<p>Interesting article on the topic here: [GOOD</a> Magazine | Goodmagazine - Train in Vain](<a href=“http://www.goodmagazine.com/section/Features/train_in_vain]GOOD”>http://www.goodmagazine.com/section/Features/train_in_vain)</p>
<p>My mother, whose family lived in Buffalo, went to college at Mills in the Bay Area. All of her travel back and forth was by train. (Basically, she did one round trip per year.) The ones she really remembers – i.e., the ones I heard about a lot growing up – were when she went through Canada (and stopped at Bamff along the way).</p>
<p>In college ( late 70’s), I always took the train between New York and D.C. I don’t have any bad memories. I also fondly remember a trip from New York to California (with stops in Albuquerque, Grand Canyon, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Spokane…) in the mid 70’s, and an interesting one from Mexico that included standing room only (until we searched desperately for left over pesos and upgraded) and lots of chickens.</p>
<p>p3t - I think a lot depends on his sleeping abilities, also. Several summers ago our family took almost two weeks in Europe, without renting a car. We took trains from country to country. On our last leg from Salzburg to Paris, it was an overnight train ride, so we opted for the sleeper car (two sets of bunk beds). We thought we’d sleep like babies. H, D2 and I slept horribly - the tracks wound through mountain passes, through tunnels (our ears would pop each time), etc. When you’re lying down and hitting so many curves as such a fast speed, you tend to roll back and forth on your mattress. </p>
<p>However, D1, who, since birth (and still to this day) falls asleep as a passenger in anything that moves, woke up the next morning saying, “That was the best night’s sleep I’ve ever had.” We all wanted to kill her! I think I slept better in the coach area on my Syracuse to Chicago trip than I did in my sleeper on my Salzburg to Paris trip.</p>
<p>A follow up question… I remember watching one of your son’s short films several months ago that you provided a link to, and if I remember correctly, he’s not exactly towering tall? He may be comfortable in a coach seat; for me the difference in price did not make up for the difference in sleeping ability.</p>
<p>My D wanted to take a train (alone) from Riga, Latvia to Moscow, about 20 hours if I remember correctly. It was very cheap for a seat, but as much as flying if she had a sleeper berth. I wasn’t comfortable with the idea and talked her out of it since she was waiting on a call back after a job interview, and she ended up getting the job.</p>
<p>Spent 33 hours on a train in Australia and it was on time. Totally uncomfortable w/o a sleeper. Would be cheaper and shorter trip taking Greyhound coast to coast. Amtrak is at the mercy of freight lines and never on time.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t say Amtrak is * never* on time.
we take short runs between Seattle/Portland/Bellingham/Vancouver quite a bit and they are on time more than they are late. They can also make up for short delays and you may arrive early. ( you can also track the train online)
But just as with any trip, the longer it is, the more opportunities for traffic or other delays.</p>
<p>When going from Portland to Seattle for example, we always make sure not to get the train that originates in San Diego, as that has a higher chance of delay. I also have been delayed up to 40 minutes a short walk from the station because of freight switching lines. But for the most part, it has been very enjoyable.</p>
<p>I love taking sleepers on Amtrak. While generally it’s expensive (because it includes 3 meals a day, and train meals are expensive), the roomettes aren’t anywhere near as pricey as the bedrooms. The roomettes wold be perfect for one person. Shower and toilet are down the hall (or downstairs) in the same car.</p>
<p>I haven’t taken a long trip in Coach and I’m not sure I’d want to, but then I’m not 18.</p>
<p>I have eaten plenty of train food–including on the City of New Orleans–with no ill effects. It’s not necessarily great food, but it has never poisoned me.</p>