Amtrak question - PGH to NYC

Walt,

 

From my experience you rarely take the train if your objective is to just get from Point A to point B quickly and efficiently.   However if part of the adventure is to ride the train and enjoy that aspect of the trip, then by all means take the train.

 

The price of $500 round trip seems like a deal and a half.  Did your brother click the "round trip" button?  Not knowing the specifics, I went to Amtrak.com and put in a Pitt to NYC trip for 5 adults.  It was $504 ONE WAY.

 

We took a trip to Pittsburgh several years ago.  We could have driven the car and been there in 3-4 hours.  But our objective was to have a chance to go around Horseshoe curve.  The train ride was part of the vacation.

 

Hope that helps!

Ron

 

Rob offers a lot of good advice. Amtrak is rarely the quickest route but if you're interested in the adventure, the Pennsylvanian will get you from Pittsburgh to NYC in about 9 hours. 42/43 is the only direct route but the Capital Limited to Washington DC followed by a transfer to a Northeast Regional train would be a second option for a railfan or mileage collector.

The Pennsylvanian (42/43) has a convenient schedule and is rarely late. The consist is usually one P42 or B32-8 and 6 Amfleets. The 'upgrade' your brother mentions would be from Coach Class in a Amfleet II to Business Class in a Amfleet Club-Dinette. IMO there is very little difference. You're essentially paying for a leather seat and a 2x1 seating arrangement. Coach Class seating on Amtrak is already very similar to First Class on an airplane.

It may be a little too late but Amtrak often runs promotions for the Pennsylvanian so keep an eye out for that.

Megabus is both faster and cheaper...then again, it's not a train...but it is an option.

Thanks guys.  I'll make sure that my brother reads your comments.

 

- walt

>>IMO there is very little difference. You're essentially paying for a leather seat and a 2x1 seating arrangement.

 

Don't forget the free coffee, soft drinks and newspaper, and being next to the snack bar (although you still have to wait your turn).  The last time I used coach, I was seated behind someone with a very smelly baby.

At some point in our countries history, traveling by rail/train was the norm. Today, it is the exception. The main reason being, speed of travel. In other words, people want to get there "yesterday". Which is kind of funny because most people complain all the time about air travel and how the delays and air sickness etc affect them.

 

Personally, traveling by Amtrak is beautiful. Sure, it takes longer because its supposed to take longer. One can see the country and experience many things they will never ever experience on an airplane or even a bus. In general though, if one has the time, travel by rail. I would not if, for example, I had an emergency or a funeral to go too. Or a sick relative to get to. Rail in this country is great as far as freight, but abysmal as far as people. One need not look any further then the OBB in Germany/Austria to see why this is. Those people love their trains and take huge measures to make sure they get people to and fro quickly and efficiently.