Train travel

[stacey79]

My wonderful hubby got me tickets to go see "Wicked" for my birthday. Though my birthday isn't until May, our tickets are for this coming Thursday.

We live in central Indiana and we are going to see it in Chicago. We've decided to take an Amtrak train from Indianapolis to Chicago. It's abot a four hour train ride. (About the same as a car timewise and pricewise.) We usually drive to Chicago, but thought a train would be fun.

Anyone ever done a train ride? Any things to be aware of for IC concerns? I'm wondering if it will be about the same as a car trip? Any better or worse?

[ICNDonna]

I do suggest you ask for a seat near a restroom. I think a four hour train ride will be fun --- and you can ask for pillows to sit on if you like.

Donna

[GriffsMommy]

It's been a long time since I've been on a train but I would think it would be the perfect way travel for an IC patient. You'll have a bathroom to use and you aren't losing time on the trip when you have to use the bathroom because you're still moving.

[ihurttoo]

I have never traveled by train but agree that it sounds like fun. I am so jealous that you are going to see "Wicked"! I have seen the commercials of it here, and it looks awesome! If it comes to Nashville, I will definately have to go. I loved the Wizard of Oz and think it would be great to hear the background. Let me know what you think! Hope you have a good time!

[stacey79]

I think the train will be an adventure, too. And it seems good to me to have a bathroom close by at all times.

I'm also very excited to see "Wicked." I have the soundtrack practically memorized! I read the book a year or so ago.

[Big Red]

We have done I thnink 3 train trips. 2 of them were before IC. The last one was just my husband and I. If your going Amtrack the bathroom are down stairs from the generaly passenger areas. I found I was running up and down the stairs all the time. We were going from CA to ILL. and back so we were there three days plus. If you can get handicap status you can ride in the handicap area which is on the same level as the restrooms. Have a fun time. The train is really fun.

[stacey79]

I didn't know they were two-story. I wonder if ours will be. We've never done this, so we're excited. I did take a train once from Detroit to Toronto with my parents when I was younger, but I don't remember a ton about that.

Anyway, I'm hoping that since it's only a four hour trip I'll only have to have one or two bathroom breaks. Hopefully that won't mean a lot of stair running. The train we're on for the way there says it has a lounge car. I'm not sure what that means, but am guessing that would have a bathroom, too. We'll just see, I guess.

[shell]

A little over a year ago we had to travel from New Hampshire to Baltimore. We took Amtrak and it was a 6 1/2 hour trip. We go on at the first stopat 6 a.m., so we had our choice of seats. We did upgrade from coach to business class which I found to be well worth the cost. My understanding is the seats are a little roomier and there weren't any young children in our car.

I think by lounge car they may mean like a dining car. Our train had one where you could buy beverages or snacks. It was extremely expensive though. I had thought ahead and brough a couple of bottles of water and some crackers and granola bars to snack on. I also brought a book to read and some knitting to work on.

I found it a great way to travel. My husband and I could both relax during the trip and I didn't have to worry about how far we were from the next bathroom or wasting time stopping for a bathroom.

[lnseagraves]

The times i've ridden on Amtrak, the bathrooms were on the same level as the seating. there was no upstairs that I remember. Maybe there are different model trains, it wouldn't hurt to call and inquire about that.

Trains can be a little jiggly, esp. if they are going at slower paces. Amtrak is more high paced so I don't think you'll feel the jiggling as much. I actually like trains more than cars. I can hardly handle car trips cause I can feel every bump on the road and that makes me have to pee more. Face-paced trains are relaxing, not as jiggly and the bathrooms are on board! How wonderful!

[stacey79]

I wondered about "jiggliness." Car rides can be really difficult with that. I figured starting small would be our best bet.

I am planning on taking along a few snacks and stuff, too. They serve breakfast on the way there, but I'm guessing it's like airplane food, and I'm not all that sure if it will be things I can have. I certainly don't want to start out a trip (even a short one) with foods that are risky.

Mostly, though, I'm just really excited!

[Berkshire Road]

Another good thing about train travel, is that you can stand up and stretch any time, unlike in a car. You can take a walk to the lounge car.

I own an IC cushion, and I've brought it with me to sit on, the couple of times I've ridden a train recently. It made a lot of difference. If you don't have one, I suggest that it is a very worthwhile investment. It helps with "bumpiness" too. I carry mine with a couple of other necessities, in an ordinary tote bag.

[Paininthe*.*]

I took Amtrak from Omaha to Chicago last summer, when my IC was in full-bloom! I was in pain, but the train tends to rock sideways, not bump up-and-down like a car, so it's not as uncomfortable as a car. And you can get to the bathroom any time you want. Definitely bring some "wet wipes" as the train can get kinda grungy at the end of a long leg, like the Denver to Chicago run. The scenery is fun. Bring your own food/water because it's expensive to buy and selections are limited. Have fun!

[stacey79]

I never thought about the train being a different movement than the car. Good point.

It should be nice to have a bathroom handy and be able to get up and stretch and stuff. My in-laws have a converted charter bus that's like an RV that we travel in a lot and it's nice for the same reason. Trips in the car always seem longer because you really can't move much. We drove to Chicago a few weeks ago for something else and my bladder was hurting as was my low back by the time we got there.

We're excited. Only one more day!

[stacey79]

So we had our train trip and it went incredibly well. I didn't flare the entire trip. We got in late on Friday night. On Sunday I flared a bit, but I think that was from being tired, etc. We quite enjoyed train travel. The way there got a bit annoying with a mom sitting in front of us who was continually trying to reason with her defiant 2-year-old, but you'll have that.

The other thing I had to mention is that the hotel where we stayed offered complimentary heating pads! I always travel with mine. It's sort of like that old credit card commercial - I don't leave home without it. Anyway, I thought that was nice bonus that I didn't know about ahead of time.

[Jean12]

Train Travel

I take the train regularly to NYC for my Bion appointments. I ride an hour in the car and two hours on the train each way. The good things are the bathrooms is always right there, no need to look for stops or worry about traffic problems. I don't mind the ride but the vibration does bother my IC as much or more than a car trip. I prepare ahead of time by using of the adhesive or wrap around type heating pads. When I travel to NYC I always take an early train so I have the city commuters and when the train is packed it can be congested. I'm also not crazy about the bathrooms on the trains. Definately bring your own wipes, hand sanitizer and seat covers if possible. Squatting over a toilet seat on a moving train is difficult at best and rest rooms are used by both men and women so they can get nasty. Have a good time, enjoy the ride and enjoy the company of your hubby. What a great gift!

Jean