June 2024. For our first visit to the United States of America since the COVID-19 pandemic, we flew to New Orleans via London Heathrow with British Airways. After two days of exploring NOLA, Amtrak‘s Crescent overnight train brought us from Louisiana to New York, where we we stayed one night only before flying home. 

There it is. The long, 30-hour train journey from New Orleans’ Union Passenger Terminal to New York Penn Station (officially Pennsylvania Station). This train journey was not a way of travel during our vacation, it was the raison d’être of our vacation. 

So let’s review it.

Presentation

The Crescent is a daily long-distance passenger train operated by Amtrak between New York City and New Orleans (the ‘Crescent City‘). The 1,377-mile (2,216 km) route connects the Northeast to the Gulf Coast via the Appalachian Piedmont, with major stops in Washington DC; Charlotte, North Carolina; Atlanta, Georgia; and Birmingham, Alabama.

Most of the route of the Crescent is on the Norfolk Southern Railway. It is the successor of the Southern Crescent, introduced in 1970 by Norfolk Southern’s predecessor, the Southern Railway. 

The journey from New Orleans to New York takes about 30 hours, offering passengers an opportunity to relax and enjoy the changing landscapes from the comfort of their seats or sleeping accommodations.

Departure and arrival

The northbound Crescent departs from New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal (NOL) at 9:15 AM daily and arrives at New York Penn Station (NYP) the following day at around 6 PM.

Northbound route highlights

• New Orleans, Louisiana (NOL).
• Slidell, Louisiana: After leaving New Orleans, the train makes its first stop in Slidell, giving passengers a glimpse of the charming Louisiana countryside.
• Meridian, Mississippi: Crossing into Mississippi, the train stops in Meridian, a city with a rich history and significant rail heritage.
• Tuscaloosa, Alabama: Continuing through the Deep South, the train stops in Tuscaloosa, home to the University of Alabama and its storied football program.
• Birmingham, Alabama: As the largest city in Alabama, Birmingham offers a mix of Southern charm and modern amenities.
• Atlanta, Georgia: A major metropolitan area, Atlanta is a bustling city with a blend of historical landmarks and contemporary attractions. The train stops here in the evening, giving passengers a chance to stretch their legs.
• Greenville, South Carolina: Nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Greenville is known for its vibrant downtown and scenic beauty.
• Charlotte, North Carolina: The train continues north to Charlotte, a major financial hub with a rich cultural scene.
• Greensboro, North Carolina: In North Carolina, Greensboro offers historical sites and a dynamic arts community.
• Lynchburg, Virginia: The route then moves into Virginia, with a stop in Lynchburg, known for its historic districts and colleges.
• Charlottesville, Virginia: Home to the University of Virginia, Charlottesville is a charming city with a rich history and beautiful architecture.
• Washington, District of Columbia: The nation’s capital is a significant stop on the route, providing passengers an opportunity to witness the city’s iconic monuments and political landmarks.
• Baltimore, Maryland: After Washington, the train heads to Baltimore, a city with a unique blend of historic and modern attractions along its famous Inner Harbor.
• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: As the train approaches its final destination, it stops in Philadelphia, known for its pivotal role in American history and vibrant cultural scene.
• Newark, New Jersey: The penultimate stop before New York City, Newark is a bustling urban center with its own set of attractions.

These are not all the stops. 

Accommodation

The Crescent offers a variety of accommodations to suit different needs and preferences. Passengers can choose from coach seating, which provides comfortable, reclining seats with ample legroom, or opt for more private accommodations in a roomette or bedroom, which offer added amenities and sleeping arrangements.

Dining options on the Crescent include a café car offering snacks and beverages, and for sleeping car passengers, meals are included and served in a dedicated dining car.

Rolling stock

In December 2020, a usual consist on the Crescent included: two GE P42DC diesel locomotive (1 Siemens ACS-64 electric locomotive north of Washington DC; three Amfleet II coaches; one Amfleet II café car; two Viewliner sleeping car; one Viewliner baggage-dorm.

Siemens ALC-42 locomotives began replacing the P42DC locomotives on the Crescent in 2023. A Viewliner II dining car was added to the Crescent on 1 June 2024. Amtrak plans to replace the Amfleet cars with new long-distance cars by 2032.

Scenic views

Throughout the journey, passengers are treated to a diverse array of landscapes. From the bayous of Louisiana and the rolling hills of the Deep South to the Appalachian Mountains and the bustling cities of the Northeast Corridor, the Crescent provides a visual feast that changes with each passing hour.

Traveling on the Crescent from New Orleans to New York City is not just a journey but an experience that combines comfort, convenience, and the opportunity to see some of the most beautiful parts of the United States. Whether you’re a seasoned train traveler or new to rail journeys, the Crescent offers a memorable way to traverse the country.

At the station

We took an Uber to New Orleans’ Union Passenger Terminal where we inquired if we had to check in or anything. We were pointed towards to lounge called the Magnolia Room. But first we bought a breakfast sandwich and a cookie at Subway. 

Neither the station nor the lounge will win any architecture prices, but I’m sure they represent some kind of style. Being able to wait in the lounge is nice. Some basic refreshments and packaged food items make it chill. It was clear the sleeping cars would be far from full on this particular journey.

Boarding

Sleeping car passengers get to wait in a separate line. As the sleeping cars were at the rear, we didn’t have to walk far. We were warmly welcomed and we found our roomettes easily. For comfort, we had booked a roomette each instead of sharing one.

The roomette in day mode

Welcome in our respective abodes for the next thirty-plus hours. The roomette features to seats and two beds (one made out of the seats, one bunk bed upstairs), a toilet next to one of the seats and a foldable sink. There are obviously soap options, there’s toilet paper (without cardboard roll!). 

There are two power outlets. There aren’t that many storage options. There’s an overhead compartment, but not really pockets or holders. 

There’s a sturdy foldable table, featuring a checkers board. Nice touch. You get a menu and some basic information, but a leaflet with information on the route and journey would have been nice. 

The seats are really comfortable. But if we had been two in the roomette, it would have been cramped. Being solo meant we could put our feet up. Also, sharing the toilet would have been annoying at times, certainly during the night. There is no extra toilet in the sleeping car. 

The dining car

We were lucky, as apparently when we travelled on the Crescent, the dining car had just returned to the train’s composition. Fir several years do to the pandemic and cost cuts, the Crescent had ran without.

Now, the dining car is back. Meals are still pre-prepared in steam ovens airplane-style, but live, fresh cooking should be returning soon. 

Sleep car passengers can eat their meals either in their room(ette) or in the dining car. Obviously we chose the dining car. That’s how we roll.

It was never crowded. Many elderly passengers chose to eat in their room(ette) and the sleeping cars were hardly full.

The food

We had two breakfasts, two lunches and one dinner. Yes, that’s right. We had a breakfast upon boarding, something we did not expect! 

The breakfast options:

• Continental breakfast.
• Buttermilk pancakes.
• Three egg omelet.

For lunch and dinner:

• Beef Burgundy.
• Kofta kebabs (vegetarian).
• Chicken enchiladas.
• Asian BBQ glazed salmon (the ‘healthy option’).
• Chicken parmesan.

The dessert options on that journey:

• Butter cake.
• Brownie.

With lunch you get a soda or soft drink. With dinner you can get some alcohol. You can always purchase extra.

The food was allright, but won’t win any awards. While breakfast is mostly at your leisure, lunch dinner is by appointment so the dining car attendant can manage the heating up of the meals. Fair enough. 

The roomette in night mode

During dinner, our sleeping car attendant turned our roomettes into sleeping quarters. I slept ‘head first’, Danny ‘feet first’. I don’t know if that makes a difference. 

We’re both fond of sleeping longitudinally instead or perpendicularly on trains. The former is more typically North American, the latter European. 

I slept wel. 

Shower time

On day two, I went for a shower. The shower in our car didn’t seem to work. Or, I couldn’t figure it out. I struggled in the other sleeping car as well, until I figured out how to operate the shower. 

Sizewise the shower is more than okay, and the water pressure is decent enough. So thumbs up.

The journey as an experience

When I tell non-rail people and coworkers we had a 30-hour journey, most give me a look of “why?” and “how?”. 

Why? Because this relax slow travelling is comfortable, at least the way we did it. We enjoy staring outside, chat, read, eat, fall asleep and repeat. 

How? See the previous sentence. You make a click. 

New Orleans to New York is not the most spectacular route. More than The Canadian, the California Zephyr or the Coast Starlight, the Crescent is a mode of transport. A leaflet with route highlights is unfortunately not provided. 

But how, why or when else would we as Europeans travel through these southern states? They’re not top tier destinations for Europeans.

So?

If you have time and you love sleep trains, (over)night trains  or whatever you want to call them, the Crescent is something for you. I would not advise the Crescent as your first Amtrak sleeper train experience. There’s nicer. 

From New Orleans to New York on Amtrak’s Crescent – USA 2024

1. REVIEW | British Airways Brussels to London Heathrow.
2. REVIEW | British Airways World Traveller London Heathrow to New Orleans.
3. NEW ORLEANS | Streetcars, Garden District, Algiers Point, Riverfront, Jackson Square.
4. REVIEW | Louisiana State Museums – the Presbytère and the Cabildo, in New Orleans.
5. NEW ORLEANS | French Quarter ft. Bourbon Street.
6. REVIEW | voco St. James Hotel.
7. NEW ORLEANS | Riverwalk and Riverfront at the Mississippi River.
8. REVIEW | The National WWII Museum in New Orleans, Louisiana.
9. USA | A Sunday and a Monday in New Orleans, Louisiana.