Treehugger - Latest Comments in Taking the Train

Re: Taking the Train

Michael Kane — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 21:05:01 -0000

I looked during a recent US trip at training it from NewYork to Toronto and was amazed of how slow the trip was. I thought it might be on par or slightly longer than with flying but it was many hours behind. Amtak services are very patchy - some are really quick other are incredibly slow. I bet some of the services are slower today than they were 50 years ago. The US needs to really update its inter city rail services - rail can be a real alternative to flying especially with the security/airport transfer time. Time and ease of travel are the two keys that need to be focused on.

Re: Taking the Train

Rhett (Greentime) — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 13:22:17 -0000

From Ft. Lauderdale, for access to the Georgia and Carolina lowlands, Tampa, and Orlando, Amtrak at first looks like a good choice. The devil remains in the details, though. If I want to go to Tampa, I have to either take off Friday or Monday or end up having a VERY short trip, and the delays and cancellations are atrocious.

To think, Florida nearly had a high speed rail that would have been the envy of many other US states, but we shot it down due to an uncooperative DOT.

Re: Taking the Train

Ron — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 11:46:14 -0000

Everyone talks about trains being late like planes are on time and as if there are no traffic jams while driving. There are no perfect modes of travel.

Re: Taking the Train

luke — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 11:17:06 -0000

took the viarail train from halifax to toronto once... started out great, particularly since the dining car had a really good vegetarian chick pea stew... however, it became a miserable experience. my irlfreind and i were in coach, so it was loud, uncomfortable, and the on the floor beside the seat was really hot and prevented sleep. the train had track problems and it would up being delayed by 8 HOURS or so. just awful.

however, the train from toronto to niagara has served very well on two trips, and my girlfriend has gone from toronto to halifax since then and had a decent trip (but with a cabin, which provided peace, quiet, and a place to sleep).

Re: Taking the Train

Oscar — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 04:23:45 -0000

My partner Tanja and I are taking the California Zephyr next week to Ann Arbor Michigan. It takes about 2.5 days and I find it a complete joy, especially after driving roughly the same trail twice. This will be the third time we've taken this trip via rail, and there are few better ways to see America. We'll be video blogging our trip again; the last trip was one of our most popular episodes... and was even featured here on Treehugger!

Happy Holidays,

Oscar

Director, Freshtopia.net

Re: Taking the Train

ilia — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 22:55:28 -0000

too bad there isn't a direct route from Toronto to Boston

Re: Taking the Train

brian — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 16:34:52 -0000

california, and a few other states, are working towards implementation of high speed rail. Amtrak already has high speed rail (Acela) between Boston-NYC-DC, but poor implementation has slowed it down.

Popular Mechanics had an article recently describing some of the major high speed rail projects. Obviously the CA one is huge, and would facilitate a 2.5 hour trip between SF->LA. This would offer some pretty good competition for airlines, which probably exceed 2.5 hours when security is considered. Also, a maglev line between Las Vegas and LA is also considered.

The CA HSR (high speed rail) will be put up for ballot in November 2008 (Unless Schwarzenagger tables it again...) If you know ANYONE in CA, URGE THEM TO VOTE FOR THIS BILL! It may only benefit CA but it'll be a huge step in the revitalization of the American railways!

Re: Taking the Train

Laura — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 16:27:23 -0000

My boyfriend and I are planning on taking the train from Seattle, WA to Ft. Lauderdale, FL for Holiday Visit 2008. It will take about 4 days. I am really looking forward to it. Even more now that I read the comments above about how nice it is to train-travel!

We are happy to vote with our dollars and 'say' that we want more train travel options. The trip will cost about twice as much as travel by air, if we go with the sleeper car options.

Re: Taking the Train

Anna — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 15:11:11 -0000

I love the train and am committed to using Amtrak when feasible. But have to say, I was rethinking this sentiment when my 5 hr trip from Washington to Connectictut turned into a 7.5 hr trip this past week.

Lesson learned (and please share with others!): Trains coming from further south (ie Newport News) are often late coming into DC because freight gets priority south of DC. Choose one that originates nearer to DC if that fits your plans.

(This is not a full excuse though: we stopped on the tracks twice near NYC because of engine trouble, too.)

Re: Taking the Train

Tiengow — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 14:50:01 -0000

...and unfortunately the 3-hour train trip from NYC to Wash. DC sometimes takes 6 hours.

Re: Taking the Train

Anonymous — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 14:49:02 -0000

NYC to Washington DC is definitely faster and easier that driving (2.5 hours VS 5 hours) if not cheaper. Flying can be faster and/or cheaper (not always) if you don't take in the extra cost/distance to an airport versus the train station.

I just wish the rest of the system was so good.

Re: Taking the Train

Mon, 10 Dec 2007 12:28:50 -0000

Edinburgh to London by train is 4.5 hours directly into the heart of each city but people insist on flying which is LONGER when you take into account the shlepping to the airport and security measures.

Re: Taking the Train

Galls — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 09:20:56 -0000

I took amtrak from Little Rock AR, to NY. Total trip took 36 hours and it was still so much better than flying.

Re: Taking the Train

Emily — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 08:01:07 -0000

Oh what I wouldn't give for an efficient American rail system....