Nice... if you don't mind elaborating, what would u say was your favorite and least favorite thing about traveling by train?

@@2gunz122 favorite definitely (prior to covid) was meeting people on the train. you would be amazed at how many from Europe come to ride the long run routes and they are SHOCKED at how LARGE this country is. VERY interesting to talk to. As to LEAST I would have to say the general upkeep of the system of Amtrak. SOME cities have very useable train stations then again some of them look like they took over an abandoned greyhound terminal.

When I took the California Zephyr years ago (Chicago to SF), I remember meeting a number of people from other countries on the train, several from Australia. Glad you enjoyed it! I think people from other countries are more accustomed to train travel and value it more than Americans.

Did that trip last March, stunning views start from Sunrise entering Denver all the way to Emeryville, Bring a camera views are breathtaking

today!

I've done that trip as well. Beautiful scenery.

I have done it and it is great .I have been to Europe twice in the last 10 years and toured Europe all by train , it is so common in Europe due to Europe being so small . I went to Europe by ship , The Queen Mary 2 from NYC to Southampton, England and back. I then sailed again on The Queen Mary 2 in 2015 , I returned on The Norwegian Escape from Southampton to Miami .The Norwegian Escape was the best of all the ships . The point is I do not need to use a plane.

Joe Truth but its wrong

Americans have the right to call our country anything we want. And you have the right to be offended by our choice. It's the American way. ;)

I've never really understood why some people insist on getting offended because people from the US are called Americans. It just seems like such an unimportant and silly thing to get upset about.

m5rule now I personally think planes are mainly for crossing over oceans instead of over continents and better for transporting freight and just for military purposes.

m5rule The first- and thus far _only-_ time I rode on Amtrak was in 1994 when I was 12. (For all you millennials, that was juuuuuust before Al Gore invented the Internet, and cell phones were still only a dream in _Star Trek._ ) My parents took me on a 3 week cross-country tour through almost 20 states (though we also drove some of those distances). We had either two 2-person private rooms or one 4-person family rooms during the trip. Though I don't remember too many specific details, I did really enjoy the experience. Here's a few advantages: - train VS _anything_ (except maybe an unpredictable landslide or inattentive engineer) = train wins - leg space a-plenty - you don't have to wear seat belts - you are _encouraged_ to get up and walk about - the air is not intentionally dry to prevent rust on the aluminum frame of the fuselage (thus you are not as nasal-y or sleepy) - you can get three square meals a day in the dedicated dining car - some routes with lounge cars also include a snack bar below (you pay extra for those) - when I rode they had a dedicated smoking room but they have since discontinued those but you can get off the train for a few minutes at _some_ of the stops for some fresh air, - a way more intimate look at the countryside as opposed to the ol' fight of Window Seat VS Aisle Seat @ 30,000ft - you get to know the wait staff and other passengers better than you EVER could on a plane - sleeper cars have small public showers, while _some_ more-elaborate (and thus understandably more-expensive) private rooms have built-in showers - easily wheelchair accessible (though there are no elevators, so I don't know how they'd get you upstairs) - lots more luggage space than a plane, though handbags, overnight bags and toiletries are still kept kinda small The disadvantages: - Yes, you can travel in a cheap single seat overnight, but the seats don't change into beds. If you expect to spend more than one night on the train, get a private room. Since there are no single-occupant rooms ( _SHUT THE __-FUCK-__ UP, YOU LITTLE SNOWFLAKE KEYBOARD WARRIOR MILLENNIAL WHINERS AND DEAL WITH IT!!!_ ), it may/will help your costs if you travel with a buddy to share the expense of a 2-person room. - Passenger Train VS Freight Train = Freight ALWAYS wins. Though they do their best, Amtrak has no possible way of predicting how long they will be delayed by freight trains (which always have priority over passenger service in America specifically). So, before you even set foot on an overnight Amtrak, you should plan your arrivals to ALWAYS arrive hours later than the schedule says when you buy your ticket(s). (So _please don't_ bug them about it; there genuinely isn't anything they can do about it!) - Modern electronic amenities are very limited because Amtrak's fleet is a bit on the -unfashionable- old-and-outdated side (long story there, and frankly I don't know all the details why). WiFi and cell phones are sketchy at best, so save your downloads, calls and text messages for stops at stations; very limited satellite and internet service for the same reason. No DVD/USB players or live TV/radio either. If you wanna bring movies or video games with you, I _strongly_ recommend you download them _before_ you get on the train. Or, y'know, read a book or somethin', I dunno. - No playground or daycare, so _you_ are completely responsible for your kid's entertainment. - There are restrictions on pets, though how they differ from planes I do not know; obviously check beforehand. - There are some horror stories about the public showers (what public shower in a city _doesn't_ have exactly the same issues?), but there are small things you can do like wear sandals and/or bring sanitation wipes. - If you travel with just yourself or one other person, at dining they will always pair you up with another passenger (i.e. always 4 per table); even with dining reservations each night seating is limited so they _have_ to pack you in a bit. (Not sure if this is a "disadvantage" _per se,_ but it is worth mentioning the -first world problems- inconvenience of dining with a complete stranger.) - Not really a disadvantage, but unlike an airplane there is no 'class' seating other than on east-coast commuter runs. As I understand it, individual seating in the passenger cars is first-come (you're paying for passage, _not_ a specifically-reserved seat like on a plane), but the private rooms are always reserved. On the train, all passengers are treated equally with no amenities for higher-paying customers. (It is not unheard of, though, for a _rare_ privately-owned/operated passenger car to be attached to the train, so obviously they will have different amenities from the regular Amtrak cars.) So when boarding at a large station, sometimes they will call for passengers to board based on which seating arrangement(s) they have. - One of the bigger sticking points for many: travel by passenger train is far slower and the train itself is much heavier than a passenger plane, thus the _ticket fares are significantly higher._ In the 21st Century, if you wanna get somewhere fast and cheap, take a plane. But, if you intentionally wanna take your time and enjoy the views an' everything, then it is expected that you will be paying a lot more. And since there is no other nation-wide American passenger train service to compete against, it's reasonable that the prices will also be higher than their European counterparts for traveling the same distance(s). (shrug) What can I say- America just has different priorities when it comes to passenger train travel compared to other countries!

m5rule+ I've done it many times, and as long as you're not expecting speed--it's a wonderful experience. Leisurely place, beautiful scenery outside the window, and the chance to chat with all types of people.

GA SOUSA who cares

did you wipe that hiney good ?

Norm Rohrer hii I'm jaisik I'm from India I'm live in Punjab I want come to USA do you help me. My contect number 918872874275 please call me.

+Norm Rohrer> Don't know if you're being facetious, BUT with some of the HD cameras being used these days, used by people who know how to use them the videos just ain't that bad. I've seen YT videos of hikes I've been on in national parks in Utah and California and the videos made it all come to life again for me. When my legs, back, hips, etc. get too old to do the real thing, and I'm laying up ailing in bed those vivid videos will go a long way in the healing process (for me anyway).