Originally Posted by
Toshbaf
Is train travel really expensive? Seems like it's $1000 one way to travel coast to coast in the US in a roomette or am I reading the charts wrong? Is it that food is included if you have sleeping accommodations but not if you have only a seat?
I've only used AMTRAK routes on a regional type basis. From memory, here were the costs:
California Zephyr GRAND JUNCTION ->DEN UNION $55
California Zephyr WINTER PARK->DEN UNION several times as low as $12 to about $30
Pacific Surfliner LA UNION->SAN LUIS OBISPO $53
Cascades SEATTLE KING STREET STA->PORTLAND ORE about $25
Silver Service HOLLYWOOD FLA->KISSIMMEE $32
Texas Eagle SAN ANTONIO ->DallasDALLAS v.v. about $50 each way
Downeaster BOSTON NORTH STATION->FREEPORT MAINE several times, sometimes Haverhill to Portland, about $30
This was obviously a tad higher cost than bus travel, but well worth the spend. Usually, on rail sectors of six to eight hours, I'll bring a $5 sub from a nearby Subway or similar.
As ponted out, seated meals are included with a Sleeper accommodation.
Regionally, AMTRAK is worth it, if even just for taking in the experience, particularly the beauty (Zephyr Winter Park to Denver, Downeaster in Maine, Surfliner north of Santa Barbara).