Amtrak - Minneapolis to D.C.

[Roadtrp]

I'm so excited!

I know this isn't directly related to Model Railroading, but my love for the 1:1 trains gave me my love for MR.

I bought tickets today for next year's Summer Vacation. We are going to D.C. next July... Empire Builder from Minneapolis/St. Paul to Chicago and the Cap Limited from Chicago to Washington D.C.

We reserved a Family Sleeper the whole way for my wife, daughter and myself. It will be my first overnight on a train in a LONG time, and I am really excited.

If anyone is considering an Amtrak trip, I was able to get VERY reasonable fares by booking so early. I think it pays to make your reservations as soon as you can.

[:)][:)]

[Anonymous]

How did you plan this? I'm taking a trip in April out to Montana and would love to set this up. I keep getting messages back about trains not connecting or train unavailable. Did you have to call or go through some agent?

[Onioneer]

Hi guys!

New here, but want to chime in that becasue my wife won't fly we're big time train riders. I actually like the reaction people give when I say I haven't flown since 1986. Long before I married I rode Amtrak several times.

I've been on the Empire Builder several times (in economy sleeper and coach) The Train from New York to Chicago (via Albany forget the name). NY to FLA (orlando and St. Pete) and last December the Auto-Train.

Of all of them the Empire bulder was the most relaxing. Food was great on the Auto Train but the sleeping sucked, I assume becasue of freight rail vs passanger or something. If I do the Auto-train again I'll sleep sitting up.

If you are in the midwest be advised that the East Coast trains are smaller and (at least in the late 80's) older and more poorly maintained.

[Roadtrp]

QUOTE: Originally posted by chewie8han

How did you plan this? I'm taking a trip in April out to Montana and would love to set this up. I keep getting messages back about trains not connecting or train unavailable. Did you have to call or go through some agent?

I arranged it through the Amtrak website. I discovered a bug in their site that may be what is giving you problems. If you fill in a desired departure time, it frequently comes back saying that there is nothing available that day and suggests another day. If you just leave the departure time blank, it works.

Good luck! [:)]

-Jerry

[Anonymous]

Wow Amtrak is expensive. They want $520 for 2 people to go from philly to montana. That's with the bedroom, but I'm not traveling for that long (44 hours total) without one. It's even more coming back!! I'm not sure why considering it's the same train and accomidations.

[Roadtrp]

Amtrak prices like the airlines. The more the train fills, the more they charge for the remaining seats and accommodations. If you consider that traveling in a bedroom is like flying first class, the prices don't seem so bad.

You also need to remember that you will receive 3 excellent meals a day at no additional cost. If you had to pay for the meals, it would cost close to $50 per person per day. So on your trip the $520 ticket includes about $200 of meals. The remaining $320 is what you are paying for transportation, which doesn't seem so bad.

If you have any flexibility with your dates, try various combinations to see if you can come up with a less expensive fare. I found that by changing my departure and return dates by one day I saved over $200.

[brokemoto]

I once managed to get an first-class upgrade on a USA railpass for a very good price.

I have not ridden the Empire Builder since AMTRAK (I am showing my age, here), but I have ridden both the B&O Capitol Limited and AMTRAK's. Both are nice trains. Enjoy it.

Thank you for your consideration and support.