I've been riding Amtrak lately.

[JDPriestly]

It's too expensive, but other than that, it's just amazingly great. Try it. You'll never travel in such comfort. And I just go coach, not business class. Maybe if more people rode, they could lower the ticket costs.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

1. I travel a lot from D.C. to NYC and am able to get $49 one way.

Still expensive, but so worth it. Deals come down the pike often as well, so be on the lookout for good ones.

[RandySF]

3. How much would you spend on gas?

I'm guessing it's pretty close to what you spend round trip.

[roody]

6. The value of riding the train is so much more than the value of the gas.

I rode through the Sierras through fresh snow. It was beautiful and stress free.

[JDPriestly]

22. No. Maybe 1/2 the cost, but the drive is very tiring for me.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

30. Well, it's not just about gas, in my case, especially. The wear and tear on the car.

The time you spend in traffic. (Maryland and Delaware are notorious for the bad traffic.) Not to mention, tolls, parking in New York, risking car accidents, parking tickets, time it takes to drive when the Subway is more efficient and quicker. Oh, and one more thing: when Jersey/NYC had the snow storm, people couldn't drive, but Amtrak ran and didn't shut down. Everyone was shocked. The only problem I had was getting to Penn Station, since some of the Subway trains weren't running.

I take the train, too, because I can always count on it being relatively on time. I've never had the train be late, not even with the bad weather we've had.

[JenniferJuniper]

2. I'm fortunate enough to be able to take the Acela

on the company's dime for my east coast travel, and I agree. Relaxing and comfortable with no long security lines and full body scans.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

33. You are so lucky. The federal government only allows for Amtrak. Well, at least

I think it does. I'm assuming that it does but maybe I'll try that when I travel for work again.

Speaking of work, one of the best things about taking the train is that I can do work on my computer if I need to. And I have access free of charge when I need the Internet to send email or play around on DU. When taking the plane, I'm constantly worried about my iPod or iPhone running out of charge. Or my computer not having enough power or not being able to communicate via email. But the train has ample electric sockets, not to mention you can actually make phone calls.

And the best: they have business class that's not as expensive as flying business class. And they have "quiet cars" for when I don't want yelling kids around or people talking on their cell phones and prefer peace and quiet to sleep or do work.

Yes!!!

[Kurovski]

4. I've traveled by train for thirty years and i love it.

K&R

[gateley]

5. Or, if the Republicans cut the subsidies, the cost could go up. Nice. The oil

and auto companies made sure train travel became almost obsolete. :grr:

I know he's been bizzy bizzy bizzy, but Biden's an Amtrak rider, maybe he'll get involved.

[Tumbulu]

7. I took it last summer

from Calif to Colorado so my daughter could attend a music institute.

The trip from west to east was like a marvelous adventure- I had even sprung for a little sleeper berth for us- well worth it really. What an amazing experience to go to sleep on the train while looking out the window at a desert landscape with no cars or any lights visible.

The trip back was hellish. The entire crew was absolutely miserable. The AC had broken in the dining car and all the curtains were drawn- and everywhere we went the crew grumped at us.

So, I hope that they figure out a way to help the crews stay a bit happier as it really effects the experience.

I want to try again next summer.

[wellstone dem]

8. My daughter is on the train right now, from Montana to Minnesota cheapest way to go

$200 round trip. Only problem is the train goes through the Northern part of Montana, missing all the populated cities, so we end up paying for a motel room because of the distance from her home. But total cost is $300. $200 for the train and $100 for two nights in a Super 8. Cheap as driving, which wouldn't be an option for her. And cheaper than flying. Unfortunately, so far her train is 6.5 hours late. It is -35 in Northern Montana and trains are freezing up.

[JDPriestly]

23. But if your daughter were driving, you would worry about the ice.

[truedelphi]

31. A prayer for her safety and her sanity.

Avalanches can affect a portion of the rails and really screw up the schedule. My spouse was disappeared in action for a while, on account of Amtrak being about twenty four hours late when no trains could bring him home from Salt Lake City. A ton of snow had come down on the track and the whole line shut down.

Of course, the planes have flight delays also - so
I don't know what you can do to avoid complications in the difficult months of winter weather.

[NuclearDem]

9. I've started taking Amtrak more and more recently

Favorite trip of all was from Spokane to Chicago; it was 36 hours, but waking up to a sunrise in the Rockies was amazing.

[AllyCat]

10. I dunno. We are taking it as a family in a few months

and the price was only a little more than driving. To be able to spend that amount of time sitting with my kids and enjoying the view, playing games, reading stories, or whatever...can't do that in a car. Someone has to be driving and the other refereeing the kids who are sick of sitting. It's totally worth the price. No radiation. No groping. We're really excited about it. Definitely cheaper than flying.

[RufusTFirefly]

11. And once I'm in town, I love traveling on the streetcars that all cities have

Oh. Wait. Never mind.

[truedelphi]

32. I figure what we need is a decent time travel device -

Then we could really get around on those street cars.

I remember loving them as a Chicago rug rat back in the fifties - and then one day, they were GONE!

[Lugnut]

12. DH is taking Amtrak to Florida next week.

His sister is very ill and he and his brother want to visit her. Neither of them want to fly or drive so Amtrak is it.

[kenny blankenship]

13. But do you get free fondling of your genitals included in the price of your ticket?

Or a free cranial X-ray?

[Kurovski]

18. You have to make friends with the crew for that.

[handmade34]

14. Love Amtrak

use it whenever I can

[emilyg]

15. Me, too. Atlanta to New York and back

many times.

[renegade000]

16. Sign up for their guest rewards program

www.amtrakguestrewards.com

They have a decent list of internet stores that you can earn points from by shopping at (and supplying them with your amtrak reward #). Plus you earn points when you ride. Doesn't cost anything. I've already got enough for a free coach ticket on the NE Regional :-)

[JDPriestly]

24. I will check into that since I am planning to travel that way rather

frequently now.

[K8-EEE]

17. The "Surfrider" train from L.A. to San Diego is so great

The best part is looking down on all the cars stuck in traffic along the way --- while having a beer in the little cafe section.

It stops at FANTASTIC beach towns on the way, San Clemente, San Onofre and my fave Solana Beach. You can spend the whole weekend at Solana Beach and not need a car, great getaway for frazzled Angelinos.

[NuclearDem]

21. I've never been disappointed with Amtrak in California

In addition to the occasional rides on the Zephyr, I took the Coastal Starlight from Salinas down to Santa Barbara several times, including once for spring break (even though I was military at the time).

The view's absolutely amazing. :)

[JDPriestly]

25. I just wish we had the train to San Francisco.

I hate airports. It's not the security. It's just airports. I don't like them. I like to watch the planes come in, but the long corridors. It seems my plane (regardless which one I am taking) is always such a long way from the entrance. The trains are more fun. The stations are really great especially the old ones in big cities.

[quiller4]

19. I take Amtrak from Tacoma to Portland with some regularity

and I don't think the tickets are expensive -- round trip $68 on last trip which is only $9 more than Greyhound and so much more pleasant.

[Raine]

20. I LOVE Amtrak

it's so cool to travel by train and see the scenery along the way. :bounce:

[oldlib]

36. What is fascinating

is that you travel through the back yards of America. This is more realistic then the glitter of main street.

[Dover]

26. Love the train and would take it often IF there were more and better routes offered.

I don't need the speed of a bullet train. I like slow transitions between here and there...to take it all in and experience the journey. I love being able to curl up with a book or walk around and socialize, or just get lost in the passing landscape. To me this is an ideal way to travel providing you have and/or are willing to take the time.

I have often taken Amtrak between Austin, TX. and Chicago. I hope to take the one that goes through the Rockies to California someday.

http://img3.visualizeus.com/thumbs/10/01/02/window,woman,backseat,girl,scenery,train-b7cf93f0328a5806ef0ea46781d6e033_h.jpg

People get ready, there's a train acomin'
Don't need no ticket, you just get onboard.

[pokerfan]

27. Amtrak coach seats

are better than an airline's first class seats in terms of dimensions. The seats recline further and provide a fold out leg rest. But you don't spend all your time in your seat anyway, not when there's the dining car, lounge car and observation car to check out.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superliner_%28railcar%29

[elocs]

28. It's a nice ride, but it is too expensive.

I've frequently driven from here in western WI to Chicago and it is a nearly 5 hour drive, but I can make the round trip for what a one way Amtrak ticket would cost me. I really don't mind a drive that length though.

[Blue Owl]

29. K&R

K&R for Amtrak

[oldlib]

34. Take the "Sunset Limited"

from Union Station in LA to New Orleans. It's a delight.

[alsame]

35. I have taken many, many trips on Amtrak. Some long, some

short. I love being able to see the areas I travel through, especially on the cross country trips or those to Canada.

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

37. I take it that Amtrak has not become the bloody free-for-all that people predicted?

In the past month and a half, that is... since December 15th?