I just bought my Amtrak tickets to Milwaukee for the season opener for the Barnstormers & Chops away games. Several fraternity brothers of mine and my brother are heading up there for a weekend of sports, beers and fun.
I have increasingly been traveling on the Amtrak system more and more. My first trip was in November of 2007 when my girlfriend Monica and I headed out west on the Empire Builder. The Empire Builder is perhaps the most heralded line on the Amtrak system, and it got me hooked. It was on time and much cleaner than I had remembered when I traveled on the train as a child. Since then I have taken the train fairly frequently east in to Chicago for a conference for work and to catch a connecting flight on my trip to Mexico earlier this month.
I have noticed that people are eager to listen to my experiences on traveling on the trails. I think there is a lot of renewed enthusiasm in America for people to travel by train. My companions on this trip quickly pounced on the oppurtunity to take the train even in lieu of comparable airfares out of the Des Moines Airport.
Here are a couple of tips for people who are traveling on Amtrak out of southern Iowa:
* The train typically runs late. Be prepared for delays.
* You can't purchase tickets at many trains stops, but you can always purchase online or from the conductor once aboard (at a higher rate)
* You can bring your own food and beverages on the train. Pack a lunch and some beers, and save some moolah.
* Have a change of heart. The train is often stopped for passing freight traffic. Calm down and enjoy the big seats and new friends.
