Do you travel by train?

HuntersCreed

HuntersCreed

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Does anyone actually travel by train as opposed to traveling by plane in the states?
Why?

I was just driving by an Amtrak station yesterday and had completely forgotten they actually still existed. I know it's more expensive than by plane and it also takes longer.
Aren't time and $ the 2 things we're trying to conserve?
What the pros/cons of traveling by train?

Excluding:
People who travel by mass transit for work or about town.
 
My grandma used to be afraid of flying. So she took the train from California to Florida a few times. It took a long time but she couldn't fly and a lot of people are like that. For example John madden never flew, he took the train to every home and away game.

Some people prefer the train because they get to see things on the way to their destination. This is is a big deal to people and for many this is a major part of the vacation.

Personally I always get to my destination by flying, then drive to any other places near there. I do this every year

Ex. Fly in to Chicago, drive to Milwaukee, Green Bay and Minneapolis
 
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My parents have, especially my mom. I live 3 hrs away (its 5 hrs via train) and she doesnt like to drive, which is good for the rest of the drivers that share the road with her. Its like $60 round trip
 
gopackgo555 said:
My grandma used to be afraid of flying. So she took the train from California to Florida a few times. It took a li h time but she couldn't fly and a lot of people are like that. For example John madden never flew, he took the train to every home and away game. Some people prefer the train because they get to see things on the way to their destination.

Personally I always get to my destination by flying, then drive to any other places near there. I do this every year

Ex. Fly in to Chicago, drive to Milwaukee, Green Bay and Minneapolis
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I've promised my kids a train trip. I think the appeal is being able to relax as you get to see the country side, you don't have to stop every time someone needs to go to the restroom like when driving, and you can go to the dinner car when you feel like it. Kind of like a mini hotel on wheels.
 
HuntersCreed said:
Does anyone actually travel by train as opposed to traveling by plane in the states?
Why?

I was just driving by an Amtrak station yesterday and had completely forgotten they actually still existed. I know it's more expensive than by plane and it also takes longer.
Aren't time and $ the 2 things we're trying to conserve?
What the pros/cons of traveling by train?

Excluding:
People who travel by mass transit for work or about town.
Click to expand...

You have to remember that when flying you have to be there real early. Travelling by train you can just jump in at the last second, so that has an effect on the time factor.

Train's also cheaper over here.
 
mesomorph said:
You have to remember that when flying you have to be there real early. Travelling by train you can just jump in at the last second, so that has an effect on the time factor.

Train's also cheaper over here.
Click to expand...

That's all you needed to say. I would do it at that. Here in the states it doesn't work the same. I wish it did. I would ride a train for travel if that was the case.
 
I took Amtrak once from Port to Sea. It was cheap, I got drunk and chilled in the viewing car, a car w/ huge windows and rows of theatre type seats facing out. Unique scenery as you're 'off the beaten path' so to speak. Pretty fun but would be much better if I wasn't solo. Longer trips might suck because I was ready to get off by the time we got to Sea.
 
The train is safer for me than driving. I get distracted easy and my vision is bad, so when need to get back down to the Bay Area I catch the train. If I wanted to fly I'd need to leave at about 2 am...I don't really want to do that. It'd cost about $30 more.
 
I love travelling by train in Europe. It's a little cold on the cars but super comfortable, affordable, and fast.

I've only taken one long train ride in the US. That was from Ohio to New Mexico and back. That was okay but considerably slower than European trains.
 
I used to a lot to see my in-laws in MD. Flying adds 3 hours before the flight for getting to airport, security, etc. Taking the Amtrak was so easy and you can walk around, enjoy the scenery and drink beer and eat food in the dining car. It was way more fun than being crunched on a plane.
 
HuntersCreed said:
That's all you needed to say. I would do it at that. Here in the states it doesn't work the same. I wish it did. I would ride a train for travel if that was the case.
Click to expand...

They encourage taking the train over driving a car in Europe so the price reflects that. Totally different in the us
 
I haven't travelled by train yet, but I plan on travelling on The Canadian from Toronto to Vancouver late summer.
 
I took a train from Sacramento to Santa Barbara once. It was a 12 hour ride, but the train traveled along the coast and it was a pretty spectacular view. It was less than half of the price of flying and I could move around, sleep, use my laptop, or get up and get a sandwich whenever I wanted. I would definitely do it again.
 
It's been a few years, but I have, and if I had more vacation time I would prefer it over planes, less cramped, see more along the way, dont get fondled boarding, no ridiculous luggage restrictions
 
I go from Boston to NYC by train a couple times a year. It take about three and a half hours but I think it's more convenient than flying. There's no security, you don't have to wait in line at all really and the train drops off at Penn station. It still costs a lot, around 100 each way for the Acela or an upgraded seat on the local, but the overall cost of flying is probably higher.
 
I took the train a few times when I was younger but there are very few passenger lines available in Wisconsin. I have taken a couple of trips to Colorado in the last 20 years. I plan on taking a train tour of the US when I have more time. People on trains seem more friendly, maybe because they're tourists too. You meet all kinds of people and see more scenery. I like being able to get up and walk around. Even if you stay in the seats, they are much more comfortable and less cramped than airplanes where you spend the trip with your knees in your chin.
 
I traveled by train a lot when I lived in Europe. I went from Germany to Italy and it was amazing! I wish we could get a rail system in the U.S. like Europe has. In Europe every decent sized town/village has a train booth/kiosk and from that one point, you can go anywhere in Europe.
 
In the states, I've never taken a passenger train. Do they still have a bar and smoking car? Trains in general are more convenient than booking flights in advance and getting to the airport early and they're rarely delayed but train from Nimes to Amsterdam cost me 550 Euros for 2, 3-hour trains cause they only had first class when I bought them.
 
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