trains the way to travel across usa

[jsoceanlord]

a lot less hassle and stress!

 

[ClassG]

UHHH, M'KAY!

 

[d328pilot]

*sniff* *sniff* Is that crack rock I smell burning????

 

[KigAir]

Right

Some years ago, I saw an interview withEd Bagley(actor and environmentlist) during which he stated that he used trains for travel between the east and west coasts because he heard they used less fuel per person.. I always thought that was BS. I wonder what's the fuel burn per person in a modern jet..

 

[bestpilotever]

Just out of curiosity, how long does it take to travel from coast to coast on a train? How about on an airplane?

 

[CatYaaak]

Re: Right

Some years ago, I saw an interview withEd Bagley(actor and environmentlist) during which he stated that he used trains for travel between the east and west coasts because he heard they used less fuel per person

Most likely he prefers train travel because there are fewer people who will NOT recognize him. A 777 loaded with people who don't know who he is, or care if they do, is probably too much for pseudo-celebrity's (status inherited from father) ego to bear.

 

[jetpilotjay]

bestpilotever

I don't know how long it takes to go out west, but it takes 3 days to go from ORL to ATL. If you choose this way, you have to get there by way of Washington, DC. Doesn't make alot of since does it? I looked into this in mid 01', just to see if it might save a little money getting back home. It costs more to do this than buying a last minute ticket on delta. I don't forsee a mass exodus of the airlines for railroads. It would be about as likely as taking a horse and buggy, The horse may get you there a little faster though.ha,ha

 

[Dignan]

CatYaaak,

Please don't open up another pro-Ed Begley Jr vs. anti-Ed Begley Jr debate! It will enflame this entire board! It's worth than a PFT debate.

Anti-Ed Begley Jr and proud of it,
D

 

[tired_pilot]

Bush is trying to kill Amtrak too

No passenger railroad in the world is self-sufficient...that being said GW is trying his best to cut of federal subsidy's to Amtrak forcing them to cease most routes. FYI

 

[RightBettor]

PHX to SNA

Just about X years ago, I had a college roomate who was looking to travel from PHX to So. Cal. Amtrak would've cost the most than any other travel option and the trip would take 14 hours!!! S H I T... I mean, Holy Cow!!! You can drive from Phoenix to LA in about 7 hours. Guess what, he bought a ticket on Southwest.. he was a smart fella!

 

[CatYaaak]

CatYaaak,

Please don't open up another pro-Ed Begley Jr vs. anti-Ed Begley Jr debate! It will enflame this entire board! It's worth than a PFT debate.

Anti-Ed Begley Jr and proud of it,
D

You mean there really has been such a debate? I had no idea, and you have my apologies!

Proud Anti-Ed Begley-ite too.

 

[firstthird]

I did a deal back in the day when I got out of college that was United from east coast to LA then train back across for one low price that I think was around a grand, although I went up to Portland, OR first via San Francisco. If I remember correctly it took about 2.5 days to get from Portland to Washington, DC and the route was through Chicago then NY then to DC.

It was fun in a bohemian looking out the windows seeing some parts of the country I probably wouldn't want to spend LOTS of time it but in reality it is a terrible way to travel in terms of time spent, money spent, and just comfort. Granted airline seats are not 5 star hotel beds but on Amtrack trains a sleeper car costs something like 200 a night on top of the already stiff price and that isn't the 2 person, 2 couch with its own bathroom sleeper that you seein the movies but the 50 people in a car in coffins type sleeper. Besides, the only places you could smoke on the train were the snack/observaion car and the sleeper cars and I wasn't up for all the smoke. The rules have probably changed now so that no one smokes anywhere at anytime, don't want to offend someone's sense of smell or anything.

The other interesting thing was that from the west coast to Chicago was pretty cool with the double decker kind of trains with pretty much room per seat, but once you got east of Chicago it was like being on a commuter subway for 24 hours straight, talk about aggravation and frustration.

But, if the original poster's point was trains will replace air travel, not.

 

[MasterFly]

So, what's first year pay for train conductors? Upgrade Time? Contract? Jumpseat benefits? etc.?

 

[CA1900]

I did use the train once, when I moved from Florida up to New England several years back. See, they have this "Auto Train," which will carry you and your car from Central Florida to Northern Virginia overnight. Leave around 4 in the afternoon, sleep on the train, wake up, have breakfast, and you're there by around 8 something in the morning.

Normally it's fairly expensive, but when I checked last minute, I could get me, my car, and a single sleeper room for $300! It was too good of a deal to pass up, especially when you factor in the gas, wear on the car, possible hotel room (I was driving solo), and the inevitable speeding ticket somewhere along the way. For $300, it was a killer deal. And the Auto Train doesn't stop every 5 minutes like the regular train seems to.

I looked it up, these days the same deal would be $450 if I booked it for tomorrow. Of course, the last minute one-way on AirTran would be only $180, and you'd be there much, much faster. But no car.

Just FYI.

 

[FL000]

An auto train from Florida to New York, huh? Hmmm, did you happen to notice you were the only one on the train without blue hair and a Cadillac?

 

[ShawnC]

Well with United and airport security these days, at times it may just be faster and easier to drive to your destination.