I've spent hundreds of hours on Amtrak trains. I always prepare for these 5 mishaps that can make journeys more difficult.

Diana Kruzman

• I've traveled across the US numerous times on Amtrak trains.
• My experiences have been overwhelmingly positive, but I've run into plenty of mishaps.
• I prepare for spotty cell reception, crowded train cars, and unscheduled delays.

Amtrak is the biggest name in US train travel, which also means there's a pretty high demand, especially around the holidays — over 1 million passengers boarded trains around Thanksgiving time last year.