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  3. I forgot how nice it is to use the train

I forgot how nice it is to use the train

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  • G Offline
    G Offline
    George K
    wrote on 15 Dec 2021, 11:17 last edited by
    #2

    Very nice. Sadly, the US system is pathetic.

    It's still running 50 year old equipment over antiquated rail.

    "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08

    The saying, "Lite is just one damn thing after another," is a gross understatement. The damn things overlap.

    1 Reply Last reply
    • B Offline
      B Offline
      bachophile
      wrote on 15 Dec 2021, 11:22 last edited by
      #3

      american exceptionalism

      G 1 Reply Last reply 15 Dec 2021, 11:33
      • B bachophile
        15 Dec 2021, 11:22

        american exceptionalism

        G Offline
        G Offline
        George K
        wrote on 15 Dec 2021, 11:33 last edited by
        #4

        @bachophile said in I forgot how nice it is to use the train:

        american exceptionalism

        Indeed.

        In the early to mid 1960s, it became obvious to the private railroads that passenger rail is a loser - costs more than it earns. So, in 1971, Amtrak, was set up by the government. The private carriers turned over their passenger equipment and Amtrak, while funded by the government to a great extent, is not RUN by the government.

        The biggest problems are:

        1. Lack of funding - old equipment
        2. Lack of infrastructure - track not built for high speed travel
        3. The rails, for the most part, are owned by the private carriers (freight) and though Amtrak has a contract for service, it's not unusual to be sitting behind a slow-moving freight.
        4. The size of the country (I know, "but China"). Traveling from Chicago to Portland is about 2200 miles, which is related to #2.

        "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08

        The saying, "Lite is just one damn thing after another," is a gross understatement. The damn things overlap.

        A 1 Reply Last reply 15 Dec 2021, 12:27
        • G George K
          15 Dec 2021, 11:33

          @bachophile said in I forgot how nice it is to use the train:

          american exceptionalism

          Indeed.

          In the early to mid 1960s, it became obvious to the private railroads that passenger rail is a loser - costs more than it earns. So, in 1971, Amtrak, was set up by the government. The private carriers turned over their passenger equipment and Amtrak, while funded by the government to a great extent, is not RUN by the government.

          The biggest problems are:

          1. Lack of funding - old equipment
          2. Lack of infrastructure - track not built for high speed travel
          3. The rails, for the most part, are owned by the private carriers (freight) and though Amtrak has a contract for service, it's not unusual to be sitting behind a slow-moving freight.
          4. The size of the country (I know, "but China"). Traveling from Chicago to Portland is about 2200 miles, which is related to #2.
          A Offline
          A Offline
          Axtremus
          wrote on 15 Dec 2021, 12:27 last edited by
          #5

          @george-k said in I forgot how nice it is to use the train:

          The biggest problems are:

          1. Lack of funding - old equipment
          2. Lack of infrastructure - track not built for high speed travel
            …

          Won’t be fixed when elected legislators keep refusing to vote for high-speed rail funding. We hear voices (like this one, as one example) that claims to want national high speed rail yet think it’s proper only when privately funded.

          G 1 Reply Last reply 15 Dec 2021, 12:39
          • A Axtremus
            15 Dec 2021, 12:27

            @george-k said in I forgot how nice it is to use the train:

            The biggest problems are:

            1. Lack of funding - old equipment
            2. Lack of infrastructure - track not built for high speed travel
              …

            Won’t be fixed when elected legislators keep refusing to vote for high-speed rail funding. We hear voices (like this one, as one example) that claims to want national high speed rail yet think it’s proper only when privately funded.

            G Offline
            G Offline
            George K
            wrote on 15 Dec 2021, 12:39 last edited by
            #6

            @axtremus said in I forgot how nice it is to use the train:

            high-speed rail funding

            Look at the boondoggle in California's HSR initiative. It's massively behind schedule, massively over budget, and massively too short (if that makes sense). In the more than 10 years since it was approved, it has 119 "under construction." Not completed, under construction.

            This video will give you an idea of the scope of the progress:

            Link to video

            The inter-city travel in Europe is of a much smaller scale, and therefore easier to implement than here in the US.

            The only place where HSR is possible here in the US is where Amtrak actually owns the right-of-way: the Northeast Corridor. Even there, the "high-speed" Acela between DC and Boston only hits about 150 mph, and that's for a short stretch in Connecticut.

            "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08

            The saying, "Lite is just one damn thing after another," is a gross understatement. The damn things overlap.

            G 2 Replies Last reply 10 Aug 2024, 00:43
            • H Offline
              H Offline
              Horace
              wrote on 15 Dec 2021, 14:56 last edited by
              #7

              Looks very comfy. It surprises me it’s cheaper than the car. How does that work out?

              Education is extremely important.

              K L 2 Replies Last reply 15 Dec 2021, 15:29
              • L Offline
                L Offline
                LuFins Dad
                wrote on 15 Dec 2021, 15:21 last edited by
                #8

                I thoroughly enjoyed using the train traveling between Frankfurt, Munich, and Vienna… Looking forward to my next trip.

                The Brad

                1 Reply Last reply
                • H Horace
                  15 Dec 2021, 14:56

                  Looks very comfy. It surprises me it’s cheaper than the car. How does that work out?

                  K Offline
                  K Offline
                  Klaus
                  wrote on 15 Dec 2021, 15:29 last edited by
                  #9

                  @horace said in I forgot how nice it is to use the train:

                  Looks very comfy. It surprises me it’s cheaper than the car. How does that work out?

                  Well, the trip today is around 800km and costs 120 Euro for a first class ticket. The gas alone would set me back more than 100 euros...

                  1 Reply Last reply
                  • H Horace
                    15 Dec 2021, 14:56

                    Looks very comfy. It surprises me it’s cheaper than the car. How does that work out?

                    L Offline
                    L Offline
                    LuFins Dad
                    wrote on 15 Dec 2021, 15:36 last edited by
                    #10

                    @horace said in I forgot how nice it is to use the train:

                    Looks very comfy. It surprises me it’s cheaper than the car. How does that work out?

                    I don’t know the price for a private train car, but a general ticket from Frankfurt to Vienna was $80 when I went. Driving would have been about 450 miles. The fuel and wear and tear costs would be about $200 in a car…

                    The Brad

                    1 Reply Last reply
                    • A Offline
                      A Offline
                      Axtremus
                      wrote on 15 Dec 2021, 15:53 last edited by
                      #11

                      Last train trip I took, pre-COVID-19, was in Canada. Short segments between Montréal, Toronto, and Ottawa, I don’t remember the specific order off the top of my head now. Didn’t even care if it was “high speed,” it still saved me more time compare to taking airplanes once I factor in time spent in airports, and overall cheaper too! A lot more leg room and a lot more comfortable overall. I could decline my seat to, like, 150°, lots of elbow room, etc.

                      In the USA, though, I don’t recall ever finding a train trip that’s cheaper than flights for the same origin/destination pair, and the train trips will take longer overall even after I factor in airport time. :man-shrugging:

                      J 1 Reply Last reply 15 Dec 2021, 21:52
                      • D Offline
                        D Offline
                        Doctor Phibes
                        wrote on 15 Dec 2021, 15:59 last edited by
                        #12

                        My best ever business trip about 3 years ago included a return train journey between Zurich and Milan, through the alps. I spent a fair amount of time looking out the window just saying 'I can't believe I'm getting paid to do this!'

                        I was only joking

                        H 1 Reply Last reply 15 Dec 2021, 16:06
                        • D Doctor Phibes
                          15 Dec 2021, 15:59

                          My best ever business trip about 3 years ago included a return train journey between Zurich and Milan, through the alps. I spent a fair amount of time looking out the window just saying 'I can't believe I'm getting paid to do this!'

                          H Offline
                          H Offline
                          Horace
                          wrote on 15 Dec 2021, 16:06 last edited by
                          #13

                          @doctor-phibes said in I forgot how nice it is to use the train:

                          My best ever business trip about 3 years ago included a return train journey between Zurich and Milan, through the alps. I spent a fair amount of time looking out the window just saying 'I can't believe I'm getting paid to do this!'

                          Let me guess, the train was filled with white males?

                          #CheckYourPrivilege

                          Education is extremely important.

                          1 Reply Last reply
                          • L Offline
                            L Offline
                            LuFins Dad
                            wrote on 15 Dec 2021, 16:35 last edited by
                            #14

                            I’ve done one overnight train trip on Amtrak. It was an expensive hell. Sorry, @George-K and I get that it’s a different experience when getting a private car, but at that kind of price I could drive to the destination and stay overnight at Ritz Carlton’s the whole way and still be ahead of the game…

                            The Brad

                            1 Reply Last reply
                            • A Axtremus
                              15 Dec 2021, 15:53

                              Last train trip I took, pre-COVID-19, was in Canada. Short segments between Montréal, Toronto, and Ottawa, I don’t remember the specific order off the top of my head now. Didn’t even care if it was “high speed,” it still saved me more time compare to taking airplanes once I factor in time spent in airports, and overall cheaper too! A lot more leg room and a lot more comfortable overall. I could decline my seat to, like, 150°, lots of elbow room, etc.

                              In the USA, though, I don’t recall ever finding a train trip that’s cheaper than flights for the same origin/destination pair, and the train trips will take longer overall even after I factor in airport time. :man-shrugging:

                              J Offline
                              J Offline
                              jon-nyc
                              wrote on 15 Dec 2021, 21:52 last edited by
                              #15

                              @axtremus said in I forgot how nice it is to use the train:

                              In the USA, though, I don’t recall ever finding a train trip that’s cheaper than flights for the same origin/destination pair, and the train trips will take longer overall even after I factor in airport time. :man-shrugging:

                              Northeast Regional service is definitely cheaper between Boston-NY-Philly-DC. Acela is probably more expensive though.

                              Only non-witches get due process.

                              • Cotton Mather, Salem Massachusetts, 1692
                              D G I 3 Replies Last reply 15 Dec 2021, 22:05
                              • J Offline
                                J Offline
                                jon-nyc
                                wrote on 15 Dec 2021, 21:53 last edited by
                                #16

                                And Acela is faster NY-Philly and a wash from NY-DC considering airport time.

                                Only non-witches get due process.

                                • Cotton Mather, Salem Massachusetts, 1692
                                1 Reply Last reply
                                • J jon-nyc
                                  15 Dec 2021, 21:52

                                  @axtremus said in I forgot how nice it is to use the train:

                                  In the USA, though, I don’t recall ever finding a train trip that’s cheaper than flights for the same origin/destination pair, and the train trips will take longer overall even after I factor in airport time. :man-shrugging:

                                  Northeast Regional service is definitely cheaper between Boston-NY-Philly-DC. Acela is probably more expensive though.

                                  D Offline
                                  D Offline
                                  Doctor Phibes
                                  wrote on 15 Dec 2021, 22:05 last edited by
                                  #17

                                  @jon-nyc said in I forgot how nice it is to use the train:

                                  Northeast Regional service is definitely cheaper between Boston-NY-Philly-DC. Acela is probably more expensive though.

                                  I once took the Boston-DC ACELA after a big snowstorm as they'd cancelled the flights. Some big-mouthed fucking twat from DC was directly behind me and talked at some poor unfortunate girl for the entire time about all the people he knew. If I'd been sitting in the airport I could have either walked away, or told a security guard that he was acting in a highly suspicious manner. As it was, I was trapped in hell for about 6 hours.

                                  They don't factor that into the equation.

                                  I was only joking

                                  1 Reply Last reply
                                  • J jon-nyc
                                    15 Dec 2021, 21:52

                                    @axtremus said in I forgot how nice it is to use the train:

                                    In the USA, though, I don’t recall ever finding a train trip that’s cheaper than flights for the same origin/destination pair, and the train trips will take longer overall even after I factor in airport time. :man-shrugging:

                                    Northeast Regional service is definitely cheaper between Boston-NY-Philly-DC. Acela is probably more expensive though.

                                    G Offline
                                    G Offline
                                    George K
                                    wrote on 15 Dec 2021, 22:30 last edited by
                                    #18

                                    @jon-nyc said in I forgot how nice it is to use the train:

                                    @axtremus said in I forgot how nice it is to use the train:

                                    In the USA, though, I don’t recall ever finding a train trip that’s cheaper than flights for the same origin/destination pair, and the train trips will take longer overall even after I factor in airport time. :man-shrugging:

                                    Northeast Regional service is definitely cheaper between Boston-NY-Philly-DC. Acela is probably more expensive though.

                                    The cost differences between the NE Regional and Acela are not trivial, but the time differential is.

                                    Here's the price breakdown for a DC departure early tomorrow morning (about 7 AM). Note, there is no "coach" on Acela, they call it "business," and there's no "first class" on the NE Regional. The only upgrade is to business from coach.

                                    So, if you want to save an hour and 15 minutes, "Business Acela" will cost you about $40 more than NE Regional.

                                    Screen Shot 2021-12-15 at 4.26.47 PM.png

                                    That said, D4 and I rode Acela 1st Class from DC to Boston in 2015. Loved it.

                                    "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08

                                    The saying, "Lite is just one damn thing after another," is a gross understatement. The damn things overlap.

                                    1 Reply Last reply
                                    • B Offline
                                      B Offline
                                      bachophile
                                      wrote on 16 Dec 2021, 16:56 last edited by
                                      #19

                                      https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/portugal-singapore-train-rail-travel-b1975630.html

                                      T 1 Reply Last reply 10 Oct 2022, 01:03
                                      • J jon-nyc
                                        15 Dec 2021, 21:52

                                        @axtremus said in I forgot how nice it is to use the train:

                                        In the USA, though, I don’t recall ever finding a train trip that’s cheaper than flights for the same origin/destination pair, and the train trips will take longer overall even after I factor in airport time. :man-shrugging:

                                        Northeast Regional service is definitely cheaper between Boston-NY-Philly-DC. Acela is probably more expensive though.

                                        I Offline
                                        I Offline
                                        Ivorythumper
                                        wrote on 16 Dec 2021, 19:14 last edited by
                                        #20

                                        @jon-nyc said in I forgot how nice it is to use the train:

                                        @axtremus said in I forgot how nice it is to use the train:

                                        In the USA, though, I don’t recall ever finding a train trip that’s cheaper than flights for the same origin/destination pair, and the train trips will take longer overall even after I factor in airport time. :man-shrugging:

                                        Northeast Regional service is definitely cheaper between Boston-NY-Philly-DC. Acela is probably more expensive though.

                                        And the I-95 is a shit road to drive on.

                                        CopperC 1 Reply Last reply 16 Dec 2021, 19:21
                                        • I Ivorythumper
                                          16 Dec 2021, 19:14

                                          @jon-nyc said in I forgot how nice it is to use the train:

                                          @axtremus said in I forgot how nice it is to use the train:

                                          In the USA, though, I don’t recall ever finding a train trip that’s cheaper than flights for the same origin/destination pair, and the train trips will take longer overall even after I factor in airport time. :man-shrugging:

                                          Northeast Regional service is definitely cheaper between Boston-NY-Philly-DC. Acela is probably more expensive though.

                                          And the I-95 is a shit road to drive on.

                                          CopperC Offline
                                          CopperC Offline
                                          Copper
                                          wrote on 16 Dec 2021, 19:21 last edited by
                                          #21

                                          @ivorythumper said in I forgot how nice it is to use the train:

                                          the I-95

                                          No the in the northeast

                                          Just I-95

                                          That's a California thing

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