Any regular Amtrak commuters?

[Deeko]

Anyone out there take Amtrak regularly / daily? I’m starting a new job soon that will have me on Amtrak every day – any tips? Things to look out for? Deals or reward credit cards I should be using? Am I going to hate my life?

 

[DesiPower]

Just curious, from were to where will you travel, how long does it take and how much does it cost?

 

[Deeko]

Just curious, from were to where will you travel, how long does it take and how much does it cost?

Philly-NYC, 1:15 to 1:30 each way depending on the train, monthly pass is just under $1400. I'll be able to incorporate that commute into my work day and not actually be in the office a full day, so my full door-to-door day will be a little less than my last job (which was an hour drive commute + 9 hr day). And yes - where I live now + that Amtrak pass costs less than living in a comparable house anywhere near NYC.

 

[DesiPower]

Cool! that's a really sweet deal

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

...hope your getting paid enough to have to deal with that shit.

Though my work is the same, they don't really care where you do it... as long as you do it.

$1400/month... fucking ouch. I complain about $130/month to ride the bus into downtown where I am at...

 

[Deeko]

It's a lot, yea, but the job's pay scale is based on the fact that the office is in Manhattan - and cost of living in Manhattan is, you know, crazy. I live in the Philly suburbs; a house with comparable size / niceness / etc even in the north jersey NYC suburbs would cost over twice what mine does.

 

[darkewaffle]

I never took it that often but I would go from Philly to Harrisburg on a semi regular basis a few years ago. Personally I think it's a really pleasant way to travel - more often than not the line I took was pretty sparsely populated but I doubt you'll be quite that lucky with a commute line like that.

Nothing to watch out for that I recall, the same basic rules apply to it as most forms of public transportation. Careful who you sit next to, don't be a dick and try to take up the seat next to you with your shit, avoid kids and fatties and be prepared to possibly stand during holidays/high congestion hours (that only ever happened to me once around Thanksgiving I think). Use headphones, don't watch porn next to a nun, bring something to do etc.

Also most of the cars will have seats facing the way the train is travelling and seats facing opposite. Never bothered me but some people prefer one to the other.

 

[Ganeedi]

Just an option, but if you're in the burbs, can you drive part way and take the regional rail in? Like say drive to Trenton?

 

[manlymatt83]

Anyone out there take Amtrak regularly / daily? I’m starting a new job soon that will have me on Amtrak every day – any tips? Things to look out for? Deals or reward credit cards I should be using? Am I going to hate my life?

I love Amtrak. Jealous.

Get their credit card and definitely sign up for membership rewards. If you earn platinum plus or whatever they hook you up.

 

[kranky]

Does a monthly pass guarantee you a seat?

All this info is second-hand from co-workers...

Amtrak has some type of frequent rider program (Guest Points maybe?) - once you've accumulated enough points you get access to the Acela lounges and on the NYC end if you have lounge access I think you get to board earlier than the hoi polloi.

AAA members get 10% off some Amtrak tickets. There's also a Chase credit card that gives you bonus points on Amtrak purchases. Don't know if it's worthwhile but might want to research.

I'm told the pass is only a bargain if you absolutely ride 20 days in a month. If you can wrangle one day a week work from home... Others say if you buy a series of 14-day advance tickets it's cheaper than the monthly pass, but you lose the flexibility of just getting on any train like you have with a monthly pass.

Some people do a SEPTA-NJT to NYC which is cheaper but longer and less reliable - but if money is key, it's an option.

 

[CraKaJaX]

What's the pass include? I would just make sure that you are guaranteed a parking spot and that it doesn't cost extra. I know for Metro North and LIRR some stations require parking passes and others don't.

 

[Deeko]

Just an option, but if you're in the burbs, can you drive part way and take the regional rail in? Like say drive to Trenton?

If I lived north of Philly driving to Trenton would be ideal, but unfortunately from where I am, it's almost an hour drive to Trenton, not saving any time, and the parking + bridge tolls would eat away at the cost savings.

Does a monthly pass guarantee you a seat?

All this info is second-hand from co-workers...

Amtrak has some type of frequent rider program (Guest Points maybe?) - once you've accumulated enough points you get access to the Acela lounges and on the NYC end if you have lounge access I think you get to board earlier than the hoi polloi.

AAA members get 10% off some Amtrak tickets. There's also a Chase credit card that gives you bonus points on Amtrak purchases. Don't know if it's worthwhile but might want to research.

I'm told the pass is only a bargain if you absolutely ride 20 days in a month. If you can wrangle one day a week work from home... Others say if you buy a series of 14-day advance tickets it's cheaper than the monthly pass, but you lose the flexibility of just getting on any train like you have with a monthly pass.

Some people do a SEPTA-NJT to NYC which is cheaper but longer and less reliable - but if money is key, it's an option.

Unfortunately the monthly pass is not a guaranteed seat, which is a little concerning, I guess we'll see how it goes. I've been following it for the last month or so, doesn't seem to sell out much. If I'm going in every day, booking two weeks in advance would get to be a hassle quick. Good tip on the AAA discount but apparently its only valid for individual tickets, not multi-ride tickets. Ah well.

 

[Sukhoi]

Make sure you sign up for Amtrak Guest Rewards. Their rewards program is quite good.

The 10% AAA discount is not valid on multi-ride tickets, and must be purchased at least 3 days in advance.

 

[Ichinisan]

Philly-NYC, 1:15 to 1:30 each way depending on the train, monthly pass is just under $1400. I'll be able to incorporate that commute into my work day and not actually be in the office a full day, so my full door-to-door day will be a little less than my last job (which was an hour drive commute + 9 hr day). And yes - where I live now + that Amtrak pass costs less than living in a comparable house anywhere near NYC.

I just came across this old thread and realized what a close call it was that you were not on the train that derailed in Philly. Glad you're OK.

 

[Deeko]

I just came across this old thread and realized what a close call it was that you were not on the train that derailed in Philly. Glad you're OK.

Thanks - yea the train that derailed is one of the two lines I take. Luckily it wasn't earlier in the day, I was already back from NYC for the day so I didn't get stuck up there either.

 

[RossMAN]

Nope I've only ridden on the Cascades a few times while on vacation.

 

[John Connor]

Last time I took Amtrak was back in circa '85. What a long and boring trip.

 

[Ns1]

Holy shit @ 1400/month in transportation costs

 

[John Connor]

That's like rent FFS! Old ass 19th century tech.

 

[Ns1]

That's more than my monthly rent + transportation costs combined.

 

[Red Squirrel]

The last thing I heard about Amtrak involved a deadly derailment. RIP OP.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Philly-NYC, 1:15 to 1:30 each way depending on the train, monthly pass is just under $1400. I'll be able to incorporate that commute into my work day and not actually be in the office a full day, so my full door-to-door day will be a little less than my last job (which was an hour drive commute + 9 hr day). And yes - where I live now + that Amtrak pass costs less than living in a comparable house anywhere near NYC.

That's insane, that's more than my mortgage payment.

 

[Deeko]

You think that's bad - take a gander at the housing market in NYC and the surrounding suburbs. It's outrageous.

 

[mrjminer]

Be a baller. Sleeper car every day

 

[mcurphy]

I complain about $130/month to ride the bus into downtown where I am at...

That's not bad at all. I spend that per month just for gas for my 30 mile commute. I couldn't imagine spending $1400, holy fuck!