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cleverdawny t1_j3uvfqs wrote

Yeah. It beats air travel except for the time. I'd rather spend twelve hours on a train than two on a plane

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lucky_ducker t1_j3xpy66 wrote

Every time I've compared the cost of getting somewhere, flying was both cheaper and faster than Amtrak (and until today, more reliable).

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cleverdawny t1_j3xq630 wrote

Train ticket from mt to WA is $120 or so. Plane $500 give or take. You probably live in a big city.

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thisusedyet t1_j3xv7rf wrote

Just as a quick example:

Newark to Miami from 2/13/23 - 2/17/23

by Plane:

$90-$220 in 3-6 hours

By Train:

$130 - $660 in 27-31 hours.

Amtrack won't let me link it.

Go here for NWK -> MIA

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cleverdawny t1_j3ze672 wrote

So yeah you live in a big city

Amtrak is far more useful for people who don't live within driving distance of major airport hubs. I would have to drive two hours to a regional airport, go through security, then take a flight. Doesn't even end up saving that much time

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ABDLTA t1_j3uvjbx wrote

Honestly didn't know they were still in business

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cleverdawny t1_j3uvx5p wrote

It's important for rural areas, but yeah, Amtrak long distance trains have a major charm. I took the Empire Builder from Seattle to Chicago and back. Worth it.

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yblame t1_j3uxdj5 wrote

Barely. Cross country train travel is a novelty in this country these days. Freight rules the rails, and passengers are an afterthought.

Those songs "City of New Orleans" and "The Gambler" or "Folsom Prison" romanticize things that are no more. Don't even get me started on the ass fucking the railroad unions got recently. Rail travel is dead in this country,.

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Cicero912 t1_j3vln81 wrote

Rail travel is very much alive in the northeast corridor

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