But I won't fly any more unless ABSOLUTELY necessary
because of the extreme hassles and discomforts.

Trains are too expensive. but I love 'em.

And people reclining their seats would probably be even more of a point of contention on such a journey.

High speed rail has its uses, but not for transcontinental routes.

is even worse then flying. I love train travel but it just is not affordable.

In July, my nephew-in-law and grandniece came to visit and decided to take the train, rather than fly or drive, from Mpls./St Paul to Chicago. Coming, they were delayed for four hours. Not so bad, eh. Returning after the long weekend, the train left only an hour late ... not bad again! And then it sat on the tracks in Milwaukee for 7 hours. Seven effing hours on a hot summer day! A train that was supposed to get in at 9 pm got in at 4 am. This is apparently not unusual for Amtrak.

We have a long, long way to go in this country before we can get a 24-hour train trip from LA to NYC.

I would definitely take a high-speed train, were it available, to anywhere within a 10-12 hour driving distance from my home base. Farther than that, I'd probably still fly, even with high speed. But I'd still punch the sucker who reclined their seat in front of me.

Unfortunately,

http://www.cnet.com/uk/news/one-year-later-hyperloop-remains-fantasy/

Why would you do that?

How horrid is it to think like that. Wow.

You can end up 6 or more hours late on a long trip. And the price, if you want a bed, is really high.

Might as well go by bus.

Coast to Coast would not be tempting, but shorter distances would.

Though trains are about as expensive as flying. If they were going to be cheaper, the seats likely would get squeezed together.

When I've ridden such Amtrak routes it seemed that everyone used the recline option at some point. I don't recall it being an issue even when I rode in coach for weeks on an Ameripass.

*I've ridden on trains only in Europe, once from Geneva to Amsterdam.

So is Boston to DC.

But not NYC to LA.

Or Jamaica or any of the other places I have traveled to, or plan to travel to in the future.

I pay for my seat, I get to use my seat as I please. Including using the arm rest, tray table, and recline as I choose

Anyone who doesn't want the inconvenience of someone reclining into them should pay the extra for emergency row seating (as I do), bulkhead seating (as I have), or upgrade to 1st class. Equally, they can always contribute to a portion of my fare if they wish to restrict what I can and can't do with my seat.

I don't like it when Farty McPoot sits next to me, gassing me out for 2300 miles. Or when the next James Thurber pounds out 60 jarring words a minute on his laptop which sits on the back of my seat on the table. You'd think he's using a Smith Corona with the force of his typing. I don't like it when the gaggle of sorority girls sit behind me and cackle, wail, and generally don't shut the fuck up for one second for 2300 miles.

But ya know what? It's part of flying. And I don't complain about it. I don't like it, but I'm not gonna be an asshole at 30,000 feet because little junior isn't old enough to control his bowels, much less be on a transatlantic flight with mom & dad, who are too busy finger-fucking their iPhones than to entertain their child.

Part of flying. Deal with it.

On Wed Sep 3, 2014, 05:24 AM an alert was sent on the following post:

I can't take a train to Thailand
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=5480866

REASON FOR ALERT

This post is disruptive, hurtful, rude, insensitive, over-the-top, or otherwise inappropriate.

ALERTER'S COMMENTS

This post is OTT and crass. I see sexism fat phobia and a few other gross traits of the poster. Please hide this post as it's uncivil and crass.

You served on a randomly-selected Jury of DU members which reviewed this post. The review was completed at Wed Sep 3, 2014, 05:35 AM, and the Jury voted 1-6 to LEAVE IT.

Juror #1 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: It's a great rant.
Juror #2 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: JESUS FUCKING CHRIST!!! Another 'offense-aholic' with their shit dialed all the way up to OH MY FUCKING GOD I CAN'T BELIEVE SOMEONE TYPED THAT! Stop wasting the time of all the people on this board who are willing to serve on juries with this shit. The post is PERFECTLY FUCKING FINE!
Juror #3 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: A rant with a bit of venting but not really a problem.
Juror #4 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: Totally inappropriate. This could have been worded without the fat shaming, sexism, and anti-kid stuff.
Juror #5 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: Wtf is this alert about? Alert stalking? Throwing shit against the wall to se if it sticks? No dice.
Juror #6 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #7 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation:

Oh grow up. That was a good and righteous rant.

Jesus. It's one thing to alert. It's another thing to completely lie about a post. Not a single thing in there about someone's weight (certainly not fat phobia). Wtf. Oh alerter....I'm fat.

Thanks for posting

feeling it is their job to police the interwebs...

righteous rant in my view.

sP

I think someone was reading to fast and saw Farty as Fatty.

…and meant to type "fart-shaming"?

That's the only thing I can figure.

The alerter should spend less time alerting and more time doing some basic reading comprehension. I imagine this will be alerted on for blatant racism, homophobic imagery, and republican talking points

People will alert on anything.

being one of the reasons why working class voters who are turned off by all the political correctness will vote against their own best interests.

The alerter should take note of that!

Lordy lu, whoever alerted on that got exactly what they deserved from Juror #2. Some people around here need chill pills and possibly even Thorazine.

One thing for someone to alert on it, another thing for a Juror to actually agree.

No, wait. I mean "screamingly funny!"

You never fail to delight--wish I could rec your reply!


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No train available.

And yes, no train available. No ship-travel, either. It's not like it was in the early part of the last century. I suspect those days are gone forever...

Almost 10 hours of hell to look forward to. I never thought of taking a train. I'll look into it though - is there a tunnel under the Atlantic I don't know about?

BTW; not all trips are vacations.

Granted this was a trip I was not anticipating (death in the family) and I booked it VERY last minute (the weekend before xmas too) but still got a flight for under $300. (Driving would have been 16-18 hours and upon arriving in Maine, my final destination, it was in an ice storm).

Reclining did not bother me. What I did not like was my obese seatmate, who immediately put the armrest up (for the whole flight) and left me squeezed in 1/2 seat. Amusement parks have sample seats for roller coasters, why can't airlines for their planes. If I'm only going to have 1/2 a seat, then cut my ticket price in half.

If it was gonna happen.

It woulda happened.

Their are about 2 million people in air everyday

The seats have gotten smaller as they cram more people on flights these days.

I live in South Korea, but am from the US. Every two years (or so) I fly home to see family. I just got back about a month ago. My flight from Seoul to Seattle was 10 hours and then Seattle to Portland about 50 mins on the way there. On the way back it was 30 minutes to Seattle and 11 hours to Seoul. From door to door (my house to the place I am staying) it takes about 19 hours total (I had a layover of 1 1/2 and 2 1/2 hours respectively).

Would choose railroad over flight anyday.

I can't get on a train in San Diego and go to San Francisco or Phoenix, or Denver, or Las Vegas.