Roanoke, VA is a recent addition to the Amtrak network. Okay are-addition of service discontinued in the 70’s. It started up again in October 2018.

I will agree that is the best road tripping locations the US offers. Though I’d imagine in January with snow it’s not really a good choice unless you have to travel it. I’d imagine those long haul truckers have white knuckles driving through the mountains of Appalachia in winter.

Scenery is immensely better.  Especially that lovely bridge in Trenton ( Trenton Makes The World Takes ).  

I love the sightseer lounge car, arguably the best public space on the train aside from the dining car. The dining car brings up a small gripe, having travelled the system quite extensively ( have ridden all LD trains between Chicago-NY/DC ) it’s almost exclusively catered to those of us in sleeping accommodations. …

What the hell... that’s unacceptable from a basic safety standpoint and something that was supposed to be rectified. God forbid one of those cars clips the ambulance.