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marmar

(77,081 posts) Mon Mar 25, 2013, 03:27 PM Mar 2013

A Rail Accident Proves That Amtrak Is The Only Way To Travel

from HuffPost:

Rebecca Dolan
Associate Editor, Huffington Post Travel

A Rail Accident Proves That Amtrak Is The Only Way To Travel
Posted: 03/19/2013 7:00 am

In a day and age when traveling has become little more than a series of indignities, riding the rails can itself feel like a vacation. Amtrak is really the only way to travel.

This weekend was just another reminder of how civilized the world of train travel can be. I was scheduled to return to New York from Rhode Island on Sunday night when my plans were thwarted by a freak cargo train derailment that resulted in the cancellation of every Amtrak trip between New York and Boston. These things happen -- extremely rarely -- so I was withholding judgment, seeing how the folks in the train station would react.

Had I been at an airport, I would have expected mass hysteria. People would have been simultaneously screaming into their cell phones and at ticket agents. Ticket agents would be stonewalling on refunds while offering to re-book passengers on a 10:00 p.m. plane the next day with a connection in Chicago. Baggage would be irretrievable from within the bowels of the mighty airport.

Here's how it actually went down at the train station: After an announcement was made that the 4:44 Acela Express was cancelled, passengers quickly and quietly queued up for the ticket windows, where the smiling Amtrak associates rebooked us for the next convenient departure. Easy as pie. ................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rebeccadolan/amtrak-is-the-only-way-to_b_2901972.html

9 replies

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A Rail Accident Proves That Amtrak Is The Only Way To Travel (Original Post) marmar Mar 2013 OP

To get from New York to Tampa next week Nye Bevan Mar 2013 #1

I was looking for a train from Fl to Indy in July and the cheapest OriginalGeek Mar 2013 #2

on the other hand, it's great for travel from NY to D.C. or NY to Boston cali Mar 2013 #3

Agreed. I like the Acela. (nt) Nye Bevan Mar 2013 #7

We took Amtrak from Dallas to St. Louis and loved it. tanyev Mar 2013 #4

If this country had a TRAIN that went form new york to LA in 7 hours, Volaris Mar 2013 #9

would rather drive where i can make my own stops, play my music as loud as i want etc tc loli phabay Mar 2013 #5

I took the train last summer Mz Pip Mar 2013 #6

People who ride Amtrak regularly know their long distance schedules are a joke n2doc Mar 2013 #8

Nye Bevan

(25,406 posts)

1. To get from New York to Tampa next week

Reply to marmar (Original post)

Mon Mar 25, 2013, 03:58 PM

Mar 2013

I could go by Amtrak and pay $173 for a trip that takes 25 hours and 30 minutes. Or I could go by JetBlue and pay $185 to be there in 2 hours and 50 minutes.

So I don't think it's a complete no-brainer. Maybe Amtrak is good for people who have *lots* of time on their hands.

OriginalGeek

(12,132 posts)

2. I was looking for a train from Fl to Indy in July and the cheapest

Reply to Nye Bevan (Reply #1)

Mon Mar 25, 2013, 04:36 PM

Mar 2013

I could get a pair of coach seats was almost 600 bucks - AND the only route was to leave Orlando on a Saturday, stop in DC for 10 hours and arrive in Indy on Monday. And no return trip within our schedule.

For an additional 300 bucks we could have gotten a roomette (for the ORL to DC leg only). I was all for it as we had luxury of time (and we could have ridden with our son and DIL on the way back - they are driving to the same thing we are going to - but we really don't want to ride with them both ways) on the way up.

I thought the train would be a fun way to go but it just doesn't make any sense for us this time.

cali

(114,904 posts)

3. on the other hand, it's great for travel from NY to D.C. or NY to Boston

Reply to Nye Bevan (Reply #1)

Mon Mar 25, 2013, 04:40 PM

Mar 2013

or Boston to D.C., etc.

Nye Bevan

(25,406 posts)

7. Agreed. I like the Acela. (nt)

Reply to cali (Reply #3)

Mon Mar 25, 2013, 05:51 PM

Mar 2013

tanyev

(42,566 posts)

4. We took Amtrak from Dallas to St. Louis and loved it.

Reply to marmar (Original post)

Mon Mar 25, 2013, 05:25 PM

Mar 2013

We'd use it more if it went to more of the places we want to go.

Volaris

(10,272 posts)

9. If this country had a TRAIN that went form new york to LA in 7 hours,

Reply to tanyev (Reply #4)

Mon Mar 25, 2013, 06:51 PM

Mar 2013

that fucker would be booked SOLID every day of the week, and the capillary lines would run EVERYWHERE.

If we build it, they will come.

loli phabay

(5,580 posts)

5. would rather drive where i can make my own stops, play my music as loud as i want etc tc

Reply to marmar (Original post)

Mon Mar 25, 2013, 05:31 PM

Mar 2013

Mz Pip

(27,451 posts)

6. I took the train last summer

Reply to marmar (Original post)

Mon Mar 25, 2013, 05:41 PM

Mar 2013

I'd never done it before and got a good price for a one way ticket from Richmond, CA to Chicago for $131.

The scenery was spectacular but until Amtrak takes the time to clean its bathrooms when changing crews I will never do it again. What a mess.

We were also delayed repeatedly and the train was 5 hours late getting to my stop.

n2doc

(47,953 posts)

8. People who ride Amtrak regularly know their long distance schedules are a joke

Reply to marmar (Original post)

Mon Mar 25, 2013, 06:11 PM

Mar 2013

Trains are nearly always hours, sometimes 10-15 hours, late. This is due to cargo trains having a priority over passenger trains.

Also as noted above, for anything longer than a few hundred miles, the trips are slow. And if you want to do anything other than sit in a chair for those many hours, like rent a room, well, rooms are expensive.

I agree that the DC-NYC trains are great. I wish the rest of the system was the same.

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