Train Travel

4d ago

0 comments

Brightline the morning of a Miami cruise… too risky?

I’m cruising out of Miami soon and trying to decide if taking Brightline the morning of the cruise is a bad idea. Normally I drive down from the Tampa area the day before and stay in a hotel, but it ends up being a long travel day and another hotel expense. The train honestly...

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4d ago

0 comments

Trip.com couldn’t get our China train tickets and now everything is sold out

A friend of mine is traveling to China next week with his fiancée. I helped him plan the trip and suggested using Trip.com to pre-book train tickets so they’d automatically secure them once sales opened. They had four train rides planned and pre-booked all of them as soon as...

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4d ago

0 comments

TIL Amtrak reservation numbers are actually hexadecimal

Random little thing I noticed while comparing my Amtrak tickets. My reservation code looked something like C35266 (not the real one). On the QR code it showed up as something like C35266-08MAR26, which seemed normal. But the PDF417 barcode on the physical ticket had a long...

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6d ago

0 comments

Do Alvia trains sell out or can you usually buy same day?

Planning to take the Alvia train from Segovia to Salamanca in June. We know the date but can’t commit to a specific departure time yet. I’m not too worried if prices go up a bit, but I would be concerned if trains actually sell out. For people who’ve taken Alvia before, how...

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6d ago

0 comments

Why is taking the train always so much more expensive?

I was looking at options for a trip and wanted to take Eurostar instead of flying to be a bit more environmentally friendly. But when you actually compare the prices it’s kind of shocking. The train ends up being way more expensive than flying for the same trip. At some point it...

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7d ago

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Taking kids on Amtrak from DC to NYC, seating question

My kids really want to try a train trip, so we’re thinking about doing DC to NYC on Amtrak. It would be two parents and three kids (ages 6–10). None of us have taken the train before, so I’m a little unsure how seating works. Coach tickets are a lot cheaper, but since seats...

3

8d ago

0 comments

Booked a side lower… lost it to a “stomach pain” story

Had one of those classic Indian train moments recently. I specifically booked a side lower berth (you know, the small luxury everyone hopes to get). When I reached my seat, a woman and her husband were already settled there like it was their permanent residence. She told me she...

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8d ago

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People who just sit still for 20 hours on a train amaze me

Just finished a long Amtrak trip from NYC back to Florida and something always fascinates me on these long rides. The person sitting next to me for the entire trip barely moved the whole time. Didn’t eat anything, didn’t get up for the restroom once, nothing. And this was a 21...

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8d ago

0 comments

Tried Amtrak to DC instead of flying and it might be the new normal

Usually fly from Birmingham, Alabama to Washington DC every March for a conference. For the past few years it was always Southwest, but after the recent changes decided to try Amtrak instead. The trip actually went really well. Left on time, arrived on time, and the crew was...

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11d ago

0 comments

Why is BWI Rail Station so busy for Amtrak?

Always been curious about this. BWI Rail Station consistently shows up as one of the busiest stations for Amtrak in the country. My guess is that it’s less about the airport itself and more about the location along the Northeast Corridor. It sits right between Baltimore and...

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13d ago

0 comments

Train showed delayed but then marked as already departed

I had a train scheduled for 4:46pm and kept getting emails, texts, and app notifications saying it was delayed until after 5:35pm. I stayed at the station and kept refreshing the app to check the updated time. Then around 5:30pm I refreshed again and suddenly it showed that the...

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13d ago

0 comments

First solo trip issue: Copenhagen to Oslo train not running

Planning my first solo trip and ran into a problem getting from Copenhagen to Oslo. Flying from Ireland to Copenhagen on March 31 and staying there for three days. The plan was to take the train to Oslo on April 3 before flying home. Flights and hotel in Copenhagen are already...

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15d ago

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Should more Amtrak trains stop at Princeton Junction?

I posted yesterday about adding more Amtrak stops at Newark Airport, and it got me thinking about Princeton Junction too. NJ has seen big growth in Amtrak ridership lately, and Princeton Junction and New Brunswick both seem busier than they used to be. I know Princeton Junction...

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15d ago

0 comments

Booking trains for this itinerary… pass or point to point?

First Europe trip and we’re doing it all by train. Family of 4 traveling late May/early June. I’ve gone down the Man in Seat 61 and Rome2Rio rabbit hole and now I’m a bit overwhelmed. Main travel legs: Munich to Chur Chur to Tirano (Bernina) to Como Como to Menton Menton to...

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16d ago

2 comments

Almería to Granada trains in July and Cartagena hotels sold out?

I’m planning an Interrail trip through Spain this summer. Current route is: Girona Barcelona Murcia Cartagena Almería Granada Córdoba Madrid Zaragoza Mostly doing trains, except Cartagena to Almería which looks easier by bus. Two things I can’t figure out: First, I’m trying to...

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18d ago

0 comments

Need to stay on one extra stop past Providence… can you just tell the conductor?

I wouldn’t risk that. Even if it’s just one more stop, Route 128 is technically a different city and usually a higher fare than Providence. Conductors scan tickets and it’ll show your destination. If you’re still on after Providence, they’ll notice. Best case they charge you the...

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19d ago

0 comments

11 days in Italy: drive or take the train? Can I add Milan or Naples?

First trip to Italy, first week of June, 11 days total. Plan right now is Rome, Florence, and Venice. Main question: should I rent a car or just take the train between cities? Which is better in terms of experience and cost? Also wondering if I can squeeze in Milan while I’m in...

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21d ago

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Booked a Roomette 7 months ago… woke up in coach

Had a Roomette booked on the Silver Meteor (98) from FL to NY for me and my 6 year old. Booked it about 7 months ago. Woke up at 7am the morning of departure and saw we’d been moved to coach. No heads up, no explanation. Just… gone. Trying to figure out if this is usually an...

3

22d ago

7 comments

Madrid to Barcelona. Train worth it over the bus?

Planning that leg and seeing about a €30 to €40 difference between AVE and the bus. For those who’ve done both, is the train really that much better? I know it’s faster, but is the overall experience worth the extra money if you’re trying to keep costs down? Also, is Renfe still...

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23d ago

0 comments

Paid for Premier, downgraded to Plus. What would you ask for?

Had to book last minute PAR to LDN and the only thing left was Premier, so I paid up. At Gare du Nord my ticket wouldn’t scan. Agent said there was an issue with Coach 1 and my choices were wait 3 hours to stay in Premier or downgrade to Plus and leave 30 minutes later. I took...

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25d ago

0 comments

New Portal Bridge Lookin Sick From One World

Very cool to see so far out

Amtrak

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26d ago

0 comments

Train vs flying London to Paris… is Eurostar actually worth it?

Planning a spring Europe trip and debating whether to fly or just take the Eurostar from London to Paris. I like that the train drops you right in the city center instead of dealing with airports outside town, but tickets seem pricier than some budget airlines. For anyone who’s...

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26d ago

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The Zephyr has been noticeably cleaner and less smelly than the Coast Starlight, and the scenery has been absolutely stunning. That said, the onboard staff have been surprisingly unfriendly they really seem like they don’t want to be there. The train is pretty empty, so I’ve had...

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1month ago

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Why do I see so many Amish on Amtrak?

Random observation but I’ve noticed this too on certain routes. A lot of Amish and Mennonite communities don’t drive cars for religious reasons, so trains are one of the easiest ways for them to travel longer distances. Amtrak connects a lot of rural areas in Pennsylvania, Ohio,...

Amtrak

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1month ago

0 comments

Barcelona to Paris train in May showing €200… too early or just expensive?

Looking at train tickets for May from Barcelona to Paris and I’m seeing prices around €200 each, which feels way higher than what I’ve seen people mention before. I’ve always heard “book early before prices go up,” but now I’m wondering… is this actually too early? Or is that...

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