One word to sum up my trip on Amtrak: NIGHTMARE!
I was interested in saving money to travel from Iowa to Colorado. I found a great deal, or so I thought, by purchasing a ticket for a train ride with Amtrak.

On July 13, 2008, I boarded the train in Osceola, Iowa--which was 1.5 hours late. They had to wait for 2 freight trains to pass by. You see, Amtrak doesn't own their any rail lines--they are at the mercy of the freight trains and have to move over when needed--thus slowing up the Amtrak lines.
I had a great time in Denver, but when it was time to head home, it was a mess!! My train was supposed to depart Friday evening, July 18, 2008 at 8:10 pm. I was notified by an Amtrak Rep. that it was over 4 hours late, so our new departure time was 12:30 am--Saturday. I checked the internet around 11 pm that night and it had been even further delayed until 1:30 am. My friend dropped me off at Union Station in Denver around 1 am. At 1:15 we were notified that it wouldn't be until 2:15 that we would depart. Groans echoed the walls of the station. After boarding--which by the way--you have to find your own seat--that's not much fun when people have been on the train since California and they are taking up both seats.
Anyhow, we pulled out of Denver around 3 am!! My trip was supposed be about 12 hours. I didn't arrive in Osceola, Iowa until 6 pm that day-July 19th-15 hours on the train. I felt especially sorry for the guy sitting next to me who had been on the train since noon Thursday--July 17th!! He hadn't showered in 52 hours PLUS!!! He still had his wits about him, but others were getting extremely irritated and rightfully so!! Amtrak was supposed to put up all of the people on the train in hotels and provide food coupons because the rest of the people on the train were headed to Chicago and wouldn't get in until midnight or later. They had all missed their connections. It was ridiculous. We were constantly stopping and starting. It was my first and last time on the Amtrak. My time is worth more to me and I will pay the high price of flying instead of wasting my time waiting around. My advice: do not travel with Amtrak--until they get their own lines.
I gave them one star because of the price....that's the only good thing and it's not good enough.