This is my first train ride..ever!

[deenyc05]

I am traveling back to NYC from visiting my husband in Fort Huachuca, AZ. He is here temporarily until he goes back to do another tour in Iraq

I get horribly sick with anxiety on planes, so I am going to give Amtrak a try. Has nothing to do with terrorist plots, or anything like that. It's just my fear of plane crashes, and I've tried everything to calm my fears. Nothing works. I have always wanted to take a train cross country, so this is a perfect opportunity to do so.

I am traveling on the Texas Eagle from Tucson, AZ to Chicago, and then on the Lakeshore Limited to NYC. I upgraded to roomette on the ride from Tucson to Chicago since that is the longest part of the journey (could only afford one or the other).

Questions -

Since the roomette has two berths, does that mean they will sell the other to another passenger? Or do I get the entire roommette to myself? Does it lock? Can I leave my valuables while I walk around the train?

If I wait to upgrade to sleeper car service once I'm in Chicago, will it be outrageously expensive? Right now, it's $328 (I've already paid $400 for my trip to Chicago). I figured 18 hours in coach seats won't be too bad.

Any suggestions anyone can share about the train ride from AZ to NYC?

Thanks!

 

[AlanB]

Deeny,

No, you will be the sole occupant of the roomette and will have your choice of bed. Most people just sleep on the lower bed, since the top one is a bit snug, but I usually sleep up top so that I don't loose the seats in the room. The choice is yours, although if you say nothing, the attendant will automatically just make up the lower bunk.

Next, the room is lockable only when you are inside the room. You cannot lock it from the outside. Therefore, never leave your purse in the room. Other valuables should be ok, as long as you don't leave them out in plain sight. Put them in a suitcase or under a pillow, anything that keeps them from being seen. You can also close the curtain when you leave, as that makes it hard to know if you are in the room or not.

You'll find however, that overall things are quite safe in your roomette, as only other sleeping car passengers are allowed into the sleeper. Coach passengers are not allowed to wander through the sleepers. I'm not suggesting that one type of passenger is worse than the other with that statement. I'm simply saying that the amount of people who would be around to even consider stealing, is greatly reduced in a sleeping car.

Plus you'll find that you get to know some of the other passengers around you, and therefore people tend to look after one another to some extent. Traveling by train is vastly different than traveling by plane, people are nicer, more relaxed, willing to strike up conversation and such.

Turning to upgrading on the Lake Shore, what I assume you mean by upgrading in Chicago, yes most likely it will be more expensive by the time you get to Chicago. At the very least, I would not expect it to go down from it's current level. It couldn't hurt to ask, but I wouldn't hold my breath.

That said however, once you are onboard the Lake Shore, ask the conductor if there are still any rooms available to upgrade to. At that point, the price will go way down if there is a room. The conductor must charge you the lowest price in Amtrak's system once you are onboard, if you upgrade. Normally that price would be at least as a guess, $100 to perhaps $150 less than what you are seeing right now.

The conductor can take cash or credit card from you, as payment for the upgrade.

Next, expect to be late. Amtrak runs on tracks owned by the freight railroads and is often at their mercy. So your 18 hour trip on the Lake Shore could end up being longer than expected. The same is also true for the Texas Eagle.

Finally, you might want to check out these hints and tips from On Track On Line. The pages are full of useful information on what to expect from your first ride.

Please don't hesitate to come back here if you have more questions.

 

[1702]

Questions -
Since the roomette has two berths, does that mean they will sell the other to another passenger? Or do I get the entire roommette to myself? Does it lock? Can I leave my valuables while I walk around the train?

If I wait to upgrade to sleeper car service once I'm in Chicago, will it be outrageously expensive? Right now, it's $328 (I've already paid $400 for my trip to Chicago). I figured 18 hours in coach seats won't be too bad.

Any suggestions anyone can share about the train ride from AZ to NYC?

Thanks!

The room is yours and yours alone! It locks from the inside only, so anytime you leave the room it's a good idea to close your curtains and your door. Your valuables should be fine, but to be on the safe side, if you have electronic gear, a laptop, camera, etc., put these out of sight while you're away from the room. Your Texas Eagle sleeper is next to the Texas Eagle coach, & there have been incidents when folks would come into the sleeper looking for easily-nabbed items. The sleeper attendants are usually very good at monitoring this situation but they can't always be on the spot. Also, it's standard practice for your attendant to come in & make up your room for day use, usually while you're having breakfast. If you want your bed left down, just let them know. When you need service, just ring your call button.....some push in, others pull out. Be sure to leave it in the "call" position until the attendant arrives, otherwise there's no way for them to know where the call came from.

The trip from Tucson to Chicago is a long one, so be sure to bring your favorite "time occupiers", books, dvds, your laptop, etc. There will be an electrical outlet in your room. In some sleepers, larger AC adapters don't fit well so bring a short extension cord in case you encounter that problem.

As far as a sleeper from Chicago to NYC, you might check with the 800 # the day before you leave Tucson to see if they have rooms left & are offering reduced charges for them. Otherwise, check with the conductor after you leave Chicago as rooms are sold on board at lower prices depending on availability.

Thank you to you and to your husband for his service to his country. Have a wonderful trip!

 

[1702]

Apologies for the repetition of some of AlanB's points. While I was gathering my thoughts (a somewhat time-consuming task), he was posting his!

 

[RailFanLNK]

I would also bring a small bottle of windex and a small cloth in case you have some dirty windows on the inside of the roomette or coach. Also pack some munchies. Some of the stuff on the train is expensive or the lounge car is closed when you get some hunger pangs. Do you like to journal or write letters? Its a great place to do it at. When the train stops (some are just strictly stops for smokers to light up) don't wander too far from the train. I don't know where the TE or LSL gets serviced at, but my girlfriend and I almost got left in Glenwood Springs CO because they said we were going to stop "for 10 minutes" and it was more like 5 minutes tops. We were running to the train as they pulled up the last set of yellow steps from the Zephyr. DO NOT BE IN A HURRY and take your watch off and throw it in your suitcase. Get a timetable of both trains and guide yourself home with those instead of your watch. A timetable has all the stops on it and when you are going through different towns you can see the name of the town on a grain elevator or water tower. By looking at the timetable you'll be able to go, "oh we are in such in such Illinois".

 

[GG-1]

Aloha

Think the only important thing is to relax enjoy the ride, your fellow passengers, the beautiful ****ry outside your window .... and expierence the meaning of ALOHA

 

[rmgreenesq]

I am traveling back to NYC from visiting my husband in Fort Huachuca, AZ. He is here temporarily until he goes back to do another tour in Iraq
... snip ...

Any suggestions anyone can share about the train ride from AZ to NYC?

Thanks!

Welcome Aboard!

First thank you for your and your husband's service and sacrifice in this difficult time. I pray that your husband stays safe.

As to additional suggestions, I have one on the issue of hygene. As a sleeper patron, you will have access to a shower. Coach passengers do not have a shower. If personal cleanliness is an issue in your life, I'd suggest taking a shower a few hours before disembarking from the Texas Eagle. Since as you are currently booked, you will be a coach passenger from Chicago to New York, you will not have access to the shower on that train.

Also, if you have a long layover in Chicago, you should have access to the Metropolitan Club. Show them your Texas Eagle sleeper ticket stub and they should let you in.

Rick

 

[AlanB]

Also, if you have a long layover in Chicago, you should have access to the Metropolitan Club. Show them your Texas Eagle sleeper ticket stub and they should let you in.
Rick

Excellant point Rick and one that I should have remembered to mention myself. :blink:

Deeny, your sleeper ticket stub from the Texas Eagle qualifies you as a First Class passenger on Amtrak. As a first class passenger you are entitled to utilize Amtrak's first class lounge Chicago. The Metropolitan Lounge is a nice quiet refuge in the often-bustling train station. It has nice plush chairs, conference rooms, newspapers, TV's, free soft drinks, juices, coffee, tea and clean safe bathrooms. You should also be allowed to board your train before the rest of the masses.

In Chicago it is located on the lower level of Union Station, which is also the track level. If you are standing in front of the Amtrak ticket windows, then the Amtrak waiting area is to your left. When you enter the main Amtrak waiting area through a sliding glass door, just walk forward and slightly to the left. There should be another sliding glass door along with a sign. Walk in and show both your ticket stub from the Eagle, as well as your tickets for the Lake Shore Limited to the attendants at the desk.

They'll give you a little card to use as a pass, so that you can come and go freely if you wish to leave the room for any reason. There is also a luggage storage area manned by a redcap, where you can leave your bags if you don't want to carry them should you get in early enough and wish to take a peek at Chicago or go in search of food. The baggage check is free, although the redcap does appreciate a small tip if you are so inclined.

 

[AmtrakFan]

My Personal tip is remember every trip is an adventure. Thank You to your hubsand for protecting our freedom.

 

[deenyc05]

First, thanks so much for the kind words for my husband. It's always good to hear/see words of thanks for his service to this country.

And thanks to all of you for all the wonderful, wonderful travel tips for my first train ride. I have been on the internet for hours just reading wonderful stories of train experiences. I had no idea! I'm extremely excited about my new train adventure, and will definitely keep a journal of the experience. I know to expect a long trip, some delays and a potenially uncomfortable coach trip from Chicago to NYC, but from what I've read, it seems like the good outweighs the bad.

With that said, I look forward to taking the watch off, kicking back and enjoying the view.

Thanks again!

 

[The Metropolitan]

I guess a lot of us are biased, as I am as well, but it really is the BEST way to travel. If you've travelled by air, auto, or bus, you'll find out - it will really change your outlook on travel.

As others will often note, the best guideline to enjoying your trip is that you should definitely look forward to it, but also not to expect perfection. Sounds a bit contradictory perhaps, but I think you'll see what I'm talking about. Lower the expectations a tad and you'll be very pleasantly surprised.

As to your ride in Coach, it's probably better than what you're thinking it will be. You'll be riding an Amfleet II which has gobs of legroom and very comfy seats - nothing nearly as cramped a bus or "coach" in an airplane.

 

[RailFanLNK]

One week before I took my first Amtrak trip, my girlfriend and I went down to the station to "look at the train". The train had arrived before its scheduled arrival so we was just standing looking at it from a short distance. A man peaked his head out of the train and asked, "are you boarding tonight". We said "no, we will be next Friday night". He looked at his watch and said, "do you know your a week early?!?" :lol: He then walked up to us and we started asking questions. He was the conductor of the California Zephyr. When he asked us why we were taking the train to CA, I replied, "cuz I have had one too many airline trips from ****!" He bantered back, "do you know Amtrak sometimes specializes in rail line trips from ****!" I started laughing hysterically. He let us board that night, showed us the sleeper rooms, deluxe and roomettes and then he said this, "keep your expectations of Amtrak low. Matter fact...expect the worst, expect to be at least one whole day late. Then if you do this, I feel in my own opinion that we will supercede your expectations of us, and you will really enjoy Amtrak and you will be riding with us again very soon!" He nailed it on the head Deenyc. That was last Feburary. We loved taking the train from Lincoln NE to San Fran. We then booked another trip Memorial Day and we are leaving tomorrow night on the CZ for the Rockies. We were 6 hours late to San Fran but we "didnt give a poop!" :lol: The crew of the train was great, we relaxed, napped, ate, visited, saw some awesome scenery.

 

[rmgreenesq]

Turning to upgrading on the Lake Shore, what I assume you mean by upgrading in Chicago, yes most likely it will be more expensive by the time you get to Chicago. At the very least, I would not expect it to go down from it's current level. It couldn't hurt to ask, but I wouldn't hold my breath.
That said however, once you are onboard the Lake Shore, ask the conductor if there are still any rooms available to upgrade to. At that point, the price will go way down if there is a room. The conductor must charge you the lowest price in Amtrak's system once you are onboard, if you upgrade. Normally that price would be at least as a guess, $100 to perhaps $150 less than what you are seeing right now.

Dee:

If you are looking for a cheap upgrade from Chicago to New York, make sure Amtrak has your phone number. If the sleepers on the Lakeshore Limited are mostly unsold, you may get a phone call from Amtrak offering to sell you one at a very low price. I am leaving next week to go to Florida from Boston on Amtrak. I was booked in Coach. I got a call last week offering me a roomette on the train for $125.

I do not know how to get Amtrak to call or even how to tell how many sleepers are available on your train. All I know is that it happened to me and I'm rather grateful.

Have a good trip.

Rick

 

[frj1983]

Deenyc05,

One last thing, when my Wife traveled alone on Amtrak a few years ago, I strongly suggested to her that she ask questions, like:

How do things work in my roomette?

Where are the toilets and shower?

Where is the Lounge/Dining Car?

In other words, don't be afraid to ask questions; and say hello to your fellow travelers, you might even make a friend. Lastly, let us know how your trip goes when you get home and if our suggestions were helpful.

I think you'll enjoy the journey!

 

[AlanB]

I do not know how to get Amtrak to call or even how to tell how many sleepers are available on your train. All I know is that it happened to me and I'm rather grateful.

If she's riding within the next few weeks, there will be 3 sleeping cars on the train for a total of 36 roomettes.

 

[Judy]

I took Amtrak from Cleveland to San Diego-Coach. The best advice anyone gave me was to take my own pillow and blanket. I took a small blanket that folded up and fit inside the pillow case, then I straped the pillow to my carry on. I was so glad I had them. Have fun. Thanks to your husband.

 

[Boxcar]

I took Amtrak from Cleveland to San Diego-Coach. The best advice anyone gave me was to take my own pillow and blanket. I took a small blanket that folded up and fit inside the pillow case, then I straped the pillow to my carry on. I was so glad I had them. Have fun. Thanks to your husband.

Very good advise Judy.... The little Amtrak blankets now cost $15.00 bucks apiece and last June in coach on the Capital Limited, the wife was able to latch onto two little Amtrak pillows but alas, I only had one.

The attendant treated them like gold and collected them each time a passenger got off. I didn't feel comfortable trying to nab another one if it meant the next passenger to board would be left without even one.

 

[RailFanLNK]

I would also bring ear plugs. I wore earplugs last night. Some clod was talking on the cell phone around 10pm in coach. I was just getting ready to "settle down" and of course could hear a one voiced conversation. I put in the earplugs and couldn't hear a thing. When we boarded yesterday, I had each kid and my girlfriend grab seats in the "middle" of the car. We then lounged the seats clear back to see if the footrest worked and the legrest worked. Guess what? Mine didn't work. So we grabbed two other seats real quick. At WIP (Winter Park) a woman who was going to Osceola IA sat down in the seat that I had left. I asked her if she was going far and she nodded "yes", I told her that her seat didn't work and she thanked me profusely. The seats my girlfriend and I ended up in was right in front of the stairwell. No one behind us and with very small stops between Denver and Lincoln, I don't think anyone even boarded in our car so we weren't bothered by anyone walking the stairway and we had no one sitting behind us due to the stairwell being there. We also had bungee straps to attach our pillow with our blankets crammed inside the pillow to our carryon luggage.