24 hours in Amtrak COACH CLASS - The Sunset Limited Train
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 1 ต.ค. 2024
- I spent 24 hours in Amtrak Coach Class, riding the train from New Orleans to Austin, with a 6 hour layover in San Antonio, Texas. Honestly, the Coach Class Section had tons of room and was very comfortable on board the Sunset Limited Train. Would I recommend the train? Yes. I think everyone should get to travel by rail at least once in their life.
Have you watched my 24 hrs in Amtrak Business Class video yet?
• 24 hrs in Amtrak BUSIN...
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'You meet some interesting people" is an understatement. I met one woman who only rode the train because the food was so good. She'd get on in the morning, ride the train from one stop to another, ride the return train, and go home in the evenings.
all because of the food
Praxus May'Salkiriiss I met a guy who did both the pyrotechnics and merch for a rock band, and a DJ who's _name_ was DJ while on the _Capitol Limited._ Earlier during dinner, I had a conversation with a geneticist from India and an off-Broadway stage actor. You don't get these interactions with these kinds of people while flying.
ya im gonna call bullshit lol
Has she never heard of a restaurant?
@@米空軍パイロット she liked the amtrak food.
Sounds like if she can afford to do that means she’s rich and u should be friends 😎 lol
The US needs an infrastructure update with high speed trains.
That's a lot rail upgrades and some millions of bucks
@@LXW-Arts It'd be many billions.
@@LXW-Arts Although honestly, that money won’t really be going to the long distance trains like the one in the video. It will be going toward the Northeast Corridor and other intercity lines, because they have been proven to actually turn a profit.
High speed trains will never happen in the US. It would cost too much and Congress is not about to go along with it as long as Amtrak keeps losing the money it does. Forget about high speed trains. It is nothing but a dream.
@@peterharper8216 Exactly. The money will go to the area with the highest ridership.
America was built on this, I feel like people should cherish this more. Great video.
Thanks man. I agree!
the best trains are real It’s hard to cherish the train ride when it’s more expensive than flying in a plane you can fly to New Orleans to Austin on Southwest for $74 takes about one hour or so so why would someone want to go on a train except for just the experience which is a very small percent of the people it’s mainly for drug traffickers and people that don’t wanna go through a big TSA checkpoint from what I understand
DownieLive Southwest 74 bucks do you nonstop 65 minute flight that’s why people don’t take trains anymore it’s more expensive to take a train then flying
@@richardharris6058
But, you can never top the experience of travel by rail. Too many people in a hurry.
@Brian Landers
Brian lets travel.
As a pilot, I can honestly say that my family and I are excited about our upcoming spring 2022 trip on Amtrak. We would like to thank all of the you tubers who spend many hours preparing these videos for our viewing pleasure. My family and never would have considered using the train if it were not for all of your hard work you have all done to get the public aware of the enjoyment of Amtrak and their services. Amtrak should get all of you together to make an Amtrak anniversary commercial.
Please let us know how it went?
How was the trip???
When I was young.......my mom was terrified to fly, so we would ride Amtrak from Alabama to Hartford Ct to visit my uncle and family. It was a long ride but being that you could walk around and move. Made it a fun way to travel. I miss those summers, I miss my mom
I miss my mom too. The memories become more gold as the years pass by without her. I miss and love you so much Mom.
I’m from Darien CT! Wishing you the best and sending prayers for you and your mother❤️
@@sophyedavey8573 thank you.
That was such a sweet story
@T MH yes they are. No bills, no politics, no worries at all.....just live carefree. Only thing you worried about was bad weather that could keep you inside all day. I grew up in a time when kids went outside and actually played physical activities
When I was 25 I took the train from Los Angeles to Chicago by myself. It was a 3 day trip and I rode in coach. To be honest I loved it. I had my pillow and blanket. I had clothes to change into and food, basically everything I needed. It was the most affordable means for me to get there and I truly enjoyed it so much.
Right the main advantage planes have over Amtrak is speed. That trip from LA to Chicago would've taken maybe 5 or 6 hours. Maybe a bit more.
It is great! Bring your comfort things, enjoy the beautiful ride and talk to people!,
25, and all by yourself?! What a big girl! 👏
Can u bring your own food on the train?
@@brittanylynn5494 Yes and alcohol .
Me 20 minutes ago: Huh this doesn't look like my kind of thing
Me now: I will watch everything on this channel and I am booking train tickets now
It’s the best way to travel if you have time. I travel from Dallas where I currently live back to New York where I’m from and it’s great.
Don't do it. Amtrak is DISGUSTING and the service is terrible. They don't even make an effort. The whole train smelled like a bathroom. The experience was a complete lie from what I was told we were getting. My 11-year-old and I had a 7'x7' suite to ourselves on our cross country trip and it was still so bad we bailed in Milwaukee and got a rental car.
Um. The video is way short than 20min.
Steve Graham Well first off don’t lie lol one bad experience doesn’t mean it’s like that everywhere. I’ve taken cross country Amtraks a dozen times and each one was great. Delays were the only thing that ever went wrong the staff always works hard and puts out good effort considering they’re doing 15-18 hour shifts.
ScamTrack isn't for me. I hate to travel.
As a flight attendant I feel airline traveling is the fastest way to go and I like that. But the romance of trains has got me. You channel have really inspired me to do it. And after we no longer have a shelter in place I believe I will book a train ride.
Trans are nice, rode the train a few times when I was in Germany!
You know, I just do not see the romance of trains. They are seldom on time, long distance trains can by 10 hours late. I guess that is just me. To each his own.
Hi Judy. I was a flight attendant for 5 years and a train fanatic. I remember trying to JS from IAD-LGA or JFK. I ended up going IAD-HPN, then a train back to Queens. If i thought about the train, it woulda been faster and cheaper to have went to DC's Union station, then a train to NY Penn Station. i learned my lesson real quick. LOL .... wherever you are.. Safe flying always.
@@ellisjames7192 i love this video. great to see, but, i am not a "romance-type woman for a train ride, not romantic, just a regular nice train ride, clean, charge mi cell phone or i-pad, and i m good." so i agree, with ELLIS and STEVE Jackson. lol i love to fly too, and like yourself, shorter flights, are easy, to just sit back and enjoy, i fly like yourself few x a year.
As I've gotten older and Ankylosing Sponylitis has robbed me of the ability to turn my neck, a long distance train ride seems more appealing. Did several in my youth living in Europe and remember all of them fondly.
Awesome video. I love watching stuff and meeting people who appreciate Amtrak - it seems to be a niche pursuit in the USA. Train people are my kinda people.
Love everything train related!!!
I do so agree!! I love the train!!!
You should do some Amtrak train videos.
@IAXEL LESSS GOOOO SI PAPI SHARK MAN BOY IMBOTMWAHA does anyone know how good amtrak wifi is?
Compare to the waiting times for air travel and increased costly driving, train travel becomes a better option.
I took a greyhound once - I repeat ONCE ! This train looks way more fun.
I had a 56 hours greyhound trip 😂🤣
I did a Greyhound once and I adamantly admit it will be that only once time. Train 🚂 is the way to travel in slower mode.
Same. I took a greyhound from NYC to Cincinnati OH. 3 busses over 17 hours. Really interesting people but won’t be doing it ever again.
Lol man I took one from Colorado to Atlanta never again
Know the feeling
The space available in the Amtrak Coach Class would be a dream-come-true for any coach airline passenger.
True haha
jacksan1, nah! That ain't gonna happen dude! USA is getting far behind nowadays. America still don't have bullet trains, or any trains that travels fast, as fast as the Ferrari, a Bugatti, a Lamborghini, a Hayabusa or an H2. America don't have those. Unlike Japan have bullet trains, France and Germany have one! And also some other Countries in Europe also have bullet train. China have one! But why America don't have one? America, The mighty USA which is the most powerful and the most warfreak in the World don't have Bullet Train?! but only have Amtrak Train and a Rusting Greyhound Bus.
Only reason all these failing shithole yurocuck states can even function like that is because the us covers their defense costs
I would be riding Amtrak all the time, instead of a plane if I was not in a hurry. And if only Amtrak would announce stops.
Agreed you can fully recline, more than enough legroom. Coach train travel is basically first class in most airlines.
Hey Mike! I retired from Amtrak about two years ago. Your Amtrak videos are on point. I worked in the sleeper for 32 years.
Cool! I wish we had gotten to meet on a train at some point.
Of course, traveling by train is slow but for people who like sightseeing and enjoying seeing the country, the train is the best route.
traveling by american train is slow... 24 yours for 800km... jesus, would take me 7 or 8 here in germany
I enjoyed it so much. Sleeper car 💕
@@TheDrumminguy I like that the train is going slow simply because I like to sightsee. Your not going to see much if you are going 200 miles per hour (or 322 km/h). It's the little things in life.
I'm in Scotland near Edinburgh and I could get to Germany in less than 24 hours
I would take 24 hours on Amtrak before I ever took 24 on a Greyhound bus ever again. THAT was pure torture.
I said the same thing until I priced them for a trip once. The bus was going to be something like $60 per person and the Amtrack was over $200 per person for the exact same trip. I was just... 🤯 I ended up NOT making that trip because I couldn’t afford Amtrack and didn’t want to deal with Greyhound again. And this was only one state away.
You couldn't pay me to take Greyhound again
Holly sh't. 24 hours on a bus? I feel tortured only after 30min on a bus. You are a tough guy.
Omg! I hear sooo many horror stories about GreyHound and I've rode them sooooo many times and never had any issues. I'm grateful for that lol sucks so many people have had such horrible experiences.
Greyhound - where 3 hours late is "on-time" by their standards
Amtrak is fine as long as you don't have to be where you're going on time.
Or if the darn thing is not filled to capacity.
I know that's right I took it from El Paso to San Antonio took 12 hrs. What i hated the most is when it gets dark outside you cant even see out of the windows cause of all the interior light reflections. Then it's boring from there lol
MoneyIsSilver that is correct. Trains are notoriously late, because freight trains have priority to the tracks, so you often have to wait for freight to pass. But Amtrak often does make up time.
@@kathleenhenry6600 Amtrak sued Union Pacfic a few years ago for delaying them and won now U P has to let Amtrak go first but the still run behind but not always there fault lol
THIS! SO MUCH THIS!!!!!!
San Jose to Boston - total flipping nightmare. Due to delays, I missed my connection in Chicago, had to stay the night in Chicago, and lost a day in Boston. Coming into Boston, my train was supposed to arrive at 9pm. We arrived at 1am - which, by the way, makes it VERY difficult to find a cab. Then, on the way home, we were delayed outside Chicago which meant, you guessed it - I missed my connection AGAIN. But, because I had a sleeper car and they were sold out for the next connection, I could get a voucher and take the 4 day journey via coach, wait in Chicago until a sleeper opened, or suck it up and fly home. Because my dates weren't flexible, I had to fly home and was not refunded.
I am a 19 year old, and don't know anyone who likes train travel as much as me, so I am always alone, but it is worth it!
Bro I’m 24 and I’m traveling for my first time this in 2 days I’m fucking excited affffff!!!!!! I love trains!!
I’m 19 as well but never have gotten on a train and I’ve always wanted to I just want to get out of Texas and travel
I’m 23 and today will be my first time on train! I’m super excited 😁
I pretty young and I love train rides and so when ever my family goes on a trip I always want at least one part to be on train.
I traveled on Amtrak for the first time when was 19 years old --- in 1971 when the system and I were both very young. The trip from Union Station in Los Angeles to Oakland/San Francisco was horrible. Didn't impress me at all. Swore I'd never do it again. Waited until 2021 --- aged 69, to take it up again. It is much improved, even with pesky drawbacks, but now I'm addicted to domestic train travel. For some of us it takes a while to chill.
I love traveling by train. I once took a 50 hour trip from NY to WA. I spent most of the time getting drunk in the dinning car with a lesbian couple from Minnesota
You really are just too cool.
@@monizdm This is actually a pretty typical way to spend time on the Empire Builder.
That's the dream right there
This just took me tf out 😆😆😆
How much are the drinks usually?
You are an incredibly optimistic person and passionate about your choice of travel. This was a fun video and I'm a new viewer, be safe and keep traveling!
Thanks so much Vanessa!
I take that as a compliment.
Happy Holidays and I’ll keep the videos coming for you! 😄
Totally agree....
BTW; Is it possible to hire you to write positive comments [on youtube] for me?
Chris, anything is possible. Email me at michael@downielive.ca
He's extremely handsome with those beautiful eyes. I'm sorry I had to say it.
Victor Thomas 😳😳😳
I'll never travel on a greyhound bus 2000 miles ever again, ..Amtrak is the way to go if you're traveling by ground in the continental United States!..
I travelled on Greyhound in Florida. Every route lays over in Orlando. Noisey, chaotic, poor visual information for foreigners or hearing-impaired, you have to retrieve your bags, load them on your new bus or they end up in the wrong place.
My trusty vehicle gets me to where I need to go, but I'm not a broke POS either...LOL Plus I enjoy long trips I get s a nice Hotel with a pool and hot tub and live it up. Oh I also see the back country as I take dirt roads and stuff for the hell of it.
melvin jones I took greyhound from mobile, al to Oakland, ca when I was fifteen back in the late 80’s. ThAt sucked.
I took Greyhound from Pennsylvania to California and back. It was hell. Greyhound is awful. Won’t ever Er do that again.
Exactly
Couldn’t agree more- travel solo! It is so liberating - just don’t give in to your fears. Plan ahead, then be willing to change & you’ll be fine!
No price breaks for SOLO TRAVELERS.
I’d love to be in that observation car during a wicked storm ,thunder ,lightning the whole nine.....!
Scott McCullough That would be awesome
Lightning can still strike you through glass. I've never been on a train in a thunderstorm, I wonder if they evacuate?
Steve Denver It’s perfectly safe to be in a train car during storm - the train acts like huge faraday cage - nothing can happen to you and they certainly do not evacuate the train. In fact you would be in danger if you left the train during a storm.
@@Miakois -- Thanks. I'd never heard of a faraday cage -- apparently the same applies to airplanes and most motor vehicles. I just wondered if the observation car was evacuated, not the entire cage.
Yes, would love to see what sleeper units are like. ✌❤🌎
You can check out Reviewbrah's take on it: th-cam.com/video/6tpmzgmr2Bs/w-d-xo.html
here is my advice I have been on many trips on Amtrak sleeper car is very good if you are travaling for more then one day like across country.sleep car to tx and back 1200 dollars you get dinner reservations if you have a sleeper very nice
Sleepers are FANTASTIC, the folks working the cars are pretty great, and it's worth every penny! Plus there's SHOWERS in the sleeper cars!
Yes please! Have fun. Be blest☦️👩🏻🦳🐾 💫✨🇺🇸
I’d also like a review of the sleeper cars. I want my own compartment but it’s a good bit of money.
For a long ride, roomette is the way to go. Snuggle in your bed and let the train rock you to sleep. Wake up and you're 500 miles along. Time for a shower, a sit-down breakfast and some conversation. It's the most civilized way to travel.
It is a lovely way to travel !
How much is it?
@@bravoprojectrunwayfans it can get pretty expensive depending on what trip you take. for my trip it would be a few hundred
How does Amtrak do it? You get a 1st class Delta ticket and your space is dirty, food is shoddy and there's little leg room. You get a coach Amtrak ticket and they have burgers and stuff, you can walk around instead of being seated for hours on end, you can see the landscape you are travelling through and not just clouds, much bigger windows, you can stretch your legs in your seat, and if I recall correctly you don't have to stay in the seat your ticket gets you. Plane is faster though. An Amtrak ride that would take 8 hours would take maybe 2 hours by plane.
"Here's my tip for making the most out of coach class; GET OUT OF COACH CLASS."
died laughing
Absolutely...The club car is "where its at"! WHY book an expensive "private room" when the best part of the trip is the scenery you can see (both sides)... and the interesting people you meet there?
I love train travel. Wish the US had a better rail network - I'd see the entire country a hundred times over! :)
I'd love to take a train from Raleigh to Cleveland but it just doesn't seem to be in cards. The schedule times are crazy.
We DID have a great rail network.. but the automobile and the interstate highway system led to it's demise.
Big Oil didn't want better rail networks. This is why the USA has such a poor network of railways. And building highspeed trains like in China is probably not going to happen anytime soon either.
@@ECsponger2 yah thats a load of crap
ricochetey must work for big oil, lolol
Train travel is something everyone should do at least once.
i am planning on it this coming summer.
i like this guy can i share a train cabin with him and he can have his way with me?
@@nathanswenson1887
Haha are you the caboose
Chew Chew 🛤🚄🚅🎢
@@nickhill8612 that would be fiiiiine
@@nathanswenson1887
Haha okay okay
Happy New Year 🎆✨📆🗓
2🎈2🎈
Would absolutely love to see the sleeper cars and overnight accommodations.
There a plenty of videos on TH-cam about the sleeper car.
They are very small... all bed... but so worth it! The bathrooms are communal unless you get a very expensive large room. But if you are traveling more than 24 hours it is well worth a sleeper. :)
They're nice, but very small. Former Amtrak employee here. 😂
I hear there are 3 options and only the "roomette" has a communal toilet. I hear the other 2 have their own toilet and the biggest one is rather roomy but VERY expensive.
@@421Reacts Good use of space though. Plenty of room for sitting during the day, and 2 bunk beds at night.
I did this as a child and it was one of the greatest experiences I've ever had. I went from Vermont to Utah and it was wild and unpredictable.
Long distance train travel is about the journey, not the destination.
Especially on the Auschwitz trains.
Man O man that's true! Reno to Richmond CA. A 3.5 hour drive, train took 9.5 hours!!!
Of course I had to under my situation but it was worth it. Never would have seen the High Sierra's in the back view👍👍.
Oh alot of the folks were tweakers and homeless looking. However given my departure local and destination local no shock 😲🙄
Which is about as much a reason to never ride a train as you can get. I'm not traveling, in order to have my body be moved. I'm traveling to get somewhere. I find nothing great about something off in the distance going by. I find something good about actually being at that something, and walking around looking at it.
Andrew Ekleberry exactly it’s about the trip? Bitch I’m trying to get there so I can enjoy my trip. All those great sights, gas stations,cemeteries, woah.
Thought about taking an Amtrak across country and back . Just for the ride
I lived in Chicago for 18 years and taking the Amtrak from Union Station was so convenient to travel around and cost effective. I love taking the train and wish the US had a better train service.
That’s fortunate for someone that likes taking the train as Chicago is a major rail hub and you can go anywhere on Amtrak from Chicago.
I love taking the train, too! The Amtrak station in Fort Worth is great, clean, and I can go a lot of places!
Saw your Grandad's show on METV....it was a riot.....
InsideOutside UpsideDown Thank you.💫
I wish we had a more thorough train system here in the US.
кคקק๏гtєг no point. Domestic flights are just as cheap.
We DID at one time. There was a time you could go just about anywhere in the US by train. But the private railroads went bankrupt because of 2 things. The interstate road system where families wanted to drive themselves on their own schedule and for cheaper and the increasing affordability of air travel (which, by the way, put travel by ship out of business). Amtrak is subsidized by the Federal Government and there are NO plans to expand it.
retroguy94 there’s more to that story
кคקק๏гtєг we did have years ago.
Ashley Lords. Yes I know. But this is supposed to be for brief comments. I very well cannot write a documentary delving into it here. I just wanted to make a succinct point that we DID have a better rail system and a basic overview of what happened.
My dad was a railroad cop and retired. He talked about doing a trip like this but sadly passed away before he had the chance. I tell my wife that I would love to do this now.
"if you don't have anyone else to go with... Go alone." #facts
“It’s not the destination but the journey”
It is the journey AND the destination 😉💋
very true
Much as life eh?
thats how a human would say it ... or you could say "IT IS THE TRAVEL...This is part of the trip"
the journey is shit
Took a Sleeper from Chicago to Fargo once. The only time I was up was during the included dinner and of course when it was about time to get off. Extremely cozy. I wasn't expecting to sleep due to how rocky it seemed but it seemed to make me sleep faster.
RootPC Sales ah, train 27. That was the one I went on.
I know I'm late to comment but "ladies lounge" most likely means a place for mother's go to feed their babies.
I would definitely enjoy seeing a sleeper car experience on Amtrak.
God I love Amtrak. And I also 100% understand anyone's hesitation about taking it. You either love it or you don't; this video is pretty much spot on. Also: if you haven't done it yet, I highly recommend the Empire Builder route from Chicago to Portland or Seattle. When I took it, the observation car had an old timer from the Park Service narrating the western landscape; then an acoustic country trio played for a while, and some guy fishing in a canoe mooned us. It was amazing.
I love the empire builder, ive taken it many times when I was in north Dakota and would go back to Wisconsin or to Oregon to visit a buddy. The guys on the obersavtion car are part of the trails and rails program between the national park service and amtrak. They do between lacrosse Wisconsin and st Paul Minnesota, then also through glacier national park in montana
@@randemness2680 Cool! great to hear that's a regular thing. It was my first Amtrak trip and I was just delighted.
The ladies lounge is a MUST if you’re traveling with kiddos it has a large sink vanity area with a couch, and a separate toilet. You can take your kids in change diapers wash them up and dress them in the morning if you’re on an all night trip. Awesome!
Dorothy, sounds great. Thanks for the insight, since I’d never know.
@@DownieLive You can see them when the train is not in service. They used to have national train days with equipment open for viewing. But that encouraged too much business. They can sell out anyway with advertising. So there are NO more national train days by Amtrak.
Thanks. Amtrak should re-label those to "family-lounge" since some of us fathers have those duties as well, may not know the rooms intent and would miss out on the much needed accessories. Have a great day!
I was suprised at how much I enjoyed riding amtrak from Florence,sc back up to Richmond,va. It was like a 70.00 ticket and only took about 5.5 hours.
I love to travel by train. I wish the USA had decent rail service (like the used to). Most all other countries put the USA to shame when it comes to affordable public transportation.
Car companies ruined it for us.
I spent 2 years in Germany back in 90-92 and rode them in Europe. It's crazy that even nearly 30 years later the trains from then are still leaps and bounds better than a present-day train in the US.
America uses cars. Mass transportation is never going to be a big thing in the US.
We traded being stuck on rails for the freedom of the open road.
Boy aint that the truth!
In the early 60's my parents would send me to my grandmothers cottage in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin for the summer. I raveled alone on the train from Chicago at 10 years old. My dad would give the conductor a $5 tip to assure my passage. I had a blast. I can still hear the conductor calling out the cities as we traveled.
Try doing Pacific northwest like this via Amtrak, through the mountains
Breathtaking! The entire ride...
We used to take the train from Pasco, Washington to Minneapolis to visit relatives when I was a kid in the 70's. My dad would give me a nickel for every antelope I saw, and a quarter for every deer. One of the best memories of my childhood.
Its AAAMAAAAZIN every mile💓💓💓💓🙏
Empire Builder is a great route!
Take the American Eagle from NYC to L.A,5 days, I spent so much time in the Observation car.
As a born and raised Virginian (over 20 years), I have to admit: I didn't know cross country train travel was an option. My family travels a lot, but it's always been travel through car.
Yes, I've seen train tracks and crossings, but my mind always assumed that it was supplies that were transported via railroad these days. (The tracks that I saw probably were only for supplies.)
Thanks for letting me know about this option.
America needs more advanced trains. We should have bullet trains here like in Europe.
Sadly it will never happen, we spend to much money on the Dept of War and subsidies for fossil fuel companies and rich assholes
Those trains are super expensive and America is enormous. There might be a few routes in the north east that would make sense, but they really aren't practical for much of the country.
@Eni Ya that .00075 of our budget that goes to Israel is REALLY killing us.
You're dumb.
@@nutterbutter4232 they just rather sell you cars
Maybe you missed it, but trains are money losers. Do you want to lose 50% of your income, so you can have a train? Great, move to Europe and live poor.
One thing about trains: It doesn't matter where they're going. What matters is deciding to get on.
Great quote from Polar Express. Through traveling I've found it's very true--I remember the journey to just as much as the time spent as the destination.
bond1j89 @downie live I don’t want to burst your bubble but Southwest flies from New Orleans to Austin for $74 in an hour and 20 minute flight just so anyone who reads this knows that
@@richardharris6058 Except there are 200 other cities with NO air services on the Sunset Limited route that air never has nor will serve. There is no problem getting people on the comfortable fun way to travel. Trains the dream machines. Instead of 737's
intercityrailpal I’ve toured all over Europe and I feel bad for people that travel in the United States on trains. trains in Europe are so much more comfortable that’s why people don’t care so much in the United States about trains. Your video made me never want to get on a train ever! uncomfortable takes too long way more dangerous by 30% fatalities
@@richardharris6058 That's OK enjoying driving or flying...! Someone else will take your space on the train. There is no problem filling trains today. Fuel is not 20 cents a gallon. And if not for the government there wouldn't be any air service ...under $10,000 a ticket. Charter a plane for your next trip and find out the true costs of flying.
The best trips are solo. You do what you want when you want. I'm starting the 96 mile Lone Star Trail solo tomorrow morning.
are you going to blog about it? would love to follow along, I am in Texas right now Colleyville till I go up towards Eastland in the next couple of days
The train ride from Denver co to Glenwood Springs co is a must see
Started on the Amtrak California Zephyr in San Francisco, had a layover in Chicago, stopped in Buffalo NY 2 days later. One of the best trips of my life.
Mine was the same except I went from Chicago to Memphis. Best four days of travel ever!!
yes I would enjoy seeing what a sleeper car would be like.
It is awesome!
th-cam.com/video/NSx-87u-wCc/w-d-xo.html
Save your money and fly. Cramped space for one, With two it;s unbearable. Toilets are a disaster.Dining menu is limited and never changes. Worst experience ever. It's no wonder Amtrak has never turned a profit.
Anyone else notice that at 1:50 when he shows there "leg room" there are another set of legs beside him, but that person isn't there before or after the "legroom" shot.
Man traveling by Train is the way to go.
Definitely want to see more about sleeping cars.
they are the way to go for those who don't want to interact if they don't want to and, want meals taken care of...bring your own booze and snacks, and have some privacy - for double the price it seems but it's what your needs are.
I’ve taken the Sunset Limited 3 times between California and Arizona overnight. Twice in a sleeper. If you don’t mind the cost, the sleeper is the way to go. You get to lay down, privacy, and a really great free dinner (or ok free breakfast). The only problem is the lack of WiFi (even though other Amtrak lines have WiFi), and after a number of hours you might start feeling a bit of claustrophobia. So make use of the observation lounge and long stops.
billyfran1 sleeping cars make the travel more costly. We are retired, so we just book coach, as it is much more economical.
A train from Detroit to Chicago is like driving through a junkyard
Why do you say that?
LA to Detroit for me.
Same as Philadelphia and Baltimore lol
That's interesting
I disagree. Lot of farm country between the cities
Lady's lounge is where we can breast feed and diaper change our little ones.
Where does a dad go to diaper change his infant?
@@blokeabouttown2490 Buddy these cars were designed in the early 80s by old white men of course they'll be a bit sexist. Back when the freight companies handled passenger service there was a men's lounge where you could shave, change, etc (old timey stuff that most men don't do any more on a train) I'm sure it wouldn't be a big deal for a single dad to just ask an attendant quick
@@blokeabouttown2490 On Superliner cars there is a larger room with a baby change table.
Im sure the "new" men (aka transwomen) who breast feed and have "periods" will want to diaper change their cats, gerbils, chihuahuas in those lady lounges?
@UCZ_itg6oLkytG5nw0kdcM_w
In the US, can't a mom breast feed anywhere or when her baby needs to nurse? In Canada it was made a law that no restaurant or public place can chide a mother for feeding a hungry child.
Traveled Amtrak last year from Chicago to Atlanta with a five hour stop in DC. Watching the scenery was just lovely and sleep came pretty easily in coach class, especially since I had an empty row to myself. Spent the five hours walking around capitol hill for the first time in my life. Took two days but 100% would do it again.
Edit: Also met a dude that all but broke up with his gf over my phone.
The Empire Builder from Chicago to Seattle is the greatest Amtrak journey in my opinion. Two and a half days across the top of America. Such amazing scenery, especially once you are in the mountains. If you can have a sleeper car trip you will be able to see what luxery travel is.
Cyn Haston yes it it! I’ve taken it several times at least and it’s by far the best!
Okay, sounds perfect. I’ll add it to the list for me to travel in 2020.
Thanks for the recommendation!
@@DownieLive The Builder is a beautiful route, but I prefer it eastbound. Due to the tender mercies of the BNSF, over whose tracks it runs, its ontime record westbound is atrocious. Unfortunately, this means you arrive at Glacier National Park at or even after sunset. You won't see much until dawn in far western Washington.
Eastbound gives you a chance to see more. You miss seeing your train's shadow from the trestle over Gassman Coulee west of Minot (which is a boon for an acrophobe, as it's a third of a mile long and over 100 feet high!) but you get Glacier in the morning, gas flares at sunset near Williston, and a daylight ride along the Upper Mississippi the next day.
I wish it weren't so, and it's still a great way to see the country just south of the Canadian border, but I don't recommend the westbound Builder.
California Zephyer
Allow me to retort.....the California Zephyr is awesome.
"You start to talk to people"
That can be a double edge sword. My experience with an Amtrak train was wonderful. My experience with the guy sitting next to me was awful.
I was sitting next to a drug addict for 8 hours, wouldn’t shut up about his addiction. I then invented a philosophy that separated his addiction from language. He was a bit quieter after that 🤐😉
@@pbase36 The guy next to me was bragging about how he was in a race while driving & drinking, got in a crash and a dirty cop was too lazy and let him and the other guy go. And he found me to be obnoxious? What an asshole.
It's hard to have a good conversation with a Living Corpse!
When I was in college many years ago I took a trip with a bunch of fellow students to a journalism conference. We took along lots of booze and threw a small party for everyone on our train car. It was great fun, but we arrived drunk in NYC, and our advisor -- who drove and got there a few hours earlier -- was not happy when we showed up wasted at the hotel. I don't even know how we got to the hotel. We had ZERO regrets.
@@justmeandthethree You weren't driving drunk.
This is pure nostalgia for me, when I was little, me and my brother would go to New York to stay with our grandmother for the summer and we would take these 24 hour Amtrak train rides each summer from Alabama to New York with her coming to ny and the train rides there were so peaceful and interesting, seeing the places we would pass by through the window, eating and conversating with each other at the diner, napping and waking up to the new scenery outside the window, I miss these, I’m 19 now and I’m going to be taking an Amtrak train there by myself for college and I can’t wait to relive the nostalgia.
I've been living in Houston for 9 years and I don't even know Houston has a passenger rail way lol.
I would like to see reviews comfort, prices and conveniences on the sleeper cars👍🏼
Same trip with a sleeper. About a grand. It's all about how much you want to spend on privacy.
The slowest way to travel...greyhound bus, then the train, LOL!
I was just thinking Greyhound definitely has the train beat for slowness! And it's probably the most uncomfortable way to travel, followed by airline economy class. :P
I've taken the Greyhound from Pensacola, FL to San Diego, CA....it took about 48 hours...I was amazed by how the bus arrived right on time, despite all the stops and transfers.
NEVER, NEVER, NEVER go Greyhound! ( unless you're poor, like me )
@@johnworth7012 that's exactly how I know how slow they are, LOL!
Can almost bicycle as fast
I luv taking the Train. I took the train with my daughter from Buffalo, NY to Phoenix Az. We traveled Coach to Chicago and transfered in Chicago, and had a small sleeper the rest of the way. The only thing that was a bit of a hassle was the Train only goes to Flagstaff and you have to take a bus into Phoenix from Flagstaff....which is included in the price of the ticket...but you need to get a taxi to be taken to the bus station. Other than that the trip was quite enjoyable, the food was good(which is also included in the price of your ticket) and I luv that fact there are other cars you can go to so you don't have to spend all your time in a seat. I highly recommend travel by Train. And Yes...I'd love to see a video done on the Sleeper Cars as well because there are several different choices to be made when choosing a sleeper as well. Thank you.
The long layover wouldn't be bad if it's at time where you can go explore if it's near simething.
I once took an Amtrak train to Chicago and at one point we were stopped in Albany. I don't remember why, the employees said something about waiting for another train to catch up to us. Alas, we were there for around 6 - 8 hours. I wish I could've gone deeper into Albany. I didn't go much farther than the outskirts of the station.
The ladies lounge has a less-used bathroom and a couch, a couple of stools, two sinks, and a big mirror. It's nice to get dressed in and go to the bathroom for women.
pinkpandamiranda I literally thought it was for breastfeeding moms! Thanks for the info!
And men would not enjoy these things ? Sexism ?
J Lawrence facts
@nastasiya simms hes being a over sensitive jerk, ingore dusty men like that
@@j3lny425 Yup it is due to sexism against women bc women are often harassed by men on trains and are not able to ENJOY solo travel in similar ways to men in the regular sections. It’s not the contrived misandry you’ve made up in your head.
Relaxing, plenty of legroom, able to get up and walk around, photo-ops, no crying babies or sick children. Lots of positives. The food could use help, but then again so could the airline food.
I’ve had kids sitting behind me constantly kicking the back of my seat. So maybe we’ve been on different trains.
Cathy, that could equally happen on a plane or when driving a minivan.
It’s people.
@@DownieLive yes, but the way the original post was written, it sounded, at least to me, that crying babies and sick children don’t ride Amtrak and I was simply commenting that they do.
I would love to see a review of the Sleeper Car on Amtrak.
gary6977 the sleeper train is totally worth it for long trips 😍 all your food is included. In coach you have to pay extra so you might end up spending around the same anyway. I did it years ago, not sure what the price difference is now. I also did a long trip in coach back in the day and at that time the seats didn’t go back like that.
@@Ashley.falcon There is no way you spend about the same buying your own food. The sleeper tickets are very expensive.
Me too! A friend took the Autotrain to Florida and had a sleeper, was just ok.
I liked it, but it’s a little overpriced. I took the autotrain from Sanford to DC last year with my family and we got the slightly larger room. It was cool to see how efficiently they use the space, but we got it for the non-shared bathroom and that was not worth it. I would definitely ride that train and others again, though.
On the east coast, there are two options. One room for 2 is very compact but comfortable. The other option is a larger room for 4 with it's own shower.
Oh, I've experienced the same feeling after an extremely long flight. You experienced 'land sickness'. One time, after a 13-hour flight, I had it for two days. A pharmacist recommended a decongestant and I was cured instantly.
I get that even after 3h car rides and even after short plane rides. If decongestant helped then it must be related to circulation. I usually just deal with it. After long flights I just stay in bed for 2 days, lol.
Oh snap. I get land sickness from boats now that im older. 9 hours in a boat gave me 2 weeks of intense land sickness. I hope the train will not do that to me. 36 hours is our trip time.
@@mamabear3887 Recommend taking a decongestant with you on the trip. I had no idea what was happening until i went to a pharmacist and told them I had been dizzy since my flight and they immediately knew what was wrong. It has something to do with your inner ear canals being affected which affects your equilibrium. A decongestant can help balance it out.
I am retired and thinking about some train trips in the US. I am going on the Rocky Mountaineer in Canada in May.
Check out amtrack hosts. Opportunities for retired persons.
That's supposed to be the best line in the country, from what I've read, they refurbished some of the old cars and decorated them exactly as they were. Scenery should be absolutely beautiful then. Have a good trip!
Very expensive, but hey, if you have that kind of money, go for it!
It’s an absolutely beautiful train ride, enjoy!
I love trains. Rode some here and there. Amtrak is comfortable. Buses are not!
US government need to invest more into bullet trains and better bus services because they're much more efficient, and can be a lot comfy like a lot of countries around the world. And stop listening to greedy oil tycoons.
Colorado, a train through the mountains.
As somone who lives in Colorado, I second this! Take the California Zephyr from Denver to at a minimum Grand Junction. Amazing scenery along just about the entire route!
How much was the train ride- was there a dining car? I would love to do that.
@@ycarmia1 hardly any dining cars left on Amtrak anymore.
Dude....you paid 17 dollars for that bowl of pasta.... it looks absolutely nasty....I've seen better looking dog food........... YIKES
Strongly recommend the Coast Starlight on the west coast. Goes from Seattle to San Diego (I think). Beautiful landscapes all the way along.
spikesmth are you kidding ? You see the coast in Ventura for just a few minutes . And the rest of the time you see homeless camp’s. He’ll no ! Worst experience ever
@@josephhaynes3017 Lol 2000 miles of homeless camps. Sorry that being exposed to real life deprivation was such an unpleasant experience for you. Guess you'll just have to charter private jets everywhere you go so you won't ever be inconvenienced again!
I agree. I’ve been wanting to book this trip from Seattle to Santa Ana. Would love to know how comfortable it is taking it in coach vs sleeper because holy moly what a price difference.
California Zypher was awesome too, the Rocky's and the High sierras
Hi Wendy. Just this year I took the Seattle to LA Union Station. Sleeper car-loved it.
The first 6 hrs are ok but the rest is murder
Go through the mountains of Northern California, Oregon, and into Washington.
Dude I love your travel attitude. You nailed why I love train travel. You have to talk to people and there are some really cool and interesting people who travel by train. It's all about the journey and not just the destination....
I’d love to see a review on the Trans-Canadian railway.
I agree!
I have been on that in the early 80s WOW.. super cool. My mum and I were on a sleeper car
Agree
Agree
Yes! I took VIA Rail's Canadian in the mid-2000s, in sleeper class, and it was AMAZING. There's nothing like seeing Northern Ontario, or the Prairies, or the Rockies from the train.
Important note: only SOME Amtrak trains are this nice. Some are tiny, cramped and crowded with no observation deck, no sleeper, etc
Those are the local rails like Savannah to Atlanta or the North East lines. The cross country lines are all like that one.
Dude, I did 61 hours in coach class. A damn nightmare, in terms of time taken to get from A to B. Spent as much time as possible in the lounge car. But the views, and the people, and the places you get to see make it worth it.
Doing 74 in august. If I don’t sleep well fuck it I’ll rest upon arrival at my hotel lol
Domestic train travel has a way to go before it reaches sophisticated international standards, but it is still a great way to see parts of this country not even visible from highways and byways. I'm a train addict and applaud your video! (P.S.I just hit the subscribe button, too)
Right on! Thanks Richard. Welcome aboard!
Domestic train travel will NEVER reach the level of sophisticated international standards. It would cost too much so you can forget about that and Congress would never spend that kind of money on Amtrak.
When I was 21 I took Amtrak from California to North Carolina, with a layover at Union Station in Chicago. I did it in Coach. I would love to see what the sleeper cars are like. I regret not getting one. But the people all along the way were incredible, that was a time when there were no cell phones, no social media, no real electronic distractions. The sound of the train on the tracks is still one of my favorite relaxing/white noise sounds. The view was always amazing. Thank you for doing this, I may have more train adventures now.
California Zypher goes through the Rockies in Colorado, literally through the mountain and has wonderful views: from western Nebraska 🌾, Utah and Nevada mountains and desert 🌵finally the coast 🌊
Was your car super full; or, kind of like the v-logger's trip? We were looking @ the Zephyr and then going from Chicago to Ontario, Canada on the Blue Water (I think). Did you have option to move from cafe car to observation car to coach car on your trip? Thanks.
I travelled it from SLC to Chicago with a 5 & 7 year old. It was great, they loved it!
High point was 250 miles along Colorado River, we were even mooned by rafters and going through Winter Park.
I travelled a few times to Texas too, it’s a different adventure, for sure!!
@@cyndipridemore906 -- What an awesome experience for the kids! You made the trip a life experience, not a HURRY to get from A to B. From the time I was 8-13 y/o, my mom dated an over-the-road trucker. He would take me on day trips up and down California, to Las Vegas, Reno, Death Valley, even Tijuana. I would "help" him load and unload... mostly I held his dog on a leash. I still crave 60s-70s truck stop food and handmade pies.
I lived in Grand Junction. I took the 'Zephyr to San Francisco. From GJ to Salt Lake was great. But from the 'Great salt Lake to Sparks was the ugliest tundra I've ever seen! It was May. And that alkali soil made me feel like we were in Antarctica.
@@IRo415 Recently traveled across country. Los Angeles to Chicago. Chicago to DC. DC to Tampa. And back. Walked thru coach cars, observation cars and coffee shop (cafe) whenever I liked to. There were "fresh Air" breaks long enough for a walk outside in the as well.
Yes, do a sleeper car and how to plan a train trip for the novice.
Lisa Smiley yes, great suggestion!
Amtrak employees refer to coach class as the Projects.
Most customer service employees have nicknames (we keep to ourselves) for exasperating customers. Personally, I think Projects is clever and amusing.
I am a retired flight attendant. We called coach the favella
Well, if you spend less getting there, you'd have more to spend whilst there.
Would love to see sleeper car. Train across America, East to West.
The only true coast-to-coast train is probably the Sunset Limited if he boarded in Florida and rode all the way to L.A. Otherwise he'd board on the East Coast on some train like the Cardinal, Capitol Limited, or the Lake Shore Limited, have a layover in Chicago, then either get on the Empire Builder, Southwest Chief, or the California Zephyr to the West Coast.
I’ve done coach and sleeper.. it’s a blast and I enjoyed every minute of it.. usually I grab the southwest chief to California and the scenery is probably some of the best! Wish more people would experience it.
It seems for a comparable price Amtrak should be pushing the facts that its more personal, you're handed paper tickets, and it's less abuse.
I never want to get poked and jabbed by TSA again, so it may take me a number of extra hours to get where I'm going... Better for the Environment better for my Temper
Kid Coheed lol
If we *actually* cared about the environment, we’d pull all government handouts from the airlines and give them to Amtrak to expand their routes. Airlines would find a way to survive on their own, and rail travel would be even more enticing. It’s the best way without banning or regulating anything.
All I can afford is coach class. And that’s barely.
Christian Carter That’s okay!! It’s really fun!!!
The 2 times I’ve road southwest chief, I was in a seat of my own. And I’m about to take a trip to Kansas to visit my family so I’ll be riding it there and then back to Kingman Arizona. From Hutchinson Kansas.
I can not afford any of it. I go to the public library and read books. I let my imagination do the rest. Thus, I have traveled many places in my mind. From your video, there was no decent available pussy. If Marilyn Monroe isn’t available with some drinks in a sleeper car, save your money. In France, the train stations have a locker room where you can take a shower. Great to freshen up after traveling many hours. In America, if they had this facility, someone would steal all your stuff.
That 6 hour layover is a killer, and the food was so bad in the cafe car, booking a sleeper is the way to go if you can afford it.
I'm riding from Los Angeles to Houston. In Koreatown, I'm going to the mall across the street to get a supply of food and drinks. Watching the scenery is a plus.
“The people that ride trains have nothing but time to spare. So trust me when I say, they’re interesting.” 😂😂
Carrie Jamrogowicz No joke.
🤣🤣😬😬
Carrie Jamrogowicz And I’m one of them.
xsailor85 me too, that’s why I laughed 😆👍🏻
I sat next to a retired lawyer from Canada last time . Very interesting conversation.
Ok it’s official you’re so cute lmao 😂
Isn't he, though??
Yes, he sure IS! But he’s way too young for me! Lol
In October 1993 I was returning to Houston from Minnesota & on the train from Chicago to Houston I met an English woman around 30 years old. She was seeing the USA by rail. She was on her way to L.A. & then after a week or so she was going to work her way back to the East Coast & then back to England. She would be taking the train that you took from NOLA to San Antonio. So, a week or so after I'm home in Houston I read in the paper that an Amtrak train- the Sunset Limited- had gone off a bridge in Alabama & there were some fatalities. One that stood out- jumped at me was a victim who was a 30 year old woman from England !!
Oh no! That’s such a sad story, Jeff.
But thanks for sharing anyhow.
You never know what can happen in this world. At least she was out and enjoying it.
I took a train from Omaha to San Diego in 1967, before AmTak. Was terrible then no better now. I have taken buses, driven flown and hitch hiked. Driving is best, no difference between buses and flying anymore other than time. I going to try train, but only by sleeper.
I used to travel frequently with one of my jobs, and traveling alone is a great way to get to know yourself. Nothing wrong with that.
greeleyman I always travel by myself and love it. I only travel by train now.
I'd like to see you travel from San Diego CA to Portland Maine.
I have traveled from San Francisco, CA to Old Orchard Beach Maine and its wonderful!
Didnt think I would like video or the guy but I was so wrong. Great personality and really well done production. Well done Sir!
I have done enough air travelling to honestly say that Airport Lounges SUCK! I much prefer to travel by train or simply drive to my destination. Train stations and truck stops are where it is at for me. The cool thing about train travel is always the train station. Every city seems to have its own architecture and culture. For example, Union Station in Chicago is very different from Union Station in Los Angeles and both are different than Whitefish Montana. All are very interesting in their own right. The Santa Fe burger with the thick fries go well with a coke or Heineken at the Fullerton station in Fullerton California.
I remember taking the Metra from LaSalle street station to the old Joliet station in Joliet Illinois. This goes back a number of years as the Joliet station had just been renovated in the mid 90's. Now there is a new station.
Thanks for the great videos.
Plate [C]
Even the sponsorship is classy, you’ve earned a sub from me good sir.
I took a train from Bloomington IL to El Paso TX, a few years ago. Going to Texas I was in coach and we did the 6 hour lay over in San Antonio. It sucks sucks. I HIGHLY recommend paying more for the the sleeper car. The food is included with the sleeper car and you get priority seating for dinner. The bathrooms are bigger and you have access to a shower. I'm a simple person so I thought how bad could coach be? The train I was on had no Wi-Fi and because you're outside of most towns my phone didn't get much of a signal. But I am woman traveled alone and other than the six hour layover in the middle of the night I felt safe.
@dread nought I was lucky because I do like to read and I had packed a few books.