I took a $249 round-trip Amtrak from New York City to Rochester. Here are 9 things that surprised me.

Business Insider

3 days ago

My time at Penn Station wasn't as smooth as I anticipated.
My train from New York City was scheduled for 7:15 a.m. on a Thursday. Amtrak advises customers to arrive 30 minutes before their train is set to depart, so I hopped on the subway from my Brooklyn apartment just before 6 a.m. to be at Moynihan Train Hall at Penn Station by 6:40.
Once I entered the hall, I saw that a small screen noted the tracks for coming trains, but the Maple Leaf I was scheduled to take wasn't listed yet. Around 7:10, the track still wasn't listed, and eventually, I got a five-minute delay notice. Five minutes later, another delay notice came through. The cycle repeated after another five minutes.
The train ended up being delayed nearly an hour for maintenance, and even when our track was set, the board didn't update for several minutes. I found it by following a crowd of people and asking someone in line if they were waiting for the Maple Leaf train. Because of the confusion, I was toward the back of the line of passengers, even though I arrived so early.
My experience in Rochester was much simpler. The signage was clear at Louise M. Slaughter Station, and a conductor came to speak to everyone waiting, guiding us to the right track a few minutes before our departure.
The coach car was quiet and uncrowded, even though I was among the last to get on the train.
Because of the chaos at Penn Station, I was one of the last people to get on the Maple Leaf train leaving New York.
AC blasted pleasantly as I walked into the car at the very front of the train, where I expected I'd have to squeeze myself into a seat next to a stranger, given my place in line. However, there were several open rows.
Tossing my suitcase into the rack above, I settled into a row in the middle of the car, taking a window seat and using the empty one for my backpack.
I don't mind chatting with new people, but having space to spread out during my long ride was a relief. I even stretched my legs onto the seat next to me for some of the ride.
I wasn't worried about leaving my stuff unattended while I grabbed food or went to the bathroom.
I'm no stranger to big cities or public transportation, so I know it's not generally a good idea to leave your items unattended, particularly items like your laptop.
However, as I sat on the train, I noticed people getting up to walk to the café car or the bathroom, and no one even glanced at the bags and other personal items they left in their seats. Conductors also routinely wandered through the cars, adding a sense of security.
I left my items in my seat multiple times to go to the bathroom and grab some food, and they remained untouched. It was nice to feel comfortable walking around without toting everything with me.
My lunch was surprisingly good.
I ate a light breakfast before I got on the train, but by midday, I needed to venture to the café car for lunch.
The menu had plenty of options for a midday meal, from a turkey and asiago sandwich to a cheeseburger. I got the $9.50 Caesar salad and added a bag of chips for $2.50.
I didn't see my meal until after I ordered it, and I was a bit apprehensive that the salad would consist of wilting lettuce and dry chicken, as is often the case with pre-packaged salads.
To my delight, it was delicious. The tomatoes and lettuce were fresh, the croutons had a perfect crunch, and I felt like I had ample chicken, cheese, and dressing in every bite. The chips complemented it well, too, and I stayed full until I ate dinner about seven hours later.
I didn't realize the café car would close for some of the ride.
On both rides, a conductor announced through the PA system that the café car would close for about an hour. It wasn't a big deal, but I didn't realize there would be a time during my ride when I couldn't grab some food.
After hearing the closing announcement on my way to Rochester, I brought a bag of Cheez-Its with me for my return trip so I would have a snack on hand if I got hungry during the closure.
Business class was only one car — and it was kind of hard to find.
I knew there were only a select number of business-class seats on an Amtrak train, as is the case on planes, but I didn't realize the Maple Leaf would only have one non-coach car.
The train had just one business-class car tucked at the very back. It had only five rows of seats, and one side of those rows had a singular seat. Only 15 people could ride business class on that route, and I felt almost shy stepping into the intimate space.
I was also slightly confused when it was time to board because it was attached to the café car. An attendant pointed me in its direction in Rochester, but I did a double take when I saw the café car, only realizing I was in the right spot when I saw business class painted on the outside.
I still made my way aboard fairly seamlessly, but I'm glad to know where the car is if I take the Maple Leaf again.
Business class was louder and less pleasant than coach.
The business-class experience definitely had its positive aspects, like the larger seat with a footrest and the complimentary drink with my ticket.
Still, because the car was so small, it was louder than coach, both because of passengers chatting to each other and its proximity to the café car.
Sitting in one of the singular seats, I actually had less room to spread out than I had in coach. The train back to New York City was full for a stretch of the ride, so I was glad the solo seat was available, even if a double coach seat was more spacious.
My ride back made an extended stop, which wasn't clear on my ticket.
When I booked my round trip, I noticed that the return journey was scheduled to take two hours longer than the ride to Rochester.
I thought that maybe the train would make more frequent stops on its way into the city or that the ticket had been misprinted.
Unfortunately, it wasn't a misprint. Instead, the train needed to stop in Albany for an hour and a half to link up with another train coming in from Ontario. The AC was shut off during the extended stop, and most people got off the train to stretch their legs.
It was a nice day out, so I didn't mind walking around the station and grabbing a bite to eat outside the train. Still, next time I book a long trip, I'll try to get a direct route.
The views were incredible.
I had previously taken Amtrak trains from New York to Boston and Washington, DC, and I don't remember being very impressed by the views I saw during the trips, mostly catching glimpses of farms and stretches of highway.
The ride upstate, though, was gorgeous. I saw quaint towns, beautiful glimpses of the Hudson River, and even some birds and deer along the way. I imagine the route would be even more beautiful during the fall when the leaves are changing, but I loved seeing it in late spring, too.
If you're planning a trip to upstate New York, Amtrak is an underrated way to see the area's beauty.