Train is a lot more comfortable but air travel is typically faster. For me at least the swaying of the train sooths me and after a while I hardly notice it, while air travel for people in my family has been rather tense. You can expect airports to shut down cause of weather as O'Hare did a few days ago while trains will be slightly delayed but keep on moving
Flying can be very tense when traveling through air turbulence... Flying is quicker, but when you include the food Amtrak provides along with a night's hotel charges with the overnight sleeper train, the price balances out a bit. You see the country side riding on a train, you fly over clouds in a airline.
Plane travel is a pain in the ass, Ill never travel by plane unless it's the only option. Amtrak is easy, comfortable and more pleasurable. You get to see the country scenery. The swaying of the train puts me to sleep at night and the horn doesn't bother me. The food is 100% better then any airline. Give me Amtrak anytime.
I rise to speak in support of your statement, helmitpeak. With over 7 million American Airlines miles in my bag, flying ain't fun no more. Amtrak always is. See you along the rails!
When I travel long distance I take Amtrak. Train travel is much better than a damned bus, driving in many urban/suburban metro areas where the interstates are now parking lots where the traffic is heavy and air travel which is a hassle, a drudgery and being cramped in a sardine can they call an airplane. The only way I’ll fly is by Trans Pacific between Los Angeles & Manila, Los Angeles & Taipei, Los Angeles & Tokyo and Trans Atlantic between Philadelphia & Dublin, Philadelphia & Oslo and as a very last resort.
I travelled on Amtrak's City of New Orleans in September 2018. We joined the train at Memphis TN. American trains are clearly very underrated; I think they are an excellent way to travel On the same holiday, I also travelled on the Sunset Limited from New Orleans to Houston TX.
I'm not against traveling by rail. I've rode the train while traveling in Europe. It's a whole different experience. I just want a nice smooth ride and not get gouged in the process.
@@NegativeNomad The US Government itself killed the passenger trains back during the 1960s when the US Mail cancelled their mail contracts. The very day the railroads lost their mail contracts was the very same day they ran their last trains. This video details the demise of North Texas passenger trains, but it applies nationwide... th-cam.com/video/wj4k8qDAB8I/w-d-xo.html Simply put the US is too large, the five largest states with the largest metros can not be serviced by a train in less than 5 hours like they are in Europe outside of Russia. California, Texas, Illinois, New York, and Florida. Notice the time by train from London to Bristol, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, or Leeds... Notice the time by train from New York City to Chicago... How long is that flight from New York City to Chicago? Get the picture?
Just so everybody is clear on this, the rocking of the train is due to the quality of the roadbed and tracks. Except for the North East Corridor between Washington, DC and Boston, Amtrak does not own or do maintenance on either. That is the responsibility of the freight railroad that owns it. In this case Canadian National. Many of us enjoy or are used to the rocking, but if you aren't among us, don't lay the complaint at Amtrak's door step! Thanks.
That's correct. CN got hold of the Illinois Central Railroad and the Gulf Mobile Ohio Railroad some time after the two had merged to form the Illinois Central Gulf. How the Fed Trade Commission allowed that is beyond me. Especially since CN was owned by a foreign government.
You must have bought your seats either really close to departure date or travelled on a peak day. Roomettes shouldn't cost yo more than $600 for two people if you buy early enough. $800 seems really high based on various times I've looked for this route. I managed to get a full bedroom for around $650 once for two passengers doing the entire run from Chicago to New Orleans.
With all travel options the sooner you book usually the cheaper the fare. Also booking for off peak periods will save you quite a bit too. For example early December is considerably cheaper than late December...
I take the Empire Builder often, It is amazing. I personally get the most sleep on-board the train. I also love the rocking of the train, the whistle is soothing to me. I always take Amtrak.
Thank you so much for this! My daughter graduates high school this year, and I want to take her from McComb to Memphis. I’ll definitely be reserving a roomette.
We don't have as many opportunities to ride trains in the Deep South, but the trains the South does have are legendary......Crescent...City of New Orleans....Sunset Limited.....Silver Meteor....Silver Star. Most of these were known to be the best of the best when they were run by their founding rail lines. The grub in the dining car aboard Southern's Crescent was divine.
Am I missing something or did this guy say he wouldn't take a shower in the same place where people go to the bathroom? What kind of bathroom does he have in his own house? Eh? Sounds mighty particular, as do other parts of this video: "it rocks constantly"; no kiddin' Dude - it's a TRAIN!!! "Limited scenery"? Not much different than a car, the road and side views affording one the same perspective as a set of rails! and either gives one MORE scenery than a plane, where not much is distinctive after takeoff. Whatcha' want, Dude? As for one who grew up on trains, from my first ride at about 10 from Milwaukee to Philly, through subsequent ones from Philly to Florida, and various rides throughout 4 trips to the UK and Europe, this guy's limited perspective is NADA; he just needs more rides, that's all. I LOVE trains, and I see a lot more than he did - on the same route. Put it all into CONTEXT of where you're at, Dude, and remember HOW you're traveling, as well as the mechanics of it all.
People who have always flown, then take an Amtrak train, then say they would rather fly are people who should never talk to me. If you prefer flying over Amtrak, especially in a room, then you really don’t understand the appeal.
I've made the Amtrak Pacific Coast Starlighter run from Los Angeles to Seattle twice and the Empire Builder between Whitefish, Montana and Minot, North Dakota round trip twice. I enjoyed all four trips and will do so again sometime. The prices in the dining car weren't as bad as I had heard. On my very first trip on Amtrak in March 1990, from Los Angeles to Seattle -- an overnight trip, for dinner that evening, prime rib was the dinner special, so I splurged and bought the 12 ounce entree. It was the first time that I had ever tried it and it was perfect! It almost literally melted in my mouth as it was that tender and juicy. A baked potato and vegetables and dessert came with it for $25, not including the tip which I gave the waiter $5 for. Breakfast was good and so was lunch the following morning, of which I got a free lunch for a perfect score in a trivia game in the lounge/observation car along with winning a bonus question in the trivia contest correctly in which I got an Amtrak blanket for it.
We have decided to use Amtrak between Chicago and New Orleans rather than fly or drive. We use or occupy a Superliner Bedroom, we found it cozy, safe and a good value as opposed to driving and staying overnight in a motel along the way...after all the motel room is $125.00 add gas, food and traffic jams and driving isn't worth it anymore, however from Chicago to New Orleans flying is a nightmare. I've been cancelled, hours late and stuck in a stuffy airliner on the tarmak for hours, with a tiny bag of peanuts and a half soda...no more !! The food in Amraks Dining Car was great and we got plenty of it, snaks are available in the first floor of the Lounge Car until midnight and you can take them back to your cabin. The beds are fresh and big enough, we both sleep well. This is our 7th year using Amtrak Sleeping Car service to New Orleans, Washington,D.C. and Glacier Park,Montana, it's great, the rooms are compact but much, much more roomy than a coach or aircraft.
Rusty Shackleford this is why all long distance train lines need to be replaced with HSR versions with stations nearby to the existing ones the long distance lines in their current form are useless
@@qjtvaddict I'll admit I would rather see more luxurious sleeper trains running weekly than scheduled non luxurious trains running daily for the longer distances. And quicker trains for the shorter daily distances not running overnight. I believe doing this will be more profitable, providing train services like cruise ship services weekly that don't want to fly or drive.
great video, but I know the horns sound a lot, I took a roomette both times I have rode, but cashed in Amtrak Points for free trips. Diner now only serves a limited menu, no chefs like a real diner any longer. But still enjoyed the ride.
From Canada: thanks for mentioning that one could sit in the dining car between meal times. That seems like it might be a good chance to get a friendly kaffeeklatch going with some of the others and meet new people! (But for the kaffeeklatch, I wonder if you can get coffee refills between meals in that car?) Coffee to North Americans seems a very ordinary thing, but in some countries coffe is an expensive luxury! Or, if you wat a bit of the coffee bite but not the caffeine, at home, try making a chicory beverage such as "Caf-Lib". Chicory has often been used as a coffee substitute and it is naturally caffeine free. The beverage is prepared essentially the same as making instant coffee. Just add hot water and stir. Then to add the bite, add a TINY smidgin of Chipotle sauce. I call this one "Chicopotle!".
They have a car for just that. The crew needs time between meals to clean up the car and reset it for the next round of meals. They have several seatings for each meal.
We wanted to catch the CONO from Effingham IL to NOLA to take a cruise, but it seems like Amtrak doesn't have the best on-time record and I'd be worried about missing the ship. So, we drove the 11 hours from St Louis to NOLA. I really hope Amtrak can get more direct routes and those high-speed trains they've been promising. Believe me, I'd take the train over flying anytime.
Great video there. I travel Amtrak when I travel long distance and when I’m home in the San Diego for visits up to a week, I ride Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner when I go to & from Los Angeles & Oxnard, CA for visits alternating my visits between the 2 cities. It beats driving on the I-5 which is turning into a parking lot, forget The I-405 and he U.S.101 they are already parking lots. Forget the damned bus which spends way too much time in many little dinky one horse town where no one gets on or off. Flying for get it unless it’s international flights between Los Angeles & Manila, Los Angeles & Taipei, Los Angeles & Tokyo on Trans Pacific flights, Los Angeles & Honolulu on Hawaiian Airlines. Train travel is the Civilized way to travel and passenger trains are needed in very heavy populated states where the interstates are parking lots.
Thanks, I guess; it reminded me of my Amtrak excursion from Chicago to Denver and back. Often it felt like we were mid-ocean in the middle of a hurricane instead of a Nebraska wheat field.
That was my experience as well. If it was smooth like the european train system, I think more people would enjoy train travel. We'll get there one day I hope.
That bedroom looks much smaller than I had on Empire Builder, Coast Starlight and SW Chief, they were much larger. That looked almost like a roomette except it had bathroom. The bedroom on other trains had a couch during day, room to sit my luggage and another chair to sit in. Bathroom was there too with a shower but not crowded in area like yours looked. Food was much better than now on some of the trains including CONO. Sandwiches, salads and pasta, no chef any longer. But the train will still be my primary way to travel. Have not flown since 2003, always loved TWA and when they went down, I gave it up. No airline today can compare with them, and rude treatment, dogs dying, vomit on seats will not lure me back. Only problem I noted on CONO is sleepers on head end and I love train horns, but not when I am trying to sleep. I will take earplugs on my next trip. On those other Amtrak trips, the sleepers were on the rear where they had always been pre-Amtrak too. They were moved forward because of access to crew car, or so I have been told.
The Superliner Transition Sleeper (i.e., the crew car) has a front low door to a baggage car or locomotive and a high rear door along with all of the other Superliner cars... However the Texas Eagle/Sunset Limited, Empire Builder, and Lake Shore Limited have a sleeper at the rear for easier shunting operations at San Antonio, Spokane, and Albany...
When my husband and I met 15 years ago, we quickly realized we both had the travel bug and began planning our retirement to not be home often. Unfortunately I was forced to retire at 62 when it was discovered in 2015 that I have a death sentence disease, Congestive Heart Failure causing Pulmonary Edema
All fine, except your camera handling. Was it mainly your spouse? ;-) - Some video bloggers should first and foremost take camera classes. We would then enjoy a bit more than just hectic and shaky images, or in other terms: "it isn't quite as nice as one might thi" - motto: shaky sentences meet shaky images. Fits =:)
Nice video. I think some of the "negatives" you pointed out should have been expected...train horns, rocking etc. The jerking/bumpy ride could be due to an inexperienced engineer who doesn't know how to handle their train. Was the return trip as bad? Once again thanks for the video and insight.
I found your other video on the Crescent. I am taking it from Meridian, MS to Washington DC this weekend and staying in a Viewliner Roomette. Hopefully it will be smooth. 21 hrs there and 21 hrs back. Just going for the experience.
I'll always prefer train travel over taking the airplane. In my opinion if you're traveling somewhere you should just take your time and take the train and enjoy our country. I may be obese but even if I wasn't obese I would still prefer to take the train over taking the airplane anyday. One I like taking my time getting from point a to point b because I would see stuff I wouldn't be able to see if I took the airplane. Two I'm terrified of heights so taking the airplane is kinda out. And three I've always had a huge love for trains. Even as a kid I loved trains even though I lived in Cincinnati Ohio for a few years and being they don't have much trains there besides Amtrak and the freight trains going through. But we did moved back to Chicago by taking Amtrak Cardinal and let's say I had fun being able to ride Amtrak. As I grew up and going through a particular bad time in my life I kept my love for trains and traveling on them no matter what. Heck I even took all of our L lines in Chicago which BTW I was still a preteen at the time. I planned out my travels around the city by trains and by the time I was in highschool I've been on all of the L lines we have here in Chicago. And at the same time I began to plan to take our commuter rail service called Metra but I had to get permission from my mom. So I asked her if I can take Metra being I was a teenager and I already knew others my age who took Metra on their own. But my mom said no that's way too dangerous for you to do. I was furious at her and it didn't help that at the time I was attacking her physically and mentally because I wasn't getting my way. So one day I had enough of her being overprotective of me and I took Metra but I made one stupid mistake that I would never do ever again. I didn't look at the schedule for the return trip and when I got to the end of the line and found out that the next train coming back into the city wouldn't be in for a few hours I was mad and scared at the same time. But I did make it home safely and as you can probably imagine my mom was furious with me doing it. But in a few weeks it felt like my mom made a deal with me if I only took the Metra Lines only going north I can take Metra on my own. I obviously agreed being I knew that it would take me awhile to do all of the lines being I only had the weekend to take Metra being I was still in highschool. By the time I was 18 I was just finishing up with the Metra Lines going north and I was beginning to plan to deal with the other Metra Lines going south. I asked my mom if I could go and she said yes you're a adult now you can go anywhere. I had a blast riding Metra but I did and still do hate my first Metra trip and I don't mean the trip itself I mean the line itself. It only goes all the way into Kenosha Wisconsin on the weekdays with multiple trips but only two trips there on the weekends. I hate that schedule because of it. And don't even get me started with Metra Heritage Corridor ugh. Only goes to Juliet on weekdays on the evening rush hour that's ridiculous. I'm currently trying to plan trips on those lines and the South Shore Line being the last time I took it I tried to make a video of it but my micro SD card didn't save it so I am trying to plan to take it.
+John Collins Wow! It's things like this makes me wish our government would put more effort and money into Amtrak and update it because not everyone wants to fly from point a to point b. I hope one day they will put more effort and money into Amtrak but I highly doubt it.
Well I'd take the Amtrak Crescent. The views are a little better and the ride is smoother. City of New Orleans is mostly through some pretty poor and backwoods areas. As far as travel time, take a look at the route maps and figure out where you'd like to go. I just uploaded a video of the Crescent which is my favorite so far. To Atlanta it took me 9 hours which isn't too bad considering it's only a couple hours longer than driving.
Actually they will allow you to book three adults in a Bedroom or Family Bedroom for any trip but you can't do it on line, you have to call and speak to an agent. They want to be able to warn you personally that two of the passengers will have to share the lower berth, which is just an inch wider than a standard twin bed (the upper berth is narrower and only sleeps 1). If you're OK with that, they'll sell you the room for 3. Note: the Family Bedroom has the same size upper and lower berths as the regular Bedroom but it also has two additional child-sized berths for kids under 5 feet tall. It has no shower or toilet in the room, although these facilities are available just out the door and down the passageway. There's also a fairly large communal luggage rack on the lower level where you can place luggage which won't fit or which you don't need in your room. Can you tell that I've ridden a lot of Amtrak trains?
If people in the USA would accept the opportunities that high speed train travel has, travel between New Orleams and Chicago would be reduced to about 5 hours. Some more examples at random: Denver - Kansas in 3 hours and Chicago NYC in 4 hours. Was the current US president not in favor of better infrastructure? Let him start here.
If train travel was faster, equal in price to air travel and they had more destination, I would travel by train more. Travel in Europe was heaven compared to the US.
Price comparing Amtrak first class to airline cattle car class is not a fair comparison. If you're going to compare, you need to compare it to airline first class fares. Also, for a train like the City of New Orleans which gets you into downtown Chicago at a reasonable hour of the morning, you need to add on the cost of a hotel room to the airline ticket as you'd either need to wake up at an ungodly hour of the morning to catch the first flight out of New Orleans or else fly in the night before and stay in a hotel. Bad news, though...the food service on this and several other routes has been downgraded significantly by the current Amtrak management. No more French Toast or roasted chicken with rice pilaf...when I rode the route with my parents in September 2016 we got, basically, a microwave TV dinner and oatmeal for breakfast in the morning. And my understanding is that more cuts are in the works. Sigh.
It's been a while since I've ridden Amtrak but I hope that isn't the case in regards to the food service. But I appreciate the comment. Helps everyone who may read.
Right now the downgraded food service is mainly an issue on the City of New Orleans, the Lake Shore Limited (Chicago-New York), and the Capitol Limited (Chicago-Washington). Other trains haven't been touched...yet. But if the cutbacks are judged a "success" (i.e., passengers don't throw the food back in the face of the servers and threaten violence), it's likely to spread. Unfortunately.
Donald trump promised to expand the rail system in the United States yet he is cutting Amtrak from 23 states in the budget. This would mean no more Amtrak coming through your town. No way to take the train. A mode of transportation that has been around for 200 years would be no more. Over 500 stations would be abandoned. Over 50,000 jobs would be lost. We need to make sure this does not happen.
What's your source? First I've heard of it and I seriously doubt that cut rail travel. They don't have much coverage outside of the northeast and for some small towns, the only real mass transportation they have outside of Greyhound. They're trying to expand here in Louisiana sending a line to Florida.
I fully backed trump until I read this part of his budget. All you have to do is type in amtrak and various sources will pop up with stories covering this issue. Although it is unlikely to pass, if it does 15 routes would be eliminated. This would effect over 50,000 employees as well as the 30 million people who ride the train each year. It would also stop plans for the gulf coast route (the one your talking about) which could be very crucial for economy's in Florida, Alabama, and Louisiana. This budget would have a huge effect on all towns with a train station as some rely on it. I hope you read more on this and help spread the word.
-Except he never promised he would expand rail travel. And I followed his campaign closely. Infrastructure improvements doesn't automatically equate to rail travel. -Amtrak outside of the larger metro areas is a waste of money. -His admininstration already gave a $600 million grant to Caltrain to electrify the system.
Welcome to sit in the dining car when there is no meal service? In what country are you raveling? Although I will continue to ride Amtrak to the end, the worst part about Amtrak travel is usually in the dining car. The spoiled, self entitled dining car crews (although there are some GREAT DC crews), many are just short of downright hostile. Siddown, Shut Up, Eat and Get Out seems to be their mantra. Ever notice when they tell you there are no more steaks, they always seem to find some for their meals? What a difference from the days of the heavyweights. In general the crews on the Crescent, the Sunset. the Coast Starlight and the Zephyrs are superb. Alas, not so on the Eagle, on which I commuted for a couple of years. I found it better to purchase a Subway in Ft. Worth and eat in the (almost) dome car. At least the attendant there was always a pleasure with whom to deal. This shouldn't deter you from enjoying riding Amtrak. But it could be better. Much better. My thanks to the GREAT Dining Car crews. You know who you are. Alas, your co "Workers" sully your good name.
Unfortunately if you've traveld with the EUROPEQN trains, you will NOT want to experience the AMERICAN RAIL SYSTEM > NO COMPARISON! Much quieter, FASTER and reasonable rate witht he RAIL PASSES. The EURO trains are MODERN, SLEEK and ROOMIER and more AFFORDABLE! Get with it AMTRACK !
Uh, really? I've once travelled on a EuroStar, worst thing I ever did. They train was delayed and filthy. Not to mention the akward seating arrangement. You are staring at a person across from you. There is no privacy. They don't go much faster than American trains. The Acela can get up to 178 in revenue service and the powers cars have a speed rating of 201.
The EUROSTAR is HISTORY ... been replaced by new UPSCALE trains .. RED-SILVER & WHITE high speed trains ... eeryone I've traveled on CLEAN and ON TIME... sorry for your bad experience.
+BOB MORE I've also traveled on the TGV and ICE. Nothing to write home about. The train didn't go over 125 the whole time. The Acela is much roomier then those trains. The Acela Express base class is business class.
hey euro boy we have train track that cross with roads we dont go 150 mph on it and plus this is 1 year ago and and its affordable over there bc yall a small ass country
I love train travel! I don't expect it to be like a hotel room on wheels. It's comfortable and relaxing.
Train is a lot more comfortable but air travel is typically faster. For me at least the swaying of the train sooths me and after a while I hardly notice it, while air travel for people in my family has been rather tense. You can expect airports to shut down cause of weather as O'Hare did a few days ago while trains will be slightly delayed but keep on moving
Flying can be very tense when traveling through air turbulence... Flying is quicker, but when you include the food Amtrak provides along with a night's hotel charges with the overnight sleeper train, the price balances out a bit. You see the country side riding on a train, you fly over clouds in a airline.
Didn't keep me from dozing in coach either.
A good ride.
Plane travel is a pain in the ass, Ill never travel by plane unless it's the only option. Amtrak is easy, comfortable and more pleasurable. You get to see the country scenery. The swaying of the train puts me to sleep at night and the horn doesn't bother me. The food is 100% better then any airline. Give me Amtrak anytime.
I rise to speak in support of your statement, helmitpeak. With over 7 million American Airlines miles in my bag, flying ain't fun no more. Amtrak always is.
See you along the rails!
When I travel long distance I take Amtrak. Train travel is much better than a damned bus, driving in many urban/suburban metro areas where the interstates are now parking lots where the traffic is heavy and air travel which is a hassle, a drudgery and being cramped in a sardine can they call an airplane. The only way I’ll fly is by Trans Pacific between Los Angeles & Manila, Los Angeles & Taipei, Los Angeles & Tokyo and Trans Atlantic between Philadelphia & Dublin, Philadelphia & Oslo and as a very last resort.
I agree
I travelled on Amtrak's City of New Orleans in September 2018. We joined the train at Memphis TN.
American trains are clearly very underrated; I think they are an excellent way to travel
On the same holiday, I also travelled on the Sunset Limited from New Orleans to Houston TX.
Correct sir. You should always fly, and leave this wonderful experience for us.
I'm not against traveling by rail. I've rode the train while traveling in Europe. It's a whole different experience. I just want a nice smooth ride and not get gouged in the process.
@@NegativeNomad The US Government itself killed the passenger trains back during the 1960s when the US Mail cancelled their mail contracts. The very day the railroads lost their mail contracts was the very same day they ran their last trains. This video details the demise of North Texas passenger trains, but it applies nationwide... th-cam.com/video/wj4k8qDAB8I/w-d-xo.html
Simply put the US is too large, the five largest states with the largest metros can not be serviced by a train in less than 5 hours like they are in Europe outside of Russia. California, Texas, Illinois, New York, and Florida. Notice the time by train from London to Bristol, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, or Leeds... Notice the time by train from New York City to Chicago... How long is that flight from New York City to Chicago? Get the picture?
Just so everybody is clear on this, the rocking of the train is due to the quality of the roadbed and tracks. Except for the North East Corridor between Washington, DC and Boston, Amtrak does not own or do maintenance on either. That is the responsibility of the freight railroad that owns it. In this case Canadian National.
Many of us enjoy or are used to the rocking, but if you aren't among us, don't lay the complaint at Amtrak's door step!
Thanks.
That's correct. CN got hold of the Illinois Central Railroad and the Gulf Mobile Ohio Railroad some time after the two had merged to form the Illinois Central Gulf. How the Fed Trade Commission allowed that is beyond me. Especially since CN was owned by a foreign government.
You must have bought your seats either really close to departure date or travelled on a peak day. Roomettes shouldn't cost yo more than $600 for two people if you buy early enough. $800 seems really high based on various times I've looked for this route. I managed to get a full bedroom for around $650 once for two passengers doing the entire run from Chicago to New Orleans.
With all travel options the sooner you book usually the cheaper the fare. Also booking for off peak periods will save you quite a bit too. For example early December is considerably cheaper than late December...
I take the Empire Builder often, It is amazing. I personally get the most sleep on-board the train. I also love the rocking of the train, the whistle is soothing to me. I always take Amtrak.
Thank you so much for this! My daughter graduates high school this year, and I want to take her from McComb to Memphis. I’ll definitely be reserving a roomette.
You're welcome. I hope you enjoy the ride. It's pretty short ride so you'll have fun.
Have you ever heard of the song “City of New Orleans”? Best song ever
good morning America, how are ya?
Don’t you know me, I’m your Native son.
I've never had any issues with showering in the Superliner bedroom...but its easier to use to communal shower.
Jon Parker Yes the communal shower is way better and bigger.
Still beats the cattle car experience on budget airlines. In Europe, the fast (200 km/h or so) Intercity trains are the most convenient way of travel.
Sleepers should be at the rear of the train. You wont hear the constant blowing of the train horn
Most Amtrak trains have the sleepers upfront close to the baggage car. A few trains though that shunt sleepers will have one sleeper at the rear...
We don't have as many opportunities to ride trains in the Deep South, but the trains the South does have are legendary......Crescent...City of New Orleans....Sunset Limited.....Silver Meteor....Silver Star. Most of these were known to be the best of the best when they were run by their founding rail lines. The grub in the dining car aboard Southern's Crescent was divine.
Am I missing something or did this guy say he wouldn't take a shower in the same place where people go to the bathroom? What kind of bathroom does he have in his own house? Eh? Sounds mighty particular, as do other parts of this video: "it rocks constantly"; no kiddin' Dude - it's a TRAIN!!! "Limited scenery"? Not much different than a car, the road and side views affording one the same perspective as a set of rails! and either gives one MORE scenery than a plane, where not much is distinctive after takeoff. Whatcha' want, Dude? As for one who grew up on trains, from my first ride at about 10 from Milwaukee to Philly, through subsequent ones from Philly to Florida, and various rides throughout 4 trips to the UK and Europe, this guy's limited perspective is NADA; he just needs more rides, that's all. I LOVE trains, and I see a lot more than he did - on the same route. Put it all into CONTEXT of where you're at, Dude, and remember HOW you're traveling, as well as the mechanics of it all.
People who have always flown, then take an Amtrak train, then say they would rather fly are people who should never talk to me. If you prefer flying over Amtrak, especially in a room, then you really don’t understand the appeal.
The price you paid was very high. For two adults going round-trip in a Bedroom from HMD-CHI, the total price can often be as low as $876
I've made the Amtrak Pacific Coast Starlighter run from Los Angeles to Seattle twice and the Empire Builder between Whitefish, Montana and Minot, North Dakota round trip twice. I enjoyed all four trips and will do so again sometime. The prices in the dining car weren't as bad as I had heard. On my very first trip on Amtrak in March 1990, from Los Angeles to Seattle -- an overnight trip, for dinner that evening, prime rib was the dinner special, so I splurged and bought the 12 ounce entree. It was the first time that I had ever tried it and it was perfect! It almost literally melted in my mouth as it was that tender and juicy. A
baked potato and vegetables and dessert came with it for $25, not including the tip which I gave the waiter $5 for. Breakfast was good and so was lunch the following morning, of which I got a free lunch for a perfect score in a trivia game in the lounge/observation car along with winning a bonus question in the trivia contest correctly in which I got an Amtrak blanket for it.
The train horn and rocking puts me to sleep rather than keep me up
We have decided to use Amtrak between Chicago and New Orleans rather than fly or drive. We use or occupy a Superliner Bedroom, we found it cozy, safe and a good value as opposed to driving and staying overnight in a motel along the way...after all the motel room is $125.00 add gas, food and traffic jams and driving isn't worth it anymore, however from Chicago to New Orleans flying is a nightmare. I've been cancelled, hours late and stuck in a stuffy airliner on the tarmak for hours, with a tiny bag of peanuts and a half soda...no more !! The food in Amraks Dining Car was great and we got plenty of it, snaks are available in the first floor of the Lounge Car until midnight and you can take them back to your cabin. The beds are fresh and big enough, we both sleep well. This is our 7th year using Amtrak Sleeping Car service to New Orleans, Washington,D.C. and Glacier Park,Montana, it's great, the rooms are compact but much, much more roomy than a coach or aircraft.
Rusty Shackleford this is why all long distance train lines need to be replaced with HSR versions with stations nearby to the existing ones the long distance lines in their current form are useless
@@qjtvaddict I'll admit I would rather see more luxurious sleeper trains running weekly than scheduled non luxurious trains running daily for the longer distances. And quicker trains for the shorter daily distances not running overnight. I believe doing this will be more profitable, providing train services like cruise ship services weekly that don't want to fly or drive.
great video, but I know the horns sound a lot, I took a roomette both times I have rode, but cashed in Amtrak Points for free trips. Diner now only serves a limited menu, no chefs like a real diner any longer. But still enjoyed the ride.
I noticed you were pacing a Chicago Metra Electric commuter near the end of your video. Would you be willing to upload that entire section? Thanks.
Train is still the way to go!!!
Many people sleep fine on the train, and of course it's more expensive - you're paying for the experience.
From Canada:
thanks for mentioning that one could sit in the dining car between meal times. That seems like it might be a good chance to get a friendly kaffeeklatch going with some of the others and meet new people! (But for the kaffeeklatch, I wonder if you can get coffee refills between meals in that car?)
Coffee to North Americans seems a very ordinary thing, but in some countries coffe is an expensive luxury!
Or, if you wat a bit of the coffee bite but not the caffeine, at home, try making a chicory beverage such as "Caf-Lib". Chicory has often been used as a coffee substitute and it is naturally caffeine free. The beverage is prepared essentially the same as making instant coffee. Just add hot water and stir.
Then to add the bite, add a TINY smidgin of Chipotle sauce. I call this one "Chicopotle!".
They have a car for just that. The crew needs time between meals to clean up the car and reset it for the next round of meals. They have several seatings for each meal.
We wanted to catch the CONO from Effingham IL to NOLA to take a cruise, but it seems like Amtrak doesn't have the best on-time record and I'd be worried about missing the ship. So, we drove the 11 hours from St Louis to NOLA.
I really hope Amtrak can get more direct routes and those high-speed trains they've been promising. Believe me, I'd take the train over flying anytime.
It's not complimentary. It's included with ticket for those with rooms.
Nice video. Did they have a lounge car by chance? From videos I have seen they had one.
Yes they do!
Great video there. I travel Amtrak when I travel long distance and when I’m home in the San Diego for visits up to a week, I ride Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner when I go to & from Los Angeles & Oxnard, CA for visits alternating my visits between the 2 cities. It beats driving on the I-5 which is turning into a parking lot, forget The I-405 and he U.S.101 they are already parking lots. Forget the damned bus which spends way too much time in many little dinky one horse town where no one gets on or off. Flying for get it unless it’s international flights between Los Angeles & Manila, Los Angeles & Taipei, Los Angeles & Tokyo on Trans Pacific flights, Los Angeles & Honolulu on Hawaiian Airlines. Train travel is the Civilized way to travel and passenger trains are needed in very heavy populated states where the interstates are parking lots.
Thanks, I guess; it reminded me of my Amtrak excursion from Chicago to Denver and back. Often it felt like we were mid-ocean in the middle of a hurricane instead of a Nebraska wheat field.
That was my experience as well. If it was smooth like the european train system, I think more people would enjoy train travel. We'll get there one day I hope.
I fear not; heavy freight just destroys the tracks and separate tracks for passenger service is too expensive.
That bedroom looks much smaller than I had on Empire Builder, Coast Starlight and SW Chief, they were much larger. That looked almost like a roomette except it had bathroom. The bedroom on other trains had a couch during day, room to sit my luggage and another chair to sit in. Bathroom was there too with a shower but not crowded in area like yours looked. Food was much better than now on some of the trains including CONO. Sandwiches, salads and pasta, no chef any longer. But the train will still be my primary way to travel. Have not flown since 2003, always loved TWA and when they went down, I gave it up. No airline today can compare with them, and rude treatment, dogs dying, vomit on seats will not lure me back. Only problem I noted on CONO is sleepers on head end and I love train horns, but not when I am trying to sleep. I will take earplugs on my next trip. On those other Amtrak trips, the sleepers were on the rear where they had always been pre-Amtrak too. They were moved forward because of access to crew car, or so I have been told.
The Superliner Transition Sleeper (i.e., the crew car) has a front low door to a baggage car or locomotive and a high rear door along with all of the other Superliner cars... However the Texas Eagle/Sunset Limited, Empire Builder, and Lake Shore Limited have a sleeper at the rear for easier shunting operations at San Antonio, Spokane, and Albany...
When my husband and I met 15 years ago, we quickly realized we both had the travel bug and began planning our retirement to not be home often. Unfortunately I was forced to retire at 62 when it was discovered in 2015 that I have a death sentence disease, Congestive Heart Failure causing Pulmonary Edema
46619TAB I pray that your doing every little and big thing you want to do god bless
Try sleeping in coach to Chicago.
You had it real nice.
All fine, except your camera handling. Was it mainly your spouse? ;-) - Some video bloggers should first and foremost take camera classes. We would then enjoy a bit more than just hectic and shaky images, or in other terms: "it isn't quite as nice as one might thi" - motto: shaky sentences meet shaky images. Fits =:)
another great video!
Thank you
Nice video. I think some of the "negatives" you pointed out should have been expected...train horns, rocking etc. The jerking/bumpy ride could be due to an inexperienced engineer who doesn't know how to handle their train. Was the return trip as bad? Once again thanks for the video and insight.
Yeah it was as bad. I was happy to get off. I've taken the Crescent to Atlanta and it was way smoother.
I found your other video on the Crescent. I am taking it from Meridian, MS to Washington DC this weekend and staying in a Viewliner Roomette. Hopefully it will be smooth. 21 hrs there and 21 hrs back. Just going for the experience.
You had a peach of a trip, I Believe.
I sleep great on the train.
I'll always prefer train travel over taking the airplane. In my opinion if you're traveling somewhere you should just take your time and take the train and enjoy our country. I may be obese but even if I wasn't obese I would still prefer to take the train over taking the airplane anyday. One I like taking my time getting from point a to point b because I would see stuff I wouldn't be able to see if I took the airplane. Two I'm terrified of heights so taking the airplane is kinda out. And three I've always had a huge love for trains. Even as a kid I loved trains even though I lived in Cincinnati Ohio for a few years and being they don't have much trains there besides Amtrak and the freight trains going through. But we did moved back to Chicago by taking Amtrak Cardinal and let's say I had fun being able to ride Amtrak. As I grew up and going through a particular bad time in my life I kept my love for trains and traveling on them no matter what. Heck I even took all of our L lines in Chicago which BTW I was still a preteen at the time. I planned out my travels around the city by trains and by the time I was in highschool I've been on all of the L lines we have here in Chicago. And at the same time I began to plan to take our commuter rail service called Metra but I had to get permission from my mom. So I asked her if I can take Metra being I was a teenager and I already knew others my age who took Metra on their own. But my mom said no that's way too dangerous for you to do. I was furious at her and it didn't help that at the time I was attacking her physically and mentally because I wasn't getting my way. So one day I had enough of her being overprotective of me and I took Metra but I made one stupid mistake that I would never do ever again. I didn't look at the schedule for the return trip and when I got to the end of the line and found out that the next train coming back into the city wouldn't be in for a few hours I was mad and scared at the same time. But I did make it home safely and as you can probably imagine my mom was furious with me doing it. But in a few weeks it felt like my mom made a deal with me if I only took the Metra Lines only going north I can take Metra on my own. I obviously agreed being I knew that it would take me awhile to do all of the lines being I only had the weekend to take Metra being I was still in highschool. By the time I was 18 I was just finishing up with the Metra Lines going north and I was beginning to plan to deal with the other Metra Lines going south. I asked my mom if I could go and she said yes you're a adult now you can go anywhere. I had a blast riding Metra but I did and still do hate my first Metra trip and I don't mean the trip itself I mean the line itself. It only goes all the way into Kenosha Wisconsin on the weekdays with multiple trips but only two trips there on the weekends. I hate that schedule because of it. And don't even get me started with Metra Heritage Corridor ugh. Only goes to Juliet on weekdays on the evening rush hour that's ridiculous. I'm currently trying to plan trips on those lines and the South Shore Line being the last time I took it I tried to make a video of it but my micro SD card didn't save it so I am trying to plan to take it.
+John Collins Wow! It's things like this makes me wish our government would put more effort and money into Amtrak and update it because not everyone wants to fly from point a to point b. I hope one day they will put more effort and money into Amtrak but I highly doubt it.
And traveling by train you don't have to put up with the crap from TSA!
I refuse to fly because of them.
Bill rouleau That's right😊.
"Watch out for the @$$ crack!"
My line of the day
I hate the stations that only have 2 trains a day I live here in northridge and I have many chances
That's primarily what I have near my house. Train travel just isn't that popular to justify more.
i want grandchildren to experience the train on a shorter trip from nola whats a good spot to go
Well I'd take the Amtrak Crescent. The views are a little better and the ride is smoother. City of New Orleans is mostly through some pretty poor and backwoods areas. As far as travel time, take a look at the route maps and figure out where you'd like to go. I just uploaded a video of the Crescent which is my favorite so far. To Atlanta it took me 9 hours which isn't too bad considering it's only a couple hours longer than driving.
Go to Hammond from Nola.
los angles
This is cool
We just past Hobo Shoestring.........Travel coach it would have been 1/4 of the cost.
They will allow a third person in those larger bedrooms like you had, if the person is under a certain age. I did it when my youngest was 3.
Actually they will allow you to book three adults in a Bedroom or Family Bedroom for any trip but you can't do it on line, you have to call and speak to an agent. They want to be able to warn you personally that two of the passengers will have to share the lower berth, which is just an inch wider than a standard twin bed (the upper berth is narrower and only sleeps 1). If you're OK with that, they'll sell you the room for 3.
Note: the Family Bedroom has the same size upper and lower berths as the regular Bedroom but it also has two additional child-sized berths for kids under 5 feet tall. It has no shower or toilet in the room, although these facilities are available just out the door and down the passageway. There's also a fairly large communal luggage rack on the lower level where you can place luggage which won't fit or which you don't need in your room.
Can you tell that I've ridden a lot of Amtrak trains?
If people in the USA would accept the opportunities that high speed train travel has, travel between New Orleams and Chicago would be reduced to about 5 hours. Some more examples at random: Denver - Kansas in 3 hours and Chicago NYC in 4 hours. Was the current US president not in favor of better infrastructure? Let him start here.
If train travel was faster, equal in price to air travel and they had more destination, I would travel by train more. Travel in Europe was heaven compared to the US.
Price comparing Amtrak first class to airline cattle car class is not a fair comparison. If you're going to compare, you need to compare it to airline first class fares. Also, for a train like the City of New Orleans which gets you into downtown Chicago at a reasonable hour of the morning, you need to add on the cost of a hotel room to the airline ticket as you'd either need to wake up at an ungodly hour of the morning to catch the first flight out of New Orleans or else fly in the night before and stay in a hotel.
Bad news, though...the food service on this and several other routes has been downgraded significantly by the current Amtrak management. No more French Toast or roasted chicken with rice pilaf...when I rode the route with my parents in September 2016 we got, basically, a microwave TV dinner and oatmeal for breakfast in the morning. And my understanding is that more cuts are in the works. Sigh.
It's been a while since I've ridden Amtrak but I hope that isn't the case in regards to the food service. But I appreciate the comment. Helps everyone who may read.
Right now the downgraded food service is mainly an issue on the City of New Orleans, the Lake Shore Limited (Chicago-New York), and the Capitol Limited (Chicago-Washington). Other trains haven't been touched...yet. But if the cutbacks are judged a "success" (i.e., passengers don't throw the food back in the face of the servers and threaten violence), it's likely to spread. Unfortunately.
Donald trump promised to expand the rail system in the United States yet he is cutting Amtrak from 23 states in the budget. This would mean no more Amtrak coming through your town. No way to take the train. A mode of transportation that has been around for 200 years would be no more. Over 500 stations would be abandoned. Over 50,000 jobs would be lost. We need to make sure this does not happen.
What's your source? First I've heard of it and I seriously doubt that cut rail travel. They don't have much coverage outside of the northeast and for some small towns, the only real mass transportation they have outside of Greyhound. They're trying to expand here in Louisiana sending a line to Florida.
I fully backed trump until I read this part of his budget. All you have to do is type in amtrak and various sources will pop up with stories covering this issue. Although it is unlikely to pass, if it does 15 routes would be eliminated. This would effect over 50,000 employees as well as the 30 million people who ride the train each year. It would also stop plans for the gulf coast route (the one your talking about) which could be very crucial for economy's in Florida, Alabama, and Louisiana. This budget would have a huge effect on all towns with a train station as some rely on it. I hope you read more on this and help spread the word.
Trump never said he fully backed rail travel. You are just making up things. Amtrak waste a ton of money
-Except he never promised he would expand rail travel. And I followed his campaign closely. Infrastructure improvements doesn't automatically equate to rail travel.
-Amtrak outside of the larger metro areas is a waste of money.
-His admininstration already gave a $600 million grant to Caltrain to electrify the system.
Hoscale Crashes he is cutting trains that only run once a day that have abysmal on time performance
Could anybody upload a video of Kenner city as I get to move there I would like to see it it looks alike . Thanks
Sorry but most of the meals are no longer provided. best you bring ur own food or you'll find a most sold out menu
dining car isnt that good on CNOLA since oct. 2019. it IS airline food now that they nuke. you even have to buss your own table
Obama seen there.. Legrand say
Welcome to sit in the dining car when there is no meal service? In what country are you raveling? Although I will continue to ride Amtrak to the end, the worst part about Amtrak travel is usually in the dining car. The spoiled, self entitled dining car crews (although there are some GREAT DC crews), many are just short of downright hostile. Siddown, Shut Up, Eat and Get Out seems to be their mantra. Ever notice when they tell you there are no more steaks, they always seem to find some for their meals?
What a difference from the days of the heavyweights.
In general the crews on the Crescent, the Sunset. the Coast Starlight and the Zephyrs are superb. Alas, not so on the Eagle, on which I commuted for a couple of years. I found it better to purchase a Subway in Ft. Worth and eat in the (almost) dome car. At least the attendant there was always a pleasure with whom to deal.
This shouldn't deter you from enjoying riding Amtrak. But it could be better. Much better.
My thanks to the GREAT Dining Car crews. You know who you are. Alas, your co "Workers" sully your good name.
Well i guess experiences vary.
Unfortunately if you've traveld with the EUROPEQN trains, you will NOT want to experience the AMERICAN RAIL SYSTEM > NO COMPARISON! Much quieter, FASTER and reasonable rate witht he RAIL PASSES. The EURO trains are MODERN, SLEEK and ROOMIER and more AFFORDABLE!
Get with it AMTRACK !
Uh, really? I've once travelled on a EuroStar, worst thing I ever did. They train was delayed and filthy. Not to mention the akward seating arrangement. You are staring at a person across from you. There is no privacy. They don't go much faster than American trains. The Acela can get up to 178 in revenue service and the powers cars have a speed rating of 201.
The EUROSTAR is HISTORY ... been replaced by new UPSCALE trains .. RED-SILVER & WHITE high speed trains ... eeryone I've traveled on CLEAN and ON TIME... sorry for your bad experience.
+BOB MORE I've also traveled on the TGV and ICE. Nothing to write home about. The train didn't go over 125 the whole time. The Acela is much roomier then those trains. The Acela Express base class is business class.
hey euro boy we have train track that cross with roads we dont go 150 mph on it and plus this is 1 year ago and and its affordable over there bc yall a small ass country
GEE thanks for the wisdom >