I was pleasantly surprised at what a good experience it was to travel by train from Dallas to Austin. I'm even more surprised that more people don't take advantage of this terrific and inexpensive travel option.
First of all, before I gush too much about Amtrak, be advised that my experience is limited to a relatively short distance of travel. If you're traveling from, say, Dallas to New York or LA, I can see how the novelty would wear off fairly quickly and you'd be regretting the decision of refusing to pack yourself into the high-stress sardine can that is air travel.
But as long as you're traveling maybe 8 hours or less, save youself a ton of money and hassle, make life easy and comfortable, and go by train!
This was my first experience traveling by train so my only context was traveling by air. Having bought my $29 ticket, I expected to go to some crowded station, stand in long lines, get stuffed into a seat, buckle in, and have nothing to look forward to but a complimentary soda.
Perhaps that low expectation contributed to my utter satisfaction with this mode of travel, but for what it's worth, it was nothing at all like being herded into a plane and hating life.
On the contrary, the station in Dallas was not only uncrowded (why??), but it had a charm to it like train stations you see in old movies. Then again, I walked straight through the station and to the tracks since I already purchased my ticket online and only needed to have it handy on my phone.
The train arrived on time and let out several passengers. The boarding process was far, FAR more smooth and far, FAR less hassle than getting on any plane. With no assigned seating and few people on the train (why??), I could go to the upper floor and just pick out a good seat, expecting the seat next to me to end up vacant.
The first thing I noticed was that there's LOTS of room. I'm only 5'6", but it's clear that even someone substantially taller than I am would be able to stretch out without bending their legs.
There's also enough room that you don't experience the old "get your seat off my lap" situation that happens on an airplane when the person in front of you reclines; making it easier for you to recline because you don't worry about the person behind you getting crushed.
Oh, and when I say "recline", I don't mean like the 6 millimeters of reclining you get from an airplane seat; I mean reeee-cliiine. Not exactly to a flat position, but much easier to recline to a comfortable angle.
The cabin was clean and the temperature was comfortable. Once we got going, I also couldn't help but notice how smooth and quiet the ride was. And look! There's an electrical outlet! I was able to keep my phone charged while watching videos and listening to music. Bring your laptop and a hotspot (sorry no wifi), and you'll get work done comfortably and in a relaxing environment.
After sitting there awhile, you no doubt start to fidget and want to stretch your legs. You're not buckled in and the seat belt monitor isn't walking around and barking at you to stay seated, so get out of that seat and make your way to the lounge car! This is a really cool car with a widened viewing area (i.e. windows on the roof) and tables that you can sit at and enjoy the passing view, maybe even get more work done in a change of scenery.
After awhile, maybe you're getting hungry. Go to the dining car! The food isn't exactly gourmet, more like what you'd find at a 7-11, but it looks like it should hit the spot. I didn't eat on this trip so I don't have a first-hand opinion of the food; I did, however, take a few minutes to enjoy a Jack Daniels on ice.
I suppose this is a good place to mention that they obviously have restrooms as well. They're just like the kind you use on a plane; a bit cramped but clean and equipped with all the fixin's.
The train made several stops on the way to Austin, with one long stop at Ft. Worth (because we arrived early), and maybe 6 or 7 stops (or so) at about 10-15 minutes each. While the train is stopped, you can wander outside if you like and then re-board. They're really good about reminding you how much time you have.
Finally upon reaching my destination, I arrived relaxed and very pleased with my first experience with train travel.
Getting off the train is low-stress also, none of that waiting crouched over while some guy ahead of the line is taking forever getting his golf clubs out of the overhead bin. Since you can get up as much as you like, people tend to have their belongings ready well before reaching the station and all set to walk out the door. No waiting for the pilot to find a parking space and wondering when the jetway is ready for disembarking. Instead, you're right at the door, they open it, and you actually just walk out. WHOA!
So go and try it at least once! Once you realize how fabulous it is, please help me keep it a secret so that the crowds stay away and train travel doesn't end up like air or bus travel. read more