Taking a journey by train is very different and so much fun compared to more popular modes of transportation like airplanes and cars. Whether traveling for work or pleasure, taking the train is a great way to kick back, relax and enjoy some scenery while someone else does the driving. If you have the opportunity, the rails offer an amazing experience for wheelchair users. A while back I hopped on Amtrak’s Lake Shore Limited for a work  trip and enjoyed an accessible travel experience I didn’t know existed.

Starting in Chicago’s Union Station, I boarded the train for a 20-hour overnight trip to arrive in New York City the next afternoon or evening. The boarding process was seamless. An Amtrak “Red Cap” assisted me onto the train using a bridge plate, then showed me to my accessible sleeper cabin. I had no problem navigating the threshold between the vestibule and the sleeper car, and my cabin seemed roomy. Most standard power wheelchairs should be able to enter and turn around in these sleeper cabins, but anyone with an oversized chair may want to call ahead to Amtrak customer service if they have space concerns.

I paid close attention as I was shown the accessible features of my cabin. The wide, sliding entry door and an accessible bathroom that doubled as a shower room were obvious advantages. But since I work in the disability travel world and was consulting for Amtrak, I was looking more closely. All of the controls, locks, doors and other features passed the closed-fist test — the simple rule being, if you can operate it with a closed fist, it’s accessible for people with reduced hand-function. Once settled into my cabin and with the trip underway, I was anxious to check out the rest of the train.

I exited my cabin, crossed into a lounge car and headed to the cafe car. The cafe car, also known as the snack or bar car, sells quick grab-and-go items, including cocktails and other beverages. The lounge car had a nice, wide aisle. In my 28-inch-wide wheelchair, I could just sneak past the serving counter of the cafe car and into the lounge car on the other side. I even ventured into the next coach car just to see what it looked like. That was where the accessible seating area was located if I had been traveling in coach. I had imagined being stuck in my accessible cabin with limited room to move around on the train, so it was pretty cool that I could access five different cars in my wheelchair.

When it was time for bed, I thought I might have trouble turning my couch into the convertible bed, but was pleasantly surprised when the service attendant came around and handled that for me. After setting up my bed, the attendant pointed out a call button on the wall to ring if I needed anything. She also told me that if I didn’t want to go to the cafe car to eat, they would bring food to my room — a huge convenience if you don’t want to leave the safety of your cabin. I had never slept on a moving train before and didn’t really know what to expect, but I got a surprisingly good night’s sleep. I guess I also thought it was cool that my hotel room and my transportation were all rolled into one.

The next morning the train gently shook me awake as the sun was coming up. While clearing the fog from my eyes, I pulled back the window curtain to the most beautiful sight. There before me were the shores of Lake Ontario with a deep bloodred-and-orange sunrise shining on the water. I looked for a while and then laid my head back down for a few more minutes of sleep. I still remember that image as the highlight of the trip, slightly ahead of watching the sunset along the Hudson River as we headed into New York City that evening.

Later that morning my co-workers and I got to work interviewing customers on the train to see what their experiences were like. We met some who were new to train travel and others who had been riding since Amtrak was created in the 1970s. Some loved the slow pace of the train, and commented that on a plane you are only flying above the clouds. Others simply liked that they didn’t have to pay for airport parking. They all remarked about how great the service was on Amtrak.

The employees, many of whom had been working for Amtrak for 30 or more years, were even more fun to talk to. I had been told by many of the passengers that Amtrak is well known for high-quality customer service, and that was no lie. I felt like the employees were part of a big family, and that they wanted the people on the train to feel like they were part of the same family. And these longtime employees obviously had a lot of experience around people with disabilities because they always asked first if I needed any help, never assuming. They treated me like a regular passenger who only needed a little extra assistance.

One employee even filled me in on all of the upgrades and accessibility improvements that Amtrak has been working on, laying out millions of dollars to improve access at stations, including physical access and access to communication and information. Ticket windows are being lowered and hearing loops installed. Lifts are replacing steep ramps. And disability training is being conducted companywide. Onboard the trains, Amtrak is also taking a look at improving sleeping and dining areas, among other things. I have ridden trains since then, and can tell you that things are continually improving for travelers with disabilities.

I have been traveling in my manual wheelchair for over 25 years and have had many good and some bad experiences. When I think about the business trips that I have taken over the past five years — all the airports and airplanes, the Ubers and Lyfts, the delays, traffic jams, cancellations, broken wheelchairs and other travel issues I have experienced — it is all a bit unsettling and makes the travel experience more stressful. But when I think about the train journeys I have embarked on, I have nothing but fun, stress-free memories. And while the Lake Shore Limited was my first train journey, it was also definitely my favorite.