$8 billion could help revive travel by train
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/news/2009-03-16-high-speed-rail-travel_N.htm
President Obama and leaders in more than 30 states say it's time to embrace trains again — but newer, faster ones that can transport passengers past gridlocked airports and highways on electrified railroads at up to 200 mph.
...Driving the new-found interest in trains is $8 billion that was tucked into the president's economic stimulus legislation signed last month.
The Department of Transportation is to distribute the money to embryonic high-speed rail projects around the country and to Amtrak, the national passenger rail service, to develop high-speed technology.
If this really happens it could be good for hostels in the US. The planned train between San Francisco and LA would be faster than flying.
15 years
amtrak does a few different passes - 8 trips in 15 days costs $389. comparable i guess to eurail passes, though the network obviously isnt as exstensive. i was looking at them before me and a friend went on our trip through canada and western US. decided to go for teh car option, mostly because of the flexibility.
15 years
Well, I think this is just another way to waste tax payers’ money period. I’m currently working in DC but living in Baltimore. Personally, I prefer taking train then driving. I am very thankful we have relatively good and inexpensive daily train system from Baltimore to Washington. But the high speed train from LA to Vegas or SF to LA? :rolleyes: The AMTRAK already charge you $$$ for that, so let alone the high speed train. My cousin who lives in LA drives to Vegas almost every other week. It takes her about 2-3 hours driving and parking in Vegas is just plenty so why bother taking the luxury train? Unlike the New Yorker, the Californian still has suburb mentality. They prefer driving then taking public transportation. I doubt Obama understand this at all since he’s a city guy. Not to mention, there are many dirt cheap Chinese buses go directly from LA to SF and Vegas and they run pretty frequently. This is the best alternative for backpackers or budget travelers & much more convenient and cheaper than the Greyhound. Even the Greyhound already got severely hit by the Chinese. To be honest, I just don’t know how this project will survive especially in this economy. If this idea is to promote tourism in the US, they better operate hi-speed train from Canada to US rather than between cities in the West Coast. Just my opinion.
15 years
...there are many dirt cheap Chinese buses go directly from LA to SF and Vegas and they run pretty frequently. This is the best alternative for backpackers or budget travelers & much more convenient and cheaper than the Greyhound...
I saw those buses for the first time when I went to DC. Megabus and the Chinatown bus. Megabus advertises $1 fares in large letters on the side of the bus. I hope those cheap buses become more widespread.
15 years
I have more than once considered a train trip up the west coast of the US. But the really good scenery is in the N of California into Oregon -- and this section is only done at night!! How's that for good business planning?:confused:
15 years
I saw those buses for the first time when I went to DC. Megabus and the Chinatown bus. Megabus advertises $1 fares in large letters on the side of the bus. I hope those cheap buses become more widespread.
I am familiar with those buses. In deed, I'm a loyal customer. :D It is really popular in the East Coast. This Chinese guy who first started running the bus service from NYC to DC and Boston can barely speak English but now he’s making like several million dollars a year. But you know Chinese…the service sucks. (so now we have Megabus and Boltbus as options). However, if you have no problems sitting in a crowded bus for 2-4 hours, it probably won’t bother you much. The schedule is very flexible. You can take a bus at anytime you like because it’s first come, first serve service. In the weekend, the bus service from NYC normally runs every hour from 7am to midnight. The round trip fare from DC and Baltimore to NYC can be as low as $35, from Philadelphia to NYC is $28 and from NYC to Boston is $18. Megabus could be cheaper, depending on the schedule. Now the Chinese are trying to expand the bus service to Toronto and Montreal. (by the way..can’t wait. :p) They are doing very well without the government’s funding or monopoly.
Before the Chinese attack, the round trip ticket for riding Greyhound from DC to NYC is around $60-$120 depending on the season. But remember that they make every single stop, so it could take you 6-8 hours to get to your destination. Now, the Greyhound and Peter Pan are trying to match the Chinese low price. (http://www.frommers.com/blog/?plckController=Blog&plckScript=blogScript&plckElementId=blogDest&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&plckPostId=Blog%3a3ec3ac40-db8a-4d10-a884-acf9ccad0879Post%3acbcad824-560c-4ac7-9f35-5b4b8ff45b5d)
I guess this is the best they can do, but I wouldn’t want to sit in the bus 6-8 hours just to go to NYC. Of course, going to NYC by Amtrak is nice, but they don’t have flexible schedule like the Chinatown bus and it isn’t faster or more convenient either.
15 years
I have more than once considered a train trip up the west coast of the US. But the really good scenery is in the N of California into Oregon -- and this section is only done at night!! How's that for good business planning?:confused:
I think if you want to travel in the West Coast, the best way is driving. Driving on the Rt1 up north from N.California to Oregon is one of my most memorable experiences. The scenery is amazing and you can stop along the way at some famous local restaurants and do shopping for souvenirs. You'll miss those when you travel by train.
The train I want to do though, it's the Rocky Mountain train from US to Canada. I've been to the Canadian Rocky Mountain twice, but I think going there by train would still be a great experience.
15 years
I think a decent rail service in the USA would have definite advantages over both flying and bus/car. At the moment the train is not a viable alternative on the majority of routes unless you're a tourist who wants the train experience. Decent fast trains, don't have to be TGVs, just significantly faster than driving for middle distance routes could well be successful. For most of the routes outside a few in the NE corridor they are abysmally slow. Therefore a lot of Americans think that rail travel is a joke. But they're prepared to put up with being cattle on airplanes or stuck in traffic. I wouldn't see cheapo buses as real competition for decent trains. Megabus started in the UK, but I don't see it putting the trains out of business any time soon. City center to center train should be quicker than plane and car/bus, once you take into account time spent travelling to airport, security checks, and potential traffic jams in the car.
In the UK on the east coast main line it travels at 115mph, so isn't a fast train by world standards, but is still quicker center to center than plane or car. People will always complain about taxpayers money spent on trains, but any investment on a large scale will depend on this. Driving may seem like the ultimate in individualism, but where did all the interstates come from - a huge govt investment program after the war. Spending money on infrastructure will pay back may times over if it's targetted right. Trains are a great option as if electric they can also reduce dependence on oil.
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