Has anyone used Amtrak to travel?

[PDXTabs]

waiting for freight trains to pass (they have precedence)

It's complicated. According to Congress Amtrak takes precedence. But if the freight train is already there (and they own that section of track), in the real world it can be different.

[vern]

My wife and I love Amtrak!

Since retiring, almost all of our domestic travel has been on Amtrak sleeper cars.  It's definitely the way to go if you're not in a hurry.

I've also noticed that train people seem to be more interesting than plane people IMO.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kYncfBywPw

[freya]

I take Amtrak for business trips NY to DC all the time.  It's WAY easier and more comfortable than flying, and faster door to door too.  Fingers crossed that the TSA doesn't start getting involved in passenger trains.

I have a trip to Chicago coming up, and now you guys have me thinking about going by sleeper car.  It's cheaper yes, but I'm reimbursed for expenses so what matters to me is that it would be so much easier and would take about the same time, or even a bit less.  LESS? Yes, since if you fly you have to start traveling about midday the day before, then stay in a hotel and have to finagle meals.   With the train, you mosey down to the station in the afternoon and get fed as part of your ticket price.  And, no boarding groups, gate checking, liquid & pocketknife ban, ever-shrinking seats, limited bathroom privileges, and standing in line for the creepy TSA treatment?  What a concept!!!  I'm amazed more people aren't doing this.

[Cranky]

I also take the bus. I just went from Ohio to Wisconsin by bus, changing buses in Chicago - Megabus from Cleveland to Chicago and then a regional bus from Chicago to Madison. The buses are very comfortable. I’ve done the same trip taking Amtrak to Chicago, but the train leaves in the middle of the night and the bus leaves at 7:30 AM.

[Peachtea]

I also take the bus. I just went from Ohio to Wisconsin by bus, changing buses in Chicago - Megabus from Cleveland to Chicago and then a regional bus from Chicago to Madison. The buses are very comfortable. I’ve done the same trip taking Amtrak to Chicago, but the train leaves in the middle of the night and the bus leaves at 7:30 AM.

We also take the bus, mostly megabus Chicago to Indiana, Ohio, and Madison, WI. Amtrak is so much more comfortable than the bus. The outlets actually work on Amtrak, the seats/legroom/bathrooms are so much bigger/better, and the ability to get up and walk is really nice. If there was an Amtrak train to Madison I would take that over the bus. We take bus to Indianapolis, Cincinnati, and Cleveland only because it has convenient times compared to Amtrak. The bus still beats driving though.

[ColaMan]

Denver > SF is apparently the route to beat for views. Haven't done it (just watched videos) but it's definitely on the list.

LA > Seattle doesn't look too shabby either.

Seattle to Vancouver, B.C. is really nice as well.  Border crossing was smoother on the train than in the long line of cars at the checkpoint, so that was a bonus.

[GreenToTheCore]

Seattle to Vancouver, B.C. is really nice as well.  Border crossing was smoother on the train than in the long line of cars at the checkpoint, so that was a bonus.

+1 for this route.
It was less expensive for us to fly into Seattle than Vancouver.
Make sure you get out of your seat and check out the dining car: comfy booths, huge windows, no crowding.