Amtrak

I AM a forever AMTRAK RIDER! JEROME, JOHN, BRIAN and the entire train team made my FIRST train excursion one of my most memorable vacations ever!!!!!! I WILL be contacting Human Resources to express my delight and complete enthusiasm for Amtrak National Passenger Railroad Travel🐟 🐟#FishoutINTL🐟

Took Amtrak Floridian 40 from Tampa, FL to Alexandria, VA. This was a 24 hour trip with two delays. Staff throughout the trip was very nice. The Cafe food was fair. The seats were large and comfortable. The exterior door of the train car was not working so it was cold in that area. I asked for a sleeper upgrade at Denmark, SC and was quoted $281 extra, I declined. I think a sleeper car would have made a huge difference. 24 hours on a train was a challenge!

I much prefer this to Union Station if you do not live in DC. Just two tracks to deal with and far less people. Small indoor waiting area but you can also wait outside under the platform and do not need to wait until the train arrives like you would at Union Station. Once the track is posted for your train, if you are on track 2, you will wait at the crossing and the staff will open the crossing for you to cross the track to the other platform You must cross before the train arrives. Track 2 does have a covered section toward the middle of the train, but Business Class is at the back of the train and not a covered area. So be aware of the weather and wait to go out and cross depending on weather and temps. No food except for a vending machine in the terminal that I am aware of. All of track 3 is covered and located just outside the main building.

Took train for a short mid-week getaway from Richmond to Alexandria. Staples Mill station now has ample parking, but costs $7 per day. Amtrak app let us know train was on time, and boarded just a few minutes after arrival. Trip up was great, except for spotty WiFi. Alexandria station was a 15 minute walk down King St to our hotel (we could have taken free shuttle bus or trolley). Original train for return was delayed in Connecticut. After Amtrak email notification, we canceled tickets and rebooted on another train leaving about an hour earlier. Train was on time, but an issue with electrical power led to a 20 minute late departure. Probably also lead to additional delays on the trip (sat for 20 minutes plus north of Ashland) and arrived in Richmond 90 minutes later than scheduled. Not good, but the original train was over 4 hours late! Alexandria station was dated but nice, and offers a great view of George Washington Masonic Memorial building.

Convenient for travelers and commuters. I take the train from her to PA and NYC quite a bit. It's immediately next to the King St. Metro station and a bus stop. Note that parking is very limited and you have not have anywhere to stop when you get there. If that's the case, you can risk parking in the police lot at the end, or on a nearby side street.

This place was absolutely wild. These train watchers are some of the most dedicated people I’ve ever seen. Anyway, the train came a bit late, but made up for it in time. Also, no food car in economy, and bring a jacket or sweatshirt because it gets cold in those cars.

I've been an Amtrak rider for years. The trains are so vintage that I bet the last time they ever did any upgrade was before my grandpa was born, and he's 85 this year. Well, that being said, I'd still pay over $200 for a train ride from DC to NY just so I can avoid sitting in I95 traffic. Amtrak is definitely not known for its customer service, especially the agents at the counters inside the stations- not very helpful nor friendly; but it's tolerable so I put up with it. However, my last experience with Amtrak was so upsetting, I decide to share it. I took the train from DC Union Station to NY Penn Station a week ago. The employee that worked at the Cafe car woke me up from my sleep only to yell at me for the whole car to hear because I had both of my legs and feet up on the seat ( my back was leaning against the window so I could stretch my aching lower back muscles). She said I couldn't do that since I was in the Cafe car. I was startled at first since I was half asleep already then I right away apologized profusely and put my legs down. She kept up with her nasty attitude and continued with her yelling despite my repeated apology. And BTW, when I tried to file my complaint with another employee and with their " live chat" customer service rep on their app, I was told by both of them that I should just go online and fill out a form- I did and I still have not heard back from Amtrak at all since then. This unpleasant experience has upset me so much it took me days to recover from it. It'd be hard for me to recommend Amtrak to anyone after this experience. I give them a two star.

A small and old Amtrak station in Alexandria. It is old but the benches, doors, tiles, and ceilings are still in good shape. The bathrooms are very clean. A lot of signs that are clear and easy to navigate. I highly recommend this station for those who wants to avoid the crowd in the DC Union Station.

Very convenient. Easy drop/off & pick-up. Travelers can leave Reagan (DCA), take the metro to the Kings Hwy stop and get picked up here to make it easier for friends/family who live south of the airport. Pay attention to the train monitors to tell you which track your train will enter the station on. This info can come as late as 10 mins prior to the train approaching. Track 3 is on the side closest to the street. Track 2 is furthest away. Go left and down the stairs to get over to the other side of the tracks, or walk across safely, if track 3 is clear. Amtrak will hold your luggage for 48 hrs or less, for a small fee at this location if you choose to take the Metro into DC. Yes, even if you are not a ticket holder. This is a great stop for weekend getaways. Plenty of hotels, shops and restaurants near Kings Hwy. The new Floridian train (goes to New York, Chicago and Miami) leaves from this station. Metered parking for those driving up, then taking the metro can park here (e. g. 6-hrs is $13). Lastly, this Amtrak station has bathrooms and full time staff who can assist with ticket purchases, unlike the unmanned Woodbridge VA station. Woodbridge is convenient for most (10-25 min drive, Greyhound, VRE, OmniRide pick-up & a parking lot for commuters), but the station doesn't have any enclosed areas & no bathrooms. So if you want to brave the winter brisk or wait with a friend in the kiss & ride spaces instead of in traffic, this is an option.

As my Husband works in Alexandria, I decided to catch the Amtrak train from the Alexandria Station there to New York for my upcoming cruise. I have not rode the train since my children were very young and the Alexandria Station has not changed much since then. It is an older station with just seating that needs updating badly. There are vending machines but not much else. The bathrooms toilet worked but their was out of order sign and there was no running water to wash your hands. Luckily I always carry hand sanitizer but that is not sanitary. They did have a sanitizer dispenser on the wall outside the bathroom. As I am not familiar with riding the train, I asked the person working in the train station some questions. He did not either feel like answering or was not using a good day. I park at Union Station and walk through it to get to my job each day. I will definitely be using that station for any of my future train needs.

First off I love VRE. Amtrak is a mixed bag. This station services both lines, and I do wish they had more parking spaces. That is one challenge, that can add to commute frustration. On a plus note glad to see some CSX and Norfolk Freight Trains. Am a fan of this form of transportation, so at least that was a pleasant surprise. The station itself is fairly old. There have been some renovations. Yes the benches aren't so wonderful to take a nap on. Yet they provide a little bit of comfort. Also if you park here, the Masonic Temple Tower isn't far. It's all about what you can see and do from any train station. Their mixed use train yard is neat to see. I'm all in on VRE as love their service. Yet this station is so so, and for that it gets an average rating.

Purchased our tickets online, took Dash to the station (clean restrooms), super easy access just walked up the stairs to friendly staff that guided us across tracks due to track change. Train arrived, boarded and conductor checked our ticket when we were seated. Great experience.

The area is beautiful. It is cheaper to take Metro from union station than Amtrak. But if you are passing through, it is pretty. Not all of the doors open when the train stops thank goodness for wheels on luggage.

What a wonderful way to travel. I had to go from DC to Baltimore, and this is the best way. My hotel was close to the Amtrak station. Buying the ticket on-line was easy. The Alexandria station is managed well, you are kept well-informed.

This is a beautiful Railways station building from early XX century (1905 if I'm not mistaken). Enough seats inside, the building is air conditioned and there are public restrooms inside.

Best way to commute if you can on this train - take this every time I need to get to the train station downtown. It clean and peaceful and everyone who works there is pleasant.

If you want to walk back in time this Amtrak station is for you. Replete with wooden chairs you have all the comforts of the 1930s. But you also enjoy a lot of character in the building. The station is much less hectic than DC and that has some value. It also allows you to get some better seats if you are headed to NYC rather than the run you experience in DC to get a seat.

Very Unprofessional and unreliable station. Stay away from this station. I'm currently here at the station still waiting on a train that should've been here over 2 hours ago. The original departure time was 7:17pm. The time is now 9:32pm. Additionally, there are no staff members inside at all. No one. On a Sunday. Absolutely ridiculous. And they eventually stopped updating the times for the train, Train 87 to Norfolk, VA and instead opted to remove it from the display screen altogether

Great little train station. Train was on time. Staff called us out to the track in a timely manner, escorted us across the tracks and offered to help with luggage. You can take the 30, 31, or trolley from anywhere on King St. Take it west to the amtrak station and walk under the tracks. The tunnel under the tracks is a bit smelly and I'd be uncomfortable late at night, but it's easy enough. The train was nearly empty when we boarded, so it's better to get on here than on Union Station.

Definitely an "old school" type of train station that allows the Virginia Railway Expressway (VRE) trains to pass through or stop as well as for Amtrak trains. Right across (or right next to) from the updated King Street - Old Town metrorail station as well as other nearby hotels and restaurants. Very convenient to use if heading toward Washington, D.C., or going toward the suburbs or beyond! Make certain that you're at the correct railway area. You don't want to miss your train, and they won't allow you to cross rail tracks during heavy traffic. Please note that the area is very noisy when trains stop or depart (and even those trains that don't stop here) from this area. There is indeed a convenient inside seating area when waiting for your specific train. Happy trails, ya'll!

You will like the Amtrak Station in Old Town Alexandria depending on your view. If you are nostalgic for that original train station look and feel this one will appeal to you. If you prefer something a little more comfortable other than 1940s wooden benches, then this is not for you.

Nice station. Seating inside and outside. The outside seating is on both sides of the track. There is a way to cross the tracks under the tracks in a tunnel. The stations interior and exterior was very clean. There is so she inside and outside letting you know if trains arrivals and departures. Parking can be tricky, especially if people block you in... it happens.

Easy to navigate to the location. Seems like there is a decent amount of parking available. It's a nice alternative to driving into Union Station in DC when my college-age progeny is willing to take the train from Williamsburg to come home. The station seems clean and well maintained.

I'm changing my rating to three stars from two. In my previous review I complained about the fact that this train station doesn't know what track your train will be arriving at until the last second. A fellow Yelper pointed out to me that this is for the most part beyond the control of the train station. Apparently there are three tracks, The first to close by tracks are for the northbound and southbound trains. But there's a third further away track for freight. Sometimes however the dispatcher may switch tracks to accommodate the freight. And this is the reason why they aren't always sure where the trains will be arriving. So I won't hold this against the train station. But I still like train stations that are able to show on a digital display what time your train is arriving and on what track. But this small, charming old train station is definitely a recommended station if you need to catch a train in this area.

Take the Amtrak here and it's a quick walk to the Old Town area. A few cabs are usually lurking in front by the small parking lot. A quick cab ride ride for a small fee can take you to town and the waterfront. Indoor and some outdoor seating. Seemed clean. Not much more to say. It's a train station out in the burbs. Nothing special.

Delays delays delays. First time and last time I am using this train from union to lorton. I get on at 4pm and it's almost 8pm and I am still on the train. Flooding at one station and it keeps everyone from getting home?!This area gets rain - why aren't there any forward thinkers that are trying to to prevent this. It's not like this is the first thunder storm to ever hit dc. I'd rather sit in traffic on the beltway and never use vre public transportation again. It's not even worth the free ticket that was given to me on the train for being patient. If you don't mind wasting your time ride the vre.

We have always taken the Amtrak train from Union Station to go to NYC but now living in Alexandria, I did not think of using the Alexandria train station to catch the Amtrak now! What a secret gem for locals to avoid the crowds and craziness that is Union Station! I love the quaint blast from the past ambience of the station. As noted in past reviews, there are no shops or stores like in Union Station so stock up beforehand... there are simple vending machines if that's good enough for your travel needs!

Using this station is like stepping back in time. It conjures images of Mayberry and Norman Rockwell, and I like it. It's easy to use, and the porters were very helpful.

This location is very convenient as it is practically attached to the King Street metro station. If I had to guess, I would say the train station was built in the early 1900s but it has been kept up well. Actually, the historic feel is what I like most about it. I am not a regular on the train but the workers remember me. (Maybe it was because I once almost lost my lid when they wouldn't honor my AAA discount) I'll take notoriety any day. The biggest downfall to this station is the parking situation. Parking is free for passengers but it is very limited. Please have someone drop you off because I need a spot to be vacant when I arrive.

The girlfriend and I were going up to New York City for the weekend. Rather than do something pain inducing like driving or flying up there, we decided to go by Amtrak. Alexandria Station is a practically a stone's throw away from where we live so it was too convenient a stop for us to board our train. The station itself was originally built in the early 1900s and is small, quaint, and harkens back to travel during that bygone era. There are no modern video displays depicting train arrivals and departures or TVs to kill time while waiting for you train. The seeming only modern convenience was the two computerized ticket machines set up by the ticket counter, which was manned by a ticket agent. The seats are hard, wooden benches, which are inside the main building. There are no food or drink concessions or even vending machines. At least the station has a modern restroom and, from my observation, was clean and well maintained. It does get busy with the frequent VRE trains in addition to Amtrak service during the work, but it's serviced by only two tracks so there's virtually no chance you'll get confused and board the wrong train. Alexandria Station certainly feels out of date and out of time, but its convenience and simplicity make for an easy, comparatively enjoyable, travel experience. It certainly isn't like flying out of Dulles or Reagan!

The people who work at this station are nothing short of disgusting and disrespectful. I have had multiple experiences here when I have been blatantly ignored by train attendants when I am trying to board, and it has been extremely difficult to problem solve with attendants behind the window. It has been made obvious to me that I am not a valued customer or respected passenger in their eyes, likely because of my age, gender, and appearance. I might be traveling here again out of necessity, but I will always dread trying to work with the staff here. They never fail to take my trip from peaceful to unnecessarily stressful.

Perfectly fine small Amtrak station; at least the waiting room is open on weekends. Main benefit: there are a bunch of hotels (Hilton, Embassy Suites, etc.) literally right across from this station, so it's a cinch to take Amtrak to this station and hoof it literally 2 minutes or less to your hotel. Plus Amtrak doesn't use its stupid "line up and wait for no reason" boarding system here; you board a train here like a normal human being boarding a normal train does: you walk to wherever you want on the platform and when the train arrives and the door opens, you get on.

This is the transfer point between the VRE going to Fredericksburg and points between, Manassas and points between, Amtrak and the Metro. It feels like it has the history of a rail hub. It was especially busy on Monday, 4/1 as it was opening day for the Nationals. We were able to take the 1019a Amtrak from Manassas, caught the Yellow line to the Navy Yard and we were in the Stadium by 1145a. No driving and dealing with traffic or parking. On the return we took Metro to this same Station and caught the VRE that made the 30 min return trip to Manassas. All the Trains were on time and it made opeing day a great experience!

Reasonable place to catch a train. Always faced with the dilemma when travelling Amtrak northbound: catch a train in ALX and wait through the 45-minute engine change at Union Station, or just catch the train in DC. ALX isn't a bad place to wait for a(n often delayed train). Pre-war station overlooks the GW Masonic Memorial. Unfortunately, there's no food sold in or around the station; at least a 5-minute walk is needed to get to a Dunkin' Donuts, which may be difficult with bags. PA system is mostly unintelligible (think adult trombone voice in Peanuts) King Street Metro stop (Yellow Line), is a shortish stroll down King Street. This is in comparison to Union Station, which is frequently a madhouse. Choose ALX to wait it out in peace.

This review is about this particular Amtrak station - not Amtrak is general. I don't know if I'm just really moronic early in the morning or what but it took me forever to find this station. After wandering back and forth on Duke Street countless times I finally managed to be at the right angle to see the stupid Amtrak building. So don't be dumb like me, after you come out of the King Street metro exit, hang an immediate left and go under the tracks and up the hill to the station (towards the Masonic Temple). This station isn't the newest or nicest Amtrak has to offer (it was built in 1905), but it was fine for a 30 minute wait. It was warm with lots of seating and bathrooms that weren't horrendously scary. The employees are helpful and are used to the fact that most people riding Amtrak from this station are newbies. I would gladly choose to leave from here on future trips in order to avoid the chaos of Union Station.

You want to go to Richmond for the weekend to visit some friends and family. You have a serious problem with road rage and thus wish to avoid Washington traffic on a Friday afternoon. You decide that taking Amtrak is a good (green, even) idea, because you will be able to relax and read on the train and the ride only lasts about two hours. And you're in luck, as there's a train departing from Alexandria right after you leave work. Do you enjoy admiring the rafters that support Alexandria's colonial train station for hours while trains get back on schedule, get dislodged from accidents, and otherwise encounter disasters? If not, please just get behind the fucking wheel of your car and let the profanities issue forth. It's far preferable to Amtrak's abominable schedules, erratic train arrivals, and grouchy ticket people. Never again.

This is a pretty decent train station. It's definitely on the smaller side but I've never had issues finding a seat. Most of the time I prefer to travel out of this station than union- less traffic to sit through. There are no food or drink options like Union, but there are restrooms and a few vending machines. I've never had an issue with the employees, and they're pretty good about letting you know when your train should be arriving. My only complaint is that they offer free wifi that hardly ever works. All in all, a smaller but nice station.

Our first experience out of this station was a little chaotic because we were expecting a modern station with modern amenities. We didn't leave early enough to pick up food, we didn't have much in the way of things to pass the time and we weren't even sure where the train would come since most all communication was for VRE not Amtrak. After talking to someone to be sure we were in the right place, we grabbed a seat outside and waited. And waited. And waited. After awhile I looked up the train on the Amtrak tracker on the website and we found out it was on an hour delay. Little bit later it was a 2 hour delay. Aside from that, the station is super convenient to get to and from via metro and right in Alexandria. So, now we know. Leave early enough to get food, pack some food for the actual train ride in case your route is significantly delayed, and make sure you've got plenty of options for things to do! As long as you plan ahead this is way more relaxing than Union Station.

This review is limited to accessing the VRE/Amtrak Alexandria station on foot and by motor vehicle. Passengers and passersby have two options when accessing this rail station. The easiest approach is walking to it via Callahan Drive. Accessing the station, on foot, from the King Street Metro station, is a cardio workout. You can climb a somewhat steep flight of concrete stairs or use the handicap walkway to get to the station. As noted in several Yelp reviews, parking is limited. If you love to parallel park a motor vehicle, there is no problem finding a parallel parking space. The options for the pull-in/back-out parking is basically nil. This becomes a problem when you are driving to the station to pick-up Amtrak or VRE tickets. It is as if all of these more doable parking spaces are always in use.

*Express shipping review only* I've been using the express shipping at the Alexandria Amtrak the past few weeks for moving out of state. Parking here is free but it's limited so if you're lucky you can get a spot in front of the entrance, to make unloading boxes a little easier, instead of the parallel spots. Express shipping here is pretty simple. You take boxes to the service window and they have a scale to weigh each box since cost to ship is by weight, fill out some forms, and done. You can have someone pick up the boxes at the Amtrak location you're moving to or pick it up yourself. I prefer express shipping since it's pretty quick and reliable, and seems to be more cost effective if just moving boxes. The staff are very nice and helpful also.

This Amtrak station is old - deal with it; that is history for you. You won't find food (except in vending machines) That being said, I love how convenient it is to me. I'm only a stop away on the metro so it makes it very easy for me to take the train to anywhere. This was my first trip on Amtrak since I was 15 years old. I know a long time. The station manager here was more than friendly and helpful - to everyone. I will happy start my trips here rather than going all the way in to Union Station (which I'm sure has all the entertainment you could possibly want or need). Time to start planning the next trip!

Nothing much to add except parking is not as described on Amtrak website. There is free 30 min parking and two hour parking, no longer term parking. Fingers crossed my car is still here at the end of the day. According to the attendant, Amtrak and the City of Alexandria recently limited parking because people "took Amtrak for granted." Does that mean people left for a train across the country and didn't pay? I'd be happy to pay for day parking because a free two hours doesn't make sense.

Well,. What a dump. The place is filthy. The staff has no manners and acted as though you were annoying them if you had to ask a question. That was IF you managed to interrupt their personal conversations long enough to answer you. The PA system hardly works and communication is done by someone walking out and screaming information.

Waited at the ticket counter for 20 min at 6:45 pm and no one was there the whole time even though the window is supposed to be open until 8:45 pm. Spent 15 min on the phone with customer service and they didn't think they could help either. WTH

I get the whole historic aspect of this station and all but this place was so boring to wait for a delayed train for 2hrs. No music, no TV's, nothing. There is nothing really close by to walk to and nothing else you can do to pass the time. I would suggest taking the train out of Union Station instead that way if you are delayed atleast you could look around in the station, get a bite to eat, or buy a magazine to read. Oh, and there are no signs to this Alexandria station if you are getting off the Metro at the King Street stop...you might want to ask the Metro clerk for directions. Its really easy to find once you know which direction to walk.

I could walk faster than VRE. Literally late/delayed everyday and they do nothing to make it better. Enough said. If I could give 0 stars I would.

Pleasant throwback, but the speakers should be louder and clear. The staff surely grows tired of answering the same questions all day.

So much easier to navigate than the DC station! We enjoyed our first Amtrak experience and would take it again, maybe with the family next time!

Recently had to take a train to Alexandria due to a death in the family.. Everyone had spoken very highly of Amtrak, so I decided to take their advice and take the train. I have NO intentions of EVER taking the train again. The personnel at the stations were absolutely wonderful but once you walked out of the station, the rest is ridiculous. Departure from NC and VA were both over an hour late. From NC to VA the restrooms smelled like pure unadulterated horse piss and floors were wet. From VA to NC just the smell and when I got off in NC and walked by the train, I could smell where the restrooms were located. Note to others and self- find another mode of transportation.

The station is ok. The timeliness of trains is routinely awful. However, the station has no control over that. They do however, have control over the station announcement system...which they could use to announce the continual delays in your departure but don't. Washrooms are out of towels and could use a touch up on the cleanliness as well.

The Alexandria Union Station is located behind the Kingstreet Metro Station. This is an Active Train station, however this review concerns the historic site of the station and not any of the services the station offers. The historic site made up by the station building and also there is a small monument in front of the station that commemorates veterans of foreign wars. There is no fee to visit the monument. I visited the site on 7/10/2016 and I the reason I think is an Ok site is because since the station is active the only parking available is for Amtrak users so if you go for the sole purpose of visiting the historic site might not be worth the hustle. However if you are using the station to hop on the Amtrak I definitely suggest to take a minute to admire the site and history behind it.

This VRE and AMTRAK Station in Alexandria is one of the older, more classical looking stations in the DC area. But that's where the "old" stops. It is bustling with activity. Its prime location across the street from the imposing George Washington National Masonic Memorial, in the intersection of Duke, King and Russell Streets and Mt Vernon Avenue is a central point in the DC area. Likewise, it is also connected with a pedestrian underpass to the Alexandria Metro Rail station. It is the last VRE station serving both the Fredericksburg and Manassas Lines going out of DC, and also serves numerous Amtrak trains going and coming, for which there are cross-honor agreements with VRE, facilitating the commute. The DASH and Metrobus lines also use this station as a center point. The station is also an easy walking mile from the Alexandria Waterfront, scant few blocks from the center of Old Town Alexandria, and adjacent from the burgeoning Alexandria office complex and commercial high-rise towers. It is also ADA compliant, providing a needed service for both physically challenged people as well as encumbered folks with bags. In case of Metro Rail problems, it serves as an easy way of getting to and from DC. There are underground parking areas nearby, but not as a part of the station.

A nice-looking historic station, within easy walking distance of the King Street Metro station. Also a great alternative for people who want to take Amtrak up to DC, but don't want to have to deal with the crowds and confusion of Union Station.

Nothing good or bad to say about this very small station. They had an indoor and outdoor seating area. It looked clean and safe: 2 very important factors for me. We had our E-tickets so we had no problems whatsoever.

The station itself is fine, comfortable, and historic. Amtrak has it's own issues, but this is a good station to use if you're heading southbound out of the area. Short term parking for drop off and pick-up is free.

I love the location of the Alexandria Amtrak station, within walking distance to Metro, the station is clean and always warm and the staff is pretty friendly. Its not an airport so I dont expect too much from Amtrak stations. My only problem is parking....Amtrak customers only have about 20 spaces to fight over so if you have the luxury of getting dropped off by a friend or family member, I suggest you do that.

Nice , historic train station. Efficient and gets the job done.