Any of you take the train from DC to NYC?

[Guest]

Here's a frequent traveler hack that can make the trip on any Amtrak even less of a hassle. Use the Red Cap Service for your bags. They will early board you and carry your bags to your seat. They get early notice of arrivals and are staged and ready. I've boarded 20 minutes or more before the first boarding call. My usual tip is $5 to $10 depending on number of bags. Usually I've only got a small carry on, but the Red Caps will gladly take it and place it in the overhead.

 

That's a fantastic tip! I remember once trying to take a flight out of SJU (San Juan PR), and the place was a complete madhouse, with lines literally going out of the terminals, what with all of the cruise ships arriving that day. I hired a porter, and he took our luggage to the front of the line. Best $20 I ever spent! So at what time does one have to arrive for the Red Cap Service? Or do you arrange that in advance? Is it easy to find at Washington's Union Station?

[Guest]

If you're really flexible on time over money, look at the Bolt Bus. The fares are insanely cheap - $15 to $40 depending on how early you book. Drive time is 4 1/2 hours. Of the two round-trips I've taken, only one bus has been significantly (45 mins) late (buses have a dedicated lane through the tolls all the way up, which cuts a significant amount of time off driving yourself.)

 

Wow. You're not kidding that it's cheaper. The Bolt Bus is only $18 for Washington to Manhattan! But for the comfort and ability to walk around, I think I can spring for the train...

[mike carey]

I take the 3:15am train back to NYC sometimes usually $86 and an empty train.

I wish I'd known Killian was alone on the train at that time of night!!!! Would have been nice to chat with him.

[buckguy]

Amtrak ares vary on a space available basis like flights, so you often need to book well in advance. The exception seems to be summer where cheap seats are available a few weeks ahead even on popular departures. The Acela is nice but I only use it when someone else is paying and I really need the extra time (like getting to New York for a noon meeting); during the day, virtually any train you take will be filled from Philly to Penn Station in NYC.

 

The quiet car is definitely worthwhile and some MARC commuter trains to Baltimore also have this feature.

 

If you're going from "downtown" to Midtown or from places away from major airports (e.g., Bethesda,, Silver Spring on the DC side, parts of Brooklyn on the NYC side), the train is much quicker than flying, door to door regardless of whether you take the regional or the Acela.

 

Years of indie, backpacker travel mean I don't worry about checking bags (even for international air travel) and I'm just puzzled at all the junk people bring for a weekend.

[+ ArVaGuy]

That's a fantastic tip! I remember once trying to take a flight out of SJU (San Juan PR), and the place was a complete madhouse, with lines literally going out of the terminals, what with all of the cruise ships arriving that day. I hired a porter, and he took our luggage to the front of the line. Best $20 I ever spent! So at what time does one have to arrive for the Red Cap Service? Or do you arrange that in advance? Is it easy to find at Washington's Union Station?

 

Thanks.

 

I get to the station about an hour prior to departure. Sometimes earlier than that but at Union Station an hour is decent. Go straight to the Red Cap desk and show them your ticket. The Red Cap will take your bag and tell you what time to meet him at the desk. He will load your bag and any others at the appointed time to the train. They will even place it in the overhead space.

 

At Penn Station it's a bit more formalized. Go to the Red Cap waiting area and check in at the desk. They will check your ticket and assign a Red Cap to you. Unlike Union Station, you need to stay close to the waiting area. The Red Cap will find you and then collect your bags and go straight to the train.

 

The airlines might be catching on to this convenience. Delta is testing a luggage valet service who will preload your carry on in the overhead above your seat prior to the boarding call. Then you can board with less hassle. All this for an extra fee of course.

[Steven_Draker]

The Acela is the upscale version of a high-speed train with the big difference that it runs on the same tracks as the regular Northeast Regional train. In Europe the Thalys and the Eurostar trains run on independent tracks only reserved for the these trains.

In addition to the helpful information that has been posted above by others, there's a Keystone train service between Philly and NYC (actually Harrisburg to NYC) that is coach only and that train has no snack/bar car. Bear that in mind.

 

And finally, I ride on the quiet car all the time and I hear cell phones ringing. Not sure people respect the rule of "no cell phones" vigorously.

[+ sync]

The US passenger rail services are pretty much an abysmal embarrassment when compared to some other countries (Japan, France, Germany, Spain). There is little to no support for upgrading US passenger rail services in Congress, and the Railroad companies have little interest because they make their money in freight transport.

[+ azdr0710]

keep in mind that the US ranks 179th in population density out of 241 countries......train service is only efficient in areas with high density (such as only the NE part of the US).....but, still, it's a romantic notion:

 

[+ WilliamM]

The US passenger rail services are pretty much an abysmal embarrassment when compared to some other countries (Japan, France, Germany, Spain). There is little to no support for upgrading US passenger rail services in Congress, and the Railroad companies have little interest because they make their money in freight transport.

 

I do not strongly disagree. But, Amtrak makes stops on some trains in Masachusetts in places like Route 128 and Framingham which are extremely useful to me because I do not have to go to Boston and find some way to the suburbs. If all trains were Acela, it would be different. If Amtrak only stopped in Baltimore, Wilmington, Philadelphia, New York City, New Haven and Boston, it would accomodate many people's needs, but certainly not anything close to everyone's.

 

And as azdr0710 just posted, "train service is only efficient in ateas of high density..."

[+ sync]

I do not strongly disagree. But, Amtrak makes stops on some trains in Masachusetts in places like Route 128 and Framingham which are extremely useful to me because I do not have to go to Boston and find some way to the suburbs. If all trains were Acela, it would be different. If Amtrak only stopped in Baltimore, Wilmington, Philadelphia, New York City, New Haven and Boston, it would accomodate many people's needs, but certainly not anything close to everyone's.

 

And as azdr0710 just posted, "train service is only efficient in ateas of high density..."

 

Your point(s) is/are well taken, but even the Acela trains average only 68 miles per hour.

[+ Gar1eth]

keep in mind that the US ranks 179th in population density out of 241 countries......train service is only efficient in areas with high density (such as only the NE part of the US).....but, still, it's a romantic notion:

 

Amtrak ought to go back to wearing the white uniforms. Those navy vests they wear certainly aren't attractive. Although maybe I'm a hypocrite, as I have no intention of dressing up in a suit to travel.

 

Gman

[bobchitown]

Agreed. I'll pay the cost of Acela just from having experienced one or two NE Regionals that had gotten fairly nasty with age.

 

How is it that in Europe things age into character and comfort, while in America they get ratty and tatty?

 

Because they're heavily subsidized by tax dollars to benefit the entire population?