With air travel devolving into a surreal dystopia, Amtrak offers a needed respite for long-distance travelers across the length and breadth of the U.S.
If you haven’t experienced the grandeur of Grand Central Station, it serves as the lynchpin in America’s Northeast Corridor. This high-speed rail runs from Boston to Savanna, and it offers convenient transfers to regional and local trains. Any adept automotive journalist knows the value of relaxation, and it can’t be found when traveling by air. Amtrak is a government operation, so it has very efficient points interspersed by glimpses of the 19th century. A majority of their passengers travel in coach, which offers comfy captain’s chairs with WiFi and a few power outlets.
This is great for trips under a few hours, but sleep can be hard to find given the communal living spaces. A bedroom is the only logical choice for overnight travel, and it comes in two flavors. A full bedroom has two beds, a bathroom, shower, and great sound insulation. If you don’t need all the space, a roomette also has two bunks, but the shower and restrooms are located at the end of each car. These facilities are limited to those in your car, and they are a nice respite for those writing about automotive news.
In order to write my previous piece about Grand Central, I embarked on Train 92 in Jacksonville, Florida, at 7 pm. Both roomettes and bedrooms have private attendants, so all you need to do is sleep until waking in North Carolina. We reached Washington DC at 3 pm the following day, so I decided to parlay my ticket price to upgrade to America’s highest-speed train, the Acela. Those choosing airports for travel were being herded like cattle, while I had every meal brought to my room. You need cash to tip your attendant, and they are very gracious to be in your favor.
Photo: Simon Brugel
Running between DC and Boston, the Acela reached a speed of 110 mph (177 kph) which allowed us to reach New York City by 7 pm. You arrive well-rested, roughly a day after you left Florida. All Amtrak trains arrive and depart from the new Moynihan Station, located adjacent to the ancient edifice of Madison Square Garden. From here, you can easily walk to a decent hotel, or catch a subway train to anywhere your heart desires.
No matter when your train arrives, there is always something to see or do in NYC. I hopped the subway to find a meal at Grand Central, then I discovered a great view at the Mariott Midtown. Located adjacent to the northern entrance to the station, it offers access to all subway lines along with the Metro North Railroad.
This is convenient if you want a quick trip to Greenwich or New Haven to take in the winter landscapes. Being on a budget, I awoke with the intention of seeing NYC without spending a ton of cash. Things you need to see begin at Ground Zero, where the memorial to the fallen should be revered. Then it was on to the High Line to see how urban renewal got its start. Then it was up to Roosevelt Island to ride the aerial tramway across the East River.
Police are everywhere, and they have more local insights than any tour guide. After a day in the Big Apple, you will have a hard choice. You can go home, or you can purchase the USA Rail Pass. This lets Amtrak rewards members transfer to any train at any time within the month. In theory, you could ride the rails with WiFi until you find your destination, so it seems that Seattle is next on my list.
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