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ViewsRail travel in the United StatesFrom eTripTips Wiki
Before setting out on a railroad adventure around America, it is worth understanding the precarious situation in which Amtrak exists today. Somewhere between being a private and a public company (all of Amtrak's preferential shares are owned by the U.S. Government) Amtrak has to provide both a public service and seek to remain profitable as a competitive mode of transport. Furthermore, Amtrak was organized to handle intercity passenger trains in the USA. Municipalities, or regional government entities, operate commuter trains. At present, Amtrak is the only operator of regularly scheduled intercity trains in the USA. Despite increasing ridership (driven by rising gasoline prices and the increasing inconvenience of airline security measures), Amtrak is dependent on more than a billion US dollars per year in hard-won government funding. Amtrak's financial situation is not its only problem. While tens of thousands of kilometers of railroads criss-cross the North American continent, virtually all the lines that Amtrak uses are owned and maintained by private freight companies. While Amtrak has a legal right to be given priority over freight trains, in many instances Amtrak services are disrupted due to freight trains which have been given priority over them. Many rail lines are not double-tracked, and passing places are often few and far between. With the exception of the Amtrak-owned-and-maintained Northeast Corridor (between Boston, Massachusetts, New York, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Washington (D.C.)) and some service around Chicago, Amtrak services are substantially slower, less reliable, and less frequent than those of virtually every other developed nation in the world. And yet they remain popular with many travelers because of the social atmosphere on board, the lighter environmental impact compared to planes, the spacious design of the cars, the scenic routes, and the overall comfort of the train ride. With few high-speed lines, trains in the U.S. often take longer than cars or planes, but the unique experience can trump the long ride. A trip from one coast of the U.S. to the other is surely one of the greatest railway journeys that you can make anywhere in the world, and with the different classes of on-board accommodation and a variety of tickets and passes available, it can also be remarkably affordable.
[edit] Passenger rail companies
Throughout the US, many private lines have been maintained or rebuilt as privately owned, touristic lines, which occasionally connect to Amtrak or regional systems.
Many American large cities have commuter rail systems that connect suburbs with the areas central metropolis. In the American Northeast several commuter rail systems converge and are inter-connected. [edit] Planning your trip[edit] When to travelThe peak periods for most rail companies in North America is somewhere between April to September, and the cost of rail passes and tickets will rise during these periods to reflect this. If you're planning a visit to the U.S. and travel a lot by train, the spring and fall (autumn) periods are likely to give you the best combination of lower ticket prices and hours of daylight for viewing the scenery from the train. Trains fill up much quicker in the summer and around national holidays, and coach class passengers in particular will have less room to stretch out. [edit] Timetables and brochuresAll the major rail operators in the U.S. have websites with information about timetables, routes and on-board facilities. However many passengers still prefer to plan their trips using printed timetables. Amtrak, for instance, publish a number of brochures, including the Amtrak System Timetable (with timetables for every Amtrak train and Thruway bus) and the Amtrak America travel brochure. These can be found at most staffed stations, or can be ordered free of charge for worldwide delivery online[10]. Individual pamphlet timetables are also published for every route. [edit] Further readingOn-Track-On-Line.com [11] has a number of travel tips for the first-time Amtrak user, as well as an online forum. Seasoned rail travelers can be found online in a number of dedicated rail forums, and are usually more than happy to answer your questions about which route to take. Some other forums worth searching and joining are: Recently, Amtrak has also gotten into the act by publishing user-submitted stories at their "Whistle Stop" webpage [14]. The following books go into much greater detail about the major rail routes of North America:
[edit] Rail PassesIf you are planning more than one journey on an Amtrak train, you may be better off investing a rail pass, which allows unlimited rail travel within a certain period and area. You should, however, compare the cost of individual tickets when pricing and planning your trip.
[edit] TicketsAmtrak tickets can be purchased in person from any staffed Amtrak station, over the phone (1-800-USA-RAIL in the U.S. and Canada) or on the internet [18]. A number of travel agencies that sell Amtrak tickets in other countries are listed on the Amtrak website. Tickets for most routes are priced in incremental 'buckets': in other words, as seats on a train sell out, the remaining tickets become more expensive. When buying point-to-point tickets, especially during busy holiday periods, it is important to book in advance. Round-trip (return) tickets are priced by simply adding together the two cheapest available one-way fares. [edit] DiscountsMany passengers are able to receive a discount on the cost of the ticket. Discounts are available on tickets (but not accommodation upgrades) to members of the following organizations:
Discounts are also offered to war veterans, senior citizen, and students. American students should purchase a Student Advantage[22] card; all other students should purchase an International Student Identity Card[23] (ISIC). In all cases, you should quote your membership number when booking your ticket, and show your card with your ticket. To obtain a discount on Amtrak trains, passengers must reserve three days in advance on all trains. [edit] Hot DealsAmtrak offer heavily discounted coach fares on certain trains on the 'Hot Deals Weekly Specials' section of their website [24]. These non-refundable and non-changeable fares are generally available for travel in the next thirty to sixty days on routes that have spare capacity. The page is updated every Friday, and you should check back regularly if you want to snap up a bargain. Long distance coach fares of $70 from Chicago to Seattle (for example) are not uncommon, although they become much less common during the more popular summer months. These fares cannot be upgraded to sleeper accommodation at the time of booking, although you may be able to upgrade to a sleeper if one is available after you board the train. Since 2005, Amtrak's offering of many of these heavily discounted coach fares has been limited by language in the legislation which grants Amtrak a yearly subsidy. However, this legislative language does not affect routes that receive a subsidy from individual states. Accordingly, those train routes tend to appear frequently on the 'Hot Deals' page of the website. [edit] Boarding the trainAmtrak tickets generally do not indicate a coach or seat number, merely that you have a place in a reserved coach. Pay close attention to announcements and station staff, who will tell you where to wait and board the train. Attendants will need to see your ticket and/or pass as you board the train, and they will direct you towards the carriage you should sit in. In some cases, your ticket may show a seat reservation number and a carriage number. If this is the case, the numbers of the carriage are displayed on the doors; pay attention to these as the trains rolls in, so you can be at the right spot on the platform in time to get into your carriage. Some stations have indicators on the platform to show where each carriage will stop. If you have a specific seat number on your reservation, you are advised to occupy it. Otherwise, follow the directions of the conductor who checks your ticket, and once on board your coach, you may select your own seat. On checking your ticket after departure, the conductor will place a seat check (a small piece of paper) above your seat, to indicate that the seat is occupied. Take this with you if you decide to move seats, especially if you are leaving the train en route, because this piece of paper carries a station code to help the conductor let you know when your stop is imminent. [edit] On BoardThe information here relates specifically to services operated by Amtrak. Private train companies and commuter rail services will offer differing standards of on-board facilities. [edit] Coach classCoach (economy) is Amtrak's most affordable class of travel and is offered on all trains except the high speed Acela Express trains of the north-east corridor (between Boston, New York City and Washington DC). A ticket in coach guarantees you a seat in an carriage with approximately forty to sixty other seats, arranged in pairs either side of the aisle. Seats can be arranged in facing sets of four, but in almost all cases you will find that seats will all face the direction of travel. Luggage racks and spaces for larger items are provided, along with toilets either at the end of the coach or in the lower level of two-level trains. An Amtrak coach class seat is roughly comparable with a business class airline seat: there is ample leg room, a reclining seat back and fixed armrests on the outside of each pair of seats. If there is a seat in front of you, a fold-down table will be available. On longer distance routes, there is more legroom as well as a deeper recline and a padded rest that folds up to support your legs when you recline. [edit] Business classBusiness class is offered on most trains where there is no First (sleeper) accommodation. Seats are arranged in pairs to one side of the aisle, and on their own on the other side of the aisle (called '2+1 seating'). There is more room than coach class, as well as an at-seat attendant service with complimentary refreshments and a newspaper. Long-distance trains that travel overnight generally do not offer business class; sleeper class is available instead. [edit] Regular First ClassThe only first class service offered by Amtrak that does not include a sleeper is found on the Acela Express trains along the northeast corridor. These trains offer only First and Business class service. First class includes complimentary at-seat meals. [edit] First (Sleeper) ClassAmtrak markets and prices sleeper accommodation as First Class, with a level of service that aims to be equal to that of a hotel. In addition to a private room on board the train, first class passengers can take advantage of a number of other amenities, including:
First class accommodations are priced in addition to the lowest available coach fare, and are priced in incrementally priced 'buckets' according to availability. As each 'bucket' of rooms sells out, the price goes up. It is worth noting, however, that after an Amtrak train departs its originating station, if there are any sleeper accommodations still available on the train, they revert in price to the cheapest originally available price. For example, if a train has one remaining room available prior to be departure, it would be priced in the most expensive 'bucket'. Once the train leaves, however, a coach passenger on-board the train can approach the conductor and upgrade to the sleeper for the price the room would have been when it first went on sale. Amtrak operates two types of sleeper carriage: the precise standard of accommodation that you will have depends on the type of train you will be riding on. Check the timetable or Amtrak website to discover which sort of train you'll be riding on. [edit] Superliner coachesSuperliner two-level coaches are used on all long distance trains west of Chicago, and certain other routes. They offer superior ride quality and views than single level coaches. Most accommodations are located on the upper level, with toilets and other facilities located on the lower level. See the inside of Superliners [25] here in Quicktime Virtual Reality . Superliner sleeper cars offer the following sleeper accommodations:
Accessible Bedrooms should only be booked by those with reduced mobility or a physical disability. Family Bedrooms and Accessible Bedrooms are located on the lower level of the Superliner carriage. [edit] Viewliner coachesViewliner single-level coaches are generally used on all long distance trains that operate in and out of New York Penn Station (where Superliner trains are too tall to enter the tunnels that approach the station). They are distinctive because of the two rows of windows on the side of the train, allowing both upper and lower berth passengers a view from their beds. They offer the following sleeper accommodations:
While there are no actual limitations, accessible Bedrooms should only be booked by those with reduced mobility or a physical disability, and family bedrooms should only be booked by families traveling together. [edit] Eating and drinking on boardOn the shortest of journeys, Amtrak offers an at-seat trolley service of drinks and light refreshments. On most journeys however, there will be a dedicated café or lounge car that offers a marginally broader selection of hot and cold drinks and refreshments, although all snacks will be pre-packed and all hot snacks will be microwaved. Café and lounge cars offer an open area of seating around tables that will be open for most of your journey, so even if you don't purchase something from the café you are welcome to sit in the café, enjoy the view and maybe meet some other passengers and on-board staff. On almost all long distance trains, Amtrak offers a dedicated restaurant car, that will be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Meals are generally prepared off the train before departure, and then heated and plated on-board. The standard of food is generally equal to an overpriced mid-range restaurant, although the atmosphere of dining on board with other passengers and the passing scenery more than compensates for this. The Amtrak Lead Service Attendant, or LSA in Amtrak-speak, who runs the dining car will sit travelers together to fill a table, instead of assigning individuals or couples to a table by themselves. (The LSA will sit a family together, however.) This practice tends to surprise those unfamiliar with it. In many cases, a traveller will find an interesting conversation happening that would never come about otherwise. If one has the budget -- even in coach -- visiting the dining car for a meal is worth it, simply for the experience. As mentioned above, all meals (but not alcoholic beverages) are included in sleeper tickets. Coach passengers can pay according to the menu. Per meal, the breakfast menu is the cheapest and dinner is the most expensive. Many seasoned travelers bring their own snacks with them on the train, and then supplement them with the odd item from the lounge or café car. With the exception of sleeper passengers who consume them in their own cabins, passengers are not allowed to bring their own alcohol on board any Amtrak train. [edit] RoutesThese are a just a few of many routes offered by a couple rail companies. The selection of routes was made by the criteria of popular destinations and routes that travel cross country. Additionally, historic routes like the Empire Builder were listed not only because of the destinations, but also because of the legacy of these routes left on tourism in North America. [edit] Amtrak Routes Amtrak offers 34 passenger train routes. Some of the more popular routes are the Cardinal, the Empire Builder, City of New Orleans, Sunset Limited, Southwest Chief, California Zephyr, Acela Express, and Capitol Limited.
[edit] GrandLuxe Rail JourneysGrandLuxe Rail Journeys offers 9 routes, and several theme rail trips. Several of the GrandLuxe Rain Journeys' routes are listed below. In contrast to Amtrak, the privately owned company runs North America’s only private, deluxe train, offering regional, three to nine-night itineraries throughout the United States and Mexico. Tours are often delayed which causes side trips to be rushed and planned itineraries changed or omitted. Amtrak and GrandLuxe Rail Journeys have announced a program where regular Amtrak trains would haul GrandLuxe railroad carriages on several scheduled Amtrak train routes. However, GrandLuxe passengers would only be allowed to board at the originating city, and detrain at the train's terminating city. GrandLuxe passengers would not be permitted to board or detrain at the intermediate stops. This service, called the "GrandLuxe Limited" service, is scheduled to begin in November 2007, according to the GrandLuxe Rail Journeys website. [36] Service is spotty and rooms are not always clean. Air conditioning and toilet facilities do not always work. Fresh linens and towels are only allowed every three days. Each rider gets a bedroom;therefore the prices for tickets are much higher than most passenger trains.
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