The bus is cheaper, and not by a little. On August 27, 2026, we priced both: OurBus runs NYC to DC from $17, while Amtrak’s advertised floor on the same corridor is $22. The advertised numbers hide the real gap, though. Fare-tracking data shows train tickets between the two cities averaging $111 to $147 one way. Amtrak’s pitch is speed and frequency; what that pitch actually costs is the question, and for most trips on this corridor the answer is…
