How many people have been on a train in the US?
Train Poll:
- Thread starter scooterbug44
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I have! (and European and Asian ones, high speed, which is why our President's plan piqued my interest in the first place).
I used to travel the Philadelphia-New York-Boston route all the time when I was single decades ago. The trains were on a frequent schedule and they were not as expensive as flying; hence my choice to use them.
I COULD use the train as a method to go between Indy and Chicago but I won't. Why? They leave at an ungodly time of day and there's no choice but that. The Megabus is so much more convenient and cheaper, too.
My daughter, however, plans to use the train to go from Purdue to UNC Greensboro to see her boyfriend because a) the train station is within walking distance to campus unlike the airport b) she's too young to rent a car c) plane is too $$ though the train is not cheap, either. In her case, the train is a great fit, as it was for me when I was her age.
I've been on a train in the US - is funn! Took it from my hometown to the Capitol of the United States of America......whole family and it really was a great trip!
I think combining this poll with the pot poll might be a little more exciting! 'Specially, when the train goes through a tunnell! Just sayin........I like to spice things up a tad!
Think about it: legalize reefer, get on a fast train - no worries of traffic violations, driving too slow, etc......y'all are genuises!
I think combining this poll with the pot poll might be a little more exciting! 'Specially, when the train goes through a tunnell! Just sayin........I like to spice things up a tad!
Think about it: legalize reefer, get on a fast train - no worries of traffic violations, driving too slow, etc......y'all are genuises!
That's kind of a tough poll to answer. I'd ride one for a special trip - through the rockies or something like that with a girlfriend. But as far as road trips go, I love to drive. It's the only way to get down into the local scene and allows you to make changes in your plans whenever you want. As far as business travel, I fly, a train to California or New York simply isn't an option.
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Not everyone has the option of driving - older drivers, people w/o cars or with unreliable cars, injured people, young people, people w/ disabilities, people afraid of flying, etc.
My parents will drive anywhere - that works for them because they are road warriors w/ a reliable vehicle, 2 healthy drivers, and they want to take the Scooterhound w/ them (we don't believe in flying pets).
Grandma Scooterbug has not been allowed to drive for years. Gramma Scooterbug never even learned how - she had a husband or 7 kids to drive her, or she took a train. Grandpas Scooterbug had severe restrictions put on them before the keys were taken away.
I will drive anywhere that is within 12 hours and take a plane beyond that, but I really enjoy not driving on many occassions - trains rarely get lost, you can drink and safely ride a train, ride a train overnight, take items on trains you can't on planes, read a book or take a nap etc.
If I took a train from FL to NY or Cali, it would be a scenic trip, but it would be great to take a train to NOLA or have a seasonal train to ATL.
My parents will drive anywhere - that works for them because they are road warriors w/ a reliable vehicle, 2 healthy drivers, and they want to take the Scooterhound w/ them (we don't believe in flying pets).
Grandma Scooterbug has not been allowed to drive for years. Gramma Scooterbug never even learned how - she had a husband or 7 kids to drive her, or she took a train. Grandpas Scooterbug had severe restrictions put on them before the keys were taken away.
I will drive anywhere that is within 12 hours and take a plane beyond that, but I really enjoy not driving on many occassions - trains rarely get lost, you can drink and safely ride a train, ride a train overnight, take items on trains you can't on planes, read a book or take a nap etc.
If I took a train from FL to NY or Cali, it would be a scenic trip, but it would be great to take a train to NOLA or have a seasonal train to ATL.
Can't you do that now? According to the Amtrak map there's a route that goes along I-10.
No - I specifically checked a couple months ago when I was jonesing for some train travel. There is an Amtrack station in Crestview, but there are no trains from there to NOLA.
I went from Bonifay to Miami once about 10 years ago. It was an hour late to start and several by the time we made it to Miami. The seats leaned back but not quite enough to be comfortable. It was freezing in the car - after an hour (some rule?) the attendant finally allowed us a blanket.
Our destination station in Miami was in a "shady" part of town. Since we were late, the public transportation from the station had already made it's last run. No taxis, no buses, no working phones - we dragged our luggage about 4 blocks. Really an unpleasant end to a long, long ride. I would never do it again unless I had a sleeper car and no particular schedule to meet.
On the good side, the food service car was really nice as was the "solarium." We met many nice travelers from Europe and Australia.
Our destination station in Miami was in a "shady" part of town. Since we were late, the public transportation from the station had already made it's last run. No taxis, no buses, no working phones - we dragged our luggage about 4 blocks. Really an unpleasant end to a long, long ride. I would never do it again unless I had a sleeper car and no particular schedule to meet.
On the good side, the food service car was really nice as was the "solarium." We met many nice travelers from Europe and Australia.
Hundreds of billions spent on our government managed rail service over the years and you can't get from Crestview to NOLA. Why am I not surprised.
Hundreds of billions spent on our government managed rail service over the years and you can't get from Crestview to NOLA. Why am I not surprised.
That route was shut down after Katrina due to damage. I saw last year that it is supposed to be restored, but there is no time frame for it.