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US trains are not worth it in coach. A Greyhound bus is more comfortable with the same amenities and takes about the same time. If you have lots of money to bu

US trains are not worth it in coach. A Greyhound bus is more comfortable with the same amenities and takes about the same time. If you have lots of money to burn, a train with the sleeper car or roomette is a better experience. You can at least lay down and have more room to relax, the windows are less grimy, you get better shades, lights, and much more room to lay down and relax. The whole point of mass transit is it's not a car, so comparing it to driving is apples and oranges.

bentley 2y ago
Amtrak can be decently comfortable by coach, and the ability to stand, walk around, change cars, and (on Western routes) vary seating position by visiting the lounge car outclasses Greyhound in every way.
nrclark 2y ago
In my experience taking both, Greyhounds are significantly faster and far less comfortable. Maybe it's different in other places in the country, but this was my experience in coastal California: Greyhound buses run more-or-less on time. The routes are direct, they're predictable, and they will take you where you want to go. They also don't have a dining car, spacious bathrooms, room to walk around and stretch your legs, etc. If somebody has diarrhea, everybody on that bus is going to know it and smell it. Amtrak is more comfortable in every way. It's also usually late, and subject to delays because of low rail priority. You can't really count on it for anything other than "it'll leave eventually" and "it'll get there eventually". While on the train, it's really quite pleasant - as long as you don't care about arriving when the schedule said you would.
- saagarjha 2y ago
  I had essentially the same experience–I did SJC to SBA a few times a year when I was in college (which for the non-Californians here, is a destination that does not really have an airport you would want to use). I took Greyhound the first few times and then switched to Amtrak, even though it took 2-3 hours longer. I'll take that every time just by being able to get up and walk around. And the views coming in around Point Conception as the sun sets are priceless :)
  - petemill 2y ago
    Why wouldn't you want to use the SBA airport? It's lovely, scenic and has quite a few routes and airlines these days.
    - saagarjha 2y ago
      I would love to but it was (is?) quite expensive to fly out of. I think if you book far enough in advance the prices are within a factor of two or so but I generally didn't bother. The one time I did use it was when Google flew me out for an onsite on two day's notice–so I can confirm that it is an excellent airport, with security that takes all of two minutes and a really pretty 45 minute flight to SFO–but the final bill for that roundtrip was something like $400. I remember the recruiter being surprised at the cost.
- pipe2devnull 2y ago
  In my limited experience with Greyhound, the busses are notoriously late. I’ve taken it only 2 times. The first time was around an hour late and the second was running about 5-6 hours late.
- nordsieck 2y ago
  > Amtrak is more comfortable in every way. I can easily believe that trains are more spacious and the seating is more insulated from odors. But my experience riding trains is that they sway/shake obnoxiously while going around curves. Where as busses like Megabus are a very smooth ride the entire way. > room to walk around and stretch your legs My experience with busses is that there are somewhat frequent stops where people are encouraged to walk and use the bathroom. Which isn't a complete fix, but it does serve to substantially mitigate those problems.
  - actionfromafar 2y ago
    Funny, I get sick on buses easily but not at all on trains.
- christophergray 2y ago
  I've attempted to take the Greyhound four times. Twice they gave me the wrong address to take it from. Once from Irvine, where I was told to go to a new transit center that wasn't open yet. The other time from San Luis Obispo, which has no actual transit center, although it has a train station, and county buses leave from city hall. I was told the Greyhound left from a Texaco station right off the highway. I made it out of Irvine the same day (hitchhiked), but I was a day late out of San Luis Obispo (took the train), and had to reschedule a connecting flight.
Symbiote 2y ago
Have you used both? I've only used one long-distance Amtrak train (as an international tourist), and it was more comfortable than any long-distance bus I've ever used. Loads of legroom, a power socket, a large toilet at the end of the coach, a big window, a decent seat. There's a table if you book it, e.g. for a group of 3 or 4. My journey was ~12 hours during the daytime. I wouldn't want to sleep overnight in that seat, but it's still going to be better than a bus. Example with plenty of pictures of inside the train: https://www.seat61.com/california-zephyr.htm https://www.seat61.com/california-zephyr.htm and https://www.seat61.com/UnitedStates.htm https://www.seat61.com/UnitedStates.htm
- 0xbadcafebee 2y ago
  Yes, I have taken cross-country buses probably two dozen times, Amtrak only a dozen cross-country, another two dozen for shorter trips. I finally got a roomette experience after Amtrak introduced the lottery for lower prices (and to fill empty seats). I really loved the roomette, and the reintroduction of the dining car (I'm old enough to remember when everyone got to dine...). If I had lots of money I would take it all the time. But most of my experience with Amtrak is coach. On long trips, it's very hard to get comfortable when trying to rest/sleep. Even if you get a window seat (so somebody isn't waking you up to get up), and manage to find a good position to lay in, the whole train is shaking and bumping and banging at odd times, and the cabin is freezing. Add to that the coughing and talking on phones and everything else and it's not a great time. By the time you arrive the next day you feel like you've been in an MMA fight. The bus is slightly better. It's still not comfortable, but the ride is much smoother, and generally it's a little quieter. You often get a straight shot for 2-5 hours of just steady movement and light rocking, and then a break where you can stretch your legs or use the bathroom (don't ever poop on the bus!). Sometimes they're late, sometimes they're not, and it's always chaos trying to figure out which gate is which route. But in general I don't feel as beaten up and tired after I finish the bus route. The other reasons to use the bus is it goes where the train doesn't (we have extremely limited rail lines in the US), it's cheaper, and runs more frequently to more places. Buses also take highways where cell signal is available, so if you have a hotspot you have internet; on Amtrak the internet usually doesn't work and on longer trips there's often no cell signal. The bus is definitely a more fraught journey, but the train ride literally makes me feel worse. I guess it depends on the person. I should add that Amtrak is going to be a much better experience (maybe the only choice, next to a plane) for people with disabilities or the elderly. Long-term parking is also often available at Amtrak facilities, unlike many bus depots. And I will say that the Amtrak quiet car is a thoughtful respite from noise, even if some people don't respect the rules. But I wouldn't travel on any of these lines without ear plugs and an eye mask.
dec0dedab0de 2y ago
The whole point of mass transit is it's not a car, so comparing it to driving is apples and oranges. I completely disagree with this. The point of mass transit is to move people from one place to another. I routinely compare driving, trains, planes, buses, and ride shares. They all have pros and cons and it really depends on the trip.

bentley 2y ago

Amtrak can be decently comfortable by coach, and the ability to stand, walk around, change cars, and (on Western routes) vary seating position by visiting the lounge car outclasses Greyhound in every way.

nrclark 2y ago

In my experience taking both, Greyhounds are significantly faster and far less comfortable. Maybe it's different in other places in the country, but this was my experience in coastal California: Greyhound buses run more-or-less on time. The routes are direct, they're predictable, and they will take you where you want to go. They also don't have a dining car, spacious bathrooms, room to walk around and stretch your legs, etc. If somebody has diarrhea, everybody on that bus is going to know it and smell it. Amtrak is more comfortable in every way. It's also usually late, and subject to delays because of low rail priority. You can't really count on it for anything other than "it'll leave eventually" and "it'll get there eventually". While on the train, it's really quite pleasant - as long as you don't care about arriving when the schedule said you would.

saagarjha 2y ago
I had essentially the same experience–I did SJC to SBA a few times a year when I was in college (which for the non-Californians here, is a destination that does not really have an airport you would want to use). I took Greyhound the first few times and then switched to Amtrak, even though it took 2-3 hours longer. I'll take that every time just by being able to get up and walk around. And the views coming in around Point Conception as the sun sets are priceless :)
- petemill 2y ago
  Why wouldn't you want to use the SBA airport? It's lovely, scenic and has quite a few routes and airlines these days.
  - saagarjha 2y ago
    I would love to but it was (is?) quite expensive to fly out of. I think if you book far enough in advance the prices are within a factor of two or so but I generally didn't bother. The one time I did use it was when Google flew me out for an onsite on two day's notice–so I can confirm that it is an excellent airport, with security that takes all of two minutes and a really pretty 45 minute flight to SFO–but the final bill for that roundtrip was something like $400. I remember the recruiter being surprised at the cost.
pipe2devnull 2y ago
In my limited experience with Greyhound, the busses are notoriously late. I’ve taken it only 2 times. The first time was around an hour late and the second was running about 5-6 hours late.
nordsieck 2y ago
> Amtrak is more comfortable in every way. I can easily believe that trains are more spacious and the seating is more insulated from odors. But my experience riding trains is that they sway/shake obnoxiously while going around curves. Where as busses like Megabus are a very smooth ride the entire way. > room to walk around and stretch your legs My experience with busses is that there are somewhat frequent stops where people are encouraged to walk and use the bathroom. Which isn't a complete fix, but it does serve to substantially mitigate those problems.
- actionfromafar 2y ago
  Funny, I get sick on buses easily but not at all on trains.
christophergray 2y ago
I've attempted to take the Greyhound four times. Twice they gave me the wrong address to take it from. Once from Irvine, where I was told to go to a new transit center that wasn't open yet. The other time from San Luis Obispo, which has no actual transit center, although it has a train station, and county buses leave from city hall. I was told the Greyhound left from a Texaco station right off the highway. I made it out of Irvine the same day (hitchhiked), but I was a day late out of San Luis Obispo (took the train), and had to reschedule a connecting flight.

Symbiote 2y ago

Have you used both? I've only used one long-distance Amtrak train (as an international tourist), and it was more comfortable than any long-distance bus I've ever used. Loads of legroom, a power socket, a large toilet at the end of the coach, a big window, a decent seat. There's a table if you book it, e.g. for a group of 3 or 4. My journey was ~12 hours during the daytime. I wouldn't want to sleep overnight in that seat, but it's still going to be better than a bus. Example with plenty of pictures of inside the train: https://www.seat61.com/california-zephyr.htm https://www.seat61.com/california-zephyr.htm and https://www.seat61.com/UnitedStates.htm https://www.seat61.com/UnitedStates.htm

0xbadcafebee 2y ago
Yes, I have taken cross-country buses probably two dozen times, Amtrak only a dozen cross-country, another two dozen for shorter trips. I finally got a roomette experience after Amtrak introduced the lottery for lower prices (and to fill empty seats). I really loved the roomette, and the reintroduction of the dining car (I'm old enough to remember when everyone got to dine...). If I had lots of money I would take it all the time. But most of my experience with Amtrak is coach. On long trips, it's very hard to get comfortable when trying to rest/sleep. Even if you get a window seat (so somebody isn't waking you up to get up), and manage to find a good position to lay in, the whole train is shaking and bumping and banging at odd times, and the cabin is freezing. Add to that the coughing and talking on phones and everything else and it's not a great time. By the time you arrive the next day you feel like you've been in an MMA fight. The bus is slightly better. It's still not comfortable, but the ride is much smoother, and generally it's a little quieter. You often get a straight shot for 2-5 hours of just steady movement and light rocking, and then a break where you can stretch your legs or use the bathroom (don't ever poop on the bus!). Sometimes they're late, sometimes they're not, and it's always chaos trying to figure out which gate is which route. But in general I don't feel as beaten up and tired after I finish the bus route. The other reasons to use the bus is it goes where the train doesn't (we have extremely limited rail lines in the US), it's cheaper, and runs more frequently to more places. Buses also take highways where cell signal is available, so if you have a hotspot you have internet; on Amtrak the internet usually doesn't work and on longer trips there's often no cell signal. The bus is definitely a more fraught journey, but the train ride literally makes me feel worse. I guess it depends on the person. I should add that Amtrak is going to be a much better experience (maybe the only choice, next to a plane) for people with disabilities or the elderly. Long-term parking is also often available at Amtrak facilities, unlike many bus depots. And I will say that the Amtrak quiet car is a thoughtful respite from noise, even if some people don't respect the rules. But I wouldn't travel on any of these lines without ear plugs and an eye mask.

dec0dedab0de 2y ago

The whole point of mass transit is it's not a car, so comparing it to driving is apples and oranges. I completely disagree with this. The point of mass transit is to move people from one place to another. I routinely compare driving, trains, planes, buses, and ride shares. They all have pros and cons and it really depends on the trip.