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Train operator in USA:

Amtrak, see www.amtrak.com for US train times, fares & booking.

Buy Amtrak tickets in the UK   Buy Amtrak tickets in Australia & NZ

Trans-Atlantic sea travel:

www.cunard.com  www.cruisepeople.co.uk  www.strandtravel.co.uk

USA rail pass:

Amtrak USA rail pass

Time:

New York:  GMT-5  Chicago:  GMT-6  Los Angeles:  GMT-8  Clocks go forward 1 hour from 2nd Sunday in March to 1st Sunday in November.

Currency:

£1 = approx 1.9 US Dollars     Currency converter

Tourist information:

Each State has a tourist agency, see www.towd.com    Guidebooks

Hotels:

Find hotels in the USA  Hostels in USA: www.hostelbookers.com

Page last updated:

3 March 2008.

It may not be the cheapest way to go, but it's cheaper than a business-class airfare, and includes six night's accommodation and all meals.  The greatest liner of them all, Cunard's brand-new Queen Mary 2, sails Trans-Atlantic from Southampton to New York roughly once each month from April to November.  It really is the only way to arrive in New York... 

You can get special-offer fares from as little as £799 one-way (with free return flight) sharing a 2-bed cabin, although full-fares start at around £1,400 one-way.

The QM2 sails from her terminal in Southampton docks (just round the corner from the traditional Ocean Terminal where the original Queen Mary, and even the Titanic would have sailed) at 18:00.  A special boat train composed of the British Pullman cars of the Venice Simplon Orient Express leaves Victoria station at lunchtime and goes direct to the terminal alongside the QM2.  The crossing (and it feels more like a proper crossing than a 'cruise', with many passengers using it as a genuine form of transport) last six nights, arriving in New York bright and early at 06:30 (an hour earlier than previous seasons - you'll now need to be on deck from about 04:30 to see the full approach to New York).   The Pullman boat train costs an extra £150 or so - probably the most expensive London to Southampton ticket ever offered in the history of British railways, but you only live once. 

Above & below:  Approaching Manhattan on a Cunard liner is THE way to arrive in NYC.  As we all know, the skyline has sadly changed a bit since these pictures were taken.  Until 2006, Cunard used pier 90 on Manhattan island, but the QM2 now uses a new Brooklyn cruise terminal.

Southampton to New York:

2007:  First crossing 6 April, then 18 May, 26 June, 12 July, 9 August, 25 August, 22 September, 13 October, 25 October, then no sailings until 6 January 2008.

The ship normally sails from Southampton at 17:00 and arrives in New York at 07:00 six nights later.

New York to Southampton:

2007:  First crossing 18 April, then 30 April, 10 June, 6 July, 18 July, 3 August, 15 August, 4 September, 7 October, 19 October then no sailings until 12 April 2008.

The ship normally sails from New York at 17:00 and arrives in Southampton at 07:00 six nights later.

2003 was the last complete Trans-Atlantic season for the 1967-built QE2.  The brand-new Queen Mary 2 took over the Trans-Atlantic sailings from 2004.  Please check sailing dates, times and fares at www.cunard.com, or call 0800 052 3840.

Passenger-carrying freighters:

In addition to the QE2 and QM2, some regular freight ships carry a limited number of passengers, and there are occasional crossings by other cruise lines - a UK agency listing both freighter and cruise line voyages is www.cruisepeople.co.uk.  A US agency booking passenger travel by freighter is www.freightercruises.com.  Also try www.freightertrips.com.  There are links to other websites about travel by freighter at the top of the 'shipping' section on the useful links page.

There are planes, of course, but you'll see nothing of America at 30,000 feet...  And there's Greyhound, but three days solid on a bus - no thank you..!  But the USA has an excellent rail network.  Trans-continental and inter-city trains in the USA are operated by Amtrak, www.amtrak.com.  Pictured, right:  The observation-lounge on a double-deck 'Superliner' train crossing the States from Chicago to the Pacific coast.

Above:  Arguably the most scenic train route across the USA is via the 'California Zephyr' linking Chicago, Denver, Salt lake City, Reno, Sacramento & San Francisco.  This shows a lunchtime view from the dining-car as the Zephyr negotiates a Colorado canyon.  You'd be crazy to fly and miss it all...  Photo courtesy of Sue Smith.

Click here for more detailed Amtrak route map

Each of the long-distance transcontinental routes shown on the map has one train a day, except for New York to Florida (2 trains a day) and the Sunset Limited from Jacksonville-San Antonio-Los Angeles (3 trains a week).  Important short distance routes (for example, Washington-New York-Boston or Los Angeles-San Diego) have regular intercity services.  It's easy to check Amtrak train times at www.amtrak.com - just click on 'Reservations' and use their online system.  It's impossible to list all Amtrak trains, but here is a summary of trains on the main routes, including coast-to-coast.

Boston - New York - Washington DC

A fast and frequent inter-city service links Boston, New York, Newark, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington DC.  New York to Washington takes as little as 2 hours 48 minutes, New York to Boston just 3 hours 30 minutes.  There are two types of train - 'Acela Express' 150mph high-speed trains with 1st class and business class (premium fares apply) and regular trains with coach class and (in most cases) business class.  There are also services from Boston to Portland (Maine) and from Philadelphia to Harrisburg. See www.amtrak.com for times, fares and online booking.

Crossing the USA by train, coast to coast...

Crossing the United States by train is one of the world's great travel experiences.  It is easy, comfortable, safe, and an affordable alternative to flying.  In fact, the fare from NYC to LA starts at an amazing $154 (£80) in a reclining seat, booked at www.amtrak.com.  There is a choice of about 5 different coast to coast routes.  Free route guides are available on board each train, telling you what to look out for from the window, and the scenery on many routes is world class. 

If you make the whole journey in one go it will take three nights:  One night from New York, Boston or Washington to Chicago, then two nights from Chicago to Los Angeles, San Francisco or Seattle.  You can also travel coast to coast via New Orleans, although this takes an extra night as you need to stay overnight in New Orleans.  Below is a summary of coast-to-coast train times and a brief description of each train.  Bear in mind that these trains run for over 2,000 miles, and can arrive several hours late, so don't book any tight connections.  You can see how your chosen trains have performed on-time-wise over the last three weeks using www.amtrakdelays.com.  This will give you a good idea of what to expect!

Recommended coast-to-coast train route:

If you have a choice, one particular route stands out as the most spectacular for both scenery and US historical significance.  This is the 'California Zephyr' from Chicago to San Francisco, in connection with either New York to Chicago on the 'Lake Shore Limited' or Washington DC to Chicago on the 'Capitol Limited'.  The California Zephyr is one of world's greatest train journeys, and in around 48 hours you will cross the farmlands of Nebraska, scale the Rockies beyond Denver while you eat ham and eggs for breakfast in the diner, snake through rocky river valleys in Colorado and pass through the Sierra Nevada mountains to reach Reno, Sacramento and the San Francisco Bay area.  The route covers much of the very first historic trans-continental railroad route, and there's a commentary for the most significant section.  To give you a snapshot of what it's like sipping a cocktail in the sightseer lounge on the California Zephyr as it passes through Colorado, click here.

Treat these times as just a guide - Always check times and fares at www.amtrak.com as they change from time to time.

For a description of Amfleet & Superliner cars, see below.  For Viewliner & Superliner sleepers, see below.

New York - Niagara Falls

Three daily trains link New York via Albany with Niagara Falls.  Journey time is a leisurely 8 hours 30 minutes, a relaxing journey along the Hudson River Valley out of New York, past Storm King Mountain and West Point Military Academy, a very scenic route, highly recommended.  See www.Amtrak.com for times, fares and online booking.

New York - Toronto, Montreal (Canada)

A daily train (the Maple Leaf) links New York with Toronto via Niagara Falls, and another daily train (the Adirondack) links New York with Montreal via the scenic Adirondack mountains.  Both trains travel along the Hudson River Valley out of New York, past Storm King Mountain and West Point Military Academy, a very scenic route, highly recommended.  See the Canada page for train times.

New York & Washington - Florida

SM - SILVER METEOR.  Daily.  Amfleet reclining seats, Viewliner sleeping-car, dining-car.

SS - SILVER STAR.  Daily.  Amfleet reclining seats, Viewliner sleeping-car, dining-car.

Intercity trains in California

Regular trains link Los Angeles, Anaheim (for Disneyland), and San Diego.  Regular trains link San Francisco (Oakland) with Sacramento, Bakersfield and San Jose.  A daily train links Los Angeles with San Francisco (Oakland).  See www.Amtrak.com for times, fares and online booking.

It's easy to check fares at www.amtrak.com - click 'Reservations'.   Here are some example fares:

Basic 'coach' fares for travel in a reclining seat are per person, one-way.  Return fares are twice the one-way fare.  3,000 miles coast-to-coast overland for as little at $133 has to be one of the world's greatest travel bargains..!

Sleeper supplements are per room, not per person, so you pay just one supplement for the room whether two of you occupy it or just one, in addition to a basic coach fare (or railpass) for each passenger.  Sleeper supplements vary enormously by season and in accordance with demand, which is why a range is shown.  The sleeper supplements include all meals in the dining car, morning tea or coffee and fruit juice and various other first class privileges.  Roomettes are very small 1- or 2-berth rooms, bedrooms are larger 2-berth rooms with en suite shower and toilet.

An even better bargain for overseas visitors is a USA railpass for as little as $187 giving unlimited rail travel across the United States coast-to-coast - see the railpass section further down this page.

Short distance trains come in various types, all with comfortable air-conditioned seating and often with a café car.  On the Boston-New York-Washington DC route, there is now the premium fare, 150mph 'Acela Express' high speed train, based on French TGV technology, but running on conventional tracks.

Long distance trains in the East

Long-distance trains east of Chicago (except the Washington DC-Chicago 'Capitol Limited') have Viewliner sleeping-cars (see below), Amfleet reclining seat cars, a lounge car serving snacks and drinks, and a 'heritage' restaurant car serving full meals at reasonable prices - if you have paid for a sleeper, meals are included in the fare.

Amfleet seating...		Amfleet cars...		Heritage dining-car...

Long distance trains in the West:  'Superliner' trains

Long-distance trains west and south of Chicago (also the Washington DC-Chicago 'Capitol Limited') use double deck Superliner cars.  Superliner trains have reclining seats, sleeping-cars, a dining car and an observation / lounge car.  Reclining seats are spacious with lots of legroom - comparable with business class on an airliner.  They recline to about 40 degrees, and are quite easy to sleep in.  Pillows are provided at night, and you can either bring a blanket or buy an Amtrak blanket from the lounge car.  Sleeping-cars are described below.  The Superliner observation-lounge (pictured below) is the social centre of the train, with a café downstairs and a large lounge with huge side and roof windows giving an unparalleled view of the scenery.  Seats in the observation lounge are open to both reclining seat and sleeping-car passengers on a first-come, first served basis.  The dining car serves full meals at affordable prices - if you have paid for a sleeper, meals are included in the fare.  A route guide is available free on these trains, telling you want to look out for along the way.

Superliner coach class reclining seats on the upper deck.  There is loads of space and legroom, and a 40 degree recline.  See 3-D panorama photo		An impressive Superliner lounge car...
Superliner dining car.  Meals are always a great opportunity to meet and talk with fellow passengers... 3-D panorama photo		Inside the Superliner lounge, where you'll spend much of the day..!  See 3-D panorama photo

Travelling by sleeping-car

Travelling by Amtrak sleeper is a real treat.  All sleeper passengers get complimentary meals in the dining car,  morning tea/coffee and fruit juice when you wake up, shoe shine service, and complimentary newspapers.  You return from dinner in the diner to find you bed made up for the night by the sleeper attendant, with a good-night chocolate left on your pillow.  Hot showers are available, either at the end of the corridor if you're travelling in a roomette, or en suite if you are travelling in a bedroom.  However, sleeper travel isn't cheap.  In Europe you can pay a small supplement for a berth in a shared couchette or sleeper compartment.  In the US, you have to pay for the whole room whether there are two of you or just one.  To give you a rough idea, some sample sleeper supplements are shown in the 'fares' section above. 

Viewliner sleeping-cars

Viewliner sleeping cars operate on long-distance trains in the East.  The distinctive double row of windows on these cars makes them light and airy during the day, and gives both upper and lower berths a window for star-gazing at night.  Viewliners have:

• Roomettes (previously know as standard bedrooms):  Very compact sleeper compartments just big enough for two seats facing each which convert at night to an upper and lower berth -  the bed takes up most of the room.  Rooms have a washbasin, toilet (your companion will have to leave the room while you use it...) fold-out table and LCD video screen.  There is a shower for roomette passengers at the end of the corridor.

• Bedrooms (previously known as deluxe bedrooms):  Bedrooms are much larger than roomettes, and have an en suite shower and toilet.  Bedrooms have freestanding chair and sofa in daytime mode, and upper and lower berths at night.  The lower berth is extra wide - almost a double bed by UK standards..!

• Special bedrooms:  Similar to a bedroom, with private shower and toilet, but fully wheelchair-accessible.

Viewliner sleeping-car		Viewliner bedroom (daytime)

Superliner sleeping-cars

Superliner sleeping-cars operate on Amtrak's long-distance trains west and south of Chicago, also on the Washington DC - Chicago 'Capitol Limited'.  These massive double-deck cars have bedrooms on both upper and lower levels.  They offer:

• Roomettes (previously know as standard bedrooms):  Roomettes are just big enough for two seats facing each other with a small table by day and 2 berths at night.  Toilets are available along the corridor and there's a shower cubicle on the lower deck.  There are ten roomettes on the upper level, and four downstairs.

• Bedrooms (previously know as deluxe bedrooms):  Bedrooms are much larger than roomettes, and have an en suite shower and toilet.  All five bedrooms in each car are on the upper level.  Bedrooms have freestanding chair and sofa in daytime mode, and upper and lower berths at night.  Like the Viewliner bedrooms, the lower berth is extra wide.

• Family bedroom:  Located at one end of the lower level, taking up the full width of the car, the family bedroom has two adult beds and two child beds.  There is no shower or toilet in a family bedroom, but these are nearby outside the room.

• Special bedroom:  Located at the other end of the lower level, also taking up the full width of the car, the special bedroom is wheelchair accessible, with two berths.  There is no shower in a Superliner special bedroom.

Superliner sleeping-car. 3-D panorama photo - roomette 3-D panorama photo - deluxe bedroom		Superliner roomette, daytime... Two comfy seats facing each other.		Night-time.  The lower berth takes up most of the room!

If you live outside the United States:

• You can buy tickets online at www.amtrak.com, just click on 'Reservations'.  You can choose to pick up the tickets at the station before departure. 

• If you live in the UK or Ireland, you can buy Amtrak city to city tickets online at the seat61RailShop UK.  Tickets sent to any address in Europe.

• If you live in Australia or New Zealand, you can buy Amtrak city to city tickets online at the Seat61 Rail Shop Australia  Tickets sent to any address.

When you're in the United States:

Once in the USA, you can book online at www.amtrak.com or call Amtrak 24 hours a day on 1-800-USA RAIL, picking up your tickets at the station on departure.

One of the best ways to see America is with a Amtrak USA rail pass.  For unlimited travel on all Amtrak trains across the whole of the USA, a 15-day rail pass costs around £218 off-peak or £280 peak.  A 30-day rail pass costs £263 off-peak or £336 peak.  Children's passes are half price.  Compared to normal point-to-point fares for a coast-to-coast journey with several stopovers, this can be a good deal.

There are also rail passes just covering parts of the USA, and a North America railpass covering both Amtrak in the USA and VIA Rail in Canada for 30 days, costing around £398 off-peak and £560 peak. 

You can see the range of passes available and buy online at the Seat61RailShop UK (if you live in the UK or Ireland or anywhere in Europe) or Seat61 Rail Shop Australia (if you live in Australia, New Zealand or worldwide).  US residents cannot buy a USA rail pass.

Making reservations with a USA Railpass:  All long-distance trains in the USA require a seat or sleeper reservation, even with a railpass.  The pass covers travel in a seat, and seat reservations are free for passholders.  If you want to travel in a sleeping-car room, you need to pay the appropriate room charge in addition to your rail pass.  For an idea of sleeper room charges, see the fares section above.  You can make reservations as you travel around by calling Amtrak's 24 hour freephone number, 1-800-USA RAIL, or you can make them in advance from your home country after you buy your pass.  It's not usually difficult to find seats available as you go along, booking a day or two beforehand by calling the Amtrak freephone number, but trains do get full around Christmas, Thanksgiving and other holiday periods.  To make advance reservations with an Amtrak pass bought through the Seat61 RailShop UK (provided by International Rail), call 08700 841 410.  To make reservations with an Amtrak rail pass bought through