Washington D. C. to Boston with Amtrak NEW sleeper service on the Northeast Regional
video description
Date: 2024-01-09
Related videos
Comments and reviews: 35
-paulgracey4697
As a Sound technician, I think I can partially explain the annoyance with the periodic rattle at speed. The older Viewliners, like the newer ones are sound dampened to a large enough degree, that between rattle noises it is perhaps too quiet. The contrast in loudness is too much for our human reactions to odd, sharp noises in the night, but not for low frequency familiar ones. What might have improved that situation would be high quality electronic noise suppressing ear buds or earphones, if it is something you could do without the annoyance of them on your head during sleep.
Of course, it is the age and maintenance of the cars in that service that resulted in the rattle, I suppose. Overall I think that a higher ambient continuous noise environment could mask the contrast to the same degree as the slower running speeds did for the other routes. NEC track standards do not seem to me to be as good as some European routes, though I found that I had difficulty sleeping on my standard fare journey to Berlin some years ago that were not a problem on my more expensive ICE trip back to Zurich, and my flight home.
reply
As a Sound technician, I think I can partially explain the annoyance with the periodic rattle at speed. The older Viewliners, like the newer ones are sound dampened to a large enough degree, that between rattle noises it is perhaps too quiet. The contrast in loudness is too much for our human reactions to odd, sharp noises in the night, but not for low frequency familiar ones. What might have improved that situation would be high quality electronic noise suppressing ear buds or earphones, if it is something you could do without the annoyance of them on your head during sleep.
Of course, it is the age and maintenance of the cars in that service that resulted in the rattle, I suppose. Overall I think that a higher ambient continuous noise environment could mask the contrast to the same degree as the slower running speeds did for the other routes. NEC track standards do not seem to me to be as good as some European routes, though I found that I had difficulty sleeping on my standard fare journey to Berlin some years ago that were not a problem on my more expensive ICE trip back to Zurich, and my flight home.
reply
-samtrak1204
Did you speak to Attendant or Conductor about the noise or report the annoyance to Amtrak Customer Service? You would probably get a partial refund or voucher if you write directly to Amtrak President. Just don't let it slide because that car should be written up and repaired or other passengers will also suffer like you. Impeccable maintenance is definitely required to justify that sky high fare. Trust me I know what I'm talking about after working for Amtrak for 30 years before retiring a few years ago. I often worked the -Night Owl- /-Twilight Shoreliner- before it was seriously downgraded. The -Night Owl- once carried two sleepers between WAS and BOS and a New York - Washington -Executive- sleeper.
The -Shoreliner- provided a full lounge car serving an evening buffet and breakfast to sleeping car passengers. Consist included a full Business/Custom Class car and a full cafe lounge for coach passengers. Pillows and blankets were provided for Business/Custom Class passengers.
Remember problems can't be corrected unless passengers report them. Good luck!
reply
Did you speak to Attendant or Conductor about the noise or report the annoyance to Amtrak Customer Service? You would probably get a partial refund or voucher if you write directly to Amtrak President. Just don't let it slide because that car should be written up and repaired or other passengers will also suffer like you. Impeccable maintenance is definitely required to justify that sky high fare. Trust me I know what I'm talking about after working for Amtrak for 30 years before retiring a few years ago. I often worked the -Night Owl- /-Twilight Shoreliner- before it was seriously downgraded. The -Night Owl- once carried two sleepers between WAS and BOS and a New York - Washington -Executive- sleeper.
The -Shoreliner- provided a full lounge car serving an evening buffet and breakfast to sleeping car passengers. Consist included a full Business/Custom Class car and a full cafe lounge for coach passengers. Pillows and blankets were provided for Business/Custom Class passengers.
Remember problems can't be corrected unless passengers report them. Good luck!
reply
-KenyonKarl
Back in ANCIENT HISTORY, I was able to walk out of the State House in Augusta ME at 5 pm, and board a Greyhound bus for the former terminal in the Back Bay section of Boston. I the walked a few blocks to Back Bay station to board the Night Owl to Washington DC. Note that the Boston-New Haven section was diesel-powered back then, but even half asleep it was easy to tell when they switched locomotives in New Haven! I arrived in DC just in time for my GOVT. MEETINGS.
AGAIN, ANCIENT HISTORY, I was able to ride a METROLINER (EMU coaches) from Washington DC to New Haven, where because of the late hour had to ride a Greyhoud bus to Boston and Waterville ME where I finally got some long overdue sleep.
reply
Back in ANCIENT HISTORY, I was able to walk out of the State House in Augusta ME at 5 pm, and board a Greyhound bus for the former terminal in the Back Bay section of Boston. I the walked a few blocks to Back Bay station to board the Night Owl to Washington DC. Note that the Boston-New Haven section was diesel-powered back then, but even half asleep it was easy to tell when they switched locomotives in New Haven! I arrived in DC just in time for my GOVT. MEETINGS.
AGAIN, ANCIENT HISTORY, I was able to ride a METROLINER (EMU coaches) from Washington DC to New Haven, where because of the late hour had to ride a Greyhoud bus to Boston and Waterville ME where I finally got some long overdue sleep.
reply
-dennislevan2114
Your videos are super and I'm loving your trips--an update--I was born in DC and my father was a Pullman Conductor for over 35 yrs. He worked the Capitol Limited and the Palmetto in the early/late 50s until his retirement. The location you call the waiting room was actually the concourse where people would congregate to board trains leaving DC--that same location was where the Federal Express in '53 plowed into the concourse after losing breaks--I saw it personally as a kid a 6 yrs old when my dad took me to US--I remember the board work around the GG=1 buried in the floor of the concourse. Your work is valuable and worth it--keep going. DC guy
reply
Your videos are super and I'm loving your trips--an update--I was born in DC and my father was a Pullman Conductor for over 35 yrs. He worked the Capitol Limited and the Palmetto in the early/late 50s until his retirement. The location you call the waiting room was actually the concourse where people would congregate to board trains leaving DC--that same location was where the Federal Express in '53 plowed into the concourse after losing breaks--I saw it personally as a kid a 6 yrs old when my dad took me to US--I remember the board work around the GG=1 buried in the floor of the concourse. Your work is valuable and worth it--keep going. DC guy
reply
train
Actually, the Twilight Shoreliner (66/67) runs between Newport News, Virginia, and Boston, Massachusetts. Washington, DC is just an intermediary stop. I'm sorry you chose to omit the Virginia portion. That is one of the loveliest journeys Amtrak travels as the train passes over tributaries that empty into the Potomac River; passes through quaint communities, the loveliest of which is Ashland, Virginia; and skirts the James River, where the Colonial settlers moved inland from Jamestown, settled in 1607, to what became Richmond, now the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Shall I continue?
reply
Actually, the Twilight Shoreliner (66/67) runs between Newport News, Virginia, and Boston, Massachusetts. Washington, DC is just an intermediary stop. I'm sorry you chose to omit the Virginia portion. That is one of the loveliest journeys Amtrak travels as the train passes over tributaries that empty into the Potomac River; passes through quaint communities, the loveliest of which is Ashland, Virginia; and skirts the James River, where the Colonial settlers moved inland from Jamestown, settled in 1607, to what became Richmond, now the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Shall I continue?
reply
train
Love your new format and it's great to see the personality behind the reviews. Even though I know well the reasons it's pretty amazing to see how appalling US train service still is. Every time I see one of those old refrigerator steel cars I think about the Homer Simpson Car in that episode when he got to design his dream car and it turned out to be a monstrous POS.
Dear Congress, please buy some new equipment for Amtrak that looks like it can actually go fast!
reply
Love your new format and it's great to see the personality behind the reviews. Even though I know well the reasons it's pretty amazing to see how appalling US train service still is. Every time I see one of those old refrigerator steel cars I think about the Homer Simpson Car in that episode when he got to design his dream car and it turned out to be a monstrous POS.
Dear Congress, please buy some new equipment for Amtrak that looks like it can actually go fast!
reply
-samtrak1204
I was Amtrak conductor for 30 years and I swear the Viewliner 1 sleepers are absolutely the worst rail cars ever built. They were literally falling from Day 1 as they shook, rattled and rolled down NEC tracks. I often had to get the engineer to cut the speed because the ride was so bad. I haven't ridden on the Viewliner II but I hope the
Amtrak Board of Misdirection had the sense to make necessary improvements for a smoother trouble-free ride.
reply
I was Amtrak conductor for 30 years and I swear the Viewliner 1 sleepers are absolutely the worst rail cars ever built. They were literally falling from Day 1 as they shook, rattled and rolled down NEC tracks. I often had to get the engineer to cut the speed because the ride was so bad. I haven't ridden on the Viewliner II but I hope the
Amtrak Board of Misdirection had the sense to make necessary improvements for a smoother trouble-free ride.
reply
-hbruins85
I am sorry to hear you had to endure a night of noise torture.
This reminds me of a very similar experience I had at a certain famous hotel east of Los Angeles. The minibar in my room was overstuffed with glass bottles of nice beverages that created a very similar rattling noise. I do not remember falling asleep that night.
As a result I got very sick two days later - and did not recover until I returned to Japan more than a week later.
reply
I am sorry to hear you had to endure a night of noise torture.
This reminds me of a very similar experience I had at a certain famous hotel east of Los Angeles. The minibar in my room was overstuffed with glass bottles of nice beverages that created a very similar rattling noise. I do not remember falling asleep that night.
As a result I got very sick two days later - and did not recover until I returned to Japan more than a week later.
reply
train
I don't like the water pressure faucets like i woke up at 4: 30AM and ate up a snack from my bag and i wanna wash my hands and i accidentaly using the faucet in full throttle and guess what?
My hands hurt and i noticed when i gonna sleep, my hands still hurt.
(Luckily the next day, my hands are fine. regret using the faucet, i should just used the hand sanitizer and a towel lol)
(Happend last 2019)
reply
I don't like the water pressure faucets like i woke up at 4: 30AM and ate up a snack from my bag and i wanna wash my hands and i accidentaly using the faucet in full throttle and guess what?
My hands hurt and i noticed when i gonna sleep, my hands still hurt.
(Luckily the next day, my hands are fine. regret using the faucet, i should just used the hand sanitizer and a towel lol)
(Happend last 2019)
reply
-de-fault_de-fault
Interesting that you had to board from one of the downstairs platforms with low-level boarding. Typically those are used only for through trains since they have access to the tracks that continue south of Union Station. Trains that begin or end their journey at Washington (not just Acelas but many if not most Regionals) typically use the high-level platforms on the upper floor.
reply
Interesting that you had to board from one of the downstairs platforms with low-level boarding. Typically those are used only for through trains since they have access to the tracks that continue south of Union Station. Trains that begin or end their journey at Washington (not just Acelas but many if not most Regionals) typically use the high-level platforms on the upper floor.
reply
-loveofchrist1840
I do hope you made a formal complaint, you could receive a discount on your next trip! It's worth a try! Not impressed, especially with the garbage on the upper storage NOT acceptable whatsoever. I would prepare my own food, that is garbage for that price. that is not acceptable in my view, for me! Thank you! All the best!
reply
I do hope you made a formal complaint, you could receive a discount on your next trip! It's worth a try! Not impressed, especially with the garbage on the upper storage NOT acceptable whatsoever. I would prepare my own food, that is garbage for that price. that is not acceptable in my view, for me! Thank you! All the best!
reply
-BruceM8
Luggage storage is probably available for free at the metropolitan lounge at Washington Union Station. Sleeping car passengers are given access to these lounges. I have stored my luggage for free at the Chicago and New York lounges, so I imagine it's available in Washington as well.
reply
Luggage storage is probably available for free at the metropolitan lounge at Washington Union Station. Sleeping car passengers are given access to these lounges. I have stored my luggage for free at the Chicago and New York lounges, so I imagine it's available in Washington as well.
reply
-silverparis21
Since Northeast Regional is back, literally every day an Amtrak Northeast Regional goes by my house. The only difference is that I'm in Virginia, so there's no electric lines, so I see P42s every time. Still neat, though!
reply
Since Northeast Regional is back, literally every day an Amtrak Northeast Regional goes by my house. The only difference is that I'm in Virginia, so there's no electric lines, so I see P42s every time. Still neat, though!
reply
-zesolodar
union station is a nice place if you can ignore the fact you get harassed by super agresive homeless people everywhere you go. the outside and the front area where you walk in is nice but the rest looks like a bus terminal
reply
union station is a nice place if you can ignore the fact you get harassed by super agresive homeless people everywhere you go. the outside and the front area where you walk in is nice but the rest looks like a bus terminal
reply
-arpitverma3058
Paying almost 600$ for a trip of 700km. that's quite expensive.
And also I don't know why. but American trains just make u feel cramped.
Just curious how much would have been the cost if u have taken flight?
reply
Paying almost 600$ for a trip of 700km. that's quite expensive.
And also I don't know why. but American trains just make u feel cramped.
Just curious how much would have been the cost if u have taken flight?
reply
-athommen1
Awww you're wearing a long sleeve Tee with the Swiss Rail Logo! How fun is that? (Swiss Federal Railways - Referred to by the initials of its German, French, and Italian names, either as SBB CFF FFS, or used separately.
reply
Awww you're wearing a long sleeve Tee with the Swiss Rail Logo! How fun is that? (Swiss Federal Railways - Referred to by the initials of its German, French, and Italian names, either as SBB CFF FFS, or used separately.
reply
-engineersdash7564
The night owl is back. It was one of my favorite trains when I use to work for Amtrak before I went NS use to commute from Baltimore to Philly every night to work. Those were some good memories. Nice video.
reply
The night owl is back. It was one of my favorite trains when I use to work for Amtrak before I went NS use to commute from Baltimore to Philly every night to work. Those were some good memories. Nice video.
reply
-jpblight0
great content man! quick question my guy, does the train from boston to DC has a -sleeper- too? ( assuming its the same train ) im trying to book for earlier next year but it just shows business and first class.
reply
great content man! quick question my guy, does the train from boston to DC has a -sleeper- too? ( assuming its the same train ) im trying to book for earlier next year but it just shows business and first class.
reply
-jvs333
Laughable that Amtrak is touting this as some achievement. A sleeper for Boston to DC? In China it be a couple hours in one of their state of the art modern hi-speed rails. Comical Amtrak 1950s choo Choo trains
reply
Laughable that Amtrak is touting this as some achievement. A sleeper for Boston to DC? In China it be a couple hours in one of their state of the art modern hi-speed rails. Comical Amtrak 1950s choo Choo trains
reply
-henrivanbemmel
I would expect that having the sleeper behind the engine you would hear the horn quite a bit through the night, I would want it further back. I guess it depends on how many level crossing there are.
reply
I would expect that having the sleeper behind the engine you would hear the horn quite a bit through the night, I would want it further back. I guess it depends on how many level crossing there are.
reply
-northlanderdude
When VIA Rail Canada resumes full operation of the Canadian from Toronto to Vancouver, you should come do a travelling review of that train. The passenger cars are vintage 1950's built Budd cars.
reply
When VIA Rail Canada resumes full operation of the Canadian from Toronto to Vancouver, you should come do a travelling review of that train. The passenger cars are vintage 1950's built Budd cars.
reply
-storyman507
I love your videos. But have you considered talking the descriptions rather than the script at the bottom. There is so much to read it is hard to see what you're showing us. Just a thought.
reply
I love your videos. But have you considered talking the descriptions rather than the script at the bottom. There is so much to read it is hard to see what you're showing us. Just a thought.
reply
-tinklvsme
When u hear a whistle like that, it-s gang members signals to each other-s to warn about cops, people ect. This guy better get in the train asap, before he becomes a victim. Truth
reply
When u hear a whistle like that, it-s gang members signals to each other-s to warn about cops, people ect. This guy better get in the train asap, before he becomes a victim. Truth
reply
-paulsomers6048
I wish they would restore the Broadway Limited. Overnight NYP to CHI Express. Takes the old Pennsy route through Philly, Harrisburg, Horse Shoe Curve, Pittsburgh.
reply
I wish they would restore the Broadway Limited. Overnight NYP to CHI Express. Takes the old Pennsy route through Philly, Harrisburg, Horse Shoe Curve, Pittsburgh.
reply
-yukiefromoz2573
What a horrible dry breakfast, that wouldn't even go down my throat in the morning. Bathroom a bit claustrophobic for me. Would hate to get locked inside there.
reply
What a horrible dry breakfast, that wouldn't even go down my throat in the morning. Bathroom a bit claustrophobic for me. Would hate to get locked inside there.
reply
-TrainMike2013
The adjoining door between the bedrooms are well known for their banging noise. We had to do that towel trick too. We not have the high pitched sound though.
reply
The adjoining door between the bedrooms are well known for their banging noise. We had to do that towel trick too. We not have the high pitched sound though.
reply
-mzjamm2
Unfortunately, the AMTRAK trains here in the US are old. When I see trains from around the world it is very noticeable. I guess people either drive or fly.
reply
Unfortunately, the AMTRAK trains here in the US are old. When I see trains from around the world it is very noticeable. I guess people either drive or fly.
reply
-osasunaitor
So you pay over 500$) for an overnight trip and you are still expected to tip the attendant? I swear I'll never understand how things work in the US
reply
So you pay over 500$) for an overnight trip and you are still expected to tip the attendant? I swear I'll never understand how things work in the US
reply
train
Nice to see you on camera! Glad the Night Owl is back! No fresh hot food dining, though. You need to do the train to Maine but NOT from South Station!
reply
Nice to see you on camera! Glad the Night Owl is back! No fresh hot food dining, though. You need to do the train to Maine but NOT from South Station!
reply
-DanielsUKT
It's good sleeper train reinstate on northeastern regional the room looks very nice but the rattling when you are trying to sleep very annoying
reply
It's good sleeper train reinstate on northeastern regional the room looks very nice but the rattling when you are trying to sleep very annoying
reply
-ginosko_
At 8: 15 I don't understand why it's funny that the sleeper car is at the front of the train? Is this some french joke or just bad translation?
reply
At 8: 15 I don't understand why it's funny that the sleeper car is at the front of the train? Is this some french joke or just bad translation?
reply
-BobNewbie
The annoying sounds and rattling are exactly what i expect to have to deal with at speed in the those cars. Hoping to check it out soon.
reply
The annoying sounds and rattling are exactly what i expect to have to deal with at speed in the those cars. Hoping to check it out soon.
reply
-henrivanbemmel
Which is better sleeping across the train or longitudinally? I would expect the former as the swaying would probably rock me awake.
reply
Which is better sleeping across the train or longitudinally? I would expect the former as the swaying would probably rock me awake.
reply
-kevinhoward9593
Trains bound for points south use the ex-RF&P platforms on the lower level. Amtrak suspended service on 65/66/67 until March.
reply
Trains bound for points south use the ex-RF&P platforms on the lower level. Amtrak suspended service on 65/66/67 until March.
reply
-flashrocket9158
These Budd designed Amfleet 1 are about as old as Amtrak itself, so getting the new Venture cars would be a welcome change.
reply
These Budd designed Amfleet 1 are about as old as Amtrak itself, so getting the new Venture cars would be a welcome change.
reply
Add a review, comment
Other channel videos
