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Amtrak relaunches US Rail Pass – Travel the country for 30 days for $299

businessinsider.com

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Re: Amtrak relaunches US Rail Pass – Travel the country for 30 days for $299

#21

Post by dragontamer »

CPLNTN wrote: post #17
dragontamer wrote: post #2

Train Rides seem to be ideal for any trip less than 4 hours. You don't have as much security concerns, you have far more legroom, and the constant ability to walk around the cabin at all times (often to the dining car where you can get overpriced beer / light meals, but... better than nothing at all). Hour-for-hour, a train ride is far more comfortable than a plane ride. However, once we start looking at 4-hour or 8-…

Living in Europe and traveling by train for 7/8 hours every two months for work. What kind of shitty train does only 50mph? I would say the convenience it’s highly dependent on the destination. Here the train station it’s often near the city center while to get to the airport you need additional transportation, As you said you have more legroom but also there is enough space to use a laptop and actually work connecte…

> Living in Europe and traveling by train for 7/8 hours every two months for work. What kind of shitty train does only 50mph?

There are legs of the train that go above 100mph. But all-in-all, once freight traffic and other issues are considered, you're averaging no better than 50mph on US trains.

As a sibling-comment says: US freight gets priority in our country. The US doesn't really have a passenger rail system, we have a freight rail system that happens to sometimes have passenger rail as a 2nd citizen.

Re: Amtrak relaunches US Rail Pass – Travel the country for 30 days for $299

#23

Post by thehappypm »

usr1106 wrote: post #6

$299 for 30 days sounded to good to be true. I used it nearly 30 years ago and it was something like that. But it's really $499 after the introductory offer ending already the day after tomorrow. And it's limited to 10 trips, which can be problem if you also want to do some shorter day trips e.g. in the Northeast.

$299 for 10 trips would make for a phenomenal way to get around the Northeast. Fly into DC and do the government sites and museums. Head to Philadelphia for some more history. New York City. On the way up to New York City, a few great New England beach towns like Mystic Connecticut, or even a ferry to Block Island from New London. Up to Boston for history and universities. Then Portsmouth New Hampshire, finally Portland, then back to Boston to fly back home.

Re: Amtrak relaunches US Rail Pass – Travel the country for 30 days for $299

#24

Post by Mountain_Skies »

jdhn wrote: post #14
dragontamer wrote: post #2

Train Rides seem to be ideal for any trip less than 4 hours. You don't have as much security concerns, you have far more legroom, and the constant ability to walk around the cabin at all times (often to the dining car where you can get overpriced beer / light meals, but... better than nothing at all). Hour-for-hour, a train ride is far more comfortable than a plane ride. However, once we start looking at 4-hour or 8-…

>You don't have as much security concerns For now. I feel that it's only a matter of time before the TSA gets involved, and that train ride that was hyped up as being quicker than a plane ride will suddenly no longer be as quick.

TSA tried once. Amtrak, who has actual police with actual arrest powers, said next time they showed up and harassed Amtrak's passengers, they'd get thrown in jail. IIRC, Amtrak and TSA came to a face saving agreement that essentially made it clear that TSA has no say in Amtrak security. Unlike an airport that has many airlines, Amtrak stations only serve Amtrak so they have complete control. Not sure how things work at Canadian stations that Amtrak services but I'm betting it's not through a TSA type of situation.

Re: Amtrak relaunches US Rail Pass – Travel the country for 30 days for $299

#25

Post by Mountain_Skies »

siruncledrew wrote: post #22

What are some of the best paths to take for fun in the US to get the most out of the 10 trips?

I've did Portland-Seattle-Vancouver about a decade ago, which was nice. It's not fast but you don't want it to be if your objective is to see the scenery. Much of the route hugs the coast so make sure you're on the water facing side of the train if you don't want to spend a lot of the day looking at a wall of trees. At that time they didn't have one day through service between Portland and Vancouver but spending an afternoon and night in Seattle was nice since I'd never been there before. When booking you just have to make sure you don't accidentally sign up for the Amtrak bus that runs on the same route. Not sure if service into Canada has been restored yet.

Re: Amtrak relaunches US Rail Pass – Travel the country for 30 days for $299

#26

Post by Mountain_Skies »

RosanaAnaDana wrote: post #13
asguy wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What years was this? I’ve ridden the Pacific Surfliner a bunch, and have only had minimal hiccups. And a bunch of interactions with the mentally unstable, but that’s not Amtrak’s fault.

I've taken the Starlight enough times to just plan an 8 hour delay into the trip.

The only way I can take Amtrak is if I consider the ride to be part of the vacation. Using it for business or time sensitive trips outside of the northeast corridor is a bit risky.

Re: Amtrak relaunches US Rail Pass – Travel the country for 30 days for $299

#28

Post by systemvoltage »

Mountain_Skies wrote: post #24
jdhn wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>You don't have as much security concerns For now. I feel that it's only a matter of time before the TSA gets involved, and that train ride that was hyped up as being quicker than a plane ride will suddenly no longer be as quick.

TSA tried once. Amtrak, who has actual police with actual arrest powers, said next time they showed up and harassed Amtrak's passengers, they'd get thrown in jail. IIRC, Amtrak and TSA came to a face saving agreement that essentially made it clear that TSA has no say in Amtrak security. Unlike an airport that has many airlines, Amtrak stations only serve Amtrak so they have complete control. Not sure how things work…

Greetings HN, please start a startup that wipes TSA out of business.

Re: Amtrak relaunches US Rail Pass – Travel the country for 30 days for $299

#29

Post by refurb »

listenallyall wrote: post #15

Up until a few years ago, AirAsia had a similar program. Flight routes were designated in 1, 2, or 3 points, and for just about $280US you got about 30 points to use in 60 days. You had to plan in advance and be willing to fly at very off-peak times, but you could easily visit a dozen cities all over SE Asia and get a value worth double of what it cost. Really wish they would bring that back!

Had a friend buy the JetBlue pass way back when and she flew all over South America, almost every weekend and the pass was $600 for 3 months I think.

Re: Amtrak relaunches US Rail Pass – Travel the country for 30 days for $299

#30

Post by Larrikin »

dragontamer wrote: post #4
JKCalhoun wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Agree. (And bring your own food.) I would love to see someone come up with a few US Rail Pass itineraries for those of us needing a hand to hold. It would seem to be a rather fun thing to blog. It's almost a puzzle of sorts to keep it to 10 trips, within 30 days, maximize the tourism potential (whatever that means) with Amtrak lines. Bonus points for things to see at each destination, food, cheap places to stay....

I have to imagine that just running along the Northeast Regional is the big one. Its the most profitable line of Amtrak for a reason. Norfolk Virginia is just a short bus-ride to Virginia Beach and serves as either the starting point, or ending point of the journey. Travel north to Washington DC, then Philadelphia, then New York City, and then Boston. That takes you across a major cultural center of the USA that pret…

As someone who grew up in Richmond I'd argue the river, especially if you know where to go on the river, is just as nice as Virginia Beach with more stuff to do on land and culture in Richmond.
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