Thanksgiving travel...so mad!!

[Jolt]

You're still lucky. My Amtrak is a three hour drive away, leaving at two in the morning, and then a transfer within two hours with a two hour layover.

And even point to point, it still takes twice as long as driving. I really really want to take the train, but it's such a freakin' hassle ... when we drove 10 hours to the auto train there was a visit with relatives on the way, so it wasn't a total waste, but I don't think we'll do that again. It's more comfortable to sleep on a plane. In coach. Not kidding.

What we really need is commuter trains. Trains for long hauls probably won't happen any time soon and may never be practical in the USA, but I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to be able to hop on a train to go see my Bengals, or the Cleveland Orchestra, just f'rinstance. That shouldn't be as far-fetched as it apparently is in today's world.

Yuck to your Amtrak service...at least here in the NE it's halfway decent. I agree about the commuter trains and also think regional service (much like what exists in the NE, although even that could be expanded somewhat) is what they should focus on rather than the cross-country routes given how long the distances are. In other words, the trips that are a long drive but a short flight. The only way the longer-distance routes would replace flying would be if we had high-speed rail, which would be great but probably won't happen. Too bad, because flying stinks nowadays.

[laura*]

I'm surprised Amtrak hasn't started doing better now that flying has become more and more of a PITA...when you take the train you don't have to go through nearly the hassle you do at the airport, and the seating is much more comfortable/less cramped.

They are doing better!

A few days ago I read an article about this. In the most recent reporting interval (maybe fiscal year?), Amtrak had record ridership, ... and record losses. My take on the numbers reported is that fares only cover half the cost of the service.

When I rode it last XMas, I noticed that Amtrak varies fares just like airlines. Unfortunately, their website does not help balance ridership by promoting the cheaper days.

On my return trip, I noticed something strange: The train was supposedly sold out, all seats occupied. Instead it felt only about 2/3 full. I think Amtrak counts a pax riding Los Angeles to Sacramento and another one riding Portland to Seattle as taking up two seats for the entire trip from LA to Seattle.