Amtrak Tips
I have ridden the train a lot, because I love it. It's better for the environment than flying, it gives you a real, visceral sense for the distance you're covering, and it's a thousand times more comfortable than an airplane.
I have found myself dispersing tips and tricks for riding the train often enough that I felt like it would be worth consolidating them into one place I could just send links to, so here it is. I will update this post over time as things change or I think of new things to write.
Tickets
- The rewards program is worth it, so be sure to sign up and put your number in with all your purchases. The best rewards are companion passes (free second tickets) and free upgrades
- Business class is usually not worth it in my opinion
- First class on the Acela is really nice, definitely buy business class and use your free upgrades to get first class (or use two upgrades) when you get them as part of the rewards program
On the Train
- There are drinking water spigots in most trains, generally on the wall by the bathrooms. Bring a bottle and refill to avoid having to overpay for water in the cafe car.
The Cafe Car
- If you plan to purchase food on the train, it’s worth bringing cash as a backup for cards. I’ve only been on two trips where the card readers weren’t working, but it sucks to not be able to buy food when you’re hungry
Stations, Boarding
- If you are in a large group or have a lot of bags, you can ask for Red Cap assistance to board early and ensure you all sit together. Please tip the red caps! I’d say $10 minimum, more if they’re helping you lug a bunch of bags.
- As part of the rewards program or any time you are traveling in a sleeper car, you get Amtrak lounge access. You can store your bags in the lounge in relative safety, which is a lifesaver for long layovers where you want to leave the station to go grab some food or whatever. You will also generally get to board early, at the same time as Red Cap boarding.
- With the possible exception of Moynihan Hall, which has surprisingly good food options, you can usually find better food than in the station within a 15 minute walk in most major or minor cities. Use long layovers to your advantage!
Moynihan Hall (NYC)
- The NY Pizza Suprema right outside the station at 31st and 8th is very good (better than the pizza in the station) and inexpensive
- Blue Bottle Coffee in the main atrium has very serviceable espresso drinks
- The bar in the food court has a good selection of local draughts
- You can get to the subways without going aboveground by following signs for NJ Transit when you deboard
- Best way to get to JFK from Penn and vice versa is via LIRR: most of the LIRR routes pass through Jamaica Station, where you can pick up the Red Line to JFK. Takes about an hour, depending on your timing, and is faster than taking the MTA lines to Jamaica
Chicago Union Station
- The Ogilvie Transportation Center is a short walk from Union Station, and it has a bunch of places to grab a quick bite, including Jian, which does a great Chinese street food called Jian Bing (highly recommended)
- Several good coffee shops nearby: Meddle Coffee Bar, Cupitol, and Espresso and Milk
- If you have a longer layover, the walk to the waterfront is easy: you can get great views of Lake Michigan, and you’ll pass all manner of places to have a bit, a coffee, or a drink
Albany, NY
- No Amtrack lounge
- Seems like there are a good number of decent places to eat within a 15 minute walk, but I’ve only been there on Sunday, when literally EVERY SINGLE ONE is closed, even the ones that say on Google Maps that they should be open
- The cafe in the station is overpriced and mediocre
Schenectady, NY
For whatever reason this tiny station winds up being a common transfer spot when traveling around New England. It is not my favorite place to get stuck, mostly because the lack of an Amtrak lounge means I’ve got to either cart my bags everywhere or, if traveling in a group, leave someone with the bags while I go pick up food, rather than being able to go all together.
- No Amtrak lounge here, which means you either have to lug your bags around or pay to have them stored at the front desk
- The adjacent food options are okay, but there are better things to find with the short walk to downtown
Lines
Ethan Allen Express
- From NYC (heading to upstate NY and Vermont), usually leaves from track 5/6. Go mill around there and get in the line that will be forming about 20 minutes before departure to be sure you get a good seat, because it fills up quick! Don’t wait for the track announcement, but do listen for it, because occasionally it will be on track 7/8 instead
- The train will switch directions in Rutland, VT. Sit on the left for views of the Hudson River coming out of the city and for several hours thereafter. Sit on the right for views of the Adirondacks later on (I recommend Hudson side because you get into VT pretty late). Swapping seats after Rutland if you don’t want to sit backwards is no problem, just take your destination ticket with you and put it above your new seat
Overnight Trips or Longer
- Even if you don’t have Amtrak rewards status, traveling on a sleeper car gets you access to the Amtrak lounge at large stations, which is 100% worth taking advantage of for luggage storage and early boarding
- East of the Mississippi, there is no longer a proper dining car with fresh-prepared food, just frozen meals that they throw in the microwave. It's worse in every way, but at least it is still free with your purchase of a sleeper car ticket
- Roomettes are a tight squeeze with two people, but are much cheaper than the bedroom. For a solo traveler they feel less tight
- If you are a large person in any dimension, the roomettes may be too cramped for you. I am 5’6, and while I at times would like more space, I am able to stretch out fully on the bed with no problems
- On some lines, the bathroom is inside the roomette, which can be fairly awkward even with a spouse. Check the train type for your line
- Bedrooms have an integrated (private) bathroom, and are the most comfortable option if you can afford them