General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Time for High Speed Rail in the U.S.A. [View all]MineralMan
(146,286 posts)That would be my choice, if I were going to Chicago, which I'm not. If I drove there, I'd have my car to get around in Chicago. I could leave when I wanted to and go where I wanted to go. It's about 400 miles. In the car I'd use for the trip, that would take about 12 gallons of gas. At $5 per gallon, that would cost me $60.
Currently, it takes over 9 hours on Amtrak for the same trip. It would, of course, take less time on a high speed train, maybe 3 hours, but there is no such train, nor are there any real plans to build such a line. And, if you know the train service from here to there, you know you can't count on anything being even close to on time. So, I'll drive and save a couple of hours each way, thanks.
Average ticket price for one traveler, one-way, between those two cities is $81. But, I'd never go alone. With my wife in the car, the Amtrak cost for the two of us, both ways, would be about $320. Then there's the cost of getting around in Chicago. Driving, it would be $120, total, and I'd have the car to get around in Chicago.
I've made that drive a few times. I don't mind the drive, actually. I haven't ridden Amtrak on that route, but I have taken Amtrak from Chicago to Bloomington/Normal, IL a couple of times. That was no fun at all. I've also driven from Chicago to that destination. I prefer the drive to the train ride, thanks.
Then there's flying. Flight time from MSP to ORD is about an hour and a half. Add to that the time from my door here to the airport, waiting time at the airport, and transportation from ORD to Chicago itself, and you're pushing five hours total for the trip. You do have to get to the airport early, you know. Transportation around Chicago is another issue. I'd drive. That way, I could leave when I wanted, go anywhere in Chicago, etc.