Dispatch Showcase The Enjoyment of Riding Amtrak « Columbus Underground Messageboard

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Dispatch Showcase The Enjoyment of Riding Amtrak

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Started 3 months ago by News
Latest reply from Nicholas Herum

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News
Columbus Underground
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Amtrak train takes in scenery between New York and Chicago
By Jim Loomis
FOR THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Sunday February 5, 2012 6:06 AM

Amtrak’s Cardinal is not a big train — just one sleeping car, three coaches and a combination dining/lounge car that follow a meandering southerly route between New York and Chicago. But between those frenetic metropolitan centers, the Cardinal covers more than 1,100 miles, makes 31 stops and passes through some of the loveliest rural and wild areas in the East.

READ MORE: http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/travel/2012/02/05/1-cardinal-migration.html

Posted 3 months ago #
leftovers

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I once took Amtrak from Cleveland to Buffalo. It was kinda horrible. We ended up being 45 minutes late (took about 4 hours) and there was a very horrible odor in the train car. There were very few people on the train. I am hoping that if more people started using rail that it would improve. I have heard that the East coast routes have a much higher passenger usage and the cars and timetables are much, much better. I think the cost was only about $30 (one way), but I would be reluctant to do it again until I knew things had improved.

Posted 3 months ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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I imagine that the experience varies from route to route.

When our kids are a bit bigger, we plan on taking more amtrak trips with them. The train ride should be just as much of a part of the trip as the destination. Sort of like a moving hotel.

Former Columbus resident Jeff Johnson recently documented his trip on the California Zephyr (2400 miles from Chicago to Emeryville, California) and despite a few delays along the way, it sounds like a pretty amazing experience. He posted lots of photos (via Flickr) to boot:

http://urbaninfill.wordpress.com/

Posted 3 months ago #
Pickerington_Kyle

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I rode the one from Charleston WV to Washington D.C. Some car's did smell bad. Nice leg room though. Comfortable. Food sucked.

Posted 3 months ago #
Nicholas Herum
Columbus
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Rode from Indy to Chicago a few years ago. It was a little crowded on the return trip but the price was great and it was wonderful not having to deal with the hassle of taking a car into downtown Chicago. I really wish Columbus had an Amtrak station.

Posted 3 months ago #