Amtrak Travelers !!! Question

[Spooner]

I have to go to and from Trenton, NJ starting in Boston for the next few months

The train rides, regardless of Acela Express or not, are 4-5 hours in length. I was wondering what type of ammenitites are on these trains to help me cope with such a long freaking ride. I'll be going business class.

Are there plugs? Internet? Food? TV? Ability to sleep?

 

[blackdogdeek]

i took amtrak, non-acela from nyc to washington dc(~4 hrs) and i was able to use my laptop as there was an electrical outlet right next to my seat. however, there wasn't a phone jack or bband connection.

 

[Spooner]

Originally posted by: blackdogdeek
i took amtrak, non-acela from nyc to washington dc(~4 hrs) and i was able to use my laptop as there was an electrical outlet right next to my seat. however, there wasn't a phone jack or bband connection.

was this coach or business? How comfortable are the seats?

 

[loup garou]

You think 4 hours is a long ride? Bring a freaking book! Sheesh...can't be away from the intarweb for 4 hours?

 

[Spooner]

Originally posted by: werk
You think 4 hours is a long ride? Bring a freaking book! Sheesh...can't be away from the intarweb for 4 hours?

When it causes me to have to wake up at like 5am it does!

Book? HA! Yeah right....

 

[Looney]

4 hours and you're worried? Just bring a book, gameboy, or a couple of magazines. Not sure if they'll have food, but eat before you get on the train, or bring a snack... it's only 4 hrs.

 

[wnied]

every six to eight months I take their auto-train to Sanford, Florida. Depending on what class you buy into, will determine the amount of amenities. Their Coach seating is ok, no better or worse than any run of the mill airline. They have dining cars which usually have TVs you can catch the news on. I dont think their at the point yet where they offer internet on their trains or not.

~wnied~

 

[loup garou]

If you're waking up at 5am, just sleep the 4 hours away. You don't travel much, do you?

 

[blackdogdeek]

Originally posted by: Spooner

Originally posted by: blackdogdeek
i took amtrak, non-acela from nyc to washington dc(~4 hrs) and i was able to use my laptop as there was an electrical outlet right next to my seat. however, there wasn't a phone jack or bband connection.

was this coach or business? How comfortable are the seats?

coach. for a 4 hr ride the seats were comfortable enough. more comfortable than the average bus. i would imagine business was more comfy.

 

[BarbeQueGuy]

Look into flights to Mercer Airport, its right next to Trenton and the flight should be real short.

 

[Moonbeam]

The Amtrak train I just rode from Sacramento to San Oakland had bathrooms, a lounge car for food and a 120 volt plug for electrical divices plus a pull out table in the seat in front to use as a computer desk. There are also sleeper cars on some trains for longer trips. It was quite an interesting and comfortable ride, but I amused myself by looking out the window. I just had about an hour ride though. Rode by a site where long ago I dug up a fossilezed mastodont femer and a horse jaw.

 

[Spooner]

I'm guessing they don't have internet connections, then.

 

[OutHouse]

Originally posted by: Spooner
I'm guessing they don't have internet connections, then.

How in the hell can you put internet connection on a train?

 

[loup garou]

Originally posted by: Citrix

Originally posted by: Spooner
I'm guessing they don't have internet connections, then.

How in the hell can you put internet connection on a train?

Satellite. JetBlue is going to do it on their planes.

 

[BatmanNate]

The Amtrak rides I've been on have included a dining car, an observation deck, and a bar so you should be set for amenities. Other than that, like has been mentioned, bring a good book. Nicer than an airplane though, more room usually, and you can get up and walk around between cars. They usually show movies and whatnot in the observation car also.

 

[brtspears2]

Originally posted by: Citrix

Originally posted by: Spooner
I'm guessing they don't have internet connections, then.

How in the hell can you put internet connection on a train?

Wireless technology. I mean, they got directTV on jets, so why not have same data service on a slower moving train. But then I wouldn't want to add anything to the "Am(I on the)Trak" curse.

EDIT: Crap, I've been beat ... just bring money, like an airport, the train does not realize the prices of things in the rest of the world.

 

[Nightfall]

Well, it would have to be wireless, that is for sure.

I know if you have a cell phone and a plan that allows you to dialup and use your wireless phone as a modem, you could use that. Mind you, that is pretty slow, but doable if you NEEDED internet.

 

[Spooner]

at least if they have plugs, i can bring a couple of DVDs