Comments on: Passenger Rail Isn’t Just for “Rail Buffs” http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/03/27/passenger-rail-isnt-just-for-rail-buffs/ Covering the New York City Streets Renaissance Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:07:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Lola http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/03/27/passenger-rail-isnt-just-for-rail-buffs/comment-page-1/#comment-65572 Lola Sun, 29 Mar 2009 09:46:26 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=5758#comment-65572 I just returned from three weeks of traveling around Calif. on an Amtrak rail pass ($159 for CA only; national passes also available for c. $360). I saw an amazing amount of scenery and met many terrific people. People who were very happy to be mingling rather than staring out a windshield. I had to plan my trip around places where there was either a train station; where the train didn't arrive at 3am (e.g. Redding); or there was a car rental agency somewhat nearby. Amtrak supplements rail service with a long bus route up the coast from Oakland, a long, windy, mountainous (and spectacular) route. I rented a car twice to cover long distances. Inconsistent bike transit policies made it impossible for me to bring my bike on my journey (some trains require box, some prohibit box, bus depends on driver mood). But I rented a bike on a couple of occasions as well. Survival tips for long-distance train travel: --Plan a stop every 12-18 hours for overnight sleep somewhere and to see the sights. --Earplugs and a cap for sleeping. --Lots of reading material. --Pack light. --Be very patient. I just returned from three weeks of traveling around Calif. on an Amtrak rail pass ($159 for CA only; national passes also available for c. $360).

I saw an amazing amount of scenery and met many terrific people. People who were very happy to be mingling rather than staring out a windshield.

I had to plan my trip around places where there was either a train station; where the train didn’t arrive at 3am (e.g. Redding); or there was a car rental agency somewhat nearby. Amtrak supplements rail service with a long bus route up the coast from Oakland, a long, windy, mountainous (and spectacular) route.

I rented a car twice to cover long distances. Inconsistent bike transit policies made it impossible for me to bring my bike on my journey (some trains require box, some prohibit box, bus depends on driver mood). But I rented a bike on a couple of occasions as well.

Survival tips for long-distance train travel:
–Plan a stop every 12-18 hours for overnight sleep somewhere and to see the sights.
–Earplugs and a cap for sleeping.
–Lots of reading material.
–Pack light.
–Be very patient.

]]> By: Tony http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/03/27/passenger-rail-isnt-just-for-rail-buffs/comment-page-1/#comment-65570 Tony Sun, 29 Mar 2009 07:10:18 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=5758#comment-65570 Hi Sarah- Thanks for the mention! Funny you mentioned my blog in the same post with your Amtrak trip. Next week is my mom's birthday. My mom lives in Orange County, CA and I live in Phoenix. I'm going home to see her and taking Amtrak, leaving Tuesday and returning to Phoenix by Thursday. I'm sure most of you are aware, but the Amtrak station in Phoenix is closed. In order to enjoy passenger rail service, I need to board a bus, head north on I-17 to Flagstaff OR head south on I-10 to a smaller town on the outskirts of the Valley. Apparently there used to be passenger rail service, and I'm wondering if there could be plans with so much talk about rail in other parts of the country. I'm doing some research now, the information and journey I thought would make for cool content on my blog next week. I know I'm the light rail blogger, but thought I would branch out a bit. :) Anyway, thanks again for the shoutout and for alllowing me to participate in the conversation. Hi Sarah-
Thanks for the mention! Funny you mentioned my blog in the same post with your Amtrak trip.
Next week is my mom’s birthday. My mom lives in Orange County, CA and I live in Phoenix. I’m going home to see her and taking Amtrak, leaving Tuesday and returning to Phoenix by Thursday.
I’m sure most of you are aware, but the Amtrak station in Phoenix is closed. In order to enjoy passenger rail service, I need to board a bus, head north on I-17 to Flagstaff OR head south on I-10 to a smaller town on the outskirts of the Valley.
Apparently there used to be passenger rail service, and I’m wondering if there could be plans with so much talk about rail in other parts of the country. I’m doing some research now, the information and journey I thought would make for cool content on my blog next week. I know I’m the light rail blogger, but thought I would branch out a bit. :)
Anyway, thanks again for the shoutout and for alllowing me to participate in the conversation.

]]> By: Niccolo Machiavelli http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/03/27/passenger-rail-isnt-just-for-rail-buffs/comment-page-1/#comment-65534 Niccolo Machiavelli Sat, 28 Mar 2009 02:28:42 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=5758#comment-65534 I don't know if anyone has noticed or not but the airlines are all bankrupt and their farebox recovery rates are really not much higher than AMTRAKs. Its a big country and air travel has its economy. Looking at intercity connection competivity around the range of train travel successes in Europe, less than 300 miles will yield a much different comparison price. Try Buffalo-Albany, Cleveland to Chicago, Minneapolis to Milwaukee (Minny to Milly) then you have runs that in raw cost effectiveness and travel times downtown to downtown rail stands right up there. We have produced many, many airplanes since the 50s and eliminated lots of track in the same period. There is a cycle to every economy. Instead of privatizing AMTRAK we may soon be talking about nationalizing the air carriers. We wouldn't be the first industrialized democracy to decide to do so. I don’t know if anyone has noticed or not but the airlines are all bankrupt and their farebox recovery rates are really not much higher than AMTRAKs. Its a big country and air travel has its economy. Looking at intercity connection competivity around the range of train travel successes in Europe, less than 300 miles will yield a much different comparison price. Try Buffalo-Albany, Cleveland to Chicago, Minneapolis to Milwaukee (Minny to Milly) then you have runs that in raw cost effectiveness and travel times downtown to downtown rail stands right up there.

We have produced many, many airplanes since the 50s and eliminated lots of track in the same period. There is a cycle to every economy. Instead of privatizing AMTRAK we may soon be talking about nationalizing the air carriers. We wouldn’t be the first industrialized democracy to decide to do so.

]]> By: jonesy http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/03/27/passenger-rail-isnt-just-for-rail-buffs/comment-page-1/#comment-65489 jonesy Fri, 27 Mar 2009 19:02:53 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=5758#comment-65489 kyle, absolutely rehearsed arguments are accurate, i'm not disputing them at all. its merely that, as a student who has the time but NOT the money, the ironic part of the trip is that the flight (3hrs) is so much cheaper than a train that takes 2 days, which i'm completely willing (and excited!) to do. just sad is all. kyle, absolutely rehearsed arguments are accurate, i’m not disputing them at all. its merely that, as a student who has the time but NOT the money, the ironic part of the trip is that the flight (3hrs) is so much cheaper than a train that takes 2 days, which i’m completely willing (and excited!) to do. just sad is all.

]]> By: Kyle http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/03/27/passenger-rail-isnt-just-for-rail-buffs/comment-page-1/#comment-65488 Kyle Fri, 27 Mar 2009 18:59:24 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=5758#comment-65488 Shoot. Reheared = Rehearsed Shoot. Reheared = Rehearsed

]]> By: Kyle http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/03/27/passenger-rail-isnt-just-for-rail-buffs/comment-page-1/#comment-65487 Kyle Fri, 27 Mar 2009 18:57:20 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=5758#comment-65487 Sometimes reheared arguments are the most valid and potent arguments. Don't discount the airlines' federal help just because you've heard about it before. It actually matters when talking about the disparity in prices between rail and airline travel and is probably the number one reason in price difference. Airline fares cost the same now as when jet travel began in the 1950s. I wonder if the same is true of cross country rail fares. Sometimes reheared arguments are the most valid and potent arguments.

Don’t discount the airlines’ federal help just because you’ve heard about it before. It actually matters when talking about the disparity in prices between rail and airline travel and is probably the number one reason in price difference.

Airline fares cost the same now as when jet travel began in the 1950s. I wonder if the same is true of cross country rail fares.

]]> By: Bill http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/03/27/passenger-rail-isnt-just-for-rail-buffs/comment-page-1/#comment-65481 Bill Fri, 27 Mar 2009 18:41:29 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=5758#comment-65481 And use their Guest Rewards program to get traveler miles to use for free trips in the future. And use their Guest Rewards program to get traveler miles to use for free trips in the future.

]]> By: Cap'n Transit http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/03/27/passenger-rail-isnt-just-for-rail-buffs/comment-page-1/#comment-65480 Cap'n Transit Fri, 27 Mar 2009 18:35:28 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=5758#comment-65480 Join <a href="http://www.narprail.org/" rel="nofollow">NARP</a> and you get at 10% discount on all Amtrak travel! Join NARP and you get at 10% discount on all Amtrak travel!

]]> By: Rhywun http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/03/27/passenger-rail-isnt-just-for-rail-buffs/comment-page-1/#comment-65460 Rhywun Fri, 27 Mar 2009 16:31:49 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=5758#comment-65460 When I took Amtrak from Buffalo to San Francisco a dozen years ago, and again from San Francisco to NYC a year later, it WAS cheaper than flying. Now, the airlines are selling seats at below cost and charging it to (1) business customers and (2) the government (in the form of going bankrupt). When I took Amtrak from Buffalo to San Francisco a dozen years ago, and again from San Francisco to NYC a year later, it WAS cheaper than flying. Now, the airlines are selling seats at below cost and charging it to (1) business customers and (2) the government (in the form of going bankrupt).

]]> By: jonesy http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/03/27/passenger-rail-isnt-just-for-rail-buffs/comment-page-1/#comment-65449 jonesy Fri, 27 Mar 2009 15:33:26 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=5758#comment-65449 Sarah- but why is Amtrak SO expensive? This summer i want to ride it from minneapolis back here to nyc... last i checked, it was over $200, and a plane ride was $150. now, aside from all the rehearsed arguments about how air travel is subsidized, etc, this was still incredible! its just a train! do you have any tips for getting cheaper rides? Sarah-

but why is Amtrak SO expensive? This summer i want to ride it from minneapolis back here to nyc… last i checked, it was over $200, and a plane ride was $150. now, aside from all the rehearsed arguments about how air travel is subsidized, etc, this was still incredible! its just a train!

do you have any tips for getting cheaper rides?

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