On a Thursday morning, a traveler embarked on a journey from Brooklyn to Rochester via Amtrak’s Maple Leaf train, initially scheduled to depart at 7:15 a.m. from Moynihan Train Hall in Penn Station.
With excitement, they boarded the subway just before 6 a.m., confident they would have ample time to settle in and grab a coffee before their train ride.
However, upon arriving at the train station around 6:40 a.m., they were met with frustrating news: the Maple Leaf train faced delays that continued to accumulate in ten-minute increments for over an hour.
Anxiety crept in as the traveler idled in the station, frequently checking the boards for updates.
Finally, at 8:10 a.m., the patience paid off, and they boarded the train, coffee in hand.
Finding an empty row at the front of the car was a small consolation, as they quickly stowed their roller bag and settled into a window seat, enjoying the much-needed legroom and peace of a mostly quiet train car.
The train car appeared to be about 60% full, with a mix of solo travelers and pairs seated around them.
Though the excitement of watching the New York landscape dwindled as they realized their window seat’s view was obstructed, with only fleeting glimpses of the Hudson River visible through the left-side windows.
For the first few hours, the traveler used the time productively, catching up on work on the laptop while listening to music.
Midday hunger prompted them to venture to the café car at the back of the train after approximately four hours of journeying.
After a quick stop for a $9.50 Caesar salad and a bag of chips, they appreciated the chance to stretch their legs, despite the café car’s bumpiness.
The return journey would reveal quite a different experience when traveling in business class from Rochester back to New York City, costing them $180.
The business-class ticket included perks such as a larger reclined seat, a footrest, and extra legroom, alongside a complimentary non-alcoholic drink.
Moreover, business-class tickets were refundable and offered a 25% point bonus for Amtrak Guest Rewards, enhancing their appeal.
Arriving at the Louise M. Slaughter Rochester Station just before their 1:30 p.m. departure, the traveler noticed only one seat open in business class by the time they boarded.
This last seat was the accessible one at the front of the car, lacking a footrest or conventional tray table, which made for a somewhat uneasy boarding experience.
After settling in, the traveler discovered that the smaller business-class car was noticeably noisier than the previous coach car due to its size and position in the train.
Positioned right in front of the archway to the café, they could hear everything that happened in the café area, heightening the discomfort.
Listening to Taylor Swift’s ‘Speak Now’ on repeat offered some distraction from the bumps of the train, which intensified once the journey continued.
A lone seat at the back of the car opened about an hour and a half into the trip, prompting them to relocate for a quieter environment.
While the back seat had its own perks with a footrest and a lower noise level, it was also even bumpier than the first chair.
Around 6 p.m., the train rolled into Albany. An announcement indicated the train would halt until 7:40 p.m. to connect with another train from Ontario.
The lengthy stop frustrated the travelers eager to return to Manhattan, compounded by the lack of AC and lights that made the car hot and uncomfortable.
With most passengers disembarking for some fresh air, the traveler took the opportunity to grab a less-than-stellar meal at a restaurant while on the platform.
After eating a subpar chicken wrap, they continued to stretch their legs by walking back and forth on the platform during the stop.
As the café car finally reopened for the final leg back to New York, they took advantage of their complimentary drink, ginger ale, though found it difficult to enjoy it due to the bumpy ride.
After the final leg of the trip began, an announcement confirmed the train was full, instilling a sense of relief in the traveler for having chosen the business-class seat.
As the evening progressed, the views on the return to Manhattan began to impress.
The traveler enjoyed glimpses of charming towns, stunning Hudson River views, and picturesque wildflowers blanketing the landscape.
Despite the long journey, they were able to locate a deer and her fawn grazing near the tracks, an idyllic scene that momentarily lightened the long hours spent traveling.
Finally arriving back at Penn Station around 10:40 p.m., the traveler reflected positively on their round trip experience.
However, they concluded that going forward, coach tickets would be their preference for such trips since the perks of the business-class seat weren’t worth the added expense, particularly when the train was located in the bumpy caboose.
They would likely reserve business-class seats for longer trips or those featuring full meal options in the future.
For now, they concluded their travel journey, noting that the coach experience, with its spaciousness and relatively few crowds past Albany, provided a perfectly satisfactory trip upstate.
image source from：https://www.businessinsider.com/amtrak-business-class-vs-coach-maple-leaf-train-new-york-2025-6
