Hi! I'll be taking the train from NY to DC as I was told that arriving at the Union Station in DC is the best way to arrive in DC That true? Anyway, I was looking at Amtrak.com, and am confused about the normal trains ($68), Metroliner ($124) and Acela ($142). Is it worth the extra money taking the Acela or is the normal train just as ok? I'm not concerned about the amount of time it takes because it's only about an hour apart between the slowest and fastest train Would really appreciate your advice! Thanks!!!

The regular train is just fine. You only save about 15 minutes with the Metroliner, and the seats are about the same (and 100% better than seats on a plane). Never taken the Acela, but it's reportedly smoother. We travel from Baltimore to NYC and generally take the regular train.

I've taken all three. If you've got the dough, take the Acela. It's smooth and nice, and if you get on an Acela Express in Union Station, your next stop is Penn Station NYC.

Have taken the train from Union to NYC and back several times, but haven't ridden Acela. Washington Post recently did a trip report and Acela only cut about 20 minutes off the travel time for the price. Nothing else special about it to report. I'd just go for the regular train. The difference in prices on Acela and non-Acela are whether you're getting a "regular" coach seat (non-reserved) or a reserved seat, guaranteeing you a place to park. We've never gotten a reserved ticket but I hear it's advised for heavy travel times, like Friday or Sunday afternoons/evenings. By the way: ride in the first car behind the engine: Amtrak has a new "no cell phone" policy on that car only. A blessing.

I've taken the regular train and the metroliner many times. In my opinion the metroliner is generally not worth the extra money. The only real advantages (in my opinion) are that it is a tiny bit faster, the seats are a tiny bit nicer, and there is a footrest you can pull down from the seat in front of you to put your feet on. Also, the food they sell in the cafe car on the metroliner is a tiny bit better than on the regular trains, but the food on both trains is not great by any means. I personally wouldn't bother spending the extra money. Also, I've talked to people who took the Acela and they said it's a little faster and the ride is a little smoother, but it's a lot more money and they didn't think the minor advantages were worth the price difference.

And yes, Union Station is a very convenient place to arrive in DC; from there you can take the metro or grab a taxi to anyplace you want to go.

I've taken the normal trains and the Metroliner and I agree generally-speaking with the comments of previous posters with a few caveats.

While delays with either Northeast Direct or Metroliner are not so bad generally-speaking, Metroliner in my experience does tend to be on-time more of the time. To help avoid delayed non-Metroliner trains, avoid those that have originated far to the south (i.e., Carolinas, Newport News) or far to the north (i.e., Vermont), and you shouldn't run into too much trouble. That said, I've rarely taken the Metroliner, and often only from DC-Baltimore where the price differential is not so great and sometimes worth it for the greater ease in finding a seat. Only other times have been when I've had a strict schedule and had no other choice than the Metroliner.

Have a great time!

I took the normal train to NY on Friday, and the Metroliner back on Sunday. I have no idea why I paid $100 (for 2) more to ride Metroliner. I guess I thought we could somehow avoid the cattle call of people shoving and pushing to get on the train that I've experienced at Union Station.

Once you get on the train, it's great. Don't pay extra. Just get the normal train.

My friend travelled on the $68 train from DC to NY last Friday and came back Sunday. Both trains left and arrived on time. No difficulty getting seats. Train from DC was easier as it starts there, the one back from N.Y. came from Boston and getting a seat was more of a scramble but no problem for 1 person on her own. Her only complaint? - Friday's train was over-air-conditioned and she was cold!

We have always travelled on the normal train, and as long as you're not in a particular hurry I would say it's definitely not worth paying the extra.

Take care if you're travelling on a Friday, as afternoon trains tend to be more expensive. Amtrak.com gives you all the train times, fares and availability.

Go Greyhound. It's cheaper and generally faster.

Rosemary-I think I was on the same car as your friend on Friday. It was absolutely freezing! The rest of the train was a normal temp, though.

be forwarned -
they will sell as many tickets on the regular train as there are people to buy them, regardless of the number of seats available. I commute from Philadelphia to New York every day via Amtrak, and I can't tell you how many times I've ended up sitting on the floor, standing cause there was no more room on the floor, or stuck in the cold, noisy compartment between cars.

Don't worry if it is an off-hour train, but rush hours and weekends are killers. If this is a vacation and you want to assure your comfort, suck it up and pay for the metroliner; it offers about 3 inches more legroom and a reserved seat.

I don't think the above warning would apply to you, Clarice, because you're getting on the train at either NY or DC, i.e. when the train is not full. I think you'd only have problems getting a seat on the train if you get on somewhere in between NY and DC, such as Philadelphia. Also, I'd go ahead and take the standard train, rather than Metroliner or Acela for the reasons already posted above.

On only 1 occasion have I been unsuccessful getting a seat on the Northeast Direct. And that's starting in Baltimore; since it was an unreserved train and they didn't collect my ticket since I had to stand, I ended up using the ticket again on a later date for a fun excursion to Philadelphia (free trip!). Friday night and Saturday evening trains tend to be the most packed for obvious reasons; Saturday morning can be crowded particularly if there's some excitement in one of the four big cities on the route or if it's a 3-day weekend.

I do on weekends SEE others who have been unsuccessful getting a seat. My trick is to grab the first seat available if the train's crowded (going to a less crowded part of the train); some people look for seats for two, and then end up with nothing.

Have fun!