How convenient is it to get from AMTRAK to the orange line of the Metro at New Carollton, MD---easier or harder than getting the red line at Union Station and switching to the orange line later on (been there; done that)?
I'm a senior citizen trying to make things easy for myself.

The Amtrak at New Carrollton is a different building than the Metro, right next door, but still, a separate building. If your final destination is on the Orange Line, I guess you could change here, once, rather than going from Amtrak to Red, then transferring to Orange. My guess is that either way is about equal as far as any difficulty goes.

btw, I did that connection one time when I had to get to Rosslyn. While it was a simple connection, it seemed like the trip took forever. If time is also important to you then you may wish to go to Union Station to Red then xfer to Orange (at MetroCenter?)

That's helpful information. Think I'll try the New Carollton connection next time I visit my grandchildren. Time isn't really an issue for me. I'll take a good book though, since I'll be riding the Orange line from one end to the other, and it is a long line.

That will be a good way to get there ... going to Vienna area?? I'm sure u will want to spend as much time as possible visiting, but at least I now understand you're not a business person or tourist hell-bent on each minute saved. Yes, change at New Carrollton.

You're not flying into BWI, are you?

You could walk or take a cab from Union Station to Capitol South, which is on the Orange and Blue lines.

The only thing you'd have to do from Union Station is go down the escalator to the Red Line and take it to Metro Center. Down one more escalator and you are on the Orange Line.

Easier and faster than transferring at New Carollton and certainly no need to go to Cap. South in a taxi.

I've done the Union Station/red line/Metro Station/orange line way a couple of times and had no problems. I just thought switching at New Carollton might save steps and energy. I still may try it some time to satisfy my curiosity. What is the New Carollton station like? Does it have snack bars, pay phones, etc. or just ticket windows?

New Carrolton is a bare, suburban train/Metro stop near the intersection of Rt. 50 and the 495 Beltway. Nothing to see; No food. Phones available. Parking garage. Nothing handy in walking distance, however, business park with a Residence Inn (I think) is in shuttle bus distance.