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> One of these days I'd like to do one of the Amtrak long-haul Western US routes although I expect the idea is more appealing than the actual experience would b
by 394549 8y ago
> One of these days I'd like to do one of the Amtrak long-haul Western US routes although I expect the idea is more appealing than the actual experience would be.
If I had to take one of those routes again, I'd do it as a sleeper car passenger.
I took the Empire Builder as regular passenger. I'm glad I tried it once, and the views in the Rockies were amazing, but 30+ hours straight in a reclining seat is a bit much to do again. I think it would have been much more enjoyable with a proper place to sleep.
- bbunix 8y agoDo it in a sleeper, a very pleasant experience...
- ghaff 8y agoI'd definitely go for the sleeper. I'd almost certainly do either Empire Builder or California Zephyr.
- sndean 8y agoAgreed. I did the Crescent route (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crescent_(train) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crescent_(train)) once and never will again if not in a sleeper car. Looking back, I wouldn't go as far as saying it was torture (being unable to sleep), but I thought it was in the moment.
- gomox 8y agoAlternate view: I did it in coach but with stops in between (so not 30+ hours at a time) and would recommend my version. One of the highlights of the trip was talking to everyone else in the train, which is bound to happen when you're in what amounts to a very long corridor for 12 hours at a time. Most youngish solo travelers seemed to be doing it this way.
- archagon 8y agoYep, went cross-country from NY to SF in coach. It's hard to get sleep; would not recommend. (But on the upside, got a $130 coupon for a future ride after a 9-hour delay!)