Traveling by train can be very rewarding and a fun thing to do if you are not in a big hurry. The days when the major railroad companies like Union Pacific, Santa Fe, and Burlington & Northern etc. ran crack streamline trains that offered the hospitality of the finest hotels has gone. The economy has made train travel less desirable and much more affordable. 

It seems that more and more freight carried across country and Congress deemed that was much more important. The idea of doing away with passenger travel was not part of the scheme but instead the birth of Amtrak a passenger service meant to operate independently was born. This was a great idea at first but the freight hauling became a more lucrative way of making money than that of hauling people.

Amtrak trains needed new tracks and a different route so not to collide with the freight hauling trains in order to survive.   This was not in the picture because the cost of materials and labor were too high keeping the passenger trains still using the freight lines to take passengers to their destinations.  The Amtrak travel method slowed down because the passenger trains wait to let the fast moving freight haulers go through first, which slows down your arrival time. You find that with this it is still rewarding to go by train. You find that you are giving yourself a much-needed time out giving way to relaxing, reading a book, or simply enjoying the countryside. Amtrak over the years has added new equipment that makes the ride go much smoother, the meals in the dining car are excellent to eat, and the porters are polite and very courteous.

The cars meant for passengers are very comfortable with high back seats, footrests and pull down trays. You feel like your going first class every time you ride with Amtrak. The people at Amtrak make you feel like you are important and try to help you in every way that they can from helping you to your seats, to providing you with blankets and pillows to delivery you food from the dining if you are handicapped. When you are going long distance, they have sleeping cars, snack cars and an observation car to make you more comfortable on your long journey. I have found that every trip on the Amtrak to be enjoyable and would recommend it to anyone.