DNYUZ
  • Home
  • News
    • U.S.
    • World
    • Politics
    • Opinion
    • Business
    • Crime
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Science
  • Entertainment
    • Culture
    • Music
    • Movie
    • Television
    • Theater
    • Gaming
    • Sports
  • Tech
    • Apps
    • Autos
    • Gear
    • Mobile
    • Startup
  • Lifestyle
    • Arts
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Health
    • Travel
No Result
View All Result
DNYUZ
No Result
View All Result
Home News

I’ve spent hundreds of hours on Amtrak trains. I always prepare for these 5 mishaps that can make journeys more difficult.

April 29, 2025
in News
I’ve spent hundreds of hours on Amtrak trains. I always prepare for these 5 mishaps that can make journeys more difficult.
495
SHARES
1.4k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
The author taking a selfie in the observation car of an Amtrak train while wearing a red sweater.
I really enjoy traveling by train, which can require a bit of preparation.

Diana Kruzman

Over the past few years, I’ve done a lot of train travel.

I’ve crisscrossed the US several times on Amtrak trains from San Francisco to Chicago; Denver to California; Los Angeles to New Orleans; New York to Chicago; Chicago to Washington, DC; New York to Boston; and Chicago to Portland, Oregon.

Although my long-haul journeys have been positive overall, things can always go wrong.

Here are the biggest mishaps I’ve encountered on Amtrak rides and how I prepare for them in advance.

Before I board the train, I prepare for spotty signals and limited cell reception.

The exit door with a window on a moving Amtrak train at sunset.
Some Amtrak trains don’t offer WiFi.

Diana Kruzman

Amtrak travels through some remote areas of the US, including the Rocky Mountains and the northern plains.

These parts of the country don’t always have great cell reception. Though some of Amtrak’s routes and trains advertise WiFi access, reception may still be spotty.

If I know I’ll be riding through more rural areas, I always tell people not to worry if I don’t reply immediately. I also download any books or movies I want access to on the train before I board.

I pack my own food so I don’t have to rely on the onboard options.

An Amtrak food menu with images of hot coffee, a streusel coffee cake, sausage, egg, and cheese on a bialy roll, an artisan breakfast sandwich,  an iced lemon cake, and bacon-and-cheese egg bites.
The Amtrak menus usually have some vegetarian and vegan options, but could use more variety.

Diana Kruzman

Amtrak food has gotten a lot better in recent years. Even if you don’t spring for the restaurant car, the café car has things such as coffee, crudités, and noodle bowls.

Still, the options are often limited, and eating the same things for three days straight on long-haul journeys can get boring. The café can also run out of things and isn’t open 24/7.

Packing my snacks and meals saves me money and ensures I always have access to something I want to eat.

Delays of any size can wreak havoc on travel plans, so I plan my schedule to account for them.

A person holding a book open with a Colorado bookmark inside while riding on an Amtrak train with grassy hills seen through the window to the left.
I make sure to bring a book on the train in case I need to kill time.

Diana Kruzman

Delays are common with train travel. I’ve frequently experienced up to three-hour delays on long-distance Amtrak journeys.

I also have friends who’ve been delayed up to seven hours on a ride, so whenever any sort of delay is announced, I’m always prepared for the worst.

I never plan anything time-sensitive for the day I arrive, and I always bring a book or something that can keep me occupied if the journey is longer than expected.

I prepare for crowded coach cars, which can be difficult to sleep in.

A turquoise bed-rest pillow sitting on an Amtrak train seat in front of a tray with a coffee cup on top.
A comfortable pillow can go a long way on a train ride.

Diana Kruzman

Amtrak’s sleeper cars are not in my budget. I usually just book a regular coach seat, even if the journey is scheduled to take over 20 hours.

I don’t typically get to choose my seat on Amtrak, but whenever I do, I’m savvy about it. A spot far from the bathroom or families with noisy kids is ideal — bonus points if there’s no one else in the row.

If I board and the coach cars are already crowded, there’s not much I can do other than hope people get off before me.

To prepare, I also like to bring a travel pillow, a sleeping mask, and earplugs, which make sleeping upright on a long journey a little easier.

Train tickets can be more expensive than flights, so I stay on top of discounts and deals.

A man with luggage standing in front of a map with all the Amtrak routes.
There are a range of Amtrak routes all across the US.

Diana Kruzman

Traveling by train, particularly on longer routes, isn’t always cheaper than flying.

To get the best deals, I look out for Amtrak sales by signing up for promotional email lists. I’ve landed discounts of up to 30% at certain times of the year.

I also have a free Amtrak rewards account I use to earn points that can go toward future tickets.

This story was originally published on November 2, 2024, and most recently updated on April 29, 2025.

The post I’ve spent hundreds of hours on Amtrak trains. I always prepare for these 5 mishaps that can make journeys more difficult. appeared first on Business Insider.

Tags: accessamtrak trainbookChicagodelaydiana kruzmanemail addresshourjourneymishapNew Yorkoptionroutespotty cell receptionthing
Share198Tweet124Share
Alabama town’s first Black mayor reelected after being locked out of office
News

Alabama town’s first Black mayor reelected after being locked out of office

by CBS News
August 29, 2025

The first Black mayor of a tiny Alabama town overwhelmingly won election this week, four years after he says White ...

Read more
News

No Schuman roundabout canopy without more money

August 29, 2025
News

Waymo CEO says the company will push back on law enforcement requests: ‘We need communities to be able to trust us’

August 29, 2025
News

Legionnaires’ Outbreak Traced to N.Y.C.-Owned Sites, Including Hospital

August 29, 2025
News

Minneapolis church shooting search warrants reveal new details and evidence

August 29, 2025
The top 10 NYC restaurants where Wall Street and Madison Avenue wine and dine

The top 10 NYC restaurants where Wall Street and Madison Avenue wine and dine

August 29, 2025
‘Very In-Your-Face and Real’: Kurt Cobain Described Recording Technique That Gave ‘In Utero’ Its Classic Sound

‘Very In-Your-Face and Real’: Kurt Cobain Described Recording Technique That Gave ‘In Utero’ Its Classic Sound

August 29, 2025
Browns legend Joe Thomas gives ‘Shedeur Sanders cult’ a reality check

Browns legend Joe Thomas gives ‘Shedeur Sanders cult’ a reality check

August 29, 2025

Copyright © 2025.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • U.S.
    • World
    • Politics
    • Opinion
    • Business
    • Crime
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Science
  • Entertainment
    • Culture
    • Gaming
    • Music
    • Movie
    • Sports
    • Television
    • Theater
  • Tech
    • Apps
    • Autos
    • Gear
    • Mobile
    • Startup
  • Lifestyle
    • Arts
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Health
    • Travel

Copyright © 2025.