32+ Hours in a NEW Amtrak Viewliner II Bedroom
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- čas přidán 31. 05. 2024
- Watch this video to see the highlights of Amtrak’s most popular overnight train journey - and it’s probably not the one you think.
Each month, Amtrak publishes data about their performance. Recently, a surprising train journey has risen to the top of the list. If you’d like to see the data for yourself, there’s a link at the bottom of the description!
Our trip starts from the Amtrak Moynihan Train Hall and we'll even explore the Amtrak Metropolitan lounge in New York city!
In this video, you’ll see Amtrak’s NEW Viewliner II Bedroom. This is the first new carriage for Amtrak in more than 25 years and you’ll see all of its highlights. Including the Viewliner II Roomette, Viewliner II Accessible Bedroom, and - of course - the Viewliner II Bedroom!
You’ll even see Amtrak meals on their East Coast journeys, which are…still a bit disappointing.
If you’d like to learn more about the other room types, check out this video: • Amtrak Roomette, Bedro...
Here’s a link to Paul “Wingin’ It” Lucas’s Channel:
/ paulstripreports
Here's one about the Empire Builder:
• Amtrak Empire Builder ...
Here’s a link to our video about Amtrak's Southwest Chief: • Amtrak Southwest Chief...
And, here's a video showcasing the California Zephyr: • Amtrak California Zeph...
Oh! Here's one we made comparing the Acela to a plane: • Train vs. Plane RACE B...
Let's make this easy, here's a playlist of all of our train videos: • Jeb Brooks Train Videos
0:00 Introduction
2:20 Boarding Amtrak Overnight Train
4:51 Amtrak Viewliner II Bedroom Tour
13:58 Day Two Begins onboard Amtrak
21:24 Bloopers
For more trip reports, please subscribe to my channel!
www.JebBrooksFlies.com
Check me out on Instagram:
/ jebbrooksflies
Check me out on Twitter, too:
/ jebbrooks
And don't forget to take a look at my travel blog:
greenergrass.com/
Music:
Mimicking Your Breathing - Harper Rey
Taking Things Easy - Benjamin Carey
In a Dream (Instrumental Version) - Benjamin Carey
Run (Instrumental Version) - Daniel Gunnarsson
Picking Petals - View Points
Under the Hood - Benjamin Carey
Boots and Laces - Lindsey Abraham
On the Road Again - Nylonia
Vagabond Heart (Instrumental Version) - Arch Tremors
Mountain Spring High - Gabriel Lewis
Not Quite There - Water Mirrors
Watchers and Doers (Instrumental Version) - Christopher Malley
Stuck With What I Left - Harper Rey
It Can Be Done - Airae
And here’s a link to the Amtrak data:
www.amtrak.com/content/dam/pr...
About ensuring that you get a new (VLII) sleeper:
First off, nothing is guaranteed. Amtrak occasionally substitutes a VLI for a VLII, or vice versa.
Second, the other FL train, the Silver Meteor, is currently suspended, and its cars have been added to the Silver Star. As Jeb said, the even-numbered cars are the VLII's. But Amtrak is planning to resume service on the Silver Meteor on 10/3//22, at which time the Silver Star will probably go back to its normal consist of just 2 sleepers. Prior to the Meteor's suspension, the Star's sleeper ending in 10 was the VLl, and the new VLII was the car ending in 11, which is opposite of what they are currently. We won't know until 10/3 which car or cars will be VLII's after that date.
Thanks for the info
I found a thread on an Amtrak forum that had up to date info. Good thing about trains is there are a lot of rail fans paying attention to the details.
What's VLI and VLII?
@@maryprochilo4498 VL stands for Viewliner, which is the name of Amtrak's single-level sleeping cars, dining cars, and baggage cars. VLI is Viewliner One, the first order of sleepers that were built in the 1990's. VL II is Viewliner Two, built in the 2010's thru 2021. The VL I & VL II sleepers have similar layouts but have some differences, like the VL II's not having a toilet in Roomettes.
@@joelk4751 thanks for your reply!
I have to say, Jeb Brooks is the Bob Ross of trip reports!
I’ll take it! 🤣
I love bringing my radio scanner and headphones when riding Amtrak long distance. Gives you a little more insight into what's going on when the train is just sitting there due to a delay. You also hear about track work and traffic ahead from the dispatchers. Bonus, you get to hear your conductors and engineers make fun of each other when one Amtrak passes another. 😂
Ooh that sounds fun. I could imagine listening to pilots talking to ATC during the flight, way better than any IFE
@VinnyT How do you know what frequencies to use?
Oh no, the telegram spam n' scam bot showed up
@@JoshDoesTravel if you look up the name of the subdivision you’re traveling along, there are many website that’ll get you that info, just have to know landmarks along the route
any good jokes
You are absolutely right. I used to take a book on the train but never cracked it open. I sit in my roomette, look out the window, and feel my blood pressure drop. It's a marvelous surprise. Every time!
Just so you know, I'm from Alaska and usually go to Southern California for a vacation once a year. Coast Starlight Seattle to LA & back. Wonderful!
My brother-in-law is a mechanical engineer with Alstom, which is working in conjunction with Amtrak to help build the new fleet of Acela engines. Nice to see you're enjoying some of the work he's done.
I'm glad your Mrs. talked you into taking a train trip. Your train travels have become the videos I look forward to the most.
Me too!
I have done the car train between DC and Florida twice and both times it was excellent. It was so much better than driving… It was definitely worth it. It was also faster because during the eight hours that I slept, we covered a ton of ground. During the time I was awake, I got a bunch of work done, I saw some nice sites and scenery out the window and ate delicious food including a very tasty steak. I would love to see Amtrak do more car trains to other parts of the country, and I would like to see Amtrak train service expanded in general, especially more high-speed trains.
When I lived in Boston, I took the high speed Acela to New York and back several times and it was great. I was able to easily park my car and walk about four minutes through a parking lot then board the train. I loved not having to arrive to an airport 90 minutes before takeoff … And that saved me a lot of time. I also loved arriving in Manhattan and not having to take a taxi or Uber from an airport.
I find it between hard and impossible to get work done on an airplane with the super cramped seats, Not much space for a laptop and a person 1 inch from me etc. I got far more work done on an Amtrak train, plus the scenery is nice, plus the spaciousness and legroom is great, plus I love having the freedom to get up and walk around. Everything about it is better.
I would definitely consider doing it between L.A. or San Francisco and Seattle.
That would have been my first guess
No
@@bettiethompson5039 YES
Yeah the Auto Train is a very convenient way to get between D.C/Maryland/Virginia and Florida 👍
Jeb, the best thing about your videos is how excited you are to experience these journeys and, even more, to SHARE them with us. Keep journeying!
I can’t believe I just watched the whole video. It’s my first time watching and I was stuck here bc it was so enjoyable
Thanks so very much for watching!!
First time I took Amtrak was the Auto Train, and I was hooked!! I was in the military, transferring out of South Florida to Staten Island. My parents lived near Sanford, so this was great for me! I was traveling in the dead of winter, so took a lot of interstate driving stress off me (and my car!). I got a sleeper, and it was WONDERFUL!! I had already eaten before boarding, so all I needed that evening was a little snack. I arrived in Lorton the next morning fully rested, and ready to take on the day, jumping onto I-95 enroute to my new home! I highly recommend it to anyone making the trek north or southbound who wants to take their car with them.
I currently live between Deland and Sanford FL. I have used Amtrak often to travel to Tampa. So relaxing, far better than fighting I-4 to get to the other side of the state. The seats in coach are comfortable, and the leg room is great.
For those departing Sanford...
LOCAL PRO TIP----- The city of Sanford operates a free trolley to take you into old downtown Sanford (loads of great local restaurants to choose from, but I tend to favor long time favorites like Hollarbach's Willow Tree Inn, The Colonial Room, Zorba's and Christo's. Drop off your vehicle as early as you can if you have kiddos, and take advantage of a trolley ride to the Sanford Zoo (psssst.... they have ziplines!).
If you want to adventure out a little further, get off the trolley at the Sanford SunRail station (literally about 1.5 miles from the Amtrak station) and check out places like Winter Park (SunRail shares stations with Amtrak in Winter Park, Orlando (Orlando Health station) and Kissimmee). Winter Park has a lovely area for shopping and dining, and it starts right across the street from the station... and right down the street is the Morse Museum (home to the most expansive collection of Tiffany glass!). The AdventHealth station is home to the Orlando Science Center. Looking for great BBQ? Check out Big John's Rockin' BBQ... literally just across the tracks from the Kissimmee Amtrak station, and to the right.
I'm truly looking forward to Brightline's second phase to open up next year from South Florida to Orlando (the new intermodal station at Orlando International Airport is ready to go, and just awaiting SunRail and Brightline trains to make travel here in the Sunshine State more seamless!) Brightline currently operates between Miami and West Palm Beach... after the Orlando extension opens, they will be extending service to Tampa and Jacksonville. The terminals are sleek and modern, have all the amenities you could possibly want, and beautiful waiting rooms. The trains are sharp looking, and move at a higher rate of speed than Amtrak . If you have the opportunity, check it out!
@snooze12 thank you... it's an honor and a privilege to serve!
This December I decided to do a solo trip for my birthday. Gonna do a full circuit, going from Omaha to Sacramento, then Sacramento to Portland, then Portland to Chicago, then finally back home.
I've been rewatching all your amtrak videos in anticipation!
My father was an engineer for the Coastline RR . He would take the train from Savannah to Jacksonville routinely. My childhood was filled with RR trips! This was very nostalgic for me🚞♥️
No matter what or where, you express the fresh-eyed wonder of a novice rail rider, which I know you aren’t. Thanks for the enthusiasm!
Just wanted to mention that your comments wether bad or good, makes these trips worth watching and (in the future) the actual adventure!
Idk what you mean for certain by bad comments, but if you mean criticism* then that should always be important because the good, the bad and the ugly is important to know before you spend a lot of money on something. As well, as it can be used to improve
*I'm not trying to be rude, I genuinely don't understand what you mean
Train travel is so underrated.
Great video as always.
Keep it up.
It is awesome but it is slow as heck in the US. If it was faster it would be my go to way of traveling.
We have traveled coast to coast and North to South many times if only to escape the filthy crowded airports where they treat you like an animal. Train travel is relaxing but obviously not fast. A few years back our trip Philadelphia to Seattle took three days but it was so pleasant that we found it pleasurable. We did opt for a bedroom both ways and slept and dined on the train. It is very expensive but for us its worth it.
And so expensive
My one time using their sleeper car was from South Florida to the Carolinas. It was my son's (elementary age) train ride. My mom paid for the sleeper car to make it easier on him.
Normally we drove, but my husband couldn't take off for the whole trip. So we took the train home.
When I went to help out my mom during the school year, I'd take the train without the sleeper car. That is until she got a new vehicle and gave me her old one. It made the trip shorter and meant we could visit on long weekends until she moved up here.
I've loved trains since then (15 - 20 years.) Train videos bring happy memories to mind. Thank you for sharing these with us. My husband is disabled, so we only travel 2 or 3 hours away now. He's an amputee. Using our vehicle with the cart carrier works better. I sure do enjoy living vicariously through your videos though.
I have used Amtrak several times and always opt for the sleeper car. It is great since the diner is part of the package, and the food was always top notch, and since I am a vegetarian, I was really pleased with the options available to me. Really worth the price. I recommend it to anyone who wants to enjoy the trips.
A lot of people felt the same way as you during the pandemic but you can be sure that your videos helped a LOT of people get through some tough times so please keep making them 🙂
It's actually nice that you decided to cover trains. I like your airline reviews, but my most favorite video in this channel is the luxury train you took in the Andes.
Me too. I haven't actually watched his plane videos. Perhaps I should!
What I love about taking Amtrak? You go through areas throughout the entire United States that has not been touched by man. No buildings, no towns, all open untouched land. Beauty at its best!
They have been “touched by man”…how do you think the tracks got there and how do you think they are maintained
Hi Jeb, I understand completely about the calmness feeling traveling on a train. While you never know what will happen ( delays) you just need to sit back as say “oh well” as opposed to flying issues, where you are surrounded by people upset, nervous and sometimes yelling.
With all the cancelled flights right now, Amtrak maybe the best way to go. Thanks for a great video.
Until they decide to remove your sleeper car for your return trip and offer zero solutions because coach is sold out. Yes, that is what happened this past Thanksgiving. Thankfully I was able to get a coach plane ticket home! My first experience with Amtrak was not great as a result.
@@ashersharon7488 That’s sad. Probably more likely during holidays. I’ve never heard of that. Wow !
Wife & I have taken the AutoTrain 3 times and found it to be a pleasant way to avoid the long drive. In St Augustine full time now but will be taking the Silver Service in December to DC and NYC to visit family.
fun fact, P42DC #207, the one leading your train, was the last P42 delivered to Amtrak in 2001 completing the order of 207 locomotives which are starting to be replaced by the new ALC-42s. also every time you post one of these videos it always makes me want to take a true overnight Amtrak train. I've taken countless Northeast Regionals and other Northeast Corridor trains, but the longest train I've taken was 15 hours on the Palmetto, which covers much of the same route as the Silver Meteor, but does not offer sleeper or diner accommodations.
My father was a passenger trainman, so I grew up riding the rails. There is little that is more relaxing than travel by train!
Jeb it's a shame you never got to experience the Florida trains before Amtrak, and the early years of Amtrak. Full course dining car meals were something to look forward to. Community seating and talking to strangers was a nice addition. But to pay ridiculous high prices for sleeping car accommodations and eat the garbage they call food, not going to do it. That crap is high in sodium, carbs and fat. Your lucky to have your own bathroom, but for those in the new roomettes it's down the hall...good luck with that!
Thanks for the shout out Jeb and I'm so glad my videos helped you get back up and out there! Glad you enjoyed the Silver Star! Question is...did I like it as much on the northbound trip just a couple of days later? 😀
Can’t wait to find out!!
Can’t wait until the video!
I love that … ‘rail zone’! I have experienced that many times. I’ve always chalked it up to the fact that you are pretty much cocooned and can’t really deal with the busyness and everyday problems of home. The gentle rocking movement lulls you into a very relaxed state.
I'm so glad CZcams brought me to your channel. I'm also kind of bummed at the same time. I'll never be able to watch anyone else's reviews of planes and trains. The way you narrate and describe things is so genuine. We hear the excitement and joy in your voice. Top notch video quality and music selection.
As a Brit, I'm quite jealous of the long train journey's you guys get to take. The best I can get is to get on the caledonian sleeper here in London up to Edinbrugh and as the name says it's not nescessarily the best one for seeing the country! Would love to see you come over to Europe to try out some of our trips you can do by train!
Caledonian Sleeper video coming soon!
@@GreenerGrass :O :D
The Caledonian Sleeper is a mixed bag. Despite the new rolling stock it’s not a great ride and there’s lots of creaks and groans. I didn’t find it conducive to a good night’s sleep. However, take the sleeper from London to Fort William and, if you manage to get some sleep, waking up to find yourself on the West Highland Line north of Glasgow is fantastic. I had breakfast on a snow covered Rannoch Moor, mesmerised by the view.
@@egpx the Night Riviera to Penzance is a more comfortable journey and the interiors are better designed, but nothing compares to the morning view on the Caledonian route towards Fort William.
@@plandsandtravels yes, I’m going to have to do the Night Riviera some day. Noel Philips did a video on it a few months ago, as a sleeper it looks preferable to the Caledonian Sleeper effort.
My parents have done the Auto Train several times. They really like it. They usually get a roomette for that trip. It tends to get delayed though because, as you know, Amtrak uses the freight rail tracks outside of the BOS-WAS corridor.
I took the Empire Builder to Portland OR. It was a grand experience I'll always remember! The best part was watching the sun rise over the Columbia River as we raced along the north shore. The river is about a mile across there. But I also remember Glacier Natl Park.
I just recently was on my very first Amtrak trip on the Lincoln Service. I was heading to Southern Illinois for work, and mentioned to my boss that I'll get there faster (and cheaper!) than if I had flown to St. Louis and gotten an Uber to where I was going. She was quick to agree. I flew into Chicago Midway on Southwest, after my original flight on American was cancelled due to weather the previous evening. My original plane was not able to leave Chicago to head to Cleveland to get us in the morning. Thankfully, the Southwest flight wasn't much more expensive, but it did mean that I was there over an hour and a half sooner than expected, and so for safety, I decided to book an Uber into the city instead of riding the rails.
Once at Union Station, I asked the Metropolitan Lounge if they had Day Passes. I believe this is the only lounge that does. $35, for a whole day, or in my case, two and a half hours, I believe was worth it. I was able to watch CZcams in 1080p, grab some okay breakfast. Honestly, the food selection is quite bad, you will go hungry if you're needing something to eat. There are other places available in Union Station, but I wasn't going to leave just to get a bit more food. It's enough to sustain you for a couple of hours.
They also have a shower inside the lounge, just ask the attendant, they'll hold your ID, give you a keycard and towels, and then you're all set. Very spacious, and after already having to run around for a couple of hours earlier in the day, it felt great to freshen up.
A bit before 9:00 AM, for a 9:30 departure, the lounge attendant gave us the boarding call. Headed through the doors, through the labyrinth to where we would be boarding. You do stand around for about 15 minutes or so before you do actually board. I was in coach, closest to the cafe car.
The seat was decently comfortable, however I was unable to figure out how to recline the seat, and I tried just about everything! Legroom was comparable to domestic first, and I was lucky enough to not get a seat mate, so two seats to myself. You do get a full-sized tray table, big enough for most laptops, and a full meal right at your seat. I was on-board for right around 4 hours.
I purchased lunch around 11AM. It was the old menu, they were out of the pizza, so I chose the Turkey & Swiss sandwich. It was quite good, and very filling. Just don't look at the sodium content and you'll be happy! I did, and was shocked.
Back to the train car, this was one of the new Venture coaches. Bathroom was very large, and easy to get around it. The aisles are tight, but still bigger than a plane aisle. Finally, wifi... it was spotty to say the least. I thought that they had been improved on the Venture coaches, but maybe it just wasn't my day. I would have to cycle my phone from wifi to data occasionally to get things to work. I didn't try streaming, like Simply Railway did, on his trip of the Lincoln Service.
I'd love to take Amtrak again, but around here it arrives at such late hours, or takes too long, that it'll be difficult to convince my boss unless it's going where I need it to faster than flying.
I've been on the Auto Train several times. I greatly appreciate not having to drive I-95. The experience once on board is great as there are no stops between Lorton, VA and Sanford, FL. It's great to have your car and store as much as you can in it during travel. The terminals on each end are a little more on the minimal side so it's important to be flexible and prepared. I will take the Auto Train again at the next opportunity.
I took the Auto Train northbound from Florida to Virginia at the beginning of August. Great service! They use superliners on it and they restarted the traditional dining on board. Well worth the trip and expense.
It’s also nice if you want to utilize your own vehicle as opposed to renting when you get to the other end of the line.
I would like to see Amtrak expand Auto Train service elsewhere in the country. Say having one Auto Train going from the East Coast to the Midwest (DC-Chicago say). That way if you wanted to drive from one region to the other you could take the train most of the way and drive from its terminus to your final destination.
Does Amtrak sell tickets to passengers wanting to ride the AutoTrain without an auto?
No, you have to have a car booked as well.
Or a motorcycle
Jeb, I really enjoy your videos, especially involving Amtrak trains. I'm a railfan who has been riding trains since 1958. I was a frequent rider of the Silver Star, over its entire route, as well as other Florida trains, back in the 1970's. I'm glad you had a good experience, but i wish you could have ridden this train back then. Amtrak once ran several trains over this route, both to Miami and Tampa and St Petersburg. Before April 30,1971, Seaboard Coast Line RR ran a superior passenger train operation between the Northeast and Florida. I have a lot of neat memories of riding this train out of Alexandria, Fredericksburg, Richmond, Raleigh and several Florida stops. Thanks for bringing back a lot of pleasant memories to me of this route, from all the way from New York down to Miami. My brother lives in Sebring,FL, one of the stops of the Silver Star. Thanks for this terrific video, very well done! - Verne Brummel, Madison,WI
I got to see the Amtrak Moynihan Train Hall for the first time in August 2021 and had the same reaction! It's beautiful.
It’s beautiful for the US. It’s nothing compared to Tokyo or Kyoto Stations in Japan.
Jeb,
Your reflections on Amtrak is similar to my own experience. I too wanted to travel, and didn’t feel comfortable flying, so looked to the train as an alternative means of travel. I ended up booking a cross country trip to see Yellowstone, Yosemite, and Glacier National Park, and it was just what I needed to settle my travel itch. I’m so glad I did that trip when I did, since I got to experience relatively calm parks, and enjoy my favorite mode of transportation. I’m elated that you’ve become CZcams’s most famous train vlogger, and can’t wait to see more train related content from you in the future
I love Amtrak ❤️ Was able to travel through Moynihan Station very recently. Such a beautiful train station, with many small businesses to see.
Having to walk outdoors to access the new station isn't fun. It used to be that you entered Penn Station on Seventh Ave. and remained indoors to get to Amtrak, which was a hop, skip, and a jump. You're now subject to the elements, which includes a rather unsavory area. A very stupid move on both Amtrak's and NYC's parts.
@@HotVoodooWitch The whole city is becoming unsavory, and I hail from there. The train hall was a monument to some politicians egoes. The tried to emulate the grandeur of the former Penn Station that was torn down in the 1960's. Grand Central almost suffered the same fate had Jackie Onassis not helped lead a concerted effort to save it. Unfortunately, GCT is being used as a dumping ground for homeless because an unsavory administration is incompetent after a lot of taxpayer's Money went into restoring the facility.
@@HotVoodooWitch You don't have too, but it is the fastest and more direct route. If you go into Penn Station and through the right tunnels, you can follow the signs for LIRR to get to Moynihan. But it's not terribly intuitive and I do usually just got to the surface and travel across the street.
My wife and I rode the rails last Saturday. Our son and his wife live in Fullerton, which is in Orange County. It’s the first stop heading south from the Union Station in Los Angeles. We rode Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner to get there. In a typical week day 26 passenger trains stop at Fullerton. Some are Amtrak and some are Metrolink.
We live in Rosamond, CA. The nearest train station is in Lancaster, about 20-minutes away. Metrolink’s Antelope Valley train line ends at Union Station. It’s a journey of a little more than two hours.
im taking the silver meteor up north in November my family thinks im crazy because it take so long but i just find the train so much more relaxing than flying and it gets me alot closer to my relatives than flying
I just marvel at the fact that you manage to produce a video each week like this. Last week, the Faroe Islands, this week a train trip down the East Coast... I don't think anyone would blame you if next week's video was just "A Little Over an Hour from Greensboro to Atlanta in Delta Comfort+. It Was Fine."
Thanks for noticing! The pressure to create is at once challenging and fulfilling! I feel so fortunate to get to do this. More to come!!
Great!
We have done the Auto train several times pre pandemic and loved it. Being able to have your car is a big plus. You can pack whatever you want and don't have to worry about the stuff you might want to bring home. Also watching the loading process is fascinating. The only drawback is there are no stretch breaks although you leave at 4 and get in in the morning.
how much does it cost for the car?
@@stloucat it's been ten years (wow can't believe it's been that long ) so I don't remember I think it was a couple of hundred.
@@stloucatit's about $500 extra to transport your car.
You are counter-acting the C.E.O. of Amtrak. GOOD FOR YOU!!!
I too feel the same sense of calm when i c these videos. It works like a balm on shattered nerves.
Love the bloopers !! It’s totally the behind the scenes of us creators and what we go through. Loved the video as I always love your train adventures.
Jeb and Susan a refuge from the World. Thank you two for the relief.......Cheers!
Just once I would like to see a train leave from a "leg stretching" stop without one of our narrators! Pure gold!
This accommodation looks excellent considering it's on a train - thanks for sharing this with us!
Hey Jeb, I would love to see you try via rails two flagship trains. There’s the ocean (Halifax to Montreal) and The Canadian (Toronto to Vancouver). Just a suggestion for the future👍
Same! I also wouldn't mind seeing a Phenix to Seattle one (or vise versa lol)!
Let us know when you are headed coast to coast.
@@jennabells7440 No passenger trains service Phoenix, unfortunately. Tucson is the closest terminal, I think.
@@daisyswimmer7728 Oh, I just meant period 😅. I would love to take a train ride along the west coast someday. Until then, I'd be down to watch a video he makes about it.
I am with Nate on this. I hear it is a fantastic journey.
The auto train is nice my only advice I would give to anyone would be to stop at the supermarket to grab a hero next-door or order a pizza delivered because you have have to get to station. Around 1 pm to start loading the resin
Auto Train - to answer your question, my wife and I have taken the Auto Train 3 times southbound from Lorton, VA to Sanford, FL. We'll drive down from about 6 hours north, spend the night at a nice inn, and board the next day. We live in "snow country", and although we enjoy the snow, in March the snow melts, it's still cold, brown and ugly, and that's the time to head South. Lorton departures are around 4:00 PM, but if everyone's on board, and the track is clear, they'll leave as early as 3 PM. We reserve bedrooms, that's the "only" way to go, and meals are included. I believe southbound fares are more favorable in March, because our trains have been half-full, while the return leg northbound trains are usually FULL of people returning from Florida to Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, etc. Normally we'll drive and take our time on the return leg, stopping in South Carolina and Virginia. What a way to go !!
Happy to see more Amtrak content! Covid really did a number on Amtrak, and since most of your Amtrak content is during the pandemic, I'm hoping that your experience gets better and better
Unfortunate that we don’t invest in high speed train due to car and airline lobbyist.
@@sakenu16 thank god
Brilliant to see another rail journey vlog. Great scenery. Hope all is well, take care and greetings from across the pond in England
You actually passed through the town I was born in, Rocky Mount, NC. Now Iive in Louisiana and am a train engineer myself.
Jeb, you know what would help, for those of us who are disabled and on a fixed income, is if you could mention what you paid and what the other rooms go for.
This would help immensely, I mean as long as you're doing your thing. 🤗
Already liked the video before watching it because I already know it'll be killer.
I'm so happy you're doing more Amtrak videos ❤️ I could watch you and Suzanne on your travels all day 🚅✈️
You're content is incredibly good. Having been in the Media for 20+ years with CBS Radio, I honestly can say your posts are addictive and I always watch all the way through. Great job and all the best!
I was born and raised in Winter Haven Florida...TY nostalgia big time 🥰🥰🥰🥰
I completed two trips with my spouse in February 2024 on Silver Star, one between Washington DC and Tampa and the other between Miami and Washington DC. Both trips were in original Viewliner sleeper cars. These cars are becoming quite worn. The first trip was in a roomette and the second trip was in a bedroom. Due to Amtrak's renumbering sleeper cars and substituting cars as needed for breakdown, there is no guarantee of getting a Viewliner II car, regardless of what you think you have reserved, but it's worth a try.
Hey Jeb, I absolutely love your videos, so relaxing and interesting. Reminds me of when I took the trip from Houston - Los Angeles on amtrak. Really beautiful trip.
Between your videos, Downie Live, Noel Phillips, and Josh Cahill, I was inspired to take the train from Oakland to Portland, which was the 2nd overnight train I. The first one was City of New Orleans on coach, and then I went Quebec to New York on coach. Both with good- but I never truly entered the Trainzone until I had a roomette from Oakland to Portland. You just go with it. I had so much fun, i took the train from Oakland to Denver, hoping to see the Rockies.
Instead we had breakfast over the great salt flats and didn't get to Glenwood Springs until 8pm. We got to Denver at 2am (8 hours late). I would say I didn't care- but I did, but instead I got to enjoy a part of this country that I had been to in a car- but a train is just so much better.
Pre-pandemic I figured out how to go around the world from Oakland (my home) to Oakland with a flight from St. Johns to London and Narita to Seattle
I just booked my trip yesterday and I’ve taken this train 30 plus years ago. I booked a Bedroom and I can’t wait for this
@@daveedmonds9717 which train are you taking? It's fun.
Silver star 91 often has delays. I just experience from Philadelphia to Tampa a 5 hour delay. Still I enjoyed the ride.
I watched a lot of the video at a slower speed so i could get a really good look at the scenery. When you were having breakfast & said "... my coffee started to have it's desired effect ..." i had a good laugh. With your voice slowed down, you sounded in desperate need of that caffeine hit. 😂
When i was 12, my family moved from Canada to Australia. We took 2-3 day layovers in severally places so the trip was incredible, but going through airports got tiresome really quick, even though this was in 69 & security checks, etc were less bothersome. A few years later, we took a cruise around the Pacific ocean but had to embark from a city halfway across the country from where we lived. I will always be grateful that my parents decided to take a train to get there. It took 3 days & was one of my best traveling experiences. Having breakfast while going through a wilderness area we got to watch a multitude of kangaroos having their's. I fell in love with train travel on that trip. The cruise followed & i then also fell in love with traveling on ships. Being able to take your hotel room with you, not having to pack & unpack & do the airport routine, not to mention no weight restrictions so you can shop to your hearts content, is heaven. With my dad working in various countries, i was extremely privileged to travel extensively. For me, the best way to go is by train & ship. I'm also extremely grateful my traveling was done before the security restrictions with flying were needed.
Hey Jeb, another fantastic video! I want to try another long haul train. Preferably The Lake Shore Limited or Cardinal. I really am glad Suzanne talked you into trying Amtrak. It is great!
I was on the auto train in January 22 headed from Lorton to Sanford. I had a roomette and it was a great trip. Friendly staff. Vehicle was off loaded within 20 minutes but paid extra for that convenience Only negative - passed thru Ashland VA just after 5pm and then it was dark and you could not see the other towns the train went thru. I’d do it again only this time in late March or April.
I love train travel especially when going cross country!! When I took the family from LA to MPLS was about 30-ish years ago we booked a
roomette for the kids and a
handicap room for my wife and I. The accommodations weren’t as luxurious as the new Acela but was comfortable. The food was also included with the
rooms. While the menu was limited to about five options for dinner everything was cooked and it was all excellent!! You nailed it by saying it was a totally relaxing experience. As soon as I stepped onto the train all stress vanished. I didn’t have to stop for gas and the need for bathroom stops,feed the family or find a hotel or motel!! A truly great trip!!!Empire Builder going and Southwest Chief returning. Our only rule for the kids was that when the train stopped they DO NOT get off. They met other kids and had a great time playing. We usually saw them when it was time to eat!
The auto train is so good. It doesn’t have the views like the western trains or even some eastern ones, it still suffices as a great way to see the country, a lot of rural area and small towns
Similarly to Paul for you. You have inspired me to do a long distance train. My parents arrive on the American leg of their retirement round the world
Trip to Chicago so we’re taking the Texas Eagle back home to San Antonio with them.
Being originally from Australia I’m used to trains and love them but excited for a long distance ride
your crazy perma-smile always cracks me up! "im booked into a bedroom so I get to go in here PERMA-SMILE!!!"(1:04) LOL. so funny.
Jeb, I always enjoy your videos highlighting the railway industry. I am particularly impressed with your enthusiasm for this trip and for the number of smiles you shared.
Thank you so much.
Looking forward to your next episode!
Very interesting video. Thanks. It makes me want to get on a train and go somewhere!
I’ve taken auto train many times and I’ve found it to be a really cool experience. It’s non-stop from Sanford to Lorton va and it takes your car with you. I would definitely give it a try.
Thank you for being so positive and politely criticizing areas that need improvement!!! Love your channel as well as Amtrak... Rail travel needs to improve in AMERICA and you are a huge help to leading people in this direction👍👍🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲
You are so positive and delightful. Thank you for sharing your adventures with us.
The thermostat didn't work... Outstanding!!
This is now my favourite Jeb video, I'd never thought of Amtrak going from New York to Miami.
Again another great eye opener from Jeb...well done! 👌👏
Thanks for sharing your experienced time with us. have a nice trips.
I always love your Amtrak videos. I became a huge fan after a 14 hour train ride to Chicago. I’m hoping that one day you check out the Capital Limited. That’s got some beautiful scenery to it as well.
I was considering taking the train from Detroit to Cleveland. NINE HOURS. Ah, well.
Love the train vids my man! Cant say I dont miss all the aviation though!
I LOVE Amtrak...take it on my trips from NYC to Nebraska and Colorado.
Now I'm in Lincoln, NE, looking into heading back to NYC.
All my trips have been in Coach but I hope to get a sleeper this time!
Thanks for the video!
Another great video; thanks for posting. I used to ride the Santa Fe passenger train back and forth between Amarillo, TX and Bakersfield, CA a lot as a kid. Love trains.
Great video, we are long overdue for a train system upgrade.
Hey Jen! Another great video. I took the AutoTrain from FL to VA & back again in July. Although my car was about the 15th car on the train, it was the 2nd last one (of about 380 cars) off the train in VA…..took 2 hours to get my car!! Perhaps the Priority charge might be worth it.
Train travel is very relaxing, & the service on board was great! However, I didn’t sleep nearly as well as you did. I nearly fell out of the top roommette bunk 4 times, as I grabbed for the safety strap! That said, I’m already planning my next Auto Train trip, this time in a bedroom….a great way to avoid the stress of driving I-95. Can’t wait to see your review of the Auto Train, when you make the trip.
I was on the auto train in January and paid for priority off loading and I had my vehicle in about 20 minutes after stepping off the train. It was well work the cost which I think was $60.
Thanks for another entertaining production. Jeb, I like how you present your productions, always putting a positive into the adventure makes it great viewing. I look forward to seeing many more adventures.
Amtrak fan here. It would be fantastic if the US invested more into passenger rail. Great way to travel.
My family of 5 did the auto train one way to Orlando in June from Largo to Orlando. Typically this trip is very pricey at least for us but my husband found a great deal back in the winter...we ended up getting 3 roomettes... it was fun for the kids but the nighttime ride was very bumpy and hot and hard to sleep we kept the doors partially open. The food for dinner was really really good 👍 and our attendant was super nice. My only other complaint is the bathroom at the end of the hallway was very tiny.
my husband and I took a cross country trip with our then 1 year old. the first night was fine but when we switched train routes to the cardinal the nighttime ride was insanely bumpy and fast. we thought we'd get thrown on the floor and or fall off the tracks. our baby somehow loved it and slept the whole time, so that's all that mattered lol
Jeb saw u on the Mountaineer during the weekly Instagram stream !
Great vlog as always on the Amtrak to Florida 😃
Jeb it is never to,early for beverages It’s always 5:00 pm somewhere lol 😂
Great cabin
Oh lord you had brocoli 😱
Love the marina views
Currently in the hospital recovering from an emergency appendectomy (performed this morning), my day just got a little better seeing anew train video uploaded.
I absolutely LOVE travelling by Amtrak. Thank you so much for sharing your BEAUTIFUL journey with us. 👍🏽👍🏽
I'd love to see Amtrak add more Auto Train destinations. Like maybe to the West Coast perhaps?
A West coast autotrain would be so useful. Bay area to LA/OC
Jeb, could you include price data in future videos? When you show the room types, you could give prices and then also for alternative modes of transportation like airplane and bus fare. All fares are subject to change, but it could be really helpful to have a price estimate of the various modes of transportation available for the trip at the time of the video. It could inspire people to plan for their own trips.
This was a fun video and I enjoyed it. I might like to travel this Amtrak route myself in the future, and now I have an idea of what it's like. Thank you.
I think the quick answer, for long distance sleeper service, is "as much or more that a walk-up, first class airfare."
A lot of the price depends on how far in advance you book. My husband and I recently went from Kansas to Chicago in a roomette for $600 round trip. That’s $600 round trip, meals included. The meals were SO GOOD. The train we took had traditional dining, which is what we are waiting for before we take an eastern route. Definitely couldn’t fly for that price at the time we booked due to jet fuel prices. It is slower, but so much more relaxing than air travel.
@@Rglazapple Thank you! That's very helpful information, and it's going to motivate me to check the price of rail travel before I book my next flight. Sometimes relatively slow but far more comfortable travel on trains and ships is more efficient, economical, and practical than competing airline routes, especially if you can sleep well overnight as you travel.
My family is from the New York City area; this new station entrance is across the street from Madison Square Garden. The station including all local commuter trains is a quarter mile long and one city block wide, the train platforms are below the Madison Square Garden arena.
Love your videos, especially your Amtrak adventures. Amtrak is a great public service but if you're looking for a good comparison, have you thought about a trip north? VIA Rail's "The Canadian" is an iconic 4 day transcontinental train journey from Toronto to Vancouver complete with 5 star meals and historic dome cars. Should definitely be a bucket list trip for any fan of rail travel!
Just last week, my husband and I completed travel from Seattle to Emeryville, CA on Amtrak's Coastal Starlight, and I have to say, although we probably paid the same amount of money for our tickets, your experience appears to have been markedly different. We, too, booked a bedroom, but while our accommodations basically resembled yours, ours were much older and lacked the modern amenities, i.e., more outlets, storage space, and I think, a slightly larger lower bed. Everything in the cabin was worn, worn, worn. The folding chair was broken, not badly enough that one couldn't sit in it, but just enough that it wasn't really comfortable. The water pressure in the sink was such that it couldn't be used unless one wanted to be sprayed down, which we didn't. Also, I think your cheery morning demeanor may have been somewhat dimmed if you had to share the bedroom with a companion. When you are two, someone has to sleep in that considerably shorter top bunk and negotiating that TINY ladder from that low-ceiling space in the middle of the night is no fun.
I have traveled on Amtrak in the past and my main complaint is always the same: inconsistency in the customer experience. If you don't know to call Amtrak prior to traveling and ask to be assigned to one of the newer coaches, they will put you wherever they like and it won't be like the videos you see on CZcams. BTW, the cost of our two tickets for one night, meals included, was $1200
32 hours put into 21 minutes. I like it!
I live in North Carolina and my daughter in law and grandson rode Amtrex to Philadelphia and then rented a car an drive to Altoona PA...my grandson is now a junior at Penn. State where he is going to be a Amtrex engineer...he dearly lives trains...we had a awesome time on the train and we had tge best steak I have ever had in my life...I would ride it again
HAD A BLAST...THANKS FOR SHARING
FROM NORTH CAROLINA....ENJOY
What was really surprising was the whole locomotive had to be swapped out to change from electric to diesel, In the UK on the Highland main line the power mode has to be switched and it can be done while moving without any locomotive swaps!
Only on some trains.
Amtrak only has a few locomotives that can run on both diesel and electric power right now. There's plans to buy more, but it hasn't happened yet, so long-distance trains still have to swap.
You should do the Coast Starlight next.
We rode on the AutoTrain last month from Lorton, VA to Sanford, FL and had sit down meals for dinner and breakfast. The dinner was FABULOUS!! Steak cooked to order with a green salad, green beans and baked potato, and salmon with green salad, quinoa and edamame and green beans. We got a bedroom cabin and it was fabulous. Our first time on a train!! We loved it. We were going to Florida for vacation. Definitely going to suggest this to my husband for an idea for a trip to Florida going further South than our normal Clearwater area. Thank you!!