. I've been on many amtrak trips, they were fun!!
2007-08-20 01:46:14 · answer #1 · answered by marie 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In the northeast corridor, between Boston and Washington DC, taking Amtrak is a joy. Amtrak (officially known as the National Rail Passenger Corporation), owns the train tracks in the northeast, so they have complete control over the scheduling of when the trains leave and arrive at each station, and they don't have to pull over and/or wait for freight trains to pass.
In most of the rest of the country, it's a nightmare. Amtrak trains are subject to scheduling changes and delays imposed on it by whatever company owns the track that Amtrak trains are travelling on. In the midwest, train service is remarkably unreliable, and probably wouldn't even exist if it weren't for the government subsidies.
In southern California, Amtrak and CalTrain work together to provide a pretty good, reliable service.
I usually spend the extra money to upgrade to business class on Amtrak. It's very much like unreserved coach, but you have a reservation, so you're guaranteed a seat, and there's usually an electrical outlet for me to plug in my laptop.
Travelling by train is quite cool. I hear Amtrak isn't anything like European train travel, but it's the closest thing we've got for now.
2007-08-20 08:51:19 · answer #2 · answered by Scotty Doesnt Know 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I havent been on amtrak before, but my friends tell me that its pretty cool ride, you get to see a lot of nice stuff (like wonderful scenery etc) but they also said that there are frequent delays and late arrivals due to the fact that Amtrak doesnt really own the tracks that it travels on and freight trains have priority.
Btw...the answer before mine mentioned CalTrain and Southern CA...and I just want to say that CalTrain does not go to Southern CA. It only operates in Northern CA. I think the other answerer was thinking about CalTrans.
2007-08-21 05:25:57 · answer #3 · answered by lildude211us 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, I was on for 25 hours...people kept farting at night....plus it was boring...awful food A nice dining cart though, you may even make a friend or 2,
2007-08-20 08:49:10 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
good but to late not on time
2007-08-20 08:45:05 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋