10 Amtrak Mistakes You Need To Avoid When Riding The Train

Today we share our 10 Amtrak mistakes you need to avoid when riding the train. There are many things that can ruin your next trip on Amtrak, especially if you are new to riding Amtrak. We hop to help you have the best journey possible.
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[@debbiel9843]

Your suggestion for getting the Amtrak MC was the best piece of advice to get for train travel. It accumulates points so fast that in less than 8 months (with the sign up bonus) I had enough for a free round trip roomette from Wisconsin Dells to Seattle, with plenty left over! So, I'll easily have enough for another trip soon. Thank you!

[@mulljacob]

This sassy-sounding southern announcer/conductor lady called our train "our beloved Carolinian" on a recent trip. It's definitely beloved when it's all electric powered and we're spinning along at 110mph. Definitely listen to announcements for the info and entertainment.

[@kevinkeene1593]

Today is my retirement day. Now to plan some trips and get a chance to use some of your advice. Thanks for all of the helpful videos.

[@catreader9733]

@kevinkeene Congratulations on reaching retirement and having train travel on your fun list.

[@TheOnlyLilithcat]

Happy retirement! That was when I started to take trains, because I didn't have to worry about using extra vacation days.

[@heidiburri1260]

Today was my retirement also! Enjoy

[@dorettasdozen8537]

Woohoo!

[@ni-ib2hk]

happy retirement!! enjoy!

[@PaulGodfrey]

Big mistake is not listening to the announcements by the conductor. They are often funny as well as informative.

[@fj8623]

“This is Oakland Station. We’ll be here for 20 minutes, so if you’d like to step off the train, you may do so. But please don’t stray too far, because the train will be leaving in 20 minutes, and if you miss it, well, there will be another train that looks just like this one leaving at this time tomorrow.”

[@DailyEdwards]

On the train from Miami to New York, when we arrived, one of the conductors announced, “Take all your belongings with you. Anything you leave behind, I will take and sell on eBay.”

[@gabrielapaulinho1luv]

​@@DailyEdwards😅😂🤣

[@terrymcfarland298]

Not everyone has excellent hearing even without earphones

[@squalli1297]

Giving yourself time between train, flight, or cruise connections is crucial. I checked a bag in L.A. going to NYC during the '90's. The Southwest Chief was 8 hours late arriving in Chicago & my connecting train, The Lakeshore LTD had already left. Amtrak put me up in a nice hotel in Chicago with a breakfast voucher. The following day, Amtrak offered a flight in coach to NYC. I needed to get to Penn Station after arrival to get my checked bag the following day which was an inconvenience. That was a valuable lesson in terms of allowing extra time between connections. It may be expensive, but it certainly cuts the stress of travel to a minimum.

[@fj8623]

Schedules and itineraries, no matter when we’re traveling, are estimations and projections at best. I find it less burdensome just to expect the unexpected and do what I can to roll with it. Extra time for connections, whenever possible, is key.

[@Hodaggium]

I wouldn't totally rule out mixed service. I would say understand the options that are presented to you and know what you're getting by choosing the option you go with. I have an upcoming trip to Saint Louis, and I'm in Green Bay. The only way for me to get on a train is to go to Milwaukee, which mean I either have to drive or take a bus. I would rather take a bus from Green Bay, which means I have mixed service.

[@writtwoodson6879]

Exactly. Most of the time the people who are using the Amtrak connector bus service do not have another option that is close in terms of convenience.

[@hmadrone]

I take the Coast Starlight once a year from San Jose CA to Portland OR (and back again). It's invariably 20-40 minutes early at my destination station, even when the train is running late somewhere along the route.

[@ginger6582]

Always keep your shoes on when walking around.

[@phronsiekeys]

Announcements OR a board with the timetable (even a static board) ought to be a requirement at any station, no matter how small. Wearing headphones and being clueless is dumb, but still, the company has a responsibility to let people know which train is which if there are multiple trains. One certainly can't rely on arrival times with Amtrak, although they might be a "hint."

[@debbiel9843]

Agree! Just got back from a trip to Seattle. That station did not use a PA system for boarding announcements and the poor lady who was trying to let people know was trying to shout over a hundred+ people not paying attention.

[@phronsiekeys]

@@debbiel9843 And that's a major city!

[@alank122]

@@debbiel9843 Seattle does have an automated system (most Amtrak stations do) that make two announcements before boarding. However, the PA system and the acoustics in Seattle are so bad it's almost impossible to understand what they are saying.

[@TheOnlyLilithcat]

I always check my large bag, simply because I don't want to wrangle it. Regarding mixed service, there are times when it can be beneficial. Case in point: leaving Vancouver, BC, to get the Empire Builder from Seattle, you can get a train or a bus to Seattle. The train leaves pretty early in the morning, leaving you with about a 5-hour wait in Seattle (and there are no amenities at the King Street Station - no food, no lounge, nothing). The bus leaves later, so you don't have as long a wait at the station. I just looked at my ticket for the Empire Builder and, contrary to what you said, it does not indicate the type of dining or the type of car (I do know it's traditional dining and Superliners).

[@marcbramhall814]

My local station in Berlin, Connecticut is annoying. Even if the train is running late the automated boarding announcements still play at the regular time. Also mo restrooms there. Pre-pandemic they had a port-a-crapper. When travel resumed in June 2021 they removed it.

[@alank122]

I work at an all volunteer staffed station in Washington state. We have 10 trains through our station each day. Some people are just so tuned into their phones or headsets they don't listen to the announcements. The automated system makes two announcements, one when the train is 10 minutes out, another when the train is 5 minutes out and there are two monitors that display train status. We make an in-person announcement when we see the train approaching on our monitors which is about 2 minutes away. We then go through the station, checking on each person still sitting there to ensure that this is not their train. And somehow, some still manage to miss their train. Another issue is that people think the train will wait for them. Many people wait in their cars in the parking lot. When they see the train pull in, they slowly get out of their cars, gather up their baggage and slowly saunter over to the gate. If I see them, I will yell at them to hurry because the train will not wait. The train is in and out as quickly as possible, sometimes in less than a minute depending on the number of passengers. Again, people miss the train just casually walking to the gate because they can't fathom it will not wait for them if they are not on the platform. We've also had people get off for a smoke break even though the attendant has made it clear not to do so. They turn their back on the train, enjoying their cigarette and the train leaves. So many entitled people in the world nowadays.

[@ryancaldwell9463]

I would think most stations have a board and/or automated announcements if they have small or no staff. But yea it’s also on the person who had headphones in and wasn’t paying attention.

[@elizabethchamberlain6893]

I don’t know if this was a “mistake” or not because the Amtrak reservationist told me what to do time wise. I had a reservation to go from LAX to San Antonio. However, I was starting in Oceanside. It was a two hour train ride to LAX. My train from Oceanside was scheduled to leave at 6:00pm with an arrival time into LAX at 8:05pm. Unfortunately, two trains BEFORE my Oceanside train broke down resulting in my train being cancelled. I was told I could go on the train after mine but it arrived in LAX three minutes before my train to San Antonio. I ended up staying 2 extra nights because the train to San Antonio doesn’t operate every day. I definitely learned to make sure I am in my departure city the night before.

[@ronclark9724]

And when I plan my train voyage, I plan on getting to my destination a day earlier than I need to be there, and I plan at cities where I connect to another train a day layover in a hotel as well... Having some layover time planned in advance eliminates nearly ALL worries of your train being late...

[@trishoconnor2169]

This issues keeps coming up (or rather NOT coming up) on this channel: You do not necessarily have the option of checking your baggage, depending on from what station you are boarding and/or disembarking. Not all stations have baggage service.

[@sustainablesteph]

Recently enjoyed a lovely ride on the Pacific Surfliner from LAX to Santa Barbara. Hopping on the Southwest Chief from LAX to Chicago in a few days. Thanks for your tips and reminders! 🥁🥁🥁

[@DennisPrivate-qg8vk]

Love all your videos! Headed out tomorrow on the Empire Builder to Portland. All your tips and info have been very helpful!

[@PrairieHeart]

I did a cross country from Simi Valley California to Detroit…Simi has no depot and no announcement-my worry was I would board the wrong train or miss it. That train and food was fabulous. The next train was disappointing…Amtrak hooked up a non working kitchen so food was not enjoyable. Used your tip from a previous vlog and contacted them immediately and was given a credit that needs to be used or expires.

[@ronclark9724]

The Wolverine does not have a diner unfortunately being a regional day train, not a overnight sleeper train... Keep in mind the regional day trains may have a cafe car, they do not have a short order diner car... Only overnight sleeper trains have a diner car, and not all of them do...

[@travelingtheworldretired]

We are taking Amtrak cross-country from Louisiana to LA, then LA to Chicago. Thanks so much for the tips.

[@joanewing5784]

Have you ever thought of having a group train tour? I think it would be great.

[@WolfgangMotif]

Always good to hear you both. 👍

[@squirel5000]

For the first one I am so glad that for my trip to Seattle the empire builder is the only train that comes through.

[@jazzyrock57]

I fell asleep once on a late train from Boston to Baltimore. I never heard my stop announced, and ended up in DC. The conductor was good and walked me to the train going back North. Let didn't charge me which was great.

[@chrismichaels1764]

Getting to the station too early lol. Oh yes I've done that a few times.

[@MadeNCda]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us all. 😊

[@terrymcfarland298]

Would it be too much to ask for a sign with the train # and a flashing ‘Now Boarding’ sign?

[@Rockfan10001]

Great tips! I appreciate your content.

[@tiffanycraig3170]

Thank you so much for sharing this video. It has been very helpful. Blessings. Peace

[@JOSEPHHUTCHESON-j3k]

Thanks!

[@GroundedLifeTravel]

Thanks so much!

[@davidsaunders6700]

Thank you. Always helpful and informative.

[@cl9949]

Someone got off the train the other day to stretch their legs and must not have been paying attention and they were left behind, in an incredibly remote part of Montana. I wish them the best. No idea if they were able to get back on the train.

[@Specialcot77]

I Appreciated your Advise regarding Roommate Penn Station to Charlotte Amazing Experience and Staff 49ers VS Panters. I look forward to Bedroom

[@nathanjiang100]

I think the different type of cars matters most actually for coach and I don't see it talked enough about on Youtuve. not all coach class is created equal. the Amfleet I and Horizon seats are way different than the Venture seats which are way different than California Cars or Talgos which are way different than the Amfleet II and Superliner. the latter two have way more legroom and more space since they're used on long-distance services whereas the others are used for Intercity trains (the Ventures have the worst seats out of all of them). I just got off the Silver Meteor today from NYC to Orlando and slept in coach just fine (Viewliner sleeper trains use Amfleet II coaches, Superliner sleeper trains use Superliner coaches, Silver Meteor uses Amfleet II/Viewliners). you can not do that as well on the intercity train cars. I've tried (the Night Owl from DC to Boston overnight uses Amfleet I cars like other Northeast Regionals with less legroom, less space, and less recline). one more thing: I know they said to generally avoid the "Mixed Service" routings which is true but there are certain ones that are actually better. NY/PHL/DC - Tampa is one that I just did today. Taking the Silver Star is direct but it's 2 hours slower than the Silver Meteor plus the Thruway bus. I assure you there is not any interesting scenery between Orlando and Tampa and the buses Amtrak uses in Florida are guaranteed connections with your train and quite comfortable so just save the 2 hours.

[@janthony21]

Showing up early: I show up early to check bags, and then I hang out or walk around town. In San Antonio, the Texas Eagle arrived 'sometime between 4am and 8am', so I watched the Olympics on the TV at their station. In Houston, I checked bags and walked to Whataburger downtown. In Dallas, I sat in the empty lobby and had a conversation. In Los Angeles, I went to Traxx. iirc, San Marcos 'station' is just a platform in sweltering Texas humidity, so definitely investigate before you show up.

[@jimmos7622]

I have traveled FL to NYP several times in roomette and I have found the luggage space accommodates my large bag. The biggest challenge is getting it up in the space. Also note that I travel solo, so I only have the one large bag to place. Thank you for the helpful hints.

[@ronclark9724]

I never have any trouble with luggage as I never use luggage. My backpack bag is large enough to handle a change in clothes from the top of my head to the bottom of my feet... Don't overpack, there are laundries in almost every city and town large enough to have an Amtrak station. I pack 20 pounds max, preferably less...

[@amandaregis313]

Hubby and I are taking the Maple Leaf from Niagara Falls Ontario to New York to catch a cruise in January. From previous advice from cruise videos, we understand the "arrived a day early" travel. I just took a look to make sure I'd booked just train, and the cost went down from our $60 per person each way, to $43. WTH! I know, much better than Via Rail 😂. But yes, we're on just trains, going to and coming back. We're taking the Go Train from Barrie Ontario to Niagara Falls (enough time to chill in Union Station Toronto and maybe visit with our younger adult son, who works at one of the restaurants in the Station), an overnight in Niagara Falls and the 10:28 the next morning (much less expensive accommodations than Toronto as well). How much earlier do you suggest getting to Penn Station for our return trip? We're thinking cab from The Lodge Red Hook in Brooklyn should take about 30 minutes at around 5 am for our 7:15 train, so we have time to enjoy a few belts of coffee and pop something for breakfast in the backpack cooler if we haven't picked up something at a shop in Brooklyn the day before.

[@brendaproulx3052]

Always a pleasure to watch & learn from both of you, thank you ❤❤

[@cyndyjohannsen1856]

I just booked a trip on the Cresent last night. I printed out a hard copy of the ticket and it doesn't say viewliner (At least that I can find) but i know it is.

[@francesquiles304]

I’m traveling to Kissimmee Florida in a couple of weeks. Thank you for the information.

[@jmajette2]

We went to the high-level Sun Rail platform at Kissimmee instead of the ground level one Amtrak uses for our return trip to NYC in 2021. The station attendant saw us on the SunRail platform and directed us where we needed to be. At the time, SunRail didn’t operate on weekends, and this was a Sunday. Had the Silver Meteor arrived while waiting on the high-level platform, there is no way we could have made it across the tracks until the train left Kissimmee and us behind! 😮

[@gloriajzucaro6960]

I enjoy your information videos. I am 81 and deciding if I would like to do the circumvention trip. If I use your choices of trains/hotels for overnights and schedule as far as days between trains, would I be safe in copy-catting you?

[@FreihEitner]

Several excellent recommendations here.

[@susanjones3549]

We're looking to take our first train ride from Kansas City to New York and then on up to Maine to visit relatives and back to Kansas City in the fall. Your tips are very helpful. We're going to use the rail pass. Have you any experience with this method of travel?

[@creinicke1000]

Not announcing has been an issue for me too! Its very confusing.. especially with trains being hours late or 20 min late.. or on time.

[@ronclark9724]

If 20 minutes is all that important to you, don't ride Amtrak....

[@Lance-Stroll]

How strict is bag size at Moynahan Station? I don't wanna pay extra for a bigger bag I'm just going to put in the rack

[@cms4229]

I take the NE Regional from my family in Westchester, NY (30 min from NYC) at New Rochelle to avoid Union/ Moynihan to DC, there’s only one attendant. It’s a 4-track station. 2 tracks for Amtrak and 2 tracks for our local commuter Metro North trains. I’m still confused. There’s only one attendant for Amtrak but they tend to stay on the Metro North side when it’s super cold or hot so no one ever knows which side to go to.

[@kathleenhudson8429]

I was in the Tacoma station once waiting to pick up my checked bag. There are usually two people working at that station, and when the train comes, they lock the ticket area to handle checked bags. A woman started shouting for the employees(who were out handling baggage), wanting to know why the train left without her. The staff makes two or three announcements about where to go before the train arrives, but she thought that she could walk out the door and someone would walk up to her and guide her to the proper car! Also, it’s not a good idea to fly in the same day as a cruise. My friend and I were meeting in Seattle to go on a cruise leaving Saturday afternoon. She had booked her flight to arrive Friday afternoon. Thursday night she got a call that her flight had been cancelled. She was finally able to get a flight on Saturday morning and arrived with only an hour to spare.

[@catreader9733]

As another commenter pointed out, not all stations have a means to check bags. My local station is even unattended with an open platform. It works out fine, as long as you know. The conductor is exceptionally helpful, and other riders have even pitched in to help.

[@ronclark9724]

It seems they are usually riding Amtrak to see family in Chicago and Los Angeles. To better enjoy riding Amtrak, not just see America but EXPERIENCE America, I plan layovers and break up my train journeys. So many time riding through a city or town I wish to spend a day there. Well, DO... Any city or town will suffice, if only to fish at the local fishing hole...

[@rockkilgore8739]

Great information! Thank You

[@cindyprice9599]

I took Amtrack from Los Angeles to Washington state and was over a day late. Going back to L.A., we ended up getting off the train several hours away and having to be bused the rest of the way to L.A. We were almost a whole day late getting home. I had no idea trains were so late and it was very annoying. I've never traveled by train since then.

[@MightyMezzo]

Thank the freight trains that get precedence over passenger service. 🙄

[@ronclark9724]

Train routes are more linear than airlines or even bus routes. All it takes to set your train behind schedule several hours is a freight train in front of your Amtrak train having one hot axle, most likely a wheel bearing needs repacking with grease, of any of the freight cars that don't belong to the freight railroad, never mind the freight railroad's locomotives. When you consider how many axles there are on a two mile long freight train, it is a wonder all of the trains don't arrive several hours late. If you are in a hurry, FLY, if you have all of the time in the world and don't mind spending many more hours on a train, ride Amtrak and see America...

[@dangergirl7960]

Thank you!🐞

[@kskssxoxskskss2189]

Those announcements on airplanes are hilarious. "We are now approaching..." and then they name the one place they ever claimed to be going. Of course, the real reason is to prepare customers to perform our landing responsibilities (trays, seat-backs, small,items, etc), but they could just say, "Our flight is finally ending..."

[@JLeonard1967]

Thinking of doing a trip from Seattle to Memphis. Its a bucket list thing. I know you guys travel as a couple, but I'd be traveling solo. have you found that folks are personable on the trains?

[@CoyKoi57]

Do the items that you store under the seats in a roomette need to be removed when the seats are made into a bed?

[@babcilise2546]

We just finished a trip from Spokane to Spfld. One and done for us. We had a sleeper car to Chicago with no sound in it. The attendant was not helpful. We didn't even know we were in Chicago until the attendant came to close our room, and we found the train empty. I called Amtrak, and after explaining our issues, he said.. so what are you expecting to get from this phone call? Thankful for all I knew from your podcast, but it indeed was not worth the cost for the experience.

[@mt3311]

My 14 year old sister was in LAX, looking for a book in a shop and didn't hear her flight to Monterey. She was then put on a flight to SFO. My mother and I, showed up in Monterey to pick her up, and were informed the she was in Frisco. We had no idea where that was. Turns it was about 2 hours, and we had no idea where it was. Took us awhile to find it. We found her stressed out and sitting with her luggage outside.

[@BassPlayerSusan]

Yeah at about 5:30, that "Flexible Dining" sucks! Big time! My husband and I recently rode the (sad remnant of) the Capitol Limited between Pittsburgh and Chicago. The food was terrible. Nobody looked like they were actually enjoying it. We certainly weren't.

[@dawnbanerdt-adams8356]

Yeah, I used to do the Capitol Limited pre pandemic, when they had traditional dining. I wouldn't go on it now. One of the things I need to check is to see if there's traditional dining. If not, I'll just take a different train.

[@BassPlayerSusan]

@@dawnbanerdt-adams8356 Well at least they brought back handling bikes on the Capitol Limited. Years ago my husband and I used to to get to Cumberland from Pittsburgh. Then we biked the Great Allegheny Passage trail back to the 'Burgh. There's no other way to do that unless someone drove us and dropped us and our bikes off in Cumberland. Now that they are again accepting bikes, we're finally able to plan another trip.

[@marymoore5299]

Is tipping expected

[@sybilluft1170]

Would you recommend the California Zephyr mid-December? I’m wondering if it gets sidetracked by weather.

[@loopbraider]

It does sometimes! But it's such a beautiful time to go with the snowy views. One of my times on the Zephyr we were stuck a few hours because of snow at the top of the Sierras in CA in springtime, even! May I think it was. Going the other way, I met a passenger who was enjoying her free trip on the Zephyr in recompense from Amtrak for a trip she had taken on the Zephyr the previous year when the train got stranded on the tracks due to bad weather for several hours (12?) to the point that food was running out, toilets were backing up and passengers with dogs weren't being allowing to take their dogs off the train to relieve themselves so there was dog poop on the lower levels that stunk up the train. Sounded pretty bad! I also saw several reports about one of these recent winters when the Empire Builder's NEW engines experienced crippling engine trouble on several occasions in cold weather. Passengers had to wait in the middle of nowhere several hours for substitute trains to be sent from either end of the route - days away - sometimes ending up on buses for the rest of their ride. The manufacturer supposedly fixed that problem with the Empire Builders' engines - new engines but with a manufacturing defect that made them fail in very cold temperatures. If you ever have a problem like that on Amtrak involving any inconvenience, be SURE to call and report/ complain to customer service (by phone, don't email) , and they will give you a voucher on the spot. That woman got a whole free ticket out of her horrible experience. If you don't think it's enough, say so. I got a $30 travel voucher for coming in late to Chicago, that was off a sale-priced $300 30-day rail pass so I was already traveling very cheaply. When I told the agent that my traveling companion had gotten a $50 voucher, she checked on that and then raised mine to $50. They wouldn't have given us anything if we hadn't called in.

[@rwrynerson]

I've done that and sometimes there are no problems and sometimes there are delays. It's always beautiful.

[@napervillerealestatelifewi5148]

How clean are the trains?

[@Homer500]

Last year I had to reroute a trip and ended up with 4 vouchers totaling $235. Tried using last week but they had expired. My mistake for not using them sooner. I don’t think they should expire. Emailed Amtrak, but no response yet.

[@shelzp7272]

@Homer Thanks for letting us know about this and I hope they give you a new expiration date ✔️

[@loopbraider]

It's better to call than to email. Call the regular number, be patient on the hold, and tell the agent you want to talk to customer service about it. From what I've heard and experienced you get faster response on the phone than when emailing a complaint. Might never hear back on an email. Phone is slow but usually good service, agents know their stuff and tend to be sympathetic.

[@Homer500]

@@loopbraider I will do that after 2 weeks. I’m just testing their response system. Currently on Southwest Chief to LA, then returning Friday to Chicago on Texas Eagle. Should be interesting.

[@martinadams7949]

Use your points north south

[@DaveM-FFB]

The biggest mistake of all is booking the Adirondack from NYC to Montreal. The route to Montreal is now canceled for 18 weeks. Something about overdue track maintenance. Except it was cancelled most of last summer as well. Plus the route was shut down completely for 3 years due to the pandemic. If you have to travel from NYC to Montreal, just fly Air Canada for less than $100 one way.

[@PrairieHeart]

We booked trains back to back and lucked out with making connections but I wouldn’t do that. We were held up because a passenger had a medical emergency…she’s okay we were.

[@josephjuno9555]

Is there a Good mid-way point to get on California Zephyr? For example If I was in Yellowstone and went South to Omaha, could I get on Train there and back? Just To see the scenery not go to SF? Could I stay on train and come back? I am Solo traveler so is Coach Okay? Rather than pay for Roomette? I sleep in my car on overbite trips so Train wud seem roomy to me? I Love your Channel!

[@rwrynerson]

Denver is the best place for splitting the route. It has the best air service between Chicago and San Francisco, if you want to cut the trip short. There are several hotels within suitcase rolling distance of the Union Station, plus a luxury hotel in the station itself. If you don't want to go all the way to the SF Bay Area, you can turn back in Sacramento (and visit the rail museum there).

[@lelandrogers1078]

The City of New Orleans train no longer has a dining car. Sleeper passengers eat in their rooms and get pre packaged food. Coach eats food they bring or buy in the snack bar in the observation car.

[@ronclark9724]

Amtrak during the past two years has been refurbishing all of their Superliner fleet. To refurbish a car, a car has to be pulled from service, especially with the limited number of diner and sightseeing lounge cars... The shared trainsets of the Capitol Limited/Texas Eagle lost its sightseeing lounge cars, your City of New Orleans maintained its sightseeing lounge car. When all of the cars have been refurbished for the entire fleet, all of the trains will get their cars back that lost them. Amtrak chose to keep the diner and sightseeing lounge cars on their west coast trains traveling through the more scenic Rockies, Cascades, and Sierra Nevada than the flat farmlands of middle America, and wisely so...

[@ginanearftworth4404]

🤔 why do they call it the Texas Eagle when it doesn't go to Texas??

[@jmajette2]

The Texas Eagle runs between Chicago and San Antonio, TX daily. Three times a week it links up with the Sunset Limited at San Antonio and continues to Los Angeles.

[@TheOnlyLilithcat]

It does, though. It travels between Chicago and San Antonio, with stops in Dallas and Austin.

[@bobbissell2910]

Too many variables even on plane to go on cruise. Not worth saving a few hundred bucks to loose everything. Prefer train trips in Europe.

[@creinicke1000]

Absolutely agree!! Only option would be to arrive 1-2 days ahead of the ship leaving. BUT we almost missed our boat in Europe because of a plane issue.. so if we ever do a cruise again in Europe ( probably won't again) but there are always travel problems we will plan on getting to city ship is leaving from at least 1-2 days ahead.

[@lisivelazquez65]

I always travel to Tampa and it's a mixed service. Though it's ok. So everytime I go to my cousin's house in Cape Coral.

[@rwrynerson]

Mixed Service can be fine. When booking, it's possible to find out how long each segment is. I'd say that the advice here to avoid them only applies to first-timers.

[@itonjoans354]

have you ever seen a train arrive early?

[@Vermoulian]

Earlier this year we took the City of New Orleans and it was early both ways on a round trip from Chicago to NOLA and back. I was amazed.

[@loopbraider]

The last year and a half I've taken a lot of long distance Amtrak routes - did two 30-day rail pass trips plus a few other long trips - and all the trains except for one route were slightly to very late, the latest was 12 hours late into Chicago, arriving at 3am. The consistent exception has been the westbound Sunset Limited into LA (this includes that portion of the Texas Eagle as it is joined onto the Sunset Limited between San Antonio and LA). I've taken it three times now and it has consistently been an hour or more EARLY into LA (its final destination) which is actually very inconvenient as that means arriving 4:30 am or earlier and on top of that, in coach they wake you up an hour beforehand so 3:30 am to get ready to get off! Have been exhausted each time I arrived. I think that particular route must have extra padding "built into" the schedule more than any of Amtrak's other routes. I don't see why they have to wake you up an hour ahead of arrival when they are coming in early and the train isn't going to be leaving the station right away anyway. Really inconsiderate to exhausted passengers.

[@josephjuno9555]

How much luggage can u take with u on a train? I wud like to take Train from Michigan to Alaska? Like Empire Builder, take the Alaska Marine Ferry to Anchorage and then Rent an RV? Then return? I was going toDrive there but that is So much mileage on my van? Or shud I just Fly to Anchorage? I love your Channel and want to do Amtrak scenic travel in Retirement? I have Camper van and also want to use that for trips to Yellowstone to Stay and play, but Cal Zephyr is Top of my to Do Soon list? When is Best time of year?

[@kevinm.8682]

Thing about taking the train to a cruise, the train and ship both have set schedules. If the ship sails on Sunday, and AmTrak doesn't get there on Saturday, you make the best of it. It would be great to take an extra day to arrive early, but some people don't have the extra vacation time or $$.

[@amandaregis313]

I'm not sure of when you're sailing, or have already, but hubby and I are doing that exact thing, arriving the day before in Niagara Falls Ontario to catch the Maple Leaf, which will arrive the night before our cruise, staying in Brooklyn near the terminal, and doing it all in reverse coming home.

[@johnkolassa1645]

My last overnight trip was Capital Limited to Pennsylvanian. It worked out ok.

[@kimberlyengelkes877]

I’ve been wondering about tipping during longer train rides where there are car attendants. Could you provide guidance on this?

[@josephjuno9555]

Wud a There and Back on California be worth it? I lived in California in the 80s but don't really want to to spend time there anymore?

[@rwrynerson]

Go to Reno then. It's on the California Zephyr route.

[@Specialcot77]

I seat by the Train Board the Entire time and have my Co-Pilot get Food or Snacks

[@user-lordelrond]

The first time I took the California Zephyr I made the mistake of arriving in Chicago 3 hrs early! LOL NOT anymore!

[@cms4229]

It just feels so awkward not going through security in a post 9/11 world.

[@MightyMezzo]

I grew up in a semi-railroad family. Grandfather was a track supervisor for the PRR. Never expected to find an observation car on the Northeast Corridor or the Broadway Limited. But the folks who step off the train to smoke may have seen what I saw on SEPTA commuter trains: conductors dashing off to the coffee shop at a station for a caffeine fix.

[@nicholaswinebrenner5164]

#1 mistake not watching this channel.

[@josephconner4756]

I'm in the hospital with chest pains and resting

[@loopbraider]

All the best to you, hang in there. Rest and do what the docs say, and in the meantime keep watching Allie and Rob's videos, so soothing and relaxing.

[@faulknergray3278]

The biggest mistake you can make is riding Amtrash in the first place. It's ludicrous that they would not announce a train's arrival. Always at least an hour late? Unacceptable. Their concept of "service" is repugnant. I'd rather fly even with all its faults.

[@writtwoodson6879]

I'm 76 years old. My first long distance train trip was 73 years ago. I have never missed a train; I enjoy watching my train pull into the station. ---- I did miss a flight, though, in Atlanta. The line to security had over 300 people in it. Then I had to get the airport train. It took over an hour to get to the gate. The staff had closed the passenger gate just before I got there. The plane was still there, it had not moved. Four other people, who had bought tickets, and I watched the plane sit there for the next 10-12 minutes, then it pulled off without us.

[@livingworkingoutsidebox]

Didn't know about the two types of trains. I looked into the vehicle train once to go from Florida to Connecticut. It was so complicated and expensive, that we just drove. 🚆 ( I feel it was partially due to my unfamiliarity with rail travel. ) We would love to book one of those cross country train rides. Do you have a video about it? Also I've heard Amtrack has those super sales but haven't seen one yet. Ie. Cross country in sleeper 🛏 for $500?🤔💰 Any tips on finding those? I did sign up for emails and points.

[@chrisdobrowolski2783]

Not cross country buy from La to like Oregon won’t be that expensive or if you want shorter trip La to SAN fransico which will be even cheaper in a sleeper and make sure you book far in advance that is the best deal.

[@loopbraider]

Allie and Rob have many videos about taking the various long distance Amtrak routes! Also "What to know" videos of advice. Click on their name (Grounded Life Travel) under any of their videos to go to their youtube channel. Then click on heading in their menu, if you click on Videos you will see a listing of ALL their videos in chronological order, if you click on Playlists you will see them grouped into topics.

[@loopbraider]

No, the $500 fare is NOT in a sleeper car only on coach. It's Amtrak's 30-day rail pass fare, you can go anywhere within a 30-day timespan and are allowed 10 'legs' of travel, can get off the train and stay somewhere 9 times (your last time getting off counts as the 10th leg of travel.) It's only valid for coach, not for sleeper car. You have to get used to sleeping in coach seats. When I did it (twice!) I planned my routes so I would only spend one night on the train, then get off somewhere and spend two nights OFF the train before getting back on. Could catch up on sleep that way and explore a city. My second time I splurged and paid for two extra legs of travel separately from the pass so I could use a roomette, on my two Eastern legs of travel where the trains don't have an observation car. Those 2 legs with a roomette added up to more than the whole rail pass. They were super fun though! Roomettes are better on those trains because the Eastern trains only have one level, so their roomettes have more vertical space than the roomettes on the two-level Superliners out west. Superliner roomettes are more squished vertically so the bunks have less headroom.

[@loopbraider]

@@chrisdobrowolski2783 LA to SF you don't need a sleeper because it's during the day, supposed to arrive in Emeryville (plus bus across the bay to SF) before bedtime if it's not running late.

[@cms4229]

I take the NE Regional from my family in Westchester, NY (30 min from NYC) at New Rochelle to avoid Union/ Moynihan to DC, there’s only one attendant. It’s a 4-track station. 2 tracks for Amtrak and 2 tracks for our local commuter Metro North trains. I’m still confused. There’s only one attendant for Amtrak but they tend to stay on the Metro North side when it’s super cold or hot so no one ever knows which side to go to.