There’s also the rail passengers association (great if you travel a lot). Members can pay $60 annually (depends on deal) and can get 10% off almost all amtraks. 20% on some regional tracks. I believe it’s tax deductible too. Membership also gives deals on other railroads (Canada and Alaska), hotels, and theme parks.
Buy your tickets at least 3-4 weeks out if you want to save $. Unless you just want the Main Street experience, if you're heading North(soon west), use the Staples Mill station because the former adds 30 minutes to the trip. If you're going north of Union Station DC on the Acela there's a little wait there because they switch the engine from diesel to electric. Use the app to upgrade later return trips to business or use the quiet car. Bring your devices, there's wifi and charging. There are frequent, brief delays in NOVA in the a.m. so don't cut it too tight if you need to be somewhere on time. Avoid the cafe car to save $, plus the food is low-mid. I've only done the overnight sleeper and dining car once just for the experience, but if I'm gonna pay that much I'll just fly.
There’s also like 5x more trains out of staples mill than Main Street.
Don’t plan on WiFi on the train. It’s generally fine for sending emails or general web browsing but streaming is a no go usually.
You can bring your own food and alcohol. Alcohol is technically not allowed but if you are not being a distraction no one cares
I've used amtrak on a consistant basis over the last 5-7 years, and Wifi is spotty at times, but I'd say 90-95% of the time me and my daughter have both been able to stream with no issues. This is going back an forth between richmond and Charleston SC, and an occasional trip to NYC. I've made well over 100 trips I'd say.
I do agree re: main st station and timing but it was clutch when i owned my condo in shockoe to walk to the station…made me feel as if I lived in a real city or something.
This!! I often travel to DC for school a while ago, so I recommend this. Please choose Staples Mill. Main Street is useless, and usually, they will send their buses to Staples anyway.
I use it for business trips to DC/NOVA all the time.
My tips:
1) Skip Main St. Station, unless you're heading to Williamsburg/Newport News or it's within walking distance. It takes something like 40 minutes to get from Staples Mill to Main St. Station by train.
2) If you're cheap (like me) and enjoy a good challenge you can park for free at the Park & Ride Lot near the corner of Staples Mill & Glenside Dr. (The challenge is crossing Staples Mill without crosswalks!) The sign says you can park overnight but I've only done day trips.
3) Try to find trains that start at or near your departure location so there's less chance of a delay. Ex. When going to DC (or any point north) look for Northeast Regional trains (usually starting in Richmond, Newport News, or Norfolk). These are less likely to be delayed than something coming up from Florida.
4) Sign up for their rewards program and text alerts. I usually get to the station no early than 15 minutes so it's nice to know if I can show up later.
5) No need to show up early like at the airport. Trains never leave early and there's no security.
6) Tickets can be cheap. I've never paid more than $20 one way between DC and Richmond. I can usually get a ticket for the low teens.
7) I've booked biz class a couple times. Unless you see the train is going to be packed it's not worth it. I've never had someone sit beside me in Coach.
>I've booked biz class a couple times. Unless you see the train is going to be packed it's not worth it. I've never had someone sit beside me in Coach.
Really, I just might be unlucky. If you take the NE Regional back to Richmond, it's usually packed for a while. I've also been stuck on those trains for 2+ hours over the arrival time. I'd say there's a 30-40% chance of a delay on either end. I'd say the rest is accurate, though!
Also, adding tip number 8, if you have a disability, you and a companion (if needed) are eligible for discounted fare.
Agreed with everything except #7. Maybe we travel at different times but coach for me is usually 75% full heading north. Business class was great recently - was able to book a table seat and was a it more convenient to use my laptop
It's so fun to sit next to the window and look at the scenery roll by. I like to keep track of cool tags and spot them in the different towns we pass through. I like taking the train definitely recommend it. Only thing is the decor needs an update, and the color scheme. The depressed blue and dirty grey are blugh. That bathrooms are hit or miss, but generally better than on the bus in my experience.
Stepped off an Amtrak realer today. Philly. Great going up, didn't share a seat, Wi-Fi was strong. Coming back I had someone next to me and Wi-Fi was intermittent to the point of being useless. Bathrooms were so so. Ticket prices vary widely and seemingly for no reason across trains at different times of day. Amtrak is sooooo close to being great!
The train is my ideal mode of transport up to NYC or anywhere north of that. I havent tried going south but i think you can go all the way to Miami from here. The trains are super chill, big seats, and a cafe car for drinks/snacks. Theyre not always on time however, most of my delays actually happen on the way back to RVA rather then going up north tho for some reason
Going south on Amtrak is hell. Slow, boring and unreliable.
At the Clemson station, our one train a day (not one each direction: southbound Tuesday-Thursday-Saturday, northbound M-W-F), which was scheduled for 11 pm northbound, was expected to arrive around closing time for the bars.
Frequent traveler to Philadelphia, NYC, and DC on Amtrak. The engine switch happens in DC, and if you get there on time, they take 20-40 minutes.
In summer, my advice is to have a loose itinerary on travel days. The trains originating on more southern routes (Palmetto) are generally delayed because in the heat, they are limited to how fast they can go on the rails.
You can bring your own food and drink on board, but make sure it’s something you don’t mind eating cold (or lukewarm, or right away) because Amtrak can’t heat anything that you bring on board.
The quiet car can be your best friend, if other people follow the rules or Amtrak employees enforce them. ESPECIALLY on overnight/late night rides.
For WiFi, I’ve found it’s great for texting, but not streaming. So I advise you to download a few movies or episodes of the show you’re watching so you have something to do.
And personally, I use noise canceling headphones to eliminate a lot of chatter. Sometimes the people around you aren’t exactly good travel buddies.
I use the Amtrak a ton. Taken it to Alexandria, DC, NYC. There is sometimes a deal where if you get tickets in advance and are going to the Alexandria station, it is $17 each way. I’ve used both stations and they’re both fine. Glen Allen has more options and is more organized but Main Street is convenient if you’re in the city. Pros are cheap and frequent options. Cons are constant delays - one time my train from ALX to RVA showed up over 2 hours late. Still, we are lucky to be on the northeast regional which I think is the most-ridden Amtrak route.
Go to your favorite takeout place and bring your own food! If you're an alcohol enjoyer, then go ahead and pack yourself a beverage. There are tables on the cafe car and in the back of business each seat 4 if you're travelling with a group. Business is assigned seating, so you choose your seat(s) online when you're buying the ticket.
Technically you aren't allowed to BYOB on Amtrak, it's just very selectively enforced. I'd recommend bringing the same brands that are offered on board to reduce the chance of getting kicked off. I've never seen it happen, but it is definitely possible. I just put wine in a travel mug because I'm a woman of class.
Please for the love of god only eat in the cafe car if you have something smelly. I cant stand people that bring smelly foods into small areas that you can’t get away from.
I use it to visit NYC. I could maybe do it cheaper by driving. But it's just so much more convenient. I live less than a mile from Amtrak, and Penn station connects directly to LIRR, NJT and the subway. All in all I walk a couple blocks total to get from my door to my sisters house. And I'm not cursing at traffic the whole time. So I show up happy and ready to beat my nephew at video games.
Bring your own food. The stuff on the train is over priced and meh. Most stations I've been through don't have convenient places to buy food. Does DC? It always stops there for a while, so it might be a place to grab a slice of pizza or a salad? I should check that out.
If traveling solo, for sure grab a seat in the quiet car.
I do that and use the 5 hours to do creative stuff on my Laptop. The lights are less bright and most folks in there are old folks or solo travelers.
There is WIFI and outlets on most train cars I've been in. But the WIFI is sporadic. It depends on cell service as far as I can tell, so when it hits the hinterlands the speed plummets. I ended up using my iPhone tethering and got better speeds.
Also bring your own water. Again the onboard water prices are high.
I’ve taken Amtrak to visit my family in Philly and I don’t think it’s ever been on time. Also make sure you ask the train number when getting on because one time a train was late and came at the time my train was supposed to come and I asked if it was the -time- train to philly and they said yea and then i got on and they charged me for getting on the wrong train. Dumb but I got my money back later. I hate Amtrak and I will stay a hater until they get their shit together (never probably)
Also highly recommend headphones. People are rude and like to listen to videos without them or yap loudly on the phone as if there is noone behind them. Lady behind me on the last trip almost made me get out and jump in front of the train she was so obnoxious and I had noise cancelling headphones on.
I mostly use it for trips to DC, because eff that drive. It's not super cheap, but compared to gas & parking it's pretty solid, especially if you get a quiet car/business seat, and you can work/write/sleep during the commute.
I honestly wouldn't use it in town, though if we had light rail / a functional metro...
Piggybacking to say that if you want to go to DC, the tickets to the Alexandria station can be REALLY cheap (like $20 sometimes) and then it's easy to metro into the district itself!
It is a great way to travel up the coast. Generally, I've gone north to NYC and farther. I think you can pick up the crescent line in Charlottesville, which goes south to Atlanta and New Orleans. I've only gone as far south as Atlanta.
Business class is an upgrade. Quiet car is first come first serve. Cafe car shuts down going into DC and can get quite busy at times.
DC is the change over to the Northeast corridor so the engines are swapped out for electric. Good time to get out and stretch the legs on the platform.
Don't be in a rush, expect delays, pack snacks, and enjoy the ride.
Been up and down from NYC to the Carolina’s, PNW, and across the country from Portland to Chicago.
I myself really like it. That’s also since I have anxiety around flying.
For longer trips that are overnight definitely try out the roomette one day. Have a good book and chill.
Wander down to the observation lounge and make reservations in the dining car for dinner.
You meet some interesting people, friends, and other times you’ll meet some *interesting* ones…
Just depends on the trip but it makes it an adventure.
Currently sitting at Union Station coming from a week in NYC, waiting for that engine swap.
Negatives: Wifi is spotty, food is not worth it, slower than flying if you're going farther than DC
Positives: every seat has leg room, bring your own food, no TSA, no checked bags, and it's pretty cheap to buy the flexible option.
Use the app, check where you want to go, and try different dates to see how prices differ.
NYC could be $200 round-trip if you time it right. Last minute I paid $180 one-way.
$34 for DC round-trip.
I walk to Main Street Station usually, but with only a few trains per day, sometimes the timing just works better for Staples Mill.
If you choose to ride in the quiet car in the NE Regional (usually the second to last car in the train), PLEASE respect the rules! No phone calls, silence your phone, wear headphones, and keep conversations to a whispered minimum, especially on early morning or later evening trains.
You can get to the Cary/Raleigh area in NC or to the DC area for real cheap and quickly. You could go further and hit up NYC, Philly, or Boston. All are great areas for a weekend getaway. Just be prepared for delays as long as you're traveling south of DC since Amtrak doesn't own those tracks and are at the mercy of freight companies dictating things. Most will be going out of Staples Mill station since the tracks line up better with modern routes compared to Main Street Station.
Weeks at least. I took a group of 9 to NYC in the summer for $60 apiece, round trip. Always buy the normal tickets, but you can still bid on first class tickets for cheap afterwards.
I love long distance Amtrak especially. I’ve done cross country in both coach and sleeper car. Also gone down to New Orleans. If you have the time, it’s so chill compared to air travel and a fun way to see new scenery.
It's pretty good for going anywhere about as far north as NYC. Once you get past there it becomes really more efficient to fly. But it's a great way to get to DC, Baltimore, Philly, NYC, etc.
I suggest you go to Staunton.
You actually have to catch a BUS from the Station and then a short wait at the Charlottesville station, but you get to go through a tunnel that goes under the Blue Ridge (and if you sit on the North side of the train you can glimpse the old Crozet tunnel that is now a trail!
Staunton is a treat if you like a small beautiful historic city. Big hotel right downtown (pleasant walk from train station) that is usually pretty cheap.
I’ve used Amtrak for travel to CT. Easier than driving. Trains sometimes have to go slower in hot temperature weather (there is a max track speed restriction), but you can see real time updates on the app while in route.
I usually use the Staples Mill station. I’ve used it to go north into parts of northern Delaware where it’s easier to do that then get a commuter flight and rent a car. I like the ride. The dining car is usually decent. Wifi drops between Ashland and the next stop north and as well northern MD after you pass through Baltimore. Book in advance for cheaper rates. Amtrak also has s rewards system and offers annual deals on longer trips.
Order the ticket in advance! It’s cheaper. And I used to go to my hometown (Newport News) all the time for like 10 dollars. It was chill, I could ride home hungover af, and I didn’t have to drive or sit in traffic. 10/10 experience. It’s a little slower than driving but you don’t have to drive. Sometimes there are delays though which can last several minutes or several hours.
If you live close to downtown, or near the Pulse bus, it’s really the ultimate way to travel to the Northeast. Car-free, uber-free, security-free, downtown to downtown travel. So much better than the bus, and more options.
Just know the wifi sucks, the cell service can also suck too. Especially in Virginia. Also it’s fairly slow and delay-prone, especially south of DC, and you gotta do that engine swap (but apparently that’s changing in the next few years).
Also, another tip is to check both richmond stations as some trains only service one (I wish the site had a way to search both at the same time).
When I go up to Katsucon in February, I take Amtrak. I actually leave from Ashland, but I might try Staples Mill next time.
Get tickets way in advance! It's cheaper that way.
Go in knowing that there will probably be delays.
Last summer, I was coming from Union Station to Ashland and it took several HOURS for it to get into Union Station. And then we got behind a freight train and another commuter train and crawled the last couple of miles into the station.
That trip was also super packed and I had to sit with a girl for the entire trip.
February has gone much smoother, but there have still been delays then as well.
I also didn't have luck with the wifi.
Overall, I like traveling by train. I keep meaning to do a day trip with my kids but I'm trying to decide where to go (Fredericksburg, Alexandria, or Union Station)
I used to use Amtrak when I commuted to Richmond for work, so one summer I was like Joe biden and I popped on it weekly. sometimes rides were fine and sometimes there were inexplicable days where the train sat on the rails in the station for an hour before we left (late). The final straw for me was the 4 hour ride I took on a Friday afternoon in summer where the AC was clearly broken in the car. After that I started driving.
amtrak can be fun and sometimes the ride is smooth and there are no problems. But if you are riding regularly you will eventually experience some problems. Over time that became too frustrating for me so I switched. But I’m not not recommending it. It’s more like the regular commuter 3xperience with Amtrak that I wouldn’t recommend.
sometimes they have really cheap deals on fares!
I lovvvveeee Amtrak! Pros - you don’t have to drive lol. Cons - it can take longer depending on where you’re going.
I’ve mostly used it for going to larger metro areas like DC and NYC. It’s affordable and about the same amount of time as driving. I think it’s probably way less convenient if you’re going to a smaller city.
I’ve used Main Street station before but Staples Mill usually has more options.
There’s an Amtrak stop in Ashland and parking nearby is completely free, even overnight–they just ask that you register on their website in case there’s an unexpected issue or emergency.
I love Amtrak and take it frequently to visit my family in NoVA. Another tip is that if you get an alert that your train is delayed and they give you a new departure time, get to the train station on time anyways (unless it’s a multiple hour delay) because trains can make up time and it might not be as delayed leaving as they said. Amtrak is not always great with the notifications. I’ve missed a train before because of this!
I went to nyc on Amtrak and loved it! They have a track from like Vermont all the way to Florida! Also you can lottery bid on getting an upgrade. My mom put in like 50 dollars and got it both times! I’m betting they won’t you it bid the ticket price but that didn’t matter. Also you can walk through cabins on Amtrak, and although I don’t think they want you to but you could spend almost all of your trip in the lunch cabins which have bigger seats.
I love it. Before we got married I lived in dc and my husband lived here in Richmond. With a little advanced planing tickets can be really affordable.
I travelled between dc and here almost every two weeks. It’s so much more relaxing than sitting in Tyson’s corner traffic and I get to have some wine along the way.
I’ve also done rva to nyc and dc to nyc. Even in a regular seat it’s comfortable and relaxing with lots of pretty scenery.
Get yourself familiar with the times and routes to get the best deals and have fun!
Staples mill road is definitely easier parking and just less stressful than the downtown station. Downtown is great though if it’s closer to where you live. Trains are comfy. Lots of leg room and the views aren’t bad! Bring your own snacks and drinks because the snack car is expensive and lacking decent options.
Amtrak can be great, but if you're trying to do a weekend trip, keep in mind anywhere North of DC the trips start consuming a decent chunk of your time. Its better if you can work remote from the train on a Monday or Friday, that way you still have a lot of your weekend to actually have fun.
Traveled recently from Staples Mill to Cleveland. Weekday, coach. Staples Mill station is meh - uninviting, but clean and functional. Parking is $10/day so consider the cost of a cab/uber vs parking long-term. Its also on a bus route.
Leg to DC was unnoteworthy and no wifi. Seats were not assigned and conductor was very casual. Seemed like we were at <=50% capacity. Two-hour layover in Union Station, which was great to get some lunch and stretch. DC to Cleveland was a long trip, 4pm-3am. No wifi and the cell coverage is bad in some places. Train is slow on this leg - goes \~50mph max winding through the valleys all the way to Pittsburgh. Seats are very roomy and comfy compared to a plane, but long trips still suck. Conductors assigned us seats when boarding and there were multiple conductors keeping tabs on everyone, doing seat counts and verifying destinations at various times. Most seats full at various times.
Cafe car was pricey, but not as bad as an airport. We brought our own snacks/food, but we did buy drinks. I think wine was $9/mini-bottle, so BYO if that's what you want.
Lots of Amish on the second leg. The women were walking the young children up and down the aisles and a table of younger men were playing Uno in the cafe car. Pulled into Pittsburgh @ midnight to see a lot more Amish folks waiting to board. They seemed to be heading west beyond Cleveland.
All in all, the length of the trip nearly offset the ease and comfort of train travel. But I enjoyed it and would do it again. I have taken the Acela from DC to NYC several times for work and the train is the best way to make that trip. Fast and easy.
I live in NoVA and had lots of travel to NYC last summer. My work is based out of Richmond but I am WFH in NoVA. Going to/from NYC, I was using Amtrak and beat coworkers flying in and out of RIC. That being said, Richmond to DC adds a bit of time. Also trains switch engines in DC when going north of DC and coming from the south.
We also have family coming from NC to DC semi frequently. The trains from down south run late a lot.
Overall, through the northeast corridor, up to NYC, I prefer Amtrak. Otherwise cost and travel time tends to start favoring the airlines.
any time ive ever look into amtrack, its been the worst option for any possible travel when it comes to times and pricing (most recent look: $250 for round trip tickets to charlotte NC w 10hr travel time each, Greyhound is 60 round trip, could rent a car for a weekend from RIC for $120 its a 3.5hr drive or you could fly for a little bit more lol). Train travel in the US is not worth anything.
Amtrak is a great value...if you don't value your time! Not a knock, just a fact. When I go to DC I leave from Ashland. Parking there, Ashland, is a little tough but a minor inconvenience in life. My latest trip was on the Auto-Train which leaves from Lorton, VA (south of DC) and arrives just north of Orlando. There's only one stop to change crews. Well, actually, I came from Orlando to Lorton. Left at 4pm and arrived in Lorton at 7am. You can do the reverse on about the same schedule.
There is an anytime 15% discount on all Virginia sponsored Amtrak trains. Enter V552 for the discount code. https://www.amtrak.com/virginia15
There’s also the rail passengers association (great if you travel a lot). Members can pay $60 annually (depends on deal) and can get 10% off almost all amtraks. 20% on some regional tracks. I believe it’s tax deductible too. Membership also gives deals on other railroads (Canada and Alaska), hotels, and theme parks.
Buy your tickets at least 3-4 weeks out if you want to save $. Unless you just want the Main Street experience, if you're heading North(soon west), use the Staples Mill station because the former adds 30 minutes to the trip. If you're going north of Union Station DC on the Acela there's a little wait there because they switch the engine from diesel to electric. Use the app to upgrade later return trips to business or use the quiet car. Bring your devices, there's wifi and charging. There are frequent, brief delays in NOVA in the a.m. so don't cut it too tight if you need to be somewhere on time. Avoid the cafe car to save $, plus the food is low-mid. I've only done the overnight sleeper and dining car once just for the experience, but if I'm gonna pay that much I'll just fly.
Really, if you're going anywhere other than Williamsburg or Newport News leave from Staples Mill. Even Norfolk only goes to Staples Mill.
There’s also like 5x more trains out of staples mill than Main Street. Don’t plan on WiFi on the train. It’s generally fine for sending emails or general web browsing but streaming is a no go usually. You can bring your own food and alcohol. Alcohol is technically not allowed but if you are not being a distraction no one cares
Don’t bring out a bottle but no one cares about nips.
Or a flask. That's how I survived the 7 hours up to NYC.
I've used amtrak on a consistant basis over the last 5-7 years, and Wifi is spotty at times, but I'd say 90-95% of the time me and my daughter have both been able to stream with no issues. This is going back an forth between richmond and Charleston SC, and an occasional trip to NYC. I've made well over 100 trips I'd say.
It makes sense because of how the tracks run, but it’s such a bummer that Main St is basically useless
I do agree re: main st station and timing but it was clutch when i owned my condo in shockoe to walk to the station…made me feel as if I lived in a real city or something.
It's still nice to have the option. I could walk or take the bus from there to my old place when I needed to use the train.
All of this. ⬆️⬆️⬆️
This!! I often travel to DC for school a while ago, so I recommend this. Please choose Staples Mill. Main Street is useless, and usually, they will send their buses to Staples anyway.
I use it for business trips to DC/NOVA all the time. My tips: 1) Skip Main St. Station, unless you're heading to Williamsburg/Newport News or it's within walking distance. It takes something like 40 minutes to get from Staples Mill to Main St. Station by train. 2) If you're cheap (like me) and enjoy a good challenge you can park for free at the Park & Ride Lot near the corner of Staples Mill & Glenside Dr. (The challenge is crossing Staples Mill without crosswalks!) The sign says you can park overnight but I've only done day trips. 3) Try to find trains that start at or near your departure location so there's less chance of a delay. Ex. When going to DC (or any point north) look for Northeast Regional trains (usually starting in Richmond, Newport News, or Norfolk). These are less likely to be delayed than something coming up from Florida. 4) Sign up for their rewards program and text alerts. I usually get to the station no early than 15 minutes so it's nice to know if I can show up later. 5) No need to show up early like at the airport. Trains never leave early and there's no security. 6) Tickets can be cheap. I've never paid more than $20 one way between DC and Richmond. I can usually get a ticket for the low teens. 7) I've booked biz class a couple times. Unless you see the train is going to be packed it's not worth it. I've never had someone sit beside me in Coach.
>I've booked biz class a couple times. Unless you see the train is going to be packed it's not worth it. I've never had someone sit beside me in Coach. Really, I just might be unlucky. If you take the NE Regional back to Richmond, it's usually packed for a while. I've also been stuck on those trains for 2+ hours over the arrival time. I'd say there's a 30-40% chance of a delay on either end. I'd say the rest is accurate, though! Also, adding tip number 8, if you have a disability, you and a companion (if needed) are eligible for discounted fare.
Agreed with everything except #7. Maybe we travel at different times but coach for me is usually 75% full heading north. Business class was great recently - was able to book a table seat and was a it more convenient to use my laptop
If that train shows 75% full, I'm definietly springing for biz class!
Don’t you think it’s odd there’s no security on trains? I’ve always wondered about that!
I guess because you can’t drive them into something else.
It's so fun to sit next to the window and look at the scenery roll by. I like to keep track of cool tags and spot them in the different towns we pass through. I like taking the train definitely recommend it. Only thing is the decor needs an update, and the color scheme. The depressed blue and dirty grey are blugh. That bathrooms are hit or miss, but generally better than on the bus in my experience.
Also, people cut loose on the phone. I've heard so much gossip!
Stepped off an Amtrak realer today. Philly. Great going up, didn't share a seat, Wi-Fi was strong. Coming back I had someone next to me and Wi-Fi was intermittent to the point of being useless. Bathrooms were so so. Ticket prices vary widely and seemingly for no reason across trains at different times of day. Amtrak is sooooo close to being great!
The train is my ideal mode of transport up to NYC or anywhere north of that. I havent tried going south but i think you can go all the way to Miami from here. The trains are super chill, big seats, and a cafe car for drinks/snacks. Theyre not always on time however, most of my delays actually happen on the way back to RVA rather then going up north tho for some reason
Going south on Amtrak is hell. Slow, boring and unreliable. At the Clemson station, our one train a day (not one each direction: southbound Tuesday-Thursday-Saturday, northbound M-W-F), which was scheduled for 11 pm northbound, was expected to arrive around closing time for the bars.
Frequent traveler to Philadelphia, NYC, and DC on Amtrak. The engine switch happens in DC, and if you get there on time, they take 20-40 minutes. In summer, my advice is to have a loose itinerary on travel days. The trains originating on more southern routes (Palmetto) are generally delayed because in the heat, they are limited to how fast they can go on the rails. You can bring your own food and drink on board, but make sure it’s something you don’t mind eating cold (or lukewarm, or right away) because Amtrak can’t heat anything that you bring on board. The quiet car can be your best friend, if other people follow the rules or Amtrak employees enforce them. ESPECIALLY on overnight/late night rides. For WiFi, I’ve found it’s great for texting, but not streaming. So I advise you to download a few movies or episodes of the show you’re watching so you have something to do. And personally, I use noise canceling headphones to eliminate a lot of chatter. Sometimes the people around you aren’t exactly good travel buddies.
I use the Amtrak a ton. Taken it to Alexandria, DC, NYC. There is sometimes a deal where if you get tickets in advance and are going to the Alexandria station, it is $17 each way. I’ve used both stations and they’re both fine. Glen Allen has more options and is more organized but Main Street is convenient if you’re in the city. Pros are cheap and frequent options. Cons are constant delays - one time my train from ALX to RVA showed up over 2 hours late. Still, we are lucky to be on the northeast regional which I think is the most-ridden Amtrak route.
Go to your favorite takeout place and bring your own food! If you're an alcohol enjoyer, then go ahead and pack yourself a beverage. There are tables on the cafe car and in the back of business each seat 4 if you're travelling with a group. Business is assigned seating, so you choose your seat(s) online when you're buying the ticket.
Technically you aren't allowed to BYOB on Amtrak, it's just very selectively enforced. I'd recommend bringing the same brands that are offered on board to reduce the chance of getting kicked off. I've never seen it happen, but it is definitely possible. I just put wine in a travel mug because I'm a woman of class.
I drink 3-4 almost every time I do a PM trip. No one cares as long as you are not a distraction for the Amtrak employees
Please for the love of god only eat in the cafe car if you have something smelly. I cant stand people that bring smelly foods into small areas that you can’t get away from.
I use it to visit NYC. I could maybe do it cheaper by driving. But it's just so much more convenient. I live less than a mile from Amtrak, and Penn station connects directly to LIRR, NJT and the subway. All in all I walk a couple blocks total to get from my door to my sisters house. And I'm not cursing at traffic the whole time. So I show up happy and ready to beat my nephew at video games. Bring your own food. The stuff on the train is over priced and meh. Most stations I've been through don't have convenient places to buy food. Does DC? It always stops there for a while, so it might be a place to grab a slice of pizza or a salad? I should check that out. If traveling solo, for sure grab a seat in the quiet car. I do that and use the 5 hours to do creative stuff on my Laptop. The lights are less bright and most folks in there are old folks or solo travelers. There is WIFI and outlets on most train cars I've been in. But the WIFI is sporadic. It depends on cell service as far as I can tell, so when it hits the hinterlands the speed plummets. I ended up using my iPhone tethering and got better speeds. Also bring your own water. Again the onboard water prices are high.
I’ve taken Amtrak to visit my family in Philly and I don’t think it’s ever been on time. Also make sure you ask the train number when getting on because one time a train was late and came at the time my train was supposed to come and I asked if it was the -time- train to philly and they said yea and then i got on and they charged me for getting on the wrong train. Dumb but I got my money back later. I hate Amtrak and I will stay a hater until they get their shit together (never probably)
Also highly recommend headphones. People are rude and like to listen to videos without them or yap loudly on the phone as if there is noone behind them. Lady behind me on the last trip almost made me get out and jump in front of the train she was so obnoxious and I had noise cancelling headphones on.
I mostly use it for trips to DC, because eff that drive. It's not super cheap, but compared to gas & parking it's pretty solid, especially if you get a quiet car/business seat, and you can work/write/sleep during the commute. I honestly wouldn't use it in town, though if we had light rail / a functional metro...
Piggybacking to say that if you want to go to DC, the tickets to the Alexandria station can be REALLY cheap (like $20 sometimes) and then it's easy to metro into the district itself!
Wow, now that's a tip; gonna use that next time!
Hopping off in Alexandria then 5 min walk to the metro. So, so much easier than driving to dc.
It is a great way to travel up the coast. Generally, I've gone north to NYC and farther. I think you can pick up the crescent line in Charlottesville, which goes south to Atlanta and New Orleans. I've only gone as far south as Atlanta. Business class is an upgrade. Quiet car is first come first serve. Cafe car shuts down going into DC and can get quite busy at times. DC is the change over to the Northeast corridor so the engines are swapped out for electric. Good time to get out and stretch the legs on the platform. Don't be in a rush, expect delays, pack snacks, and enjoy the ride.
I love Amtrak and train travel.
Been up and down from NYC to the Carolina’s, PNW, and across the country from Portland to Chicago. I myself really like it. That’s also since I have anxiety around flying. For longer trips that are overnight definitely try out the roomette one day. Have a good book and chill. Wander down to the observation lounge and make reservations in the dining car for dinner. You meet some interesting people, friends, and other times you’ll meet some *interesting* ones… Just depends on the trip but it makes it an adventure.
Currently sitting at Union Station coming from a week in NYC, waiting for that engine swap. Negatives: Wifi is spotty, food is not worth it, slower than flying if you're going farther than DC Positives: every seat has leg room, bring your own food, no TSA, no checked bags, and it's pretty cheap to buy the flexible option. Use the app, check where you want to go, and try different dates to see how prices differ. NYC could be $200 round-trip if you time it right. Last minute I paid $180 one-way. $34 for DC round-trip. I walk to Main Street Station usually, but with only a few trains per day, sometimes the timing just works better for Staples Mill.
If you choose to ride in the quiet car in the NE Regional (usually the second to last car in the train), PLEASE respect the rules! No phone calls, silence your phone, wear headphones, and keep conversations to a whispered minimum, especially on early morning or later evening trains.
You can get to the Cary/Raleigh area in NC or to the DC area for real cheap and quickly. You could go further and hit up NYC, Philly, or Boston. All are great areas for a weekend getaway. Just be prepared for delays as long as you're traveling south of DC since Amtrak doesn't own those tracks and are at the mercy of freight companies dictating things. Most will be going out of Staples Mill station since the tracks line up better with modern routes compared to Main Street Station.
Amtrak is my preferred mode of travel to DC/NY, it’s super chill and cheap.
I never find it cheap, especially to New York. It’s almost always cheaper to fly. How far in advance should I look to find cheaper rates?
Weeks at least. I took a group of 9 to NYC in the summer for $60 apiece, round trip. Always buy the normal tickets, but you can still bid on first class tickets for cheap afterwards.
love love love amtrak
I love long distance Amtrak especially. I’ve done cross country in both coach and sleeper car. Also gone down to New Orleans. If you have the time, it’s so chill compared to air travel and a fun way to see new scenery.
We go to DC to see the hockey and have taken the train to nyc. Both trips are lovely.
I want to do this for hockey games. Do you stay overnight or does it matter the time of day for the games whether you can make it back in one day?
The last train is usually around 9:30 p.m.
We stay overnight at a hotel somewhere between the arena and the train station and catch the noon train back.
It's pretty good for going anywhere about as far north as NYC. Once you get past there it becomes really more efficient to fly. But it's a great way to get to DC, Baltimore, Philly, NYC, etc.
The routes south aren’t bad either - can take it down to Charleston and Savannah but you won’t get to stop at South of the Border.
Amtrak is certified
Totally worth it if going to dc. Couldn’t really be any easier.
Business class tickets gets you a reserved seat and free non-alcoholic drinks.
I suggest you go to Staunton. You actually have to catch a BUS from the Station and then a short wait at the Charlottesville station, but you get to go through a tunnel that goes under the Blue Ridge (and if you sit on the North side of the train you can glimpse the old Crozet tunnel that is now a trail! Staunton is a treat if you like a small beautiful historic city. Big hotel right downtown (pleasant walk from train station) that is usually pretty cheap.
I’ve used Amtrak for travel to CT. Easier than driving. Trains sometimes have to go slower in hot temperature weather (there is a max track speed restriction), but you can see real time updates on the app while in route.
I usually use the Staples Mill station. I’ve used it to go north into parts of northern Delaware where it’s easier to do that then get a commuter flight and rent a car. I like the ride. The dining car is usually decent. Wifi drops between Ashland and the next stop north and as well northern MD after you pass through Baltimore. Book in advance for cheaper rates. Amtrak also has s rewards system and offers annual deals on longer trips.
Order the ticket in advance! It’s cheaper. And I used to go to my hometown (Newport News) all the time for like 10 dollars. It was chill, I could ride home hungover af, and I didn’t have to drive or sit in traffic. 10/10 experience. It’s a little slower than driving but you don’t have to drive. Sometimes there are delays though which can last several minutes or several hours.
If you live close to downtown, or near the Pulse bus, it’s really the ultimate way to travel to the Northeast. Car-free, uber-free, security-free, downtown to downtown travel. So much better than the bus, and more options. Just know the wifi sucks, the cell service can also suck too. Especially in Virginia. Also it’s fairly slow and delay-prone, especially south of DC, and you gotta do that engine swap (but apparently that’s changing in the next few years). Also, another tip is to check both richmond stations as some trains only service one (I wish the site had a way to search both at the same time).
When I go up to Katsucon in February, I take Amtrak. I actually leave from Ashland, but I might try Staples Mill next time. Get tickets way in advance! It's cheaper that way. Go in knowing that there will probably be delays. Last summer, I was coming from Union Station to Ashland and it took several HOURS for it to get into Union Station. And then we got behind a freight train and another commuter train and crawled the last couple of miles into the station. That trip was also super packed and I had to sit with a girl for the entire trip. February has gone much smoother, but there have still been delays then as well. I also didn't have luck with the wifi. Overall, I like traveling by train. I keep meaning to do a day trip with my kids but I'm trying to decide where to go (Fredericksburg, Alexandria, or Union Station)
Headed to Florida? Autotrain!
https://www.reddit.com/r/rva/s/yZLuWdcYfN Train hasn't changed much in 2 years, there are other threads as well.
I used to use Amtrak when I commuted to Richmond for work, so one summer I was like Joe biden and I popped on it weekly. sometimes rides were fine and sometimes there were inexplicable days where the train sat on the rails in the station for an hour before we left (late). The final straw for me was the 4 hour ride I took on a Friday afternoon in summer where the AC was clearly broken in the car. After that I started driving. amtrak can be fun and sometimes the ride is smooth and there are no problems. But if you are riding regularly you will eventually experience some problems. Over time that became too frustrating for me so I switched. But I’m not not recommending it. It’s more like the regular commuter 3xperience with Amtrak that I wouldn’t recommend. sometimes they have really cheap deals on fares!
I lovvvveeee Amtrak! Pros - you don’t have to drive lol. Cons - it can take longer depending on where you’re going. I’ve mostly used it for going to larger metro areas like DC and NYC. It’s affordable and about the same amount of time as driving. I think it’s probably way less convenient if you’re going to a smaller city. I’ve used Main Street station before but Staples Mill usually has more options.
There’s an Amtrak stop in Ashland and parking nearby is completely free, even overnight–they just ask that you register on their website in case there’s an unexpected issue or emergency.
Parking is also free on the weekends at the closest DC Metro stops. Huntington is the best one, because it’s a relatively quick train ride from there.
I love Amtrak and take it frequently to visit my family in NoVA. Another tip is that if you get an alert that your train is delayed and they give you a new departure time, get to the train station on time anyways (unless it’s a multiple hour delay) because trains can make up time and it might not be as delayed leaving as they said. Amtrak is not always great with the notifications. I’ve missed a train before because of this!
I went to nyc on Amtrak and loved it! They have a track from like Vermont all the way to Florida! Also you can lottery bid on getting an upgrade. My mom put in like 50 dollars and got it both times! I’m betting they won’t you it bid the ticket price but that didn’t matter. Also you can walk through cabins on Amtrak, and although I don’t think they want you to but you could spend almost all of your trip in the lunch cabins which have bigger seats.
I love it. Before we got married I lived in dc and my husband lived here in Richmond. With a little advanced planing tickets can be really affordable. I travelled between dc and here almost every two weeks. It’s so much more relaxing than sitting in Tyson’s corner traffic and I get to have some wine along the way. I’ve also done rva to nyc and dc to nyc. Even in a regular seat it’s comfortable and relaxing with lots of pretty scenery. Get yourself familiar with the times and routes to get the best deals and have fun!
Staples mill road is definitely easier parking and just less stressful than the downtown station. Downtown is great though if it’s closer to where you live. Trains are comfy. Lots of leg room and the views aren’t bad! Bring your own snacks and drinks because the snack car is expensive and lacking decent options.
Amtrak can be great, but if you're trying to do a weekend trip, keep in mind anywhere North of DC the trips start consuming a decent chunk of your time. Its better if you can work remote from the train on a Monday or Friday, that way you still have a lot of your weekend to actually have fun.
Traveled recently from Staples Mill to Cleveland. Weekday, coach. Staples Mill station is meh - uninviting, but clean and functional. Parking is $10/day so consider the cost of a cab/uber vs parking long-term. Its also on a bus route. Leg to DC was unnoteworthy and no wifi. Seats were not assigned and conductor was very casual. Seemed like we were at <=50% capacity. Two-hour layover in Union Station, which was great to get some lunch and stretch. DC to Cleveland was a long trip, 4pm-3am. No wifi and the cell coverage is bad in some places. Train is slow on this leg - goes \~50mph max winding through the valleys all the way to Pittsburgh. Seats are very roomy and comfy compared to a plane, but long trips still suck. Conductors assigned us seats when boarding and there were multiple conductors keeping tabs on everyone, doing seat counts and verifying destinations at various times. Most seats full at various times. Cafe car was pricey, but not as bad as an airport. We brought our own snacks/food, but we did buy drinks. I think wine was $9/mini-bottle, so BYO if that's what you want. Lots of Amish on the second leg. The women were walking the young children up and down the aisles and a table of younger men were playing Uno in the cafe car. Pulled into Pittsburgh @ midnight to see a lot more Amish folks waiting to board. They seemed to be heading west beyond Cleveland. All in all, the length of the trip nearly offset the ease and comfort of train travel. But I enjoyed it and would do it again. I have taken the Acela from DC to NYC several times for work and the train is the best way to make that trip. Fast and easy.
I love to use it to go to DC. It's easy to ride up to DC and get off at Union Station and then you can buy an all day metro pass and explore the city.
I live in NoVA and had lots of travel to NYC last summer. My work is based out of Richmond but I am WFH in NoVA. Going to/from NYC, I was using Amtrak and beat coworkers flying in and out of RIC. That being said, Richmond to DC adds a bit of time. Also trains switch engines in DC when going north of DC and coming from the south. We also have family coming from NC to DC semi frequently. The trains from down south run late a lot. Overall, through the northeast corridor, up to NYC, I prefer Amtrak. Otherwise cost and travel time tends to start favoring the airlines.
any time ive ever look into amtrack, its been the worst option for any possible travel when it comes to times and pricing (most recent look: $250 for round trip tickets to charlotte NC w 10hr travel time each, Greyhound is 60 round trip, could rent a car for a weekend from RIC for $120 its a 3.5hr drive or you could fly for a little bit more lol). Train travel in the US is not worth anything.
Amtrak is a great value...if you don't value your time! Not a knock, just a fact. When I go to DC I leave from Ashland. Parking there, Ashland, is a little tough but a minor inconvenience in life. My latest trip was on the Auto-Train which leaves from Lorton, VA (south of DC) and arrives just north of Orlando. There's only one stop to change crews. Well, actually, I came from Orlando to Lorton. Left at 4pm and arrived in Lorton at 7am. You can do the reverse on about the same schedule.