Trains

The Empire Builder is the ultimate cross country train trip on Amtrak, and we take it eastbound from Seattle to Chicago. We undertake this momentous journey in the middle of winter, and were very fortunate as trains on the following days were cancelled due to snow. We see Glacier National Park and the high plains and pass through the industrial cities of the mid–west.

Music Credit: The Great Plains by Headlund

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Empire Builder

The California Zephyr is the most scenic Amtrak train and runs between Chicago and San Francisco (Emeryville). We catch it westbound from Chicago and ride as far as Roseville California. We are in a bedroom, which includes access to the Metropolitan Lounge in Chicago Union station, and includes all meals in the Amtrak Dining Car on board. We cross two main mountain ranges in the Rockies and the Sierras. The scenery is spectacular, particularly when we catch the snowfall in the Sierras.

Music Credit: High Noon on the Land by Roy Williams

California Zephyr

The South West Chief runs between Chicago Union Station and Los Angeles Union Station. We ride the Chief from end to end in Coach (economy class). Its a long, long trip in Coach with no showers, and with the Dining Car closed to Coach passengers. Worthwhile? You bet!

SouthWest Chief

We catch the Amtrak 49, the Lake Shore Limited from New York to Chicago. This trip is at least 14 hours in winter snow landscape. For this trip we are in an Amtrak Roomette.

Lake Shore Limited

In this trip we take the northbound Amtrak 54 Vermonter to St Albans, Vermont. Next day we come back on the southbound 57 Vermonter back to New York. We travel via New York State, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont.

Amtrak Vermonter

The Adirondack runs between two of the largest cities in North America — Montreal and New York City. Unfortunately it is not a showcase for either Canada or the United States. Although the crew are great, the service is unreliable and the equipment is old.

Amtrak Adirondack Southbound

We catch the Amtrak Acela in First Class from New York Pennsylvania Station to Washington D.C. Union Station. We made this trip in January 2023.

Acela First Class New York to Washington

The Amtrak Acela runs between Boston and Washington DC, and is the United States fastest long distance train. It traverses the North East corridor and competes with aircraft for passenger traffic between Washinton DC, Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York and Boston.We take the Acela from Boston to New York Pennsylvania station in First Class

Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/paul-yudin/quiet-flight License code: 8NFXQVVY66QSVTKO

Acela First Class – Boston to New York

We catch Amtrak Acela in First Class from New York to Philadelphia. This is just a short trip by Acela in First Class as there was a derailment south of Philadelphia earlier in the day, which made this trip a little unusual.

Acela has 2 classes of service - Business Class and First Class. This is the premium class of service offered by Amtrak on any of their routes.

Amtrak Acela First Class from New York City to Philadelphia

A trip from New York Pennsylvania Station to Boston South Station on the Amtrak Acela in business class. Acela has 2 classes of service: First and Business Class. Today we're in Business Class

Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/all-good-folks/the-greatest License code: ZBJWCTUJMZAXXLAN

Acela Business Class – New York to Boston

We catch the New Jersey Transit Atlantic City line from the elegant old Union Station to the gambling hub of Atlantic City.

There's a couple of corrections to our commentary in the clip:

1. It's the 30^th St Station and not a Union Station
2. That's the Betsy Ross Bridge, not the Ben Franklin Bridge

NJT Atlantic City Line – Philadelphia to Atlantic City

We catch the train to the Jersey Shore! A cheap day out from New York City for just the cost of the train ticket and any food and drink. No entrance fees, and beautiful beaches. A shame though about the condition of the train, it could be so much more.

NJT – New York City to the Jersey Shore

The Brightline is a relatively new premium private rail transit service that runs between West Palm Beach, Ft Lauderdale and Miami Central. We catch it from Ft Lauderdale to Miami Central in Premium Class. We love this train. It's what modern rail travel could be like with a bit of forward thinking and nouse!

Florida Brightline in Premium Class from Ft Lauderdale to Miami

Brightline has been in operation in Florida for a couple of years, and has recently extended service all the way from Miami to Orlando. From Miami Central to Orlando Airport takes about 4 hours, which certainly beats driving. Its not cheap, but its a great way to travel. Unfortunately Brightline now has the moniker of ‘Americas Deadliest Train’, but its a great way to travel.

Florida Brightline in Premium Class from Ft Lauderdale to Miami

VIA Rail is the national carrier in Canada and serves the major metropolitan areas of Canada. This is our first to on VIA and we really enjoyed it. VIA goes to many remote places but this trip is from the national capital city of Ottawa to the large French–speaking city of Montréal

VIA Rail from Ottawa to Montreal

The new Tren Maya is an ambitious project to link the 5 Mexican states in the Easternmost part of Mexico by rail.

We catch the Tren Maya from the Cancun Airport station to Merida Teya station, the main station for Merida

Tren Maya from Cancun Airport to Merida Teya

PKP (Polskie Kileje Oanstwowe) operate an InterCity service between Berlin HauptBahnHoff to Krakow Glowny, the main rail station for the city of Krakow. We take this route in the middle of winter.

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Berlin to Krakow on Polands PKP

PKP (Polskie Kileje Oanstwowe) operate an InterCity service between Krakow Glowny and Warsaw Central. We catch this premium Intercity Express between two of Poland's major cities.

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Krakow to Warsaw on Polish Railways PKP Intercity Express

Described as almost heritage by the NSW Rail staff, this 3 carriage diesel train takes 4 hours to run from Sydney Central to Canberra, the national capital of Australia. Its a leisurely but enjoyable trip, and we do it in First Class.

Sydney to Canberra on the NSW Xplorer