Amtrak Questions

It's Gov run, bad service is the Governments middle name.

We travel on Amtrak between Phila and Boston about 4 times a year. This takes about 5 1/2 hours (compared to 5 hours on the Acela for 3X the cost). If there were assigned seats I would expect total bedlam at each of the 16 stops (11 for the Acela). You learn to "go with the flow" (you can always change to the seat of your choice when 80% of the people get off in NYC). You know where to stand on the platform to get near the cafe car. The food cart idea is idiotic (you'll have to trust me on that one). Believe it or not, the microwaved cheeseburger or beef hot dog are very good (although the rolls are a bit damp). To get the best ticket prices you need to book a good 5 weeks in advance. Almost every train is filled to near capacity, and it's not unusual to have to ask people to get their crap off of the seat next to them so you can sit.

The comments section on this article is more informative than the article. I'd read those too.

 

I traveled NYC-Pittsburgh last week. No issues with the trip itself. I even used the onboard WiFi (reporting 90-something devices connected when I logged on--and this is on a cellular link) to track my train's progress as there is a mapping feature available on the homepage (probably generated and served from on-board). While you're not going to be streaming movies or music over the service, it does what it's supposed to...when you're in an area of good wireless coverage. Trains often travel places where there are no cell towers.

 

I take a trip NYC-Montreal on Greyhound every year. The Wifi on their buses on this route hasn't worked at all (either the router or the cellular modem was kaput) up until my 2015 trip (previous years my return trip was via Adirondack Trailways, whose wifi did work anytime we weren't deep in the Adirondacks)

My wife took the same trip last year and thought it was great. Sure boarding was a bit hectic but they don't oversell like airlines so we got decent seats. (I have been bumped from a flight with a reserved seat number, so much for that false assurance.)

I average 15,000 to 18,000 miles a year on Amtrak.  

It seems to me that most of those who complain travel seldom or never.

There are some rough spots that need work, and if Amtrak were given

the resources to do so, we could have a first class system.  but the monkey

farm in the US Capitol prevent that from happening.

 

Lee Carlson

(I don't believe in hiding behind a pseudonym.) 

It is probably true - if government supported passenger rail it would be a lot better.  I personally wish they had taken the billions of dollars for our bullet train and sunk it into the right of way for the Coast Starlight.  And maybe made the bathrooms at least as big as those on the Airbus.

 

I have lifetime free travel on American, and would far rather spend the bucks and go Amtrak.  The only truly comfortable seat on a jet is the left front seat.

Good comments all.  I've ridden the Adirondack many times myself.  Even living only a few miles from the Vermonter station in Essex Junction, VT, the Adirondack is the way to go if you're going to NYC.  It's faster and more scenic.

 

It never occurred to me that I would need Wi-Fi on a train trip.  BUT living here in the North Country, we learn that cell-coverage is spotty at best.  I live in the largest suburb of the largest city in the state of Vermont, and we have ZERO signal from ANY carrier where I live. 

 

Satellite coverage is the same.  My wife got a free Sirius-XM package with her new car.  It craps-out behind every tree and rock.  And there a LOT of trees and rocks!  No... we will not pay for that.

 

My only advice for riding the Adirondack is: grab a seat on the eat side of train when riding between Montreal and Saratoga Springs, and the west side between there at New York City.

 

Jon