Yes. And in that store car they have like, benches around tables like at a restaurant. You could play a board game with friends on the train (I’ve tried to talk some friends into doing this, but they’re all Americans so they think riding on a train is weird).

People don’t use it because really the only place it is viable is the northeast corridor (VA to MA). Most places, Amtrak doesn’t own the track so they share it with freight shipping and it ends up being extremely slow.

Though for a trip in the northeast, it is really unparalleled. People that drive that are just car-brained individuals.

If you really want your mind blown check out the California Zephyr train. It’s famous for the beauty you get to see. It runs from Chicago to San Francisco.

It can end up being just as expensive as flying, let alone driving, enragingly. That said, if you’re willing to go off hours, it can way cheaper than either. If you’re not just going city to city though the pain of traveling to and from the station might remove the ease of use aspect.

Long story short, there are a lot of reasons. Plus, the trains are almost always full.

Edit: and I say this as someone who’s ridden Amtrak to get back to my parents exclusively for years, and who lives literally two blocks from my local Amtrak station.

Yeah most Amtrak trains have a cafe and like a dining car (if you’re on one with a private room). Ride today!

Because Amtrak is typically a little bit more compared to driving, most places don’t have Amtrak service, and when they do, it’s typically only 1 train per day each way. Many times those trains are also at very inconvenient times, like 2am.

Yeah it’s a real shame Talgo has never taken off in the US. We’re so bad at trains it’s like a bit at this point.

I would agree if the old rolling stock wasn’t so fucking good

Here’s the bistro car