Amtrak owns most all the rails it uses in the Northeast, which means no
stopping for freight trains. Amtrak west of the Mississippi is, as they say
here, a different ball-game altogether. ;)
Riding Amtrak in Northeast region should not involve the delays commonly
experienced in other parts of the country. Same great people though!
Birgitte SB
On Jul 3, 2012, at 6:44 PM, Richard Symonds <[email protected]>
wrote:
> Crossing Missouri by Amtrak is an experience! Staff are wonderful, but the
> passenger train stops for freight trains, and most stations don't have
> platforms. They do have power outlets though, and it's a bit of an adventure.
>
> Better than taking the Greyhound :-)
>
> Richard Symonds, Wikimedia UK
>
> On Jul 4, 2012 12:30 AM, <[email protected]> wrote:
> > If you don't find a ride, I would heartily endorse Amtrak. There are few
> > services left these days that are truly customer-oriented and easy to deal
> > with; Amtrak is one. You can change travel plans last minute-no problem and
> > no fees. You can usually get a cash refund for 90% as long as you haven't
> > begun travel. You can get partial refunds, if you take part of the trip and
> > want to cancel the rest. The people are super-helpful. The food in the
> > dining car is good to great. They really match the comfort level of the
> > cars for the length of the trip.
> >
> > There main issues are spotty national coverage and, out west, they get poor
> > scheduling on the lines. But heading towards Chicago from the east coast is
> > Amtrak at its strongest. D.C. to Chicago is an 18 hour overnight trip
> > which is arranged to end up in Chicago around 9 AM. You could get off in
> > Ohio in the wee hours travel through Chicago to WI. Chicago is the Rome of
> > Amtrak. I rode NYC to Chicago last year and all overnights in the East get
> > the same type of cars. The seats basically become lounge chairs with full
> > leg support. There are lots of outlets but probably no wi-fi on that trip.
> > Cell service will be spotty as you travel through stretches of countryside
> > that are lightly populated.
> >
> > If you take Amtrak, try asking the conductor if any accommodations are
> > available when they collects you ticket. It is bucket pricing, so it is
> > too late to book them at the a good price. But if they don't book them or
> > someone who did book misses the train, I have heard that the conductor will
> > sell them at the lowest bucket (it is based on miles). Accommodations are
> > more than just a private sleeping compartment. They will come with meals
> > included, plus the sleeping car has showers. Quality showers. It is well
> > worth the upgrade at the lowest bucket price.
> >
> > Birgitte SB
> >
> > On Jul 3, 2012, at 12:39 PM, Richard Farmbrough <[email protected]>
> > wrote:
> >
> >> I am travelling west after Wikimania, are there any Wikimedians driving to
> >> Ohio or Wisconsin who can offer a lift? Contribution to gas money
> >> offered, of course.
> >>
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