So I'm a college-aged female who needs to travel from Atlanta to New Orleans-is taking Amtrak alone safe?

I'm fairly confident and have flown alone. I feel like traveling by train could be a very cool experience, and I could save money. That's a huge pro. I love people and I love new experiences, I just want to make sure I'm not being foolish. Clearly I know the usual pieces of advice like "be mindful, stay aware of your surroundings etc." I've heard recently about the alarmingly increasing crime-rate of NOLA and didn't know if that also affects the transit system.

So my questions are:

Has anyone recently traveled the Crescent route to NOLA?
What did you think? And did you encounter any seriously shady characters?

As a young adult female, is traveling on Amtrak alone safe?
And my greater concern, are the train stations safe?

Honestly, I've never traveled by train so I just don't know what to expect. I welcome any and all opinions.

I would say it is. If I were you I would take a gun with me just in case. But that's just because I'm paranoid. Also if you're nervous try not to travel at night. I think it all depend on whether or not you're a hot female. If you are a hot female then you would be at greater risk. It wouldn't hurt to take precautions in some of the most dangerous cities in the country.

I have not traveled on AmTrak but many of my friends have and they had no problems. That includes one who is a very attractive woman who travels alone overnight between New Orleans and Chicago.

Sorry, but I don't know anything about the train station in Atlanta.

The train station in New Orleans is in the Central Business District, is well lighted, and has good security. The taxi stand is directly in front of the building.

The murder rate in New Orleans increased after Katrina as drug dealers returned to the city and re-claimed their "territory". The competition is literally deadly, but almost 98% of murders in NOLA are within the criminal community and almost all of the rest are "domestic incidents". That doesn't make the crimes OK but the average citizen or visitor doesn't have to worry about it.

Note that New Orleans (even post-Katrina) is not even in the "top 25 most dangerous" American cities:

http://money.cnn.com/2006/10/30/real_estate/Most_dangerous_cities/index.htm

Use the same common sense necessary in every major city in the world and there is little chance you will be a victim of anything except a need to visit the gym.

Hope you have a great trip!

I travel by Amtrak all the time alone and nothing has ever happened to me. I think most train stations are safe because they have security guards at them, so I've never felt too uncomfortable. Stay in well lit areas and if you can, sit near the front counter where you get tickets and stuff because there will be someone in there. Anywhere you go you'll find shady people although they seem to like bus stations more in my opinion. Otherwise it is fun to travel by train. You get to see all the scenery that you can't see by flying. They make great food, but the food is expensive, you can bring your own foods and drinks too. I've never traveled the route that your going sorry. Have fun :).

I love traveling by train. The Crescent is a beautiful route. I hope you have a great trip.