A journey from Chicago to New York, a city rich in history and culture

My spouse and I started our voyage in Chicago before moving on to New York. We were able to see the passing countryside from the train windows.

I discussed the advantages of traveling during the summer when the weather is warmer, as well as the challenges of traveling in high temperatures and humidity.

This story describes our journey from Chicago to New York, highlighting the challenges and opportunities of summer travel, as well as our eating experience on a train in the United States.

Journey Through The Snowy Landscape

Traveling aboard a slow-moving vehicle gives you a new viewpoint on the long journey. We elected not to fly and instead took a train through the snowy landscapes of the United States in March. It turned out to be a fascinating and memorable trip.

When we awoke, we looked out the train windows and saw a lonely landscape.

Even though it was late March and spring had officially arrived, the trees remained bare, stripped of their leaves, and patches of snow littered the roadway. As we approached New York, we spotted more snow, with leafless trees sticking out in the cold. Some lakes were encircled by snow-covered banks, while others had frozen over, leaving only a small patch of trapped water in the center untouched. As the train sped past huge open fields, all we could see was the drab color of winter. The sky above us was a dark, never-ending grey.

This grim outlook remained throughout the long travel from Chicago to New York, beginning the moment we awakened.

Beauty in the Journey

However, there were some breathtaking sights along the route. We passed across pure white snow hills, with buildings and chimneys spewing wisps of smoke in the distance. Other times, we saw entire cemeteries erupt from the snow, with dark crosses standing out starkly against the white backdrop. At another place, the setting sun’s golden radiance bathed a river, reflecting its beauty in the evening.

My wife enthusiastically pulled out her phone and began snapping away. It was her first time seeing snow. (Before traveling to Chicago for this train excursion, we had visited San Francisco and Las Vegas, both on the West Coast where snow is uncommon.)

Why Take the Train?

I decided to do this train trip after reading online assessments of Amtrak’s cross-country service from the West to the East Coast. Travelers raved about the breathtaking sights from the train. That was all the motivation we needed to book our tickets, and we chose the Chicago-to-New York route to see our daughter, who worked there.

Three months before our vacation, I purchased a roomette for two people for $425. The roomette is a private cubicle approximately one meter wide by 2.5 meters long, with a lockable door and window blinds for privacy.

It functioned like a small hotel room with two beds. The upper bed can be folded against the ceiling during the day and lowered at night. The lower bed was constructed by combining two seats and adding a mattress. Both beds are about 80 cm wide and 2.2 meters long, just enough space for one person to sleep comfortably. The room is supplied with heaters, a foldable table, luggage storage, and a small sink that could be folded away when not needed. There is also a covered toilet with a hefty wooden cover to prevent odors, as well as a rubbish can.
The only thing missing is a private shower, so passengers had to use the public one at the end of the train car.

In the morning, we could have reverted the space to its daytime arrangement by storing the higher bed and relocating the seats. However, we felt it was superfluous. Instead, we simply lifted the higher bed and sat cross-legged on the lower one, as is customary in Vietnam—it was quite comfortable.

The Amtrak train swung gently, generating just a low creaking sound, like being rocked in a hammock. That smooth motion allowed us to sleep well all night. We boarded the train at 9:30 PM at Chicago’s Central Station, fell asleep about an hour later, and awoke at 8:00 AM the next morning.

Dinner on the Train

Train travel necessitated eating three meals each day: breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The food was surprisingly wonderful, and it enhanced the overall experience. Roomette tickets included meals, so we didn’t have to pay anything extra except for tipping. Breakfast for passengers in ordinary seats costs approximately $15, whereas lunch and dinner cost more than $20. Each meal had a menu to choose from, and tipping the servers was customary in the United States, just like in restaurants, taxis (except Uber), and nail salons.

For breakfast, we proceeded to the dining car and had to sit at a table until a server arrived to take our order. Unlike on French TGV trains, where consumers pick up their own meals at the counter, we waited for our food to be delivered—just like in a restaurant.

By 11:00 AM, a dining car staff member entered our compartment and asked if we wanted lunch at 12:00 PM, 12:30 PM, or 1:30 PM. (Since our trip did not include evening service, this was the last meal of the day.) The well-organized itinerary ensured that everyone had a table and did not have to wait in line.

Because we had premium tickets, we were also given access to the VIP lounge at Chicago’s Central Station before departure. The lounge provided free drinks, including Coke, Sprite, and bottled water, as well as snacks like peanuts, raisins, and chocolates. It also contained comfortable couches, eating tables, and a large-screen TV to provide a peaceful waiting area before boarding.

As first-time Amtrak travelers, we were a little nervous. In the VIP lounge, we inquired about the boarding procedure and schedule. She reassured us.

“Don’t worry! “We will not leave you behind!”

And she was right. 15 minutes before departure, she made an announcement over the loudspeaker. Five minutes before departure, she informed passengers that anyone who needed assistance or transport to the station should leave immediately because the transfer carts were waiting.

Because we had large suitcases, we opted to take a ride. The small electric cart, similar to a golf cart, took only two minutes to reach our assigned train car. Within three or four minutes after settling in, the train left—on time.

However, online reviews cautioned that Amtrak trains routinely experience delays, which proved right.

Although our train left on schedule, we encountered several delays along the way. Occasionally, we had to stop for ten minutes or more to allow freight trains to pass. What is the reason? Amtrak shares lines with freight companies, and those tracks are owned by freight rail operators; therefore, passenger trains are not given priority.

This is substantially different from the high-speed rail networks in Europe and Japan, where passenger trains go on separate dedicated lines.

Finally, our voyage was filled with both challenges and incredible discoveries. Despite the delays, witnessing landscapes change from the comfort of our private roomette, having warm meals on board, and seeing the vast American countryside made our train trip an unforgettable experience.