General Discussion

HeiressofBickworth

(2,682 posts)

203. I take Amtrak several times a year.

Fri Feb 15, 2019, 09:45 PM

Feb 2019

Once every other month, i take Amtrak to visit a friend in a city 75 miles away. I used to drive, but traffic south of Seattle is getting so bad, it no longer is a pleasure. On Amtrak i can read. Crochet, nap, or just watch the scenery.

I also take the train from Seattle to Sacramento. Been doing it for over 30 years. There were a few years that i drove. I found that it took less time to take the train because when i drove, i needed to stop over night somewhere along the way.

Flying? No way. I have a long term fear of flying and and absolutely won't get anywhere near an airplane. Fares could be free and i still won't fly.

So, for this 73 year old lady, im grateful for Amtrak and will continue to take the traim.

As a side note, Amtrak is very useful for small towns that have no near-by airports or other access to public transportation.

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Why Train Travel in the United States Makes No Sense [View all] MineralMan Feb 2019 OP

So, for that reason, are you opposed to the "Green New Deal"? True Dough Feb 2019 #1

High Speed Rail is just one aspect of that. MineralMan Feb 2019 #4

I didn't think that. I asked a question True Dough Feb 2019 #33

Well, if the plan is to seriously curtail air travel.... Adrahil Feb 2019 #53

I would definitely take a high speed train coast to coast and delisen Feb 2019 #90

Agree! I would take high speed rail in a minute. lkinwi Feb 2019 #104

Well sure, GWC58 Feb 2019 #159

I worked for 17 years as a brakeman / conductor MicaelS Feb 2019 #9

Paris to Marseille - just under 500 miles - 3 hours with two stops GoneOffShore Feb 2019 #153

I've done that trip several times. Voltaire2 Feb 2019 #157

So what? MicaelS Feb 2019 #170

Touchy - I was merely pointing out the that it's pratical for longer distances than you said. GoneOffShore Feb 2019 #182

How do you plan to deal with aquiring the land? MicaelS Feb 2019 #191

The right of way exists. No need to declare eminent domain. GoneOffShore Feb 2019 #199

What ROW? MicaelS Feb 2019 #200

It's been managed in Europe and China. GoneOffShore Feb 2019 #204

This is a critique of ownership and operations, not engineering. apnu Feb 2019 #189

You cannot mix high-speed passenger trains... MicaelS Feb 2019 #190

You got that out of MM's post? Hekate Feb 2019 #99

Allow me to repeat my response to him (slightly revised for pronoun use) True Dough Feb 2019 #106

Agree with you exboyfil Feb 2019 #2

Regional train travel makes much more sense than cross country MANative Feb 2019 #3

Within the Central Atlantic Region, MineralMan Feb 2019 #7

You're right that I often do hop in the car, especially to Boston MANative Feb 2019 #16

And yet it's cheaper to fly from IAD or DCA to JFK than to take the train Recursion Feb 2019 #113

i've always lived in the NYC metro area crazycatlady Feb 2019 #15

Metro-North every damn day MANative Feb 2019 #21

This Ferrets are Cool Feb 2019 #161

Just wondering onlyadream Feb 2019 #162

I've never taken the Bolt bus, so I can't help on that MANative Feb 2019 #164

The idea is to replace current railroads with high speed technology linking cities. hedda_foil Feb 2019 #5

but but they want to compare their dream trip around the world and talk about how rail won't help TeamPooka Feb 2019 #10

Perhaps. Assuming that there is enough traffic between two cities MineralMan Feb 2019 #11

Chicago to Miami fwvinson Feb 2019 #65

Yeah, maybe. MineralMan Feb 2019 #72

Too long exboyfil Feb 2019 #128

+1 violetpastille Feb 2019 #24

East of the Mississippi, different story BeyondGeography Feb 2019 #6

So it's all about you? GeorgeGist Feb 2019 #8

Depends on the day and the airline. MineralMan Feb 2019 #13

It is always about the individual. It is individual people who travel. MineralMan Feb 2019 #19

True, but if you were not in a hurry, doesn't that include three meals/day for each of those days? hlthe2b Feb 2019 #12

I don't know. I haven't been on a train in years. MineralMan Feb 2019 #14

sure but costwise, if 18 meals are included plus bed, that isn't such a bad price for a long trip hlthe2b Feb 2019 #31

The price I quoted is for a coach seat on the train. MineralMan Feb 2019 #34

No. Amtrak will sell you food. They do not give you food. Maru Kitteh Feb 2019 #45

Pretzels? MineralMan Feb 2019 #55

Hence the "technically" lol. Pretzels Maru Kitteh Feb 2019 #59

Sure. Pretzels are food. MineralMan Feb 2019 #73

Food is free if you have a sleeper wryter2000 Feb 2019 #85

The food is free for people with sleeper cars wryter2000 Feb 2019 #84

I did Oakland to Denver this past summer wryter2000 Feb 2019 #80

Sounds like a nice trip... I hope you don't mind my asking details.... hlthe2b Feb 2019 #97

I did it one way wryter2000 Feb 2019 #102

Train travel can be great for trips less than a few hundred miles. tinrobot Feb 2019 #17

I think the highest and best use of trains/high speed rail ewagner Feb 2019 #83

Agree, HSR would benefit metro areas radius777 Feb 2019 #151

So explain to me why ocean liners exist? N/T flotsam Feb 2019 #18

Well, only a few exist, really. Most travel by ship is on cruise lines. MineralMan Feb 2019 #20

Speaking of cruises Rorey Feb 2019 #47

I've never been tempted by a cruise, really. MineralMan Feb 2019 #52

Additionally Rorey Feb 2019 #60

My wife and I have been on exactly one cruise. DFW Feb 2019 #146

My daughter went on a cruise exboyfil Feb 2019 #129

Inexpensive accommodations Rorey Feb 2019 #138

So you're saying flotsam Feb 2019 #50

Sure. For people who enjoy that, it's great. MineralMan Feb 2019 #54

There is only one ocean liner in regular service - the Queen Mary 2 hack89 Feb 2019 #96

Depends on how you parse the term flotsam Feb 2019 #107

They're not provinding A to B transportation BannonsLiver Feb 2019 #111

Has nothing to do with size hack89 Feb 2019 #112

Well there's this: flotsam Feb 2019 #122

And there is this hack89 Feb 2019 #130

This message was self-deleted by its author flotsam Feb 2019 #118

A high speed rail line from St. Paul to Milwaukee, though? gratuitous Feb 2019 #22

That's a 5 hour drive, max. MineralMan Feb 2019 #25

Have you driven Portland to Seattle? gratuitous Feb 2019 #35

Not for many years. MineralMan Feb 2019 #38

Unless you leave before the sun comes up, as my wife and I did when we lived north of Seattle. Garrett78 Feb 2019 #86

Chicago To StL ProfessorGAC Feb 2019 #41

My wife and I took the train from Chicago to Bloomington-Normal MineralMan Feb 2019 #49

On That Drive, You Drove Just Passed Our Town! ProfessorGAC Feb 2019 #94

I thought it was interesting what parts of towns the train MineralMan Feb 2019 #168

We're A Small Town ProfessorGAC Feb 2019 #175

They finally banned the train from using its horn MineralMan Feb 2019 #177

I have friends in small rail towns in Oregon KitSileya Feb 2019 #194

Here in St. Paul, MN, the RR right-of-way is a highway for MineralMan Feb 2019 #195

Not sure if you have travelled there over many years tritsofme Feb 2019 #148

I haven't been to Normal for quite a long time. My wife's MineralMan Feb 2019 #167

I hadn't been there since around the same time until this past year. tritsofme Feb 2019 #188

Rail service doesn't mean from every city to every other city. brooklynite Feb 2019 #23

OK. My question is whether there is enough traffic MineralMan Feb 2019 #27

COnsider that a flight NYC-CHI is about 2 hours... brooklynite Feb 2019 #40

Stopping at every town is my issue as well Thew Feb 2019 #117

That's fine until Peak Oil actually hits LongtimeAZDem Feb 2019 #26

Correct, if speed to arrive is the only concern. mobeau69 Feb 2019 #28

Leisure travel, I think, is not the goal for HSR, frankly. MineralMan Feb 2019 #29

To many, like me, it would be a welcome benefit none-the-less. mobeau69 Feb 2019 #43

Canada would disagree flotsam Feb 2019 #56

Wouldn't work for me. Destinations are my thing, not the journey. MineralMan Feb 2019 #57

Oh flotsam Feb 2019 #62

I didn't suggest that in any way. MineralMan Feb 2019 #63

I would dispute "many" brooklynite Feb 2019 #48

Two stories here. Actually, three. PoindexterOglethorpe Feb 2019 #141

High speed where it makes sense, I don't recall proposals saying it was all or nothing 😉 MLAA Feb 2019 #30

High speed rail would work JustAnotherGen Feb 2019 #32

I think in some areas high-speed rail could be a viable option. WeekiWater Feb 2019 #36

Amtrak from Boston to NYC or DC is fast, cheap, and comfortable. Croney Feb 2019 #37

Sounds like a good road trip...especially in February! MineralMan Feb 2019 #74

Acela is great (Philly to Boston) MH1 Feb 2019 #132

Amtrak in the northeast corridor is great! smirkymonkey Feb 2019 #205

Yes! All this, plus you feel like you're living history as the sights go whizzing by. Croney Feb 2019 #206

:) smirkymonkey Feb 2019 #207

- Bigredhunk Feb 2019 #39

From MN to CA, with current infrastructure, of course it doesn't make sense. DanTex Feb 2019 #42

Lots of flights making that trip every day. MineralMan Feb 2019 #75

I'm sure there are, but like I said, it's not a heavily traveled route, comparatively speaking. DanTex Feb 2019 #91

The Europeans figured it out long ago. DFW Feb 2019 #150

The only problem with the Dallas-Houston trip is that once I get to Dallas, I still need a car theboss Feb 2019 #108

After the traffic during my last trip to L.A. DFW Feb 2019 #147

When I used to travel to dc a lot JustAnotherGen Feb 2019 #137

Non stop train service from Chicago to NY would never happen Kaleva Feb 2019 #165

Beijing - Shanghai is a comparable distance, and currently is 4.5 hours by train. DanTex Feb 2019 #178

Yep, and high-speed rail would lessen the time but not the price. brush Feb 2019 #44

It's because we're not investing in the infrastructure. backscatter712 Feb 2019 #46

Well, that's part of the problem. MineralMan Feb 2019 #78

I respectfully disagree. Comparison to Europe or China don't work. GulfCoast66 Feb 2019 #93

We used to have lots of rail. backscatter712 Feb 2019 #100

It also went away for a reason. theboss Feb 2019 #109

Of course we had lots of rail. Before air travel and interstates GulfCoast66 Feb 2019 #127

I admit I would like a route from Indy to Chicago. Adrahil Feb 2019 #51

Many years ago, I took a trip from Syracuse, NY to Indianapolis MineralMan Feb 2019 #61

i think wording in op is too strong Midnightwalk Feb 2019 #58

It made sense to connect Pittsburgh to Cincinnati the train that Kasich derailed in terms of Demsrule86 Feb 2019 #64

How many passengers a day do you think that train would MineralMan Feb 2019 #70

I grew up outside Pittsburgh. I've been in Cincinnati once in my life theboss Feb 2019 #110

We will never know. You are confusing long term trail with commuter rails which is what Cincy to Demsrule86 Feb 2019 #208

Eliminating one option because it doesn't serve all purposes makes no sense. Hortensis Feb 2019 #66

Mileage St Paul to Los Angeles is 1930 miles flotsam Feb 2019 #67

Carbon Footprint of travel from Minneapolis to LA jalan48 Feb 2019 #68

Not that simple to compare those two things Major Nikon Feb 2019 #155

Good info. I think the idea would be to build mass, train transit between major population areas. jalan48 Feb 2019 #156

The fact that one very long trip takes too long is a poor reason to denounce trains caraher Feb 2019 #69

Good post...and you need a heart! Sancho Feb 2019 #160

Talking today, I would agree generally; though passenger rail is both justifiable and viable even KPN Feb 2019 #71

we take a train every few months to Chicago from downstate, the only way to go...but then thats beachbum bob Feb 2019 #76

Just because you are not interested in going by train, does not mean PoindexterOglethorpe Feb 2019 #77

It may not work from St. Paul to LA wryter2000 Feb 2019 #79

Just off the top of my head(opinion). Afromania Feb 2019 #81

My wife and I take the train to Chicago once or twice a year jcgoldie Feb 2019 #82

It makes a hell of a lot of sense on the East Coast Blue_Tires Feb 2019 #87

Is your car environmentally friendly or a climate destroying pollution spewer? delisen Feb 2019 #88

I doubt if this country will invest in high speed rail, frankly. MineralMan Feb 2019 #89

Good for you! I drive a 2005 sedan and mostly keep my mileage delisen Feb 2019 #123

I'm fine with air travel, actually. MineralMan Feb 2019 #124

Good for you. PoindexterOglethorpe Feb 2019 #142

Did you know our locomotives burn diesel fuel to drive electric generators to move the wheels.? pwb Feb 2019 #92

Wow, DUers. 94 replies and only 4 Recs. Let me amend that with the 5th Rec. I had a sick Mom, too Hekate Feb 2019 #95

There is usually a reason for that. pwb Feb 2019 #121

How do you Rec a thread? Polybius Feb 2019 #187

Go back to the Original Post, and look at the bottom left below it. An icon that says DU Rec... Hekate Feb 2019 #192

Mom & Dad went from So Cal to live in Salt Lake City. He died a year or so later, but she lived on Hekate Feb 2019 #98

This is an important issue. Aging parents who live far from children. PoindexterOglethorpe Feb 2019 #143

I've ridden Amtrak from Santa Barbara to San Diego a number of times & enjoyed it... Hekate Feb 2019 #154

If we had a high speed rail back bone like other countries, it would not be 3 days. karynnj Feb 2019 #101

yes, we need infrastructure in so many areas librechik Feb 2019 #103

But, we don't have that infrastructure. MineralMan Feb 2019 #114

Honestly, water and sewer is the desperately needed infrasctructure project that no one discusses theboss Feb 2019 #173

Yes, indeed. In fact, we had no water in our house yesterday MineralMan Feb 2019 #174

Like most issues, "One Size Fits All" doesn't work for high speed rail. Still In Wisconsin Feb 2019 #105

Who goes from MSP to Milwaukee? MineralMan Feb 2019 #120

For a Brewers-Twins game of course! Still In Wisconsin Feb 2019 #134

It would work in some corridors Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin Feb 2019 #115

But I want to go from San Jose to Los Angeles! Retrograde Feb 2019 #116

You can drive it in about six hours. That's just a few hours. MineralMan Feb 2019 #119

My daughter takes Amtrak from Portland to Tacoma all the time. Works great. Pobeka Feb 2019 #125

LA to San Fran, and Chicago to NYC are the 2 highest air traveled routes in the US Arazi Feb 2019 #126

Let me offer another perspective with my parent. TygrBright Feb 2019 #131

I want to be her! Phentex Feb 2019 #133

Bingo! PoindexterOglethorpe Feb 2019 #144

If certain people thought like you in the 20th century Mr. Quackers Feb 2019 #135

Eventually air travel isn't going to be economical, either due to not being able... Humanist_Activist Feb 2019 #136

And not just for passengers. meadowlander Feb 2019 #193

I dont know standingtall Feb 2019 #139

I will need to be in New York for a cruise that I booked late September. mnhtnbb Feb 2019 #140

You have the right idea. PoindexterOglethorpe Feb 2019 #145

I would love to take a train trip Raine Feb 2019 #149

For one thing, Congress does not adequately fund Amtrak DeminPennswoods Feb 2019 #152

Sorry but that is just bullshit. Voltaire2 Feb 2019 #158

Why not read the OP first before declaring it bullshit? Kaleva Feb 2019 #163

I read it. You identified where it is not a good option Voltaire2 Feb 2019 #166

It will work over short hauls Apollyonus Feb 2019 #169

We met a woman on our train trip who refused to fly. R B Garr Feb 2019 #171

Upgrading Amtrak/Acela on the East Coast NewJeffCT Feb 2019 #172

DC to NY, NY to Boston. Train is the only way to go. empedocles Feb 2019 #176

We've driven CT to DC several times NewJeffCT Feb 2019 #183

Know what you mean. We've driven many dozens of times DC to Waterbury area empedocles Feb 2019 #184

Having a rail system is a matter of National security Drahthaardogs Feb 2019 #179

Tell that to 'con Congress. empedocles Feb 2019 #181

Nope, that is what Interstate highways are for. MicaelS Feb 2019 #196

Nope. Drahthaardogs Feb 2019 #198

We have a perfectly adequate freight rail system to move troops and equipment. hack89 Feb 2019 #197

Wife and I took Amtrak cross country DC to LA/SF - Delightful empedocles Feb 2019 #180

Except there are those of us who won't put up with being Panich52 Feb 2019 #185

I am actually very, VERY surprised Polybius Feb 2019 #186

When I Was Little My Family Used to Take the Train from LA to Detroit & the Trip Took 3 Days dlk Feb 2019 #201

High speed electric buses that go 120 mph and use dedicated lanes adjacent to Anon-C Feb 2019 #202

I take Amtrak several times a year. HeiressofBickworth Feb 2019 #203

I've taken Amtrak from Chicago to Glacier National Park MountCleaners Feb 2019 #209