Wonderful experience Very relaxing Only complaint is that bathrooms could be cleaner read more

Amtrak Private Room Booking - Trains Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

I have been here a few times before but never managed to submit a review. I took a train ride to Delaware from Atlanta. The Crescent train comes through Atlanta twice a day. Once in each direction. On this particular trip the train was supposed to leave around 11:30 pm. I arrived around 10pm. I checked my bags with no problem. Amtrak allows you to check two bags under 50 pounds each for free. The baggage handler tagged my bags and put them on a belt with no problems. My ticker eas tagged handicap so I was directed to a seating area near the steps and elevator to wait for the train. The station is small but it is kept up well. The waiting room has ample seating for the amount of customers they have every day. The train arrived at 10:30. We were called to line up to go downstairs to the track. Handicap passengers used the elevator. The attendant took us 3 at a time to the train on a golf cart. The front of the train is closest to the station. It is a long walk down the platform to the cars. The conductor will ask you the name of your destination, give you an assigned seat and then direct you to the train car. The conductor was a little tart when customers were asking her questions. After boarding, I tried to get comfortable. Keep in mind there are already people on train. Some were sleeping due to the time being very late. After a few stops the train emptied due to passengers getting off in South Carolina. I was able to move to a seat by myself. Very nice. The ride is long but I still would take the train again. read more

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Tonight, I had to drop off my elderly neighbor to visit family for the holiday. Now, I am a true Atlian and I have never been to the Amtrak station. Not to mention not even on the train. I've always wanted to, but back in the days Amtrak had a history of not being so safe. Peachtree Station/ Union Station, is a historic building from the 1970's. And it shows it's age. The Station is very small with NOOOOO parking, well not enough. The station has about 10 parking spot in the from of the building. Tonight is Thanksgiving Eve and customers was parking in the street and on the sidewalk to make sure their loves ones got in the station. I parked on the sidewalk to help my 80 year old neighbor inside. It's 10 o'clock at night and the station doesn't have security at all for customers and not enough outside lighting. There is a homeless person that sleeps on the corner everyday. I know this because my Physical therapist office is next door. Inside they didn't have a station attendant to help with any questions you may have. If I didn't walk my neighbor inside she probably would have missed her train. And not to mention, walking down those steep stairs to the train with her bags would have been impossible for her. I believe they have an elevator, but I didn't see any signage or anybody to ask. I was unable to get on the train to insure she got to her seat or to take pictures. I over heard other customers complaining about the parking and the staffing. They said eventually the station maybe moving to another location. That will be great. But overall it's was nice to finally visit the station hopefully I will book a trip somewhere just experience the train ride itself. read more

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Let me start by saying this was my first time riding Amtrak, and while it definitely won't be my last, it was certainly an experience. From the jump, things felt like disorganized chaos. The parking lot was incredibly small, with cars trying to squeeze in from both a main road and a side street that intersect right at the entrance. It felt like a mini traffic jam before you even got out of the car. Now to be fair, the staff was great--both at the station and on the train. A special shoutout to the crew member who let my friend hop off just long enough to make sure I got a seat beside him (he was coming from a different location). That gesture went a long way. But when it came time to board, things got confusing fast. There was little to no direction, and people were just standing around awkwardly as passengers getting off the train had to weave through the incoming crowd. It was like a free-for-all. To add to the confusion, there were signs everywhere telling passengers to tag their luggage, but the station area where you were supposed to get the tags was closed. Nobody had tags on their bags, and no staff was explaining what to do. Thankfully, it wasn't an issue, but it definitely caused some unnecessary stress. My biggest concern? Security--or the lack of it. It's 2025, and this is an interstate passenger train. Yet there were no metal detectors, no visible law enforcement, no K-9 units, nothing. Just a sign and a video saying "see something, say something." That felt a bit unsettling. Despite all that, the ride itself was smooth and enjoyable. The conductors were professional, efficient, and even though the train was a bit late, they were quick to coordinate with passengers getting off so we could keep things moving without further delay. Would I ride again? Yes--but with tempered expectations. read more

I have used Amtrak services for years on a variety of routes. I have only used Amtrak services in the Atlanta area once, taking a train from NYC to Atlanta on a sleeper car and will base this review on that experience, vs. including all my other experiences. First, the station in Atlanta is quite small and older. The staircase from the ground level track to the street level station is long and steep. There's an elevator somewhere. Look for that. You'll want it. Especially if you have large, heavy and/or a lot of bags, small kids or mobility issues. There is very limited parking for picking up arrivals and the lot is a dead end with very little space to turn around. Mostly I saw people stopping street side, on a street with no street side parking, to load up bags and people. So not the best scenario but you do what you have to do. The sleeper car we traveled in was quite old and not in very good repair. Lots of rattling and a couple of broken/repaired parts. But it is private and quiet as in, no other passenger's music or kid noise, just your own. The ride in these older cars is not smooth and as we slept on the train, in a room designed for this purpose, it wasn't a restful night at all. Plus, they do not provide a blanket. A top and bottom sheet and a pillow for each bunk are in the room. It gets cold in there. You'll want to bring a blanket if you are traveling in a sleeper car. Water and soft drinks are free for sleeper car guests. Check with your room steward or the Café staff for information on this benefit. I know Amtrak is trying to make changes by expanding it's services, adding new routes and upgrading some of the rail segments to high speed, but they also need to look into updating their sleeper trains. If we are paying top dollar for rail service (which we are), we should be getting top dollar rail service. And don't get me started on these microwave meals they serve sleeper guests since pandemic. They still show 'fine dining' photos on their website. Don't believe those. On the NYC to Atlanta train, meals were delivered to the room. There is no dining car on this train. I appreciate the long haul trains have a café car available for all guests. Besides the available microwaved hotdogs and hamburgers, they offer two premade sandwiches and salad options. They also have a lot of snack items for sale like candy and chips. The staff have always been very kind, friendly and helpful. Only bank/credit cards are accepted on board btw. Beverages offered include soda, water, coffee, milk, wine, beer and cocktails. I see a lot of room for continued improvement and feel more people would use rail service in the U.S. if the prices, facilities and services were better. Rail travel is an excellent way to get around especially if you don't drive, don't have a car or don't like to fly. Check out the Amtrak website (which is another place for improvement) for route details and prices. Buying tickets in advance may get you a lower rate on some routes vs. same day purchases. Long haul routes must be pre-booked. I use their phone app when traveling. I can follow the route and find out which stations are long stops and which are quick. That way I know when I can get out of the train to stretch my legs along the platform. It also lets you know if you are behind schedule, which happens often. Definitely leave a long layover time between connecting trains (Especially in Chicago!). Some of the long haul trains have very comfortable general seating options that recline. I recommend you bring your own food if going a long way, a blanket and sanitizing wipes for the bathroom. I'm not sure how often staff are able to clean the restrooms and there are a lot of people using them. Most trains have space for back packs and smaller bags overhead and some cars have an area for larger bags near the door. read more

Amtrak Private Room Booking - Small, older station with little available parking. - Trains Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

If I could give a 0 I would. Never never again. The Cresent from Atlanta to Philadelphia. 14 hours of Hell. Dirty, old rattle trap train. There were crushed crackers in the carpet at my seat. Bathrooms were disgusting with sticky floors and over flowing trash bins. The conductors were nasty and almost militant in demeanor. If you expect a smooth leisurely train experience that's not reality. You'll never sleep. The horn blows constantly at every stop. Others who can't sleep are listening to their phones and weren't forced to use head phones. The cafe is so outdated and the offerings are slight and pricey. You're stuck if you didn't bring food with you. My seat mate was a young smelly guy. I had to move away to breath fresh air. There's no scenery to speak of. Trees and the backs of warehouse's. It's not scenic. Best part was coming into DC you could see some monuments. The station there is gorgeous. But I'd rather see that without being tortured for 14 hours. Never never ever again. read more

Underwhelmed. I would've thought this Amtrak station in the hot and popping ATL would've been much bigger and offered so much more. I'm shocked that the New Orleans train station has this one beat in every way. For starters, their "first class" area is just that, an area. Not an enclosed private room or banquet hall with food, beverages and comfy seats like NYC and NOLA. The agents are not welcoming or friendly at all. I mean you really only have one job...do it with a smile. The place is pretty antiquated but clean and I honestly don't mind the dated feel. Takes me back to those old western movies. While I enjoy train rides, I normally get a room. However, $72 vs. $300 for 12 hours was a no brainer for me. With that, I opted to take a long and relaxing ride home in coach. Let's see how it goes lol. read more

Amtrak Private Room Booking - Trains Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

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The first time we were riding on Amtrak, we were two hours late and got held up for three hours Savannah. The second time they in the middle of nowhere with no power and no AC and no charging for over an hour and they were also 4 hours late on departure. would not recommend. read more

In a nut shell: Travelling by train in Atlanta SUCKS and this train station is a direct reflection of that! It's to the point where it actually pisses me off. Here's what you should know: The location is absolutely awful. I think it would be better located down the line somewhere else. Only bright spot is that decent food options are available nearby. Parking is non-existent. The suggested parking lot is a joke. It's a hotel lot that's like a half mile away. Good luck with that! All other parking in the area is not meant for overnight or long term. The vending machines are a complete dumpster fire. Don't do it to yourself. The station has an occupancy of maybe 40 or 50 people with some of the oldest most antiquated seating. I guess this is ok since only two trains a day come through. There is one train line...ONE! It runs once a day in each direction. And that's it. The transportation capitol of the south with one train line. You can't even go anywhere else in GA at this train station. Thank goodness for the airport. Final thoughts. A train station should mean something. It should be a place of commerce, a place of convenience, a place to wander, and a place with decent accommodations. Especially in a big city like Atlanta. There is no motivation to be at the station early. read more

Some of the nicest staff in the transportation industry they were very helpful at each stop in my journey

The only reason why I'm giving AMTRACk 4 stars is because their bathrooms are always disgusting. In addition, their wifi is horrible. read more

Oh come on....long term parking is at a motel up the road; 10-15 minute walk. That might sum this up. How can Amtrak, in a city of 6 million people, have this as their station? On a beautiful, great weather day, our train was over an hour late - and at a station that seats about 40 people quite uncomfortably - that hurts a bit. We literally wandered down Peachtree to find a place to snag a drink and relax. The broken vending machine at the station won't cut it. read more

Amtrak Private Room Booking - Trains Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

The experience was outstanding!!! Enjoyed the bed room and coach comforts. Ease of catching the train and the help received from the conductors and staff. We experienced six of Amtraks trains on our first trip on the train. Crescent, Cardinal, California Zephyr, Coastal Starlight, Sunset Limited and the Crescent again to end the trip . My only concerns would be that our bedroom wasn't cleaned daily as I expected nor was the communal showers and bathrooms. I didn't know if this was something that was part of the service or not. We also felt rushed during the dining experience in the dining car. So we had our meals in our room for the rest of our trip. We plan on taking another Amtrak adventure soon. read more

Last Week I was watching Globe Trekker on PBS and saw their series called Tough Trains. The first in the series was called The American Transcontinental. The host basically takes the train from the Atlantic to the Pacific through 4 time zones, 12 states all the while logging in 3,000+miles on the choo choo express. (You can find more information on the show here http://www.pilotguides.com/tv-shows/tough-trains/tough-trains-the-american-transcontinental-railroad/ ) Since taking the train across the country was on my bucket list I figured I come and check the place out. The station itself is exceptionally well preserved and maintained for a building built in the 1910's. The place is clean, well managed, the employees were super friendly and professional. When I was there the station was empty except for myself and a couple of employees. There are about 10 short term parking spots and no long term parking spots. You can park in some of the nearby parking lots for a small fee. Amtrak's website has the information and even lets you reserve a spot. Click on here: https://www.amtrak.com/stations/atl I was able to find out how to take the trip from Atlanta to San Francisco. It turns out it will be about 84 hours (not counting transfers) I would need to take the train on up to Washington DC. From there I head on to Chicago which will take me to Emryville, Ca which then will take me to Fisherman's Warf in San Francisco. The cost for a basic ticket is about $350.00 and about $1200 if I want to get a private room. 84 hours huh? might have to think about that for a bit. But for now I think I'll look at taking the train on up to DC which is about 13 hours. Hope I don't go insane being on there for that long.... 1218th review 2/20/2018 138th for 2018 read more

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I had a great experience and ride. The train was clean and comfortable but I wish masking was a requirement given the close quarters.

Buenas tardes me gustaría saber como hablar con alguna persona que esté en amtrak atlanta, el pasado 1ero octubre 2023 llegue a su estación venia d Washington, olvide mi celular en su asientos mientras esperaba que me recogieran y salí rápido, lo olvide. estaba a 4 horas d atlanta y se m hizo difícil ir a buscar mi celular , ahora estoy a 50 Minutos en cartesville y me gustaría saber si aun estará ese celular en sus oficinas. Para poder viajar hasta allá. Por favor espero su respuesta read more

We're somewhere north of Hotlanta on our way to Gastonia, NC tonight (my old stomping grounds) and DC in the morning and we're nestled in our beds & our choo choo ride has been delightful thus far. Boarded at Union Passenger station in Nawlins at 7am after 30 minutes in the Magnoloa room lounge with water, coffee and comfy seats. We boarded early at 6:25am &got settled in our little room before departing promptly at 7. The room is very small with 2 seats facing one another that folds down into a bed and a larger bunk above that slides down onto place. There's a toilet that doubles as a seat & fold up sink that has hot & cold water as well as ice water. Much like smaller boats they utilize every square inch of square. There's a thermostat for the AC, lots of light controls an intercom for the Porter, (our giliy Carl will be with us to DC, nice guy), a couple electrical outlets and big windows for the scenery. You can pull the curtains on the door and outer windows and it's private & pretty dark dark even facing the sun. If you want a shower there is a dedicated shower room with lots of fluffy towels and toiletries, it's pretty nice & located in the sleeper cars. The meals are included with all sleeper tickets so we were off to breakfast. We has 3 egg omelettes with cheese & veggies, I had sausage, wife had bacon, potatoes & croissant. I was extra hungry after the French foo foo dinner so I added pancakes & all topped off with OJ & Dunkin coffee, nice. Our guy Gary will be with us to DC as well & he's extra sharp & very nice) For lunch we both had house salads & cheeseburgers with Kettle chips & pickle finished off with a strawberry topped cheesecake & a special pecan topped chocolate & caramel cake. Dinner was extra special because I had the flat iron steak with large lump crabcake while my sweetheart had the grilled salmon and we both had baked potatoes and mushroom green beans. We finished this off with strawberry cheesecake & fresh coffee. Yes this is a lot of food, especially for us since we normally only have two meals a day, but the food is very good and it's very pleasant in the dining car. After dinner we went back to our room to read and watch the night lights. Carl showed up at 9:45pm to offer to setup our beds, freshen the linens and prepare our little space for the night. We headed for the lounge which has snacks and a full bar. Yuengling for my honey & ginger ale for me. I just started this review when Carl showed up to give us the thumbs up signaling our room was ready. So it's nice & dark, the wonderful swaying of the speeding train and the low rumble of the wheels rolling along the tracks. It's otherwise very quiet and quite peaceful so I will end this review for now. I've set my alarm so I can get a shower and lots of coffee before breakfast. (there's a coffee pot with ice & bottled water just outside our door, nice!) Bottom line: Choo choo rides are awesome, whi needs the hassle, stress & strain of 20+ hours of driving? Good night peeps!! read more

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I'm almost ashamed to say I was wrong about trains. Growing up I watched movies that made me think only bad things happened on/near trains. Throw Momma from the Train. Murder on the Orient Express. Fried Green Tomatoes. While You Were Sleeping. After seeing characters lose their lives, limbs and memories I made a mental note to avoid long-distance travel by train. But recently my guy convinced me to ride Amtrak from Atlanta to New Orleans. We took the Crescent and it shocked me how much I enjoyed the experience. Here are the reasons I appreciate train travel now: ---CONVENIENCE: No need to remove my shoes and stand on linoleum tramped by thousands of strange feet. No striking superhero poses inside full body scanners. No TSA pat downs/cavity searches. No purging liquids I wanted to keep. We made it to the train station about twenty minutes before departure, presented our tickets, hopped aboard, picked out our seats and stowed our carry-on bags. ---COMFORT: The reclining seats were spacious and had adjustable leg rests. Compared to airplane seats, we had leg room for days. There were only a few other people in our car so it was quiet enough for a nap. We walked to the lounge car when we needed to stretch our legs. Walking through the train felt a bit like surfing but the ride felt smoother while we were seated. ---CONNECTIVITY: We had electrical outlets next to the window seat and the free wifi signal was strong. They restrict riders from streaming YouTube and Netflix to keep the bandwidth available for other passengers. I surfed the internet without a problem even when we got out in the boonies. ---REAL FOOD: Forget packets of peanuts and pretzels...the train had a full-blown restaurant on board. Breakfast wasn't much to write home about but lunch was surprisingly enjoyable. My guy ate a burger and I had the chef's special: sliced turkey breast with mushroom sauce and mashed potatoes. We could have made dinner reservations too but instead nibbled on snacks we brought with us on the train. ---LEAF PEEPING: The panoramic windows made for great views, especially this time of year. I got to sit back and admire streaks of gold, amber and burnt orange as we sped through the landscape. I could have seen the leaves traveling by car but I would have been too focused on the road to appreciate them. Of course, there were a few aspects of train travel I didn't care for: ---RESTROOMS: They were clean to the eye but the aroma behind closed doors left much to be desired. I'll leave it at that. ---TRAVEL TIME: A flight there would have taken an hour and a half; by highway, six and a half hours. The train ride took an astounding eleven hours--really 7:30 AM to 7:30 PM due to a delay in New Orleans. We spent the entire day on the train. Still, we felt completely rested when we arrived instead of being road-weary. Our ride was so enjoyable that I can enthusiastically recommend Amtrak based on this first experience. read more

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This was my first time riding with Amtrak and I can say that I was a bit nervous I didn't know what to expect but to be honest riding with Amtrak is so much better than riding with greyhound or anything that I have ever done besides flying this is totally worth your money and I would encourage anybody to give Amtrak a try I promise you will be using them any day. I always cringe every time I have to take the greyhound so knowing that there is another option out there makes traveling even better. So I currently live in Florida but I took the Amtrak out of Atlanta all the way to DC and to Virginia and to be honest the DC Amtrak was absolutely amazing it had a mall in there restaurants and also people selling stuff but the Amtrak in Atlanta was scary only because the traffic is freaking terrible. It was raining but that still didn't stop people from speeding and going really fast but all in all I would recommend Amtrak to anybody who is just trying to travel without flying. read more

Amtrak Private Room Booking - Trains Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

I decided to take the train from Atlanta to Houston for the experience. The day of my departure I received a text message that the train is delayed by about 3 hours. Which I don't mind since the initial departure time was 8:30AM requiring me to get up earlier than I'd like to be up on a Sunday morning. I take the taxi from Midtown Atlanta to the Amtrack Peachtree station for about $10 (I had the taxi driver make a Starbucks stop). The Peachtree facilities had bathroom facilities, indoor and outdoor waiting areas and a vending machine. Access to the train for boarding is via elevator or a long staircase. There seemed to be only one Amtrack personnel manning this train station on a Sunday. There were a few people trying to get information but the personnel manning the booth was running around trying to get people who need help to the train platform early. I arrived at about 10:30 AM.... By 11:21 our train roles in! Boarding took about 25-35 minutes and we were on our way. If this is the first time your taking a train ride. The Crescent had LOTS OF LEG ROOM in coach! Power outlets available, leg rest and a table similar to a plane is available. The cons of riding the train is reliability. If you have time to spare you will be fine, otherwise, expect to encounter some delays. read more

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Amtrak Express Shipping Drop off at Atlanta I dropped off boxes for shipping today at the Atlanta station. Note: The parking is a little weird but there are a few spots right in front of the building. Beth at Amtrak helped me today. I brought in 9 boxes, really not knowing what the experience was going to be like. There are carts at the station, each fit about 4 "small" Home Depot boxes, 5 if you push it. Beth helped me push the carts in. She was such a joy and really brightened my day. She made me laugh, she was kind, and had many words of wisdom. She is exactly who you want working with customers, she has such a vibrant personality. I was so happy to have the brief interaction with her, and hope to run into her again in future Amtrak shipment experiences out of Atlanta. This was my first time shipping through Amtrak, and it was an easy process. If you need to do the same, be sure to have clear labels with your name, address, city, and phone number. Otherwise I was in and out in about the time you would expect shipping 9 boxes with no line, parking was easy once I found it, and it was a painless experience. Assuming the pick up is as easy as the drop off, I will make this my go-to for large shipments. read more

I just took a 1,500 mile round trip on Amtrak. Overall I thought it was a great experience. We experienced minor delays in both directions but still arrived on time going out and only 5 minutes late returning. The station in Atlanta is a classic passenger station. There is definitely a lack of parking available (only 6 spaces) and you cannot leave your car here, so you will need someone to drop you off and pick you up. It would be better if they had additional personnel around just to answer questions and assist with luggage. I was on a total of 4 different trains, traveling most of the way in coach class and on one leg I spent a little extra to ride in the business class car. Even the least expensive class (coach) had 2 power outlets next to the seats. The seats recline, have calf and foot rests and a tray folds down and extends from the back of the seat in front of you. Some of the crews were friendlier than others and I feel like they could do better in that department. I met 3 people onboard that were taking their very first train trips so the crews should keep that in mind. Everyone doesn't necessarily know ahead of time what they're supposed to be doing. If they were friendlier and had more parking I think they'd have much greater potential. I'm including a picture from my seat in coach class. A few items I HIGHLY recommend bringing along: ear plugs, eye shades, and one of those donut pillows that goes around your neck. These greatly aid sleeping at night. read more

Amtrak Private Room Booking - Coach class seating - Trains Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

Worst mode of transportation available. I purchased my ticket over the phone because I wanted to be sure I could ask Amtrak a bunch of questions about taking Amtrak. I was moving so I had quite a few boxes. And questions. I was really impressed that they told me that I could take 2 pretty large carry-on luggages, a purse, laptop bag, garment bag. And then you can check two luggages and then check an additional 2 for a $20 fee per bag. So I bought the ticket and made sure that my luggage could be boxes. I then inquired about having some assistance with my baggage at both locations (Atlanta and Penn Station) and the Amtrak rep put those options on my ticket. He then tells me that I just need to get there a few minutes before the train departs, and I should be fine. On the day of departure, I get to the train station 1 hour a head of time despite what the Amtrak phone rep told me. It is very confusing. If you have lots of luggage or need handicapped assistance, there is a very small driveway to pull into, but only 2 cars at a time can fit. If you pull to the side of the road, a police officer is present handing out tickets. I wait in line to get baggage assistance, and at the counter the guy tells me that they don't offer that service in Atlanta. I ask him why the national Amtrak line would tell me that they do and he replies, "they don't know what we do here." He then tells me that if I check my bags that they won't arrive until the next day. I then told him that the guy told me to show up a few minutes before the train departs, and the counter guy tells me that luggage must be checked in 45 minutes prior to departure or it will go out on the train the following day. I had to have my friends locate a luggage cart and get my luggage into the station. No easy task considering that there are more people in the station than are probably allowed by the fire department. Once in, I had to insure my luggage for the max amount because I wasn't sure that I'd ever see it again since it was coming on another train. I have all my other luggage and it is difficult to get it on the train. There are only stairs, no escalator, and the elevator is not easy to get to. Luckily some guy helped me get my stuff down the stairs. THEN they sort you by cart and destination. It is not easy getting your luggage onto the train. Once on the train it was ok. You sit next to a stranger, but there is no arm divider between the two of you. Sleeping on the train is terrible. No one ever tells you where the food carts are. You just have to go exploring to find out. Toward the end of the ride, the water ran out in the bathroom. People talk throughout all hours of the night. Horrible ride. The next day, I had to venture BACK into Penn Station to get my luggage. It's not really clear what is going on. It looks like a circus. I had to ask 4 people how to get luggage assistance. Once I did, it was a breeze. NYC Amtrak people have got it together more than Atlanta by far. A guy helped me get all my boxes on a cart and took it outside for me. He then hailed an SUV cab for me and I was on my way. tl:dr Amtrak sucks in Atlanta. Is okay in NYC. Don't forget to tip the people that help you with your luggage. read more

What with it becoming more and more difficult to fly, my car being in disrepair, and my low funds, I recently took my first journey on the Amtrak train. Riding by train is cheap and much more pleasant than the other cheap option - Greyhound bus. If you are in no hurry to reach your destination I highly recommend it. I bought my tickets online. You are allowed quite a bit of carry-on - two suitcases (small-med) plus other small bags such as laptop cases. So I decided not to check anything. Therefore once I arrived at the Buckhead station all I had to do was print my tickets from an kiosk (much like the ones you find at airports) and wait to board the train. Everything is more relaxed on the train. Now, it was exactly on time (down to the minute) in its arrivals and departures. But otherwise - you can carry on a lot, they do not check your ticket until the train is already on its way to the next stop (can you get a free one-station ride?), and the ample personal space even in coach - and it adds up to a very pleasant alternative to flying. My 10 hour ride north from Atlanta to Lynchburg, Virginia took exactly two hours longer than the journey by car. And guess how long we stopped in Charlotte - two hours. The only drawback was the train was crowded and I had a co-passenger beside me most of the way. But on my return a week later I did not have a single co-passenger. I slept almost the entire way. I stayed awake for the scenic journey through northern Georgia towns at dawn. That made the ride. My only real complaint was that some of the train's cars are in need of retiring. I hope that the recent increase in passengers will fund updates. Added bonus - riding the train is the greenest way to go. Plus Amtrak's website allows you to purchase carbon credits so you can go neutral! Riding the train is the way to go (pun!). read more

This review is about the Atlanta Peachtree station. I came from New Orleans and made the mistake of checking a bag. It took one hour to get my bags. The inefficiency is beyond imagination. There is a guy working behind the counter named Steve (48-ish, white guy). Steve is an absolute fool. When I asked who should I complain to about the baggage problem he said "customer service...or your Congressman". Really Steve? I asked him "why would I call my Congressman?" He really didn't have an answer except it was "just a suggestion". Oh, and instead of us getting our bags, old Steve was reading the bag numbers like they were winning lottery numbers. (There were 5 of us and my bags were emblazoned with my name). To sum it up, I like the train, but the Atlanta station is a hot mess and Steve the counter guy is incompetent, if not an absolute tool. read more

This is the only Amtrak station in Atlanta. It is always crowded, it is frustrating, you can't hear directions, and parking and pickup is a nightmare. Worst of all are the many cab drivers who try to pick you up. While that is nice, it kept my relative from picking me up. She had to park two blocks away. However the customer service here is excellent and the people really try to make coming here to be pleasing. I was very impressed given the circumstances. read more

Don't do it. Don't do it! Service great, food good, delays horrendous! If u enjoy sitting on a train for an hour at a time to wait for freight trains to pass, or for construction; then this is the ride for you. Trip from Atlanta to New Orleans on a Saturday- 4 hours longer than expected. Trip from New Orleans to Atlanta on a Tuesday - on track for another 4+ hour delay. 7pm arrival is now estimated at 10pm, I bet it will be 11. We have been sitting on the track for over an hour past Birmingham. 30 minutes ago, they said we'd be moving "soon." Get a moped, or a bike, or just walk. read more

To supplement my carless existence, I take Amtrak from here to Spartanburg, SC a few times a year to visit the parents. It leaves at night which is great, I can work all day, run home, pack and head to the station. You don't have to get there ass early (I get there like 15-20 mins before departure) and you literally just walk on the train. It's a 3.5 hr ride up, which is only 30 more mins than it would be to drive. It's actually quite relaxing. Seats are suuuper spacious, but there's a cool bar car with $6 mini bottles (CHEAP for a train and a 1.75 oz pour haha). I've met several interesting people, including this Pakistani med student from houston who was so enamored with me he walked me off the train, but I digress. One downfall could be the 4 AM return time from SC. Once I'm on the train, there's plenty of room as I've only had someone beside me once in 2 years. You just pass out and bam wake up here. Only complaint: Stupid people, but they're everywhere. Like the lady who kept insisting that she had never ridden the train before and didn't want to miss her stop - SIX HOURS AWAY - and didn't know what she was doing. Oh and that she "didn't have her wings" so she doesn't fly. Or the slow old people. That being said, I couldn't take the train more than 4 hours or so - that seat would get old, fast. read more

Since I spin in ATL now ( DJ ) for the novice. I pretty much find it hassle free. They need a larger station, to accommodate a major, metropolitan city ! read more

Had to get to Clayton County Georgia. So I looked for a change. Of course the suites were a little pricey, so I just stayed in coach. The staff was very pleasant and accomadating. They only had one dinner car, make sure you know the difference between dinner and Cafe car. Dinner serves a full menu (good food) and the Cafe car sales snacks and micro wave fare (dried out Hot dog and buns). The Dinner car fills fast so make reservations. Make reservations well in advance train seems to fill fast. Guess folks don't like going up in the air? Some idiots talk at night when trying to sleep (stupidity prevails in all transport). The Atlanta station is like a bathroom at Grand Central station in New York, very small. Also remember it was the only national transportation system that ran uninterupted on 9/11. i think everyone should try this method of transportation at least once in their life. read more

Amtrak sucks. We were on #19 going into New Orleans. We were 4.5 hours late. Now, we're on the number #20 train coming back from New Orleans into Atlanta. We've been stuck on the track 5 minutes from the station for over an hour and a half. Now our return trip is 4.5 hours late just like our original trip into Nola. At what point does this become kidnapping? 9 hours of my life i can't get back. Do not take the train. Fly or drive. You'll get there in less time. They don't deserve even 1 star, but I had to choose one to be able to post a review. read more

I only gave this three stars for historical nostalgia ; the building is quaint. The layout is illogical. They need an escalator not steps. Clerks need to be much more firm about crowding at entrances & baggage areas. Handicapped assistance is unforgiveably poor. They need a grant for upgrades or Atlanta tourism will wither. read more

Instead of the usual drive through construction on I-20 to get to Birmingham recently, I decided to try Amtrak. I had taken Amtrak several years ago, from Philadelphia to Baltimore and back, and had a positive experience, so I was actually looking forward to seeing how it would be different this time aboard Amtrak's Crescent. With a ticket price less than it would cost to drive, I was all in. I arrived at the Atlanta Amtrak station at Brookwood about 10 minutes before 8:00am, with the train scheduled to leave at 8:38. I had checked out the website, which told me to be there 30 minutes early if I wanted to check luggage. I had picked up my tickets the night before, but went to get in line to check my bag. After a minute or two, a uniformed Amtrak agent asked if I needed to buy a ticket. I told him I just needed to check my bag, to which he replied I had to have done that an hour before the train left. This didn't make any sense to me considering the train wasn't there yet, and all they did was take all the baggage down in the elevator, but arguing with him wasn't going to change anything. My bag was small and light enough to carry on, so it wasn't a big deal. I later found out it would have been an enormous pain in the ass to pick up checked luggage at the destination (add about 30 minutes wait time). The train arrived right on schedule at 8:12, and the arriving passengers disembarked. I was amazed at how many people were traveling on the train, considering how much Americans, and Atlantans in particular, love their cars. A few minutes later, they called for departing passengers to board and I made my way to the platform. After getting on the train, the attendant directed me to a seat. I honestly couldn't believe how far away the seat in front of me was; the railcar was quite spacious. I chatted for a few minutes with the woman seated next to me, and before long we were on our way and she was asleep. We departed at exactly 8:38. We moved slowly for awhile until we got out of the city, then picked up speed and didn't stop until we reached Anniston, the next scheduled stop. For the most part the scenery was forest on both sides right up to the tracks, with an occasional trip right through the middle of small towns like Villa Rica, Temple and Bremen. There was the occasional trash-strewn yard, but it was still better than seeing nothing but highway. One thing of note: the sheer number of people waving at the train as we passed was amazing. Even when we crossed Logan Martin Lake in Alabama, a middle-age couple in a fishing boat were waving. Of course, there was also the man on the side of the tracks as we approached Birmingham waving something else, and to be honest I wasn't impressed with it. I think he was just there to pee in the woods and didn't really care that a passenger train was passing at the time. Coming into Birmingham, we stopped for about 10 minutes near Irondale, which looked like a once-great town now in serious disrepair. It reminded me of Radiator Springs in the movie Cars: the highway passed it by and passenger trains no longer stopped there. No announcement was made about why we were stopped, and we arrived at the Birmingham station about 10 minutes late. The return trip was much the same, except shortly after leaving Birmingham the power in my railcar went out for a minute, which hosed the AC. As a result, we sweltered until we got to Anniston since the reset switch is OUTSIDE the train and could only be tripped when the train was stopped. They fixed it during the extremely short stop in Anniston, and we froze the rest of the way to Atlanta. Additionally, the attendants didn't seem to care that someone was watching a movie without headphones, even after I complained about it. Despite leaving Birmingham about 5 minutes late, we arrived in Atlanta exactly on time. In all, I guess I was satisfied, though the lack of AC for 2 hours and the seemingly made-up-on-the-spot 1 hour baggage check rule definitely count against Amtrak here. Other than the station agent in Atlanta, every Amtrak employee I interacted with was very pleasant. I didn't have to drive through the construction on I-20, however, and I had a good 4 hours of reading, music and sightseeing each way, so overall I'll give Amtrak three stars. read more

Where the hell was that picture taken? There is nothing in that train station that looks like that. The station is itty bitty considering the size of Atlanta. Both times I went through it was super crowded, standing room only and hectic. Also if you need to use the elevator you have to walk across tracks in use, which was terrifying to do with an infant. The train is a realitivly cheap and easy mode of public transport and if your going to ride the rails your at their mercy so be prepared when you get to Atlanta that its a tight fit to get through there with a suitcase and that there are no hot blondes lounging around being glamorous. read more

We took Amtrak from Seattle to LA two years ago and are still talking about the great experience. We wanted to take Chicago to Seattle next and the Amtrak website needs work. I tried booking a Roomette. The site shows available so you go through the entire booking and payment process only to find out that the roomette is not available a portion of the trip. So I called Amtrak and their customer service was miserable. They couldn't explain why it showed available and when I questioned further the agent had no interest in helping me further. Her attitude was less than what I expected based on our previous experience. Amtrak, fix you site and improve your customer service! read more

I dropped my cousin off at the Amtrak station today, and as you entered the door to the station the smells hits you in the face. It smells like a nasty bathroom in the station. Amtrak should be ashamed of themselves. Please Amtrak clean up that Atlanta Station on Peachtree street. read more

The phones are always busy or they never answer the phone. I've been trying to get some information regarding shipping of few baggage. The person on the other side was rude and couldn't wait to hangup. read more

The staff are not friendly at all! Several people asked nicely about the delay and they just looked at the person and shook their heads! This is my first trip and probably the last! read more

I take Amtrak from Gainesville, GA to Washington DC on a regular basis. It is often late arriving (as much as two hours), but it almost always arrives on time in DC. The only time we were late was when there was a bomb threat on the tracks and then a train then broke down in front of us. So, in spite of it showing up late, I consider it reliable. Riding the train can vary, depending on who's on the car with you. There is almost always one crazy lady shouting on her cell phone late into the night. One awful trip the lady in front of me was shouting in Spanish into Skype on her phone, and child in the rear of the car was having a meltdown. Another time the person sitting next to me was so morbidly obese she took up half my seat. Fortunately, you can escape this by going into the club car. Often the group in the club car is very sociable, so it can be very entertaining. Generally I get a sleeper car to avoid the problems above, compared to flying by plane it's not expensive and I can sleep, or work if I wish, which you can't do while driving or flying. The dining car is expensive, but the meals are included with the ticket if you get a sleeper. Otherwise, I recommend bringing food on with you. The snack car serves only microwave crap. I avoid the Atlanta station because it is hard to access, there is no parking, and getting there requires dealing with traffic. If you do go from Atlanta, be aware the staff always seems to be experiencing their first day at work. DO NOT CHECK YOUR LUGGAGE ON THE RETURN TRIP! If you do, expect to wait at least an hour to get it while the staff seems to struggle to figure out what to do. Leaving Atlanta, I found it worthwhile to use Uber, the but the drivers never seem to be able to find their way into the station, so you have to get out in the main road. The Gainesville station is unattended, it's actually an old rail station that is Norfolk-Southern's division office. There are NSX employees there, but they are not able to help you with Amtrak stuff, but it does make the station more secure. The station has a waiting room and bathrooms, which are kept clean. There are snack and soda machines there. That's about it. The seats are the old church pew type seats they used in old train stations. If you are not a social person, you probably will hate the station because there is always a lot of back and forth conversation among all the passengers waiting for the train, and also often between then and NSX employees. The train itself is OK. Staff vary from curt to friendly. Dining car and snack car staff are generally friendly. Generally it seems to be expected that you will talk to other passengers, so you will really hate your trip if you are an introvert, and you should not ride this train. If you are extroverted like me, you will like it. The big downer is the bathrooms. They get nasty as the trip progresses, they were not designed well. The holding tanks get full, people miss when peeing, and leave trash on the floor. Knock, because some people don't understand how to lock the door. I have a really gross image burned in my brain of some really nasty looking woman sitting on the toilet. The train is infinitely better than flying. You don't have to deal with airport traffic, airport parking, or knowing that someone in TSA is looking at your naked body in the scanner. You aren't crammed in like an airplane, and you can get up and move around. It's easy to read, fairly easy to sleep, and the scenery is good when daylight comes (most of the trip is at night). read more

Traveling with a group of veterans.... On the trip down, we arrived at Amtrak at 0600 hrs for a departure at 0730 hrs. After arrival, we were told it would be on a one hour delay. We did not board for departure until 1230 hrs. We had multiple delays and and at one point we sat for approximately 30 mins, with no air and no lights. This caused us to arrive 4 hrs late in New Orleans. The return trip left as advised, we had multiple delays along the way, but the worst was the 3 hrs and 45 mins delay, as we sat 3 miles, I repeat, 3 miles, from the Atlanta Amtrak station. We were hot, tired and late meeting our rides. Some of our rides left, a couple stay and one stayed charging a $150 delay fee. One veteran, with severe PTSD began to experience issues while stuck on the train. The only time we saw an Amtrak employee, was when a hateful man greeted our group of veterans, saying that there were snacks and water in the club car, while we had to go get, if we wanted it. The employee wouldn't tell us what the problem was and was very rude when he was asked. He was very unprofessional! He deserves a reprimand. Would not recommend. I would rather ride a freight train!!!! read more