Ever wanted to ride an Amtrak train from DC to New York? This was my experience.

My train left from Union Station in Washington, DC at 7:10 a.m. The train line I took was the Northeast Regional. If you’re looking for faster service, usually at a higher cost, you’d want to opt for the Acela Train Line.

I arrived at the station around 6:10 a.m. — I’m a bit of an anxious traveler, and I’d rather be safe than sorry. I could have arrived 30 to 45 minutes before and would have been totally fine.

The station offers a bunch of different spots to grab a bite or a cup of coffee. With my extra time, I grabbed a drink from Blue Bottle Coffee.

We started boarding about 20 minutes before departure. When boarding, you can sit in any seat as long as it’s in your section. I had a coach seat, but there are also business class seats, a quiet car, and a cafe car.

Daydreaming is best on a train. | Photo by NOVAtoday

The train stopped at BWI Airport Station, Baltimore Penn Station, Wilmington Station, 30th Street Station in Philadelphia, Trenton Transit Center in New Jersey, and Newark Penn Station. Wait times vary by station, with major stops typically having longer layovers than smaller ones. For example, we were sitting at 30th Street Station for about 15 minutes, but only about five minutes at the BWI Airport Station.

On board, each window seat has a wall outlet and a tray table for eating or working. While charging up, I watched a new show called "How to Get to Heaven from Belfast." There is free WiFi on the train, but it isn't always the most reliable, so plan accordingly.

After about three hours, I arrived at Penn Station in New York.

After my time in the Big Apple, I took the Northeast Regional home. I arrived at Moynihan Train Hall at Penn Station about an hour early, as it can get busy and hectic. The return trip was just as smooth and punctual, taking roughly three hours to reach DC.

Ava's takeaways

Overall, I had a lovely experience. Everything was very timely and smooth, and less stressful than air travel. I will definitely be using Amtrak again.
Pro tip: Make sure to pack some snacks — that way you can save money on food from the cafe cart.
Next time, I would not arrive as early at Union Station.
Pro tip: Secure a window seat — that way you can access the charging ports and daydream while looking out of the window.

Learn more about Amtrak lines from Northern Virginia and DC.