Travelling with Amtrak in the USA
Discussion
I’m lucky enough to have a free couple of days in the USA the weekend after next. My plan is to get a train from Philadelphia up to New York and spend the day wandering around by foot and getting over to Liberty Island.
Any tips /hints on using the railway system in the USA? It looks like it’s Amtrak and I can book fixed time tickets in advance via Amtrak.com but I’ve never been to the USA before so wondering if there is anything else I need to think about…?
Any tips /hints on using the railway system in the USA? It looks like it’s Amtrak and I can book fixed time tickets in advance via Amtrak.com but I’ve never been to the USA before so wondering if there is anything else I need to think about…?
I've taken Amtrak a fair few times between Boston and NYC and DC, but not down to Philly. It's all pretty easy. Book online, print out ticket with QR code, guard on train will scan it and put a stub on the back of your seat. Station stops are announced well in advance. Trains aren't fast like ones in the UK or Europe and tend to rumble along slowly. Plenty of space for luggage with overhead bins like you'd find on an aircraft. Buffet cars on trains.
You will likely alight at Penn Station in NYC, which is bang in the centre of Manhattan. Be prepared for the full force of NYC to hit you in the face when you emerge onto the sidewalk. That was my very first experience of the city many years ago, which I still vividly remember. Enjoy!!
You will likely alight at Penn Station in NYC, which is bang in the centre of Manhattan. Be prepared for the full force of NYC to hit you in the face when you emerge onto the sidewalk. That was my very first experience of the city many years ago, which I still vividly remember. Enjoy!!
Philadelphia to New York is actually fast though. I’ve done NY to Boston and Washington a couple of times. You’ve got a choice between Acela Express (think Eurostar type trains) that carry business and first class seating and regional & longer distance trains that carry coach and business class seating. TBH, for the length of journey, Express only cuts 10 minutes off and coach is pretty comfortable, so I’d just book whatever was cheapest and fitted with your journey times. It’s a good journey and you’ll be rattling along at 100mph+ regardless of train type. Enjoy!
We've done that trip a few times and had no problems. Pretty much everything covered above, although they can scan the ticket on your phone. They go from the new bit of Penn station, Moynihan Train Hall, which is nice and easy. Punctual and plenty of space. Do sign up to the Amtrack website as they often have discounts.
I've done the (non-express) train from NYC to DC which goes via Philly, Baltimore, Delaware, etc.
It's a decent trip and if you are planning on traveling from city centre to city centre much less hassle than trying to get out to airports etc.
The view from the window is mostly suburbia, inner city ghettos and industrial works.
It's a decent trip and if you are planning on traveling from city centre to city centre much less hassle than trying to get out to airports etc.
The view from the window is mostly suburbia, inner city ghettos and industrial works.
Truckosaurus said:
I've done the (non-express) train from NYC to DC which goes via Philly, Baltimore, Delaware, etc.
It's a decent trip and if you are planning on traveling from city centre to city centre much less hassle than trying to get out to airports etc.
The view from the window is mostly suburbia, inner city ghettos and industrial works.
That’s true. Best view I remember was of the state capitol in Trenton, other than that not much to write home about. The bit along the shoreline in Connecticut and Rhode Island is nice though if you’re going to/from Boston. Penn station is like Birmingham New Street before it got done up unfortunately!It's a decent trip and if you are planning on traveling from city centre to city centre much less hassle than trying to get out to airports etc.
The view from the window is mostly suburbia, inner city ghettos and industrial works.
Edited by alangla on Wednesday 24th May 09:31
alangla said:
That’s true. Best view I remember was of the state capitol in Trenton, other than that not much to write home about. The bit along the shoreline in Connecticut and Rhode Island is nice though if you’re going to/from Boston. Penn station is like Birmingham New Street before it got done up unfortunately!
They go from Moynihan Train Hall next door now - shiny and new!Edited by alangla on Wednesday 24th May 09:31
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