Your recent experience with Amtrak on the Eastern Seaboard?

Probably 8 or so years ago (which already steps out of bounds for the Q, sorry) NYC to DC. Loved it. My friends every year opt for Amtrak to from FL to NYC rather than fly, which says something.

And now I want to ride the rails again. :-)

Every year for the past three or four, I have traveled two or three times from NJ to Washington on Amtrak. I love it. Very comfortable, the conductors will usually help people get their suitcases on if need be, and the seats are comfortable with free Wi-Fi. It feels so much more human scaled than flying does at this point. (The food is nothing special but that’s to be expected.)

Atlanta to Washington around Christmas last year, and returned just before New Years.

On time both ways. Traveling around the holidays, the train was pretty full. Seats were comfortable, as usual. Lots of storage and footroom.

Temp in the passenger car was a little warm for my taste (late December) but I tend to run warm anyway. Everyone else seemed happy.

Really, no issues at all – no drunks, no preachers, no snorers – pretty much an uneventful 10 hours.

Note that I was on the Southern Crescent, that goes from new Orleans to NYC. You would be on one of the trains that is closer to the ocean. They may be different in quality and clientele.

Sorry I can’t be specific about the east, but I really like Amtrak here in the midwest. I ride it a couple of times a year, and my 80+ year old mother takes the train to visit me and my brother .

Compared to any other transport, the seats are more comfortable and you can walk around and stretch and visit at will.

Union Station here in Chicago has to be one of the biggest, and it’s tiny compared to any major city airport.

If you have any concerns about carrying luggage or finding your platform or making your transfer on time, look for a Red Cap (porter). For a $5 tip you get a dedicated fixer who will zoom you through the station like you have a magic carpet.

I have taken the Accella from NY to Washington DC and back, and also from NY to Philly.

I love pulling into Union Station and being right down town. Same with pulling into Penn Station in NY.

Comfy seats, plenty of room, snack car not bad.

Very helpful answers so far. Thank you. How long in advance do you have to book?

Last time I rode a train in the U.S., dinner was served in shifts in the dining car and we were seated by a white-jacketed waiter in order of arrival. We dined at tables covered in fresh white tablecloths with cut flowers in little vases, and we made polite conversation with genteel strangers as the sun set. I wonder if that experience is possible any more.

@Jeruba – on my train (Crescent) there was a full service dining car, white table cloths, the works. You sit at a table with a stranger and make conversation.

But they don’t have full food service on every train. You will need to talk to the Amtrak people to see if your specific route has snack bar (only) or snack bar plus dining car.

My train which I believe runs from Boston to Norfolk, VA seems to have a cafe car only – which is basically a snack bar. I imagine the one from Florida has a dining car but don’t know for sure.

Regarding booking time – I wouldn’t delay much. On the routes I know, the trains are pretty full and I have run into “no seats available” a couple of times when trying to book at the last minute.

Also I forgot to mention that Amtrak has a lot of promotions. I would sign up for their email.

Also see their Deals page.

It’s not going to match your nostalgic memory of genteel strangers at sunset. For that you want the Orient Express.

@Jeruba They have senior rates which are quite a bit lower than their regular rates. I usually book a few weeks in advance and have no problem but since you are going on longer legs, you probably want to book sooner (and stop in New Jersey!)