This was my first time riding the Amtrak train! We did the Mardi Gras train for a day trip from Nola to Mobile and back. We arrive early the Monday after Christmas. It was freezing outside. There is an open paid parking lot right next door. I paid $20 for full day parking. Since I purchased my tickets online, there was nothing I needed to do. There is plenty of seating available. Once it was time to board, the attendant told us how to line up. The seats were roomy and comfortable. After we got seated, the train attendant came by to check our tickets. The ride was nice and smooth. I chose coach seating and really didn't see a big difference with business class. They were just able to board first and had better access to the on board cafe. We visited the cafe to purchase coffee, juice, and muffins. We were also able to bring our own snacks. Once in Mobile we had just over 4 hours to site see. The only negative was the Depot in Mobile was outside. We had to wait in the cold before we were allowed to board around 4:10pm. I wish they had an indoor bldg or would've allowed us to board earlier since it was cold. read more

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I love riding the trains, I really do. The City of New Orleans is a favorite. From Memphis it's a great over night to Chicago; from NOLA it's a pleasant day trip back home to Memphis. But why won't they sell beer or liquor on Sunday? My God isn't an alcoholic but she does have a sense of humor - and a respectable thirst! No wine with dinner? Remember the wedding feast at Canna? No problem with a wine shortage there! Oh well, next time I'll know to byo... read more

This was are first long trip on Amtrak from Sacramento to New Orleans. We'll where to start, here we go, we started by taking a buss as the train was delayed in Reno. Then are train was canceled in Chicago, making us have to stay the night in Chicago and since the train was canceled the next train to New Orleans didn't leave until 5 days. That would have made a 10 day trip into a 17 day trip. We got a flight the next day to stay on track with are trip. Amtrack said they would pay for us to fly. The trip in New Orleans was great. On are way home now, the train left on time. The station how ever the employees where less then helpful. The train employee was very good. One thing we hated most was the breakfast, lunch and dinner on the train. Same menu on all the trains. The chicken was dry and the rest was OK. They really need to have at least a different menu on different trains or at least 2 different menu's when your on the train for two or more days. read more

Security at the new orleans station refuse to give me a key to the family restroom. Said it is for handicapped... well I am. So I had to change cloths in a small stall with no lock on the door. Very rude. When I ask for her name she also refused to give me that read more

The air conditioning system didn't work on the Sunset Limited. I was so hot on the train

We are big fans of Amtrak and take regular trips on the choo-choo and I have a detailed account of some of adventures and experiences in a draft coming soon. But because we've been excited about the restoration of a local route, and today was a big news development, I am dropping a review with what's happening. In 2020 Amtrak confirmed its intention to begin service between Mobile, AL and New Orleans in 2022, an actual start date has been targeted for January 2022 but has not yet been finalized. The train will link cities across the Gulf Coast for the first time in more than 16 years. Amtrak says they're on track to make it happen, saying they have the necessary funding for at least the first three years of service so far.  The service is currently dubbed Gulf Coast that also includes four stops in Mississippi (Bay St. Louis, Gulfport, Biloxi and Pascagoula). The service would be separate and distinct from the Sunset Limited, whose service from New Orleans to Jacksonville, Fla., was suspended after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Unfortunately there are no plans at this time to reinstitute that service, sad. They plan is for the rail station at the downtown airport at Brookley Field, making two round trips per day over the 140 mile single track route on CSX's freight corridor, with a goal of 38,000 riders per year. May 12, 2021 In today's news the Biden Administration sent a letter showing their support for the ongoing efforts to restore Amtrak passenger services from Mobile to New Orleans. Part of the letter reads: "The Biden-Harris Administration believes that the expansion and improvement of intercity passenger rail service, through efforts such as the restoration of Gulf Coast service, plays an essential role in meeting the most important objectives of our transportation system, including combating climate change, ensuring equity in personal mobility, and driving economic growth and vitality." So, it's looking good for train fans, like us, and before long we should be able to just take the 50 mile drive to Mobile to choo-choo instead the 3 hour drive to Nawlins for our next trip up north, or wherever our next adventure takes us, woohoo! Bottom line: It's not exactly a cruise but when you book a sleeper you have 3 nice meals a day, get to lounge around and leave the driving to the experts. We love it! read more

Amtrak - Everything is hours late. At least everyone is keeping space between one another. Waiting for my sweetheart! - Public Transportation Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

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People are very nice at the Amtrak station. Wish there was coffee though somewhere . 1st class lounge didn't have any either

My first train ride!!! Woot. My son suggested this and he knew the ropes. $50 from New Orleans to Memphis is a steal!!! Well, you do get what you pay for. The upside was lots of personal space and it was clean. Let's hear it for clean!!!! You don't have to be there hours before leaving like you do an airport. We arrived at 1 pm for a 1:45 pm ride and that timing was perfect (Thanks and a hat tip to Rene D) They loaded everyone going to Memphis into one car - which was the second from the last. I believe this made the ride a little bumpier (just like on a roller coaster) As soon as we hit the road (so to speak) my son led us to the observation car. Nice! There is a dining car, but we didn't eat there. We brought a muffalotta and it was perfect. We also brought a bottle of wine, which we felt free to partake after buying our initial drink from the snack bar. Snack time was a box of candy from Southern Candymakers. So that was all perfect. Noise level was LOUD. That d@mn whistle and all. And after it got dark and we went back to our seats, a loud mouthed woman never shut up for the entire 9 hours. NEVER.SHUT.UP. (Not Steve's sister) I considered the penalty for homicide and decided to let her live. But d@mn. That 9 hours was also a downside...at times I think we could have walked to Memphis more quickly than this train moved. The other problem is lack of security. There is no security. And while they do say there's a baggage limit, there really isn't. The same woman who never shut up had a ton of it, and her and her husband brought it all upstairs with them instead of leaving it in the bin provided on the entry level. It took many trips and we wondered why they would do that. We checked our bags and didn't have to fool with them. Except for our travel necessities (booze, candy, etc) Anyway, it was fun. I would consider doing it again, but hubby says "no way" He had his own issues and was a grump (same issues I had plus others like no smoking). I will not hold Amtrak responsible for that. read more

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We love our trips in the sleeperette on Amtrak. This was our 4th trip across the past few years. The dining car experience used to be better, but considering the Covid19 challenges it's still a nice perk. The pleasant and customer-oriented service is still as good /great as it's always been. And we're pleased to see that. We are fans and we look forward to more trips again in the future. read more

I traveled on the Amtrak Crescent train from New Orleans to Meridian, MS on Friday, November 15, 2019, and returning on Sunday, November 17, 2019. Traveling on the train provides an excellent alternative to flying, although it can be slower. My experience here on the Amtrak was a mixed bag. The departure out of New Orleans was on time and I arrived into Meridian, MS around the middle of the day. However, the departure out of Meridian was delayed 1 1/2 hours on a Sunday afternoon. I was annoyed with the delay, but I'm glad that the train arrived - even though late, I got to my destination in one piece. The boarding procedure lacks a certain sophistication that airports and airlines do. It's almost like boarding a city bus, where there's really no security protocols and it's basically get on and ride - as long as you paid for a seat. I found that kind of fascinating. For those waiting for their trains, we lined up in a line and waited for an Amtrak employee to admit us onto the train - usually 20 minutes before the time of departure. They have some sort of app that can check you in onto the train, which is awesome. Amtrak is one of the better alternatives to driving and you can sleep or do other things rather than keeping your eyes out for other drivers. Amtrak is pretty cheap for those who travel a short distance between states or between cities, but if you're looking to do something interstate - or crossing through multiple states, the cost of travel and time is expanded exponentially. After that, you might need to consider air travel vs cost of Amtrak, depending on where and when you're going. The overall experience here during my travels on Amtrak in November 2019 was good and bad at the same time. The 1 1/2 hour delay really sucked, but things happen for a reason. It was interesting that we had assigned seating on the Amtrak train per the Amtrak staff, even though I thought there was no assigned seat on my ticket. With that said, the ride to and from New Orleans to Meridian, MS was kind of stop and go for 4 1/2 hours. We would slow down and pull into a stop to make way for people to get on or off before departing again. The ambiance of the train is very quiet and casual. I did enjoy the fact that I can work on my phone while being plugged into the outlet on the train. So, it was nice having a fully charged phone and a bunch of work done leaving the train at my final destination - on both trips. The train itself is equipped with a car for dining and restrooms apparently, but I didn't need those amenities. Best bet would be to bring food on board with you, like boarding the plane and using the restroom before boarding. I did enjoy the fact that the Amtrak experience was clean and very inviting. There's lots of leg room, enough to spread out and put your luggage next to you. The only real drag would be the travel time, when you can get there by car in less time than the train, but the train costs less - generally speaking, and depending on where you're going. For the most part though, spending $58 round trip for a ride from New Orleans and Meridian, MS was an easy decision, versus renting a car. Only issue was the 1 1/2 hour delay on the return trip to New Orleans, but other than that, it was a nice ride - even if it was 4 1/2 hours. I had time to kill and it was nice not having to worry about other drivers and car insurance. Amtrak is the way to go, if you're on vacation and don't mind traveling this way. Just be mindful of having any sort of contingencies sorted out if delays or cancellations were to manifest itself on your travel. Many travel itineraries can be found online and online bookings can be made through credit cards. You can also buy tickets at the train station too, but be wary about travel times and other logistical issues too. The Amtrak has come a long way since the trains of the old west and has adapted quite nicely into the 21st century with airplanes and cars. I enjoyed the leg room when I traveled on the Amtrak crescent train. Too bad there wasn't any television mounted to the back of the seat in front of me. 4.0 stars for the overall experience. 1.0 stars for the 4 1/2 hour delay from Meridian, MS to New Orleans on Sunday 11/17/2019, but 5.0 stars for being a cost effective way to travel in between small cities and larger cities without having to drive or fly. Support local! B read more

Everything is old, tiny, and dirty. The rooms. No real access to restrooms. There is a toilet in the roomette for some reason that isn't usable. It's weird. Right beside your seat the whole trip in a tiny little box. The public "restrooms" are so small and dirty and pee everywhere on everything. You can't really use it. On a long trip it's absolutely miserable. Better to drive 8 hours and use gas station restrooms. It will be a lot more sanitary, cheaper, and less stressful!! read more

I'm fortunate enough to have an Amtrak station near where I live with direct service to Chicago, New York, and Washington, DC. The timetables are convenient. I can't say I've had a bad experience on Amtrak yet. I've ridden aboard the Capitol Limited, Lakeshore Limited, California Zephyr, Cascades, Empire Builder, Silver Star, Crescent, and Southwest Chief. Because Amtrak uses tracks owned and operated by freight railroads, there are delays for freight traffic. I see many reviews where people blow their gaskets because their train is three hours late. In 16 years as a road warrior, I can't tell you how many nights I've spent in a hotel because my flight was cancelled and I was delayed by 12 hours or even two days. I'd much rather be in an Amtrak roomette where I don't have to worry about any additional expenses and the hassle of explaining the additional hotel night to my client for reimbursement. The food is middle of the road. If you look at the dining car, divide the space in half, that's how much room the kitchen has. With all the motion, it's unsafe to fry anything - oil would be splashing everywhere. Amtrak is also insane about food safety so that limits the options too. (Federal government = FDA not local health regulations apply.) . There's also the unrelenting pressure from our congress to cheapen up the food service. Given those constraints, I'm pretty surprised with what they're able to do. As far as WiFi goes, you don't see a fiber optic cable dangling behind the train do you? Nor a big satellite dish on the roof. So where does that WiFi signal come from? Cellular. If you're not getting a signal on your phone, Amtrak can't get a cell signal for the WiFi either. Since humans don't like trains in their backyards, you find they run through the middle of nowhere and there's no economic incentive for carriers to deliver service in those areas. Regarding seating - the staff want all the people who depart at the same stop to sit together. It helps avoid people being left on the train and means your tax dollars go farther because they can have fewer staff running around opening doors on multiple cars. In the dining car - well, you have a few hundred people and sixteen four-person booths and a few hours to serve everyone. Sorry - you're not getting a booth to yourself. Are you really that scared of your fellow Americans to say hello and maybe even give a hoot enough to talk to them for half an hour? So, if you have realistic expectations about timing, food, and WiFi you'll have a good experience. The "disconnected time" is so valuable these days, and the views can't be beat. I'm not sitting on top of someone else like on a plane, and I have nice bed, shower, and food. Amtrak has never dumped in a hub city and necessitated me coughing up $400 for a hotel room. Amtrak has never given me food poisoning. Amtrak has never told me I was on my own to figure out how to get home. I've never gotten a DVT aboard the train because I am allowed to get up an move without an air marshal and flight attendant tackling me. But they have been three hours late, and did overcook my steak once. Wah. read more

We tried the Sunset Limited from Houston to New Orleans. I would try Amtrak again. I think my Hubby would try the train again, too. We left H-town around noon and arrived early to The Big Easy. The Station in 'Space City' was built in 1886 and then rebuilt in 1934 and 1959. More information is available on Wiki about station. There's more history inside the Station and I will return to read more about the trains. This being our first time to take a train out of 'Space City'. We arrived about 40 minutes before the train departed out Son dropped us off. The staff inside the station was so friendly and helpful. We checked our bags, but if we had fewer bags for the next trip, I would bring them on board and store them. We read about the history of trains. The bathrooms are out of order, but they have temporary ones outside. As we made our way to the Train do not forget to have your ticket scanned at the station. We printed a paper ticket at home. Then he told us to look for yellow platform and enter from there, which we did, easy to see. There the conductor asked us if we were Debbie and D and my eyes light up and said yes. We were the last ones to arrive on board train 0230, so he knew we were arriving. He took my carry on bag and showed us around to all the other rooms. We paid the extra $85 to have more room. It is called a Superliner Roomette and that included our two meals. We left the station heading the wrong direction, just remember it's a spur to the Station. Then we looked out our window and watched children wave from their apartments. Yes, people still wave at trains. The Sunset Limited moved slowly out of 'the Big Heart' and our journey begins. The dining car is open for Lunch and it has limited hours. Remember the car number and room number for lunch. We both filled out a ticket for each meal. We had lunch and dessert. There was a special of the day. We finished and headed back to the room. When walking back between cars if the train feels bumpy, wait before opening the doors. You want to cross at a smooth section. If you can, try to use the bathroom at a stops, but I wanted to step off and take a picture of the Station and get some Sun. Remember to bring a two way charger as there was only one outlet in the Superliner Roomette. Walk over to the Observation Car lots of outlets near your knees. From the Observation car walk down the stairs to the snack bar they take cash. I purchased a deck of playing cards, bottled water and a bag of cheddar popcorn, but there is a large selection and a few tourists items. We had five stops sometimes the stop was 10 seconds long, other times the stop was seven minutes long. We crossed the water (rivers, bayous or inlets) several times, but crossing the Mississippi River at night on the Huey P. Long bridge is a awesome view from the Observation car. We arrived early to the station in Crescent City. We found our luggage. Remember to have your baggage claim tickets handy, so they can double check that these are your bags. The cab line is just outside the door. We tipped our conductor and waitstaff. I remember being in their shoes and always appreciated a thank you for my service. We arrived refreshed, less stressed and ready to take on NOLA, but my hubby said it this way it's like being on a transatlantic flight with turbulence the whole way. See I think we will travel by train again! read more

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A Train In The Ass During my 72 hours of train riding I experienced mixed emotions of my Amtrak train experience. At the beginning of my decent to the southern state of Louisiana, I was met with comfy seats and enough leg room to satisfy my needs. After a couple hours I came upon a hunger for food. Foolishly, I had not packed enough food for the journey and I needed to buy some at the snack car. The selection at the snack car was not to my liking. Either I had to get only a bag of chips or commit to an entire Digiorno personal pizza. I was not fond of the drink selection either, which carried only Pepsi products making a coke enthusiast like myself feel marginalized. Although there is a dining car the prices are through the roof, and you are served food that is lackluster for the price that you are paying for. If I had to recommend something on the menu I would say go hungry. Bottom line, bring food from elsewhere when going on this train. The service on the train however was exceptional. The staff treated me like family and helped with my bags every time I boarded or got off of the train. I would say that the staff of the train are inviting and it was always nice talking to them. The atmosphere on the train car was an atrocity. During the night they never turned off the lights meaning that some people like myself were subject to not being able to sleep for the entire night. The frustration from the food situation left my surrounding passengers bitter and shrewd. More problems that haunted me for my entire journey were the water dispenser, and the bathrooms. In the dispenser you are unable to fit a water bottle and your finger inside in order to push the button. This leaves you dehydrated and forced into wasting money on bottled water in the snack car. The second problem that I had with the train was the bathrooms. The sinks got clogged and filled to the brim with water, almost instantaneously once we left from Boston. The toilets were cramped and the entire bathroom always smelled horrible. To conclude the train may be a cheaper way to travel, but you can blow through money at the same pace if you don't make the right preparations beforehand. I feel like the service and helpful attitude of the staff members is what boosted this review from a 2 star, to w 3 star review. I would recommend taking this train if you need to but if possible, an alternative method of travel should be encouraged upon. read more

Amtrack is terrible. The only schedule they keep is closing the dining car. That's right on time. Third world service. Delays and breakdowns are rampant. They lie and misrepresent the train progress and prospects for arrival. I hope government ceases any and all subsidies. This company needs to recognize their failure. Nothing will change otherwise. read more

Being that I have a car I never considered taking the train, but this week proved to be a great alternative to driving. I took the train from NOLA to Jackson,Mississippi, it was a very comfortable, clean, safe, and I enjoyed it so much that I decided to take the train back home instead of getting a rental. A cost me a total of $46 (1st bonus) !! It left promptly on time (both trips) and there was no problem with me keeping what bags I wanted on me and they made it super easy to find my bags that were in baggage claim. Also a bonus for me was that I was able to purchase a couple Coronas and snacks while in route. Another bonus was that on both trips there was plenty of space for me to stretch out and take a nap especially since the seat next to me was empty. Also I had a problem with a crying baby behind me and was able to move to a more comfortable seat with no problem. I was also able to fix myself up by using the curling iron in one of the multiple clean bathrooms on the bottom floor. This was important to me because I hadn't seen my boyfriend in a month and was taking the trip to visit him. All in all I have to give my experience five stars and I look forward to riding Amtrak in the near future. read more

We recently took the City of New Orleans from Chicago and back. We did have a roomette, which provided us some privacy as well as the meals were included. I saw previous reviews and some simple pre-planning would have prepared for what was onboard. There's no alcohol on Sunday because Mississippi doesn't allow Sunday sale. However, you can bring your own, and that's the beauty of Amtrak. Having a roomette, the meals are included and there's not a need to hit the snack car. Although included with the fare, the prices of the meals were rather obscene. I had pulled pork going to New Orleans and it was like a bad microwaved Lean Cuisine meal. Not nearly worth the $22 listed!!! A room is the way to go on longer trips and this was our second overnight on Amtrak. The first was Portland and back, which was fantastic, on the Empire Builder. I recommend doing a little research before travelling on Amtrak, upgrading to a roomette on longer trips, BYOB, bring snacks and embrace the casual pace of the train. read more

Okay Amtrak, I get on the train in Pittsburgh, the trip is originating from Pittsburgh, it's 7:30 in the morning. One would think, ah, cafe car...coffee, breakfast sandwich... Cafe car isnt open. WTF? Lets get it together, all that federal money has to be useful somehwere... read more

Doubleyou Tee Eff!!!! I've been on this train and have missed a VERY important business meeting.

Worst food ever! Pack a lunch- potted meat, bologna anything would be better than what I was served.

I have been riding Train 20, the Crescent, from New Orleans to Philadelphia, 2 or 3 times a year since 2006. I always loved the ride, the food, the service - which is why I kept coming back. I told everybody to ride the train. In the past year this service has gone straight to hell. On Monday, November 7, 2016, I arrived at the NOL station at 6:30 a.m. and was informed that car 2010 had been pulled from the consist and I would not be travelling to Philadelphia on Train 20 in first class at 7:00 a.m. I was offered the option of a business class seat (for a 26 hour train ride), or to take the Tuesday train. Not only did Amtrak fail to have the seat I booked, it failed to notify me of problems with Train 20 at any time before I got to the station, despite having both my e-mail address and the mobile phone number to which I requested notifications be sent. It cost me a $600 airfare to get to Philadelphia. On March 22, 2016, Train 20 left New Orleans without a dining car, something I learned about AFTER the train was underway. We got fed fast food served to us in cardboard boxes. On June 24, 2015, the air conditioning in car 2010 failed in the middle of the day in Georgia - again I was offered a "business class" seat in lieu of the roomette I had booked. The incompetence of the New Orleans maintenance crew has become all too evident. Out of the 3 trips I booked this year on Train 20, only one left the station with a complete consist. Of the last four trips I booked only one has been trouble-free. The trains have also been getting dirtier as well. I started bring my own "Amtrak cleaning rag" a few rides ago to wipe down the compartment. The failure to have the basic equipment ready shows a complete disregard for the passenger. read more