People usually travel by driving their cars or taking a plane, but have you ever thought to travel by taking a commuter train?
I know I have never heard someone say they were on their way to catch a train. It may not be the most popular means of transportation, but it does exist! Just over Thanksgiving break my boyfriend had surprised me with train tickets for the both of us to go up to Tennessee where we would meet up with his family. Neither of us had ever traveled by train, and had no idea what to expect; it was quite an adventure for the both of us!
We entered an old-timey train station that seemed to come right out of Harry Potter. The people inside were from all walks of life. The diversity was exciting, and most everyone seemed relatively friendly. While we found ourselves lost, we were greeted by a woman and her daughter who were eager to help us understand how train transportation works. It was obvious they had taken many trains before. We then stood in line with our luggage and waited for the conductor’s “Alllllll aboard!”.
The train was a double decker; the bottom held our luggage and was where the restrooms were. The top is where we found our seats. To describe the seating area I would compare the layout to a charter bus. The interior also resembled my grandma’s house. Although dated, we found it quite cozy and comfortable. We had adequate legroom and seats that reclined far back with pop-up leg rests.
Unlike a charter bus, you could walk around freely from car to car. Our car was the coach seating and luggage storage. Further up the train we found a lounge car, dining car, and the sleeper car. The lounge car was one of our favorites. It’s panoramic glass view outside the train was the perfect place for sightseeing and meeting other travelers. It only took a few minutes of sitting in the lounge car before we met many other friendly passengers who were eager to chat over a couple of beers from the dining car.
Past the lounge car was the dining car where you could either pick up some snacks and drinks, or even have a sit down meal. We did both. Now, when eating on a train, you must remember you are on a train and trains serve train food. Although not five star meals, they are enough to fill you up and keep you happy. When having a sit down meal you may be placed at a table with a stranger or two sitting across from you. These trains are good at getting you off your phone and talking with new people.
Past the dining car is where we found the sleeper cars. For an extra fee you can upgrade to a room in the sleeper car. This would be great for long rides that extend over night!
What we have learned from our experience is that trains do not get enough credit for what they are. We are excited to have experienced what we did and are excited to continue our train travels. We have also learned it is smart to plan ahead! Prepare snacks and entertainment ahead of time. Food is pricey, but you are allowed to bring your own. Also, go with movies already downloaded to your laptop, there is no wifi!
With tickets being very fair priced this is a great way to travel! The time to get from point A to point B is close to that of a car ride going 80mph. Be prepared for stress free travels with no need to argue over directions! Let the crew do all the work while you rest.
Happy Travels!