Amtrack- Page 2

[Plum]

Posted: 11/29/05 at 8:46pm

I can't say I've had 100% successful experiences with busses being on time, but at least they're cheap. And I've only had to stand once.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 11/29/05 at 8:47pm

The bus line I take will always add a bus if there are too many people - never standing room.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 11/29/05 at 8:56pm

Rath,

What bus line do you take?

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 11/29/05 at 8:57pm

Bonanza.

[DAME]

Posted: 11/29/05 at 8:59pm

My friend Mario took a greyhound from Los Angeles to Montana. Two day trip. He went all the way through. He said he had a fun bunch to 420 with in the back of the bus and someone sprung open a bottle of tequila. At first I thought he was making it all up. But he sent me a e mail with a pic of him and his buddies on the bus.

[Mamie]

Posted: 11/29/05 at 9:15pm

I've taken Greyhound, Washington Deluxe and Amtrak - the last two MANY times. I've only taken Greyhound once and I never will again. Their terminal in DC is no place you want to be on a dark night. It's downright scary - and dark - and dirty. They also charge almost twice as much as Washington Deluxe.

I've taken the WD bus quite a few times going from DC to NY. I usually return via Amtrak. I've never had a bad ride on that bus going to NY. The buses are new, clean, and have always been on time for me. I don't know what experience Rath's had, but mine has always been very good.

Amtrak does have trouble keeping on schedule but they're by far the most comfortable way to travel. Also most trains have a 'quiet car' at the front of the train. No children, radios, telephones, or anything else that makes noise is allowed.

Also, for security reasons, unreserved trains have all stopped. Only reserved trains run now which means everybody has to get a seat. If you're late boarding, you may have to walk a ways to find an empty seat, but there definitely should be one for you. Ask the conductors if you aren't able to find one. I've never seen anyone standing since this policy went into effect.

Another hint re Amtrak from NY to DC: If you are going to be taking the Metro's ORANGE or BLUE lines, get off the train at New Carrolton (one stop before Union Station). The Metro's ORANGE line begins there and you can usually walk right from one train and onto the other right there. It saves changing trains at Metro Center.

Updated On: 11/29/05 at 09:15 PM

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 11/29/05 at 9:21pm

Mamie - I've never taken the Washington Deluxe - but I considered it and checked the schedule online - it was pretty sparse.

[Mamie]

Posted: 11/29/05 at 10:17pm

Oh - I'm sorry. I misunderstood you. I thought you meant that SCHEDULED buses didn't end up going.

You're right - there aren't a lot of them scheduled, but they do all run and so far (knock on wood - again) they've always been on time.

There are more buses called 'Chinatown buses' that have various schedules. Most of them run between Chinatown in DC and Chinatown in NY. The Deluxe runs from downtown DC (near MacPherson Square Metro Station) and Penn Station in NY. This link shows different lines. Most of the prices are the same:
http://www.staticleap.com/chinatownbus/

[Bluemoon]

Posted: 11/29/05 at 10:31pm

I took Amtrak up to NYC several times during the summer (BWW events) and always got there on time, but NEVER got back to D.C. on time, The worst was in August when I left NYC at 6:50pm and got off at the BWI station at 12:15am. God knows what time the train made it into Union Station in Washington. At one point we were stopped outside Trenton, NJ for several hours and were told that no trains were going south and we were going to be on our own. The passenger revolt was not a pretty sight. Throughout the summer the ticket price was $89.00 each way. The aggravation was free of charge.
On the other hand, Rath can tell you what happens when you drive to drive the route. I left home at 8:00am a few Saturdays ago, and was to meet Rath for lunch at noon. I got there at 1:00pm. It took 45 minutes to make to off the NJ Turnpike and get through the Lincoln Tunnel.
I'm ready, willing and able to take my chances with a bus.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 11/29/05 at 10:34pm

Tell them the rest, baby - we were supposed to have from 12:00 to 1:30 together - then I had to get a train upstate and she had to get to the theater.

We ended up with about 20 minutes. It was sad.

[Bluemoon]

Posted: 11/29/05 at 10:38pm

Next time we'll have lunch in the tunnel.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 11/29/05 at 10:41pm

Meet you there.

[brdlwyr]

Posted: 11/29/05 at 10:42pm

Is Dame joining you all in DC?

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 11/29/05 at 10:44pm

Oh my God, if that were the case - I'd HAVE to find a way to be there!!

[cheezedoodle]

Posted: 11/29/05 at 10:45pm

I love Amtrak - but I am on the West Coast and it does not run late that often out here. I do hate that they raise the prices during the holidays, but everyone does that I suppose. I just booked a trip on the Coast Starlight from Seattle to Los Angeles and then over to the Grand Canyon for my summer holiday. Of course I have a private room - and there is ALWAYS a bar car onboard - the necessities in life are important! LOL.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 11/29/05 at 10:47pm

You are my preferred travel companion, cheeze.

[cheezedoodle]

Posted: 11/29/05 at 10:47pm

Anytime baby!

[sweetestsiren]

Posted: 11/29/05 at 10:48pm

I agree on the Amtrak hatred. It's simply ridiculous that it's so expensive and the service isn't up to par. The American railroad system is in desperate need of reform.... it would be so darn convenient if it weren't a HUGE HUGE hassle and a lot of money, particularly if you aren't traveling between major cities. One of the things I hate the most about living in small towns is the total lack of public transportation.

EDIT: It's almost cheaper for me to fly from Virginia to NYC than take Amtrak, and that's saying something. Updated On: 11/29/05 at 10:48 PM

[cheezedoodle]

Posted: 11/29/05 at 10:55pm

Of course you do realize our prez has cut Amtrak funding every year - there is a good reason it needs reform. The whole idea of train travel to me is leisure. If you don't have the time don't consider it. I have found the train very relaxing and a great way to see things that you would never see in the air. There is truly nothing like sitting in a big picture window with a glass of wine watching the sun set over the pacific as you wind down the coast of southern California.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 11/29/05 at 10:56pm

Yes, the major problem with Amtrak is it is connected to the government and it has no competition. But believe me, it sucked when Clinton was in office too. That's when I stopped using it.

[cheezedoodle]

Posted: 11/29/05 at 11:02pm

Very true...it has sucked for a very long time. I remember times during the holidays when my mom was alive - There was one Thanksgiving I went home that was just the worst. The train was overbooked - so we all had to sit on the floor or on our bags on the lower level, The air condition was out and the power was dodgy so the lights kept going on and off, and we were only going like 15 to 20 miles and hour the whole way. It took four and a half hours to go the distance that usually takes one and a half hours. I don't miss traveling home on holidays any longer - of course, I define home diferently now too. LOL Have we sufficently scared Dame yet?

Updated On: 11/29/05 at 11:02 PM

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 11/29/05 at 11:03pm

Yep. Sounds like a typical Amtrak holiday trip to me. Always, always crawling along, with NO explanation, no apologies, and no comfort.

[DayDreamer]

Posted: 11/30/05 at 3:05am

I'm taking the Washington Deluxe. Hopefully. Can't buy my tickets until tomorrow.

doodle... you're in Seattle?

[Plum]

Posted: 11/30/05 at 8:27am

Maybe at this point it would be better to privatize the trains to some extent, but I'm pretty sure that without government we wouldn't have a national train system at all. Car companies won out in the private sector a long time ago, preventing the development of extensive public transport in several instances.

I still hate Amtrak, of course.

[DayDreamer]

Posted: 11/30/05 at 12:31pm

Thanks Mamie... I thought I'd be paying online too. I'll make sure to have the cash on-hand.