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Come on Ride the Train
The Occidental Tourist · September 6, 2000

Boy, did the Tourist get a load of e-mail after he wrote about the appealing alternative to plane travel: High-speed rail from Amtrak. The Tourist solicited opinions from readers on the subject, and, folks, it wasn't close. Trains over planes, hands down, with not one e-mail indicating that air travel is the better ride.

Wonder if the big airlines are paying any attention? In their arrogant determination to stick it big time to coach travelers - any means necessary to better serve preferred status customers - the air industry is clearing motivating people to explore options. Read on:

From: Steve Gemignani

If the service really only takes about 3 hours (NY/Boston) and is priced reasonably (should be less than the $400 full fare shuttle) - I'm on it.

From: Norm Tellier

Unfortunately I'm not on an Acela route so I can't speak to what's happening there. I can tell you that from my home to NYC it is a much easier ride on Amtrak than to go by air. I live in the Albany-Schenectady area of New York. In order to get to NYC by air I would have to drive to the airport (only 3 miles for me) and pay to park. When I get to NY I have to get into Manhattan from one of the airports, which I have found to be costly. The total trip will take me nearly three hours. And the price: almost $200 for the airfare alone.

Now the train. I have to drive to the train station - about 15 miles. I can get there about 15 minutes ahead of time rather than the hour for air. I park for free. Two hours and fifteen minutes later I am at Penn Station. From there I can catch the Subway to anywhere in the city. And the price: $71 round trip plus $1.50 each way for the Subway.

Granted the airlines will give me 500 miles for flying 150, but why would I put myself through all the aggravation when I can settle into a nice large train seat, plug in my computer, use my phone, and even get up and walk to the cafe car? Now don't get me wrong, I fly about 50,000 miles a year as well, but when I have to go to NYC give me the train anytime. I think that's what some of those Northeast Corridor folks are going to start saying too. The only thing better for us would be if they used the Acela trains to run up here and cut the travel time down to about 1 1/2 hours.

From: Tad Pierson

I live in the Washington, DC area. Every time I need to go to NYC I take the train.

1. MUCH more comfortable seats than the minuscule airplane ones.

2. Drops you in midtown Manhattan.

3. If you include delays and traveling from JFK/LaGuardia to downtown it takes the same amount of time.

4. Did I mention much more leg room?

5. Cheaper fares, even if you buy ten minutes before leaving.

From: Regina Berens

I live on the East Coast and trains have my vote. The Newark (NJ)-Philadelphia and Newark-DC runs are far better experiences than plane travel. Why? Let me count the ways.

1. A reasonable pricing structure. Varies whether it's peak, off-peak or Metroliner, but I don't get charged quadruple for booking travel the day before or changing my schedule at the last minute.

2. Comfort. A few of the trains are overcrowded, but if you get a seat, there's no comparison between the room in a train and a coach class plane seat. There are even electrical outlets in the window seats.

3. On-time records. The train gets into the station, discharges passengers, takes on passengers, then gets out. No equivalent of circling over the airport or waiting in line for takeoff. 4. Calm. Children quietly entertained by parents. People chatting, snoozing, working, having a beer. With room to move and a dining car when we want to eat or drink, we're happier.

From: Dmitry A. Altshuller

I cannot wait for a day when this option becomes available. When it happens, I will not set my foot in an airport except for overseas travel.

Wouldn't it be nice not to deal with ignorant ticket/baggage agent, rude security guards, snooty flight attendants, etc.

Wouldn't it be nice to be able to get up and walk without having to check the seat belt sign first?

Europeans routinely travel by train for both business and pleasure. Whenever I am in Europe, so do I.

OK, readers, you get the picture. Tourist to airlines: Are you listening?

... of course not. Time to book a train.

The Occidental Tourist is a magazine writer in Washington, DC. He writes for Maxim, Capital Style and ABCNews.com. His column appears on Tuesdays. E-mail him at tourist@ticked.com.