I Live in Italy, But I Took an Amtrak Train in the U.S.—Here’s How It Went
Living Without a Car in Italy
Since moving to Italy in 2022, I’ve traveled to all 20 Italian regions—without a car. Trains, buses, and the occasional ferry have taken me everywhere I’ve needed to go. High-speed rail gets me from Rome to Milan in under three hours. Local trains connect tiny towns that, in the U.S., would be inaccessible without a car. I can leave my house, hop on a train, and be halfway through an Aperol Spritz in the time it takes an American to drive to Costco.
So when I visited the U.S. recently and took an Amtrak train, I knew it would be a different experience. I just wasn’t prepared for how different.
Atlanta to Charlotte: The American Rail Experience
I took the Crescent, an Amtrak route running from New Orleans to New York. In Atlanta, it stops once a day—at 11:30 p.m. If that time doesn’t work for you, too bad. That’s your option.
A one-way ticket to Charlotte cost me $70. Not bad, considering flights between these cities are often much more expensive. But this wasn’t high-speed rail. The trip took about five hours—at least an hour longer than driving. And let’s be clear: this train was not fast. Italian high-speed rail can hit 300 km/h (186 mph). This train felt more like an airport shuttle.
The woman checking tickets in Atlanta called me “sugar.” Italy has politeness; the American South has charm.
Comfort and Design: A Blast from the Past
The first thing I noticed? Everything was huge. American infrastructure tends to go big, and this train was no exception. The seats were massive—way bigger than anything I’ve seen on European trains. And they reclined. Like, actually reclined. Not a couple of polite degrees like on a plane, but enough that you could realistically sleep. That part? I was into it. And as someone who’s 6’4″, having legit legroom to stretch out was a rare and welcome surprise.
The design, though, was straight out of the ‘80s or ‘90s. Clunky buttons, dull colors, and an overall lack of aesthetic consideration. In Italy, even the most basic regional trains have a sense of style. This felt purely functional—built to move people, not to be enjoyed. Not that it mattered much. I was comfortable enough.
The Ride Itself: An Unexpected Workout
Then there was the ride quality. In Italy, train travel is generally smooth. Sure, you might feel a slight tilt on a high-speed train, but it’s predictable.
This Amtrak ride? It felt like turbulence on a plane. The car swayed unexpectedly, sometimes so much that I wondered if the train was actually stable on the tracks. It wasn’t constant though, so while a little bothersome at times, it wasn’t a dealbreaker.
Where Was Everyone?
There were maybe five people in my train car. It was nearly empty. I get it—when there’s only one train a day, it’s not the most convenient option. But I couldn’t help but wonder: If there were more trains, would more people use them?
Would I Take It Again?
Despite the odd hours and rough ride, I’d do it again. It was comfortable, affordable, and far easier than dealing with airports or renting a car. But coming from Europe, where trains are a viable alternative to flying or driving, the lack of options and slow speeds were frustrating.
Amtrak is functional. But compared to Italy’s train system? It’s not even in the same league.