Amtrak - train travel Review

So you live in the Boston area.  You have relatives in the New Jersey area yuo haven't seen in years - you have just recenty reconnected. You need to get there within a few days - so booking a plane flight that was lesss than $700 was impossible - (plus, I couldn't find a relative that wanted to pick me up at either Newark OR Philly. I an't blame them.) But, you do not want to drive all the way down to South Jersey. The traffic, the gas prices, getting sleepy behind the wheel, can't frive a standard that long due to several back surgeries??? The alternative is...Amtrak. I took Amtrak from Boston (I chose the 128 Station - less crowded and no traffic) to the "Metro Station" in NJ, and returned on the Acela train 4 days later. I was sared to at first because of the "rif-raf" problem I had on the train 8 yrs ago on a Boston to VA Bch trip.  Alas, my hears were waylaid as I settled into my comfy seat on the southbound "Northeast Corridor" train. They have a shack car - and BONUS - a "quiet car" that is enfored by the conductors! This means NO CELL PHONE conversations by people who still think they need to YELL to be heard - and best of all NO NOISY KIDS!  Heaven!!!! The trip took about 4.5 hours - which is what I would have spent battling traffic to get to my destintion - at least.

I got to read, play games on my iPhone, watch a Movie on my iPhone and nap. I couldn't do that while driving through NY traffic!

On the return Acela trip - that shaved an hour off the travel time - I got to relax, watch a movie and eat. The seats are far more comfortable than a plane or your local commuter rail seats. Some even have tables. All the cars on the Acela seem to be Business class, and thus were about $10 more than coach.

Prices vary greatly with travel time.  Normal travel hours are higher than early or late times. Same as planes.

Downside to train (or airplane travel for that matter) is the STINKY food people bring with them.  If you are going to be in a small enclosed place with lots of people - please don't eat pastrami, dill pickles, Caesar Salads, Egg Salad or Beef Jerkey.  It is torture for those of us not eating - and for some that dislike these foods anyway - being trapped with them is like a punishment. Eat smelly stuff BEFORE you get on the train - and bring normal travel food on with you. Hamburgers. Sodas. Salads wthout fishy dressings or eggs. Fruit. Chicken.

The whole trip cost me $200 bucks. To keep me safe (i.e., out of traffic) and comfortable, and save on gas - I think this was a decent deal. 

Oh - don't forget to do a Google search for Amtrak discounts - you will be surprized what you will find that is ot advertised on the Amtrak website! I saved 15% - if you book more than 14 days before your trip - you save quite a bit more.  SO, keep that in mind.