Anyone take a TRAIN lately?

[desmond]

Great scenery on that route, Cascades until sundown, then sunrise as you approach Whitefish, then Glacier through the morning, you might see bears. I've gone coach to NY a few times, but a sleeper is much nicer--I'm taking one to SF next week. I've heard people complain about cramped quarters, but if you have the room to yourself I think it's pretty awesome.

 

[Jerry]

I actually have a trip like this planned for the summer.
Train from San Francisco Bay Area to Vancouver, than from VA to Quebec city. It's like seven days and very expensive (like a trip from here to Paris) but very worth it.

I was kinda randomly clicking on different dates to see what the price difference might be, and it looks like the summer time is just plain more expensive. In the summer from here to WI, I'm not touching a bedroom (with a bathroom) for under about $1600...and that's ONE WAY.

That sounds like a great trip though, I hope you enjoy it!

 

[swerve]

^Can you buy train tickets on Priceline (or similar site) and save money???

Just curious...

 

[mygaybuffet]

I was talking with a friend last night about visiting WI sometime this year and, since he's such a huge train enthusiast, he recommended taking a train.

I looked into it and it looks like I can get a BEDROOM WITH A BATHROOM! for about what it would cost to fly first class ... and if I pick the right day, even cheaper!

So now I'm kind of excited about this idea, going from WA to WI (2 day trip) in my own bedroom complete with bathroom and shower ... Meals, coffee, newspaper, etc. included in price of ticket. You see a lot of things from a train that you wouldn't otherwise see in a car (so I hear), and talk about riding in style!

Just wondering if anyone else has done this, what your experiences were, etc...

Especially if you ride that with someone handsome!

 

[heightsboi]

Did some short trips in the Northeast, and the train is a lot more comfortable than driving, and more reliable during rush hour.

The distance trains in Europe are fun, esp the high speed trains like the TGV and Thalys--you get to see much more of the continent and spend a lot less time getting to and through airports.

 

[RhyRhy]

^Can you buy train tickets on Priceline (or similar site) and save money???

Just curious...

Nope, just Amtrak.com or their 800 number and talk to "Julie" their reservation agent.

 

[RhyRhy]

I was kinda randomly clicking on different dates to see what the price difference might be, and it looks like the summer time is just plain more expensive. In the summer from here to WI, I'm not touching a bedroom (with a bathroom) for under about $1600...and that's ONE WAY.

Since you're going that far at least get yourself a roomette. Coach can be hell, as in you might as well be riding Greyhound. And this is coming from a over decade long paying member of the National Association of Railroad Passengers. Sure it's not much more then a coach seat with a curtain, however it's in the sleepers so it's quieter.

 

[chrisw87]

we don't have anything like that for general travel, only cattle class trains.

However the Ghan (and all the other trains that go with it) are fantastic, intersecting the red earth centre of australia it has sleeper cabins, 'lounge' cabins and a full dining experience that they try to recreate as best as possible to the service (and uniforms) of when it first came into service many decades ago.

it really is just a quaint way of seeing the unknown parts of middle-australia, but it is probably worth the experience.

However Australia has a TERRIBLE public transport system, one of the worst I've ever experienced so I try to avoid trains at all cost. It is really quite sad to be honest, and places like Sydney airport are privately owned stations, so they cost me $20 for a round trip to use, when a standard ticket would be $5. Blasphemy.

 

[Jerry]

Since you're going that far at least get yourself a roomette. Coach can be hell, as in you might as well be riding Greyhound. And this is coming from a over decade long paying member of the National Association of Railroad Passengers. Sure it's not much more then a coach seat with a curtain, however it's in the sleepers so it's quieter.

What is the security like on the trains? Is it a full-on strip search/X-ray kind of deal like at the airport? I'm not fond of being treated like a criminal

 

[sixthson]

Some things are more important than money. Forget about what it costs, have a great time and make some memories.

 

[Jerry]

Oh I'm wondering too if the rooms have actual doors or just curtains? I saw a pic somewhere and it looked like the rooms just had curtains. Maybe it depends on the train?

 

[Jerry]

Some things are more important than money. Forget about what it costs, have a great time and make some memories.

When it comes time for the trip with the fiance, I'll take that stance. But this trip is just me going back 'home' to see family and friends.
money isn't everything, but it's nice to get the mortgage paid too

 

[RhyRhy]

What is the security like on the trains? Is it a full-on strip search/X-ray kind of deal like at the airport? I'm not fond of being treated like a criminal

LOL You will LOVE Amtrak then.... no security other then the occasional check of ticket matching you to a sleeper car vs cattle err coach. The last time I road short distance I had to have my ticket stub to buy stuff from the lounge. Speaking of the lounge, if you can smuggle in a 2 liter of soda do it. It's like $1.00 for a can of soda, $6 I think for a bottle of beer, etc.

Oh I'm wondering too if the rooms have actual doors or just curtains? I saw a pic somewhere and it looked like the rooms just had curtains. Maybe it depends on the train?

The roomettes have curtains, the bedrooms have doors. Also don't forget to bring your own pillow!! They come with pillows however they are small.

 

[Jerry]

LOL You will LOVE Amtrak then.... no security other then the occasional check of ticket matching you to a sleeper car vs cattle err coach. The last time I road short distance I had to have my ticket stub to buy stuff from the lounge. Speaking of the lounge, if you can smuggle in a 2 liter of soda do it. It's like $1.00 for a can of soda, $6 I think for a bottle of beer, etc.


The roomettes have curtains, the bedrooms have doors. Also don't forget to bring your own pillow!! They come with pillows however they are small.

You are awesome, thank you!

I think I read on their website that carry-on food and drink is allowed. Either way, I can manage that. I just don't like stripping all my clothes off and walking through a metal detector and having someone sifting through my luggage. Kinda annoys me a lot

 

[kevbo]

The only train I've ever been on is the crazy train

ALL ABOARD! HAHAHA!

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MLp7YNTznE[/ame]

 

[RhyRhy]

You are awesome, thank you!

I think I read on their website that carry-on food and drink is allowed. Either way, I can manage that. I just don't like stripping all my clothes off and walking through a metal detector and having someone sifting through my luggage. Kinda annoys me a lot

Yeah that would annoy me A LOT too! My friends have offered to let me come down to FL for a few days, this would be my first time flying non-private before so I'm kinda scared about the whole security thing myself.

 

[Jerry]

Yeah that would annoy me A LOT too! My friends have offered to let me come down to FL for a few days, this would be my first time flying non-private before so I'm kinda scared about the whole security thing myself.

The last time I flew IN UNIFORM they had me take my boots off, empty everything, go through the metal detector about 5-6 times (I finally figured out I had my dog tags around my neck)...
I mean I understand security, but a uniformed US Soldier? Come on! They detained my Grandma once too for some stupid reason. Good thing I wasn't there for that one, or I'd probably have been tased

 

[goldenmoth]

I love trains. My favourite ride was the one from Brussels to Cologne, Germany. Beautiful.

I'm not even going to bother getting a driver's license. I much prefer trains and they're better for the environment too.

 

[Swellegant]

I took the train to Oregon over the summer with my best friend; it was a lovely experience, but it had some down-points. The main one was the time... I can't sleep sitting up and we didn't spring for the sleeper room (which probably wouldn't have helped... the motion would have kept me awake too), so the sixteen hours were pretty long; and most of our travel was done at night, which is pretty pointless.

That's really the most important thing to check on: how much daylight are you going to have on your trip. We left Oakland at 10 pm so more than half of the trip was in the dark, and a train in the dark is just a conveyance. In retrospect, driving would have been faster, cheaper, and more comfortable... I mean, it's only an eight-hour drive from Oakland to Eugene.

But for comfort level, the train is miles nicer than the bus or planes. They're spacious inside, a tall person such as myself has plenty of room to spread out and a small person like my friend can practically build herself a nest in the seat. Walking around while underway was a little difficult, trains are pretty bumpy, but unless you're carrying a tray of food, it's no big deal.

The sociable level on trains is much higher than planes; I'm very shy so don't feel comfortable meeting people, but meals were always shared with interesting strangers, which I quite enjoyed; Caroline is very outgoing, though, and met people all around us and in the observation car.

Oh, yeah, and no TSA, which makes everything better. You can't hijack a train, they only run on the tracks, so there's no terrorist threat.

If you can sleep sitting up and don't need a whole lot of privacy, coach isn't that bad; but if you need to be horizontal and alone, go for the room.

 

[xRemyx]

In 2009, my friends and I split the cost of a train ride to New Orleans, from Philadelphia. We got a two bed room and it was really enjoyable. I would like to do it again.

I also ride the Acela to NYC and sometimes Boston for work once or twice a week.