First time on a train, I find myself a bit confused.

[ducatiz]

Trains (Amtrak, etc) should be compared with airlines, not with buses or other ground transport.

The convenience of a train (i.e. get up and walk around comfortably, large seats and cafe car --take it or leave it) don't exist on a bus or in a car.

The advantage of a train over airplane are quicker security checks and less time getting to and from (trains are usually in the downtown area, airports usually on the outskirts of town).  The flight is a lot shorter than the train, but the going to and coming from the airport makes up for it (and cost)

When I worked in Boston, and lived in NYC (manhattan), flying to Logan from LaGuardia was murder.  2 hours ahead of flight, i had to leave to get to the airport, sometimes even earlier.  Then, get through security and wait wait wait.

Amtrak is at Penn St in Manhattan -- 32nd street and 6th ave, right in the middle of the west side.  Hop on and hop off at South Station in Boston.

Flying to boston:  4-5 hours total.  Amtrak to boston, 4 hours total.

I wish the US would develop more intra-regional train, but people prefer their cars.  I would definitely train it around me if i could. 

[B.Rock]

Don't neglect wear, tear, insurance, registration, depreciation and so on. Now, since you already HAVE the vehicle it means a little less.
Oh, and possiblity of accidents.

My favorite train:

San Francisco / Millbrae train now boarding, platform one.

[Kyna]

I looked at the train home again (Wisconsin - Oregon this time) for Christmas. I decided on the train. 

Price wise it's practically the same, especially when you factor in the per-bag charge that most airlines are implementing. We upgraded to a sleeper, otherwise the train would have actually been about half the price.
Sure it'll take us 2 days to get to Oregon, but it would take almost 24 hours by plane when you figure in layovers, delays, and how early we'd have to get to the airport to check in.  Winter in Wisconsin promises delays of some sort, and I believe it's pretty uncommon for a train to be delayed for snow. 
I think we'll be less groggy and grouchy when we arrive at our destination.  I don't have to be at the station in the middle of the night and I get back in the middle of the day.  If I wanted to get a flight at those times I'd be paying close to $1,200 a seat, that's more than my entire train trip for two.
No waiting in uncomfortable airports, we can move around in the train whenever we want.  It's like a mini vacation before spending a week with my family.
I'll actually get to see the scenery as I go through all those states, rather than just an airport.  And because we got a sleeper all our meals are included in the ticket price. 
Also, it's sort of a novelty.  I've flow all over the place; I haven't taken the train any decent distance before. 

[Ducatiloo]

Another issue with Trains in the US is the tracks, at least in the Midwest.  There are areas in the country where the train cannot exceed 30 mph due to the quality of the tracks.  The Madison / Milwaukee / Twin City area was pushing for a high speed train, but were met with resistance in the towns by concerned parents that were worried about their unsupervised children playing on tracks and getting hit.

[Ducatiloo]

I wish the US would develop more intra-regional train, but people prefer their cars.  I would definitely train it around me if i could. 

With gas prices going up, this may change somewhat.... it's just a matter of paying for the new train system.  No politician would add anymore tax to gas in order to raise the revenue

[ducatiz]

Another issue with Trains in the US is the tracks, at least in the Midwest.  There are areas in the country where the train cannot exceed 30 mph due to the quality of the tracks.  The Madison / Milwaukee / Twin City area was pushing for a high speed train, but were met with resistance in the towns by concerned parents that were worried about their unsupervised children playing on tracks and getting hit.

If they are worried about that, they should not let their kids out and walk them to their short bus for school.

With gas prices going up, this may change somewhat.... it's just a matter of paying for the new train system.  No politician would add anymore tax to gas in order to raise the revenue

Fund it other ways.

Offer 99 year leases on the train land and stations and give them to private companies to run.  Let them figure out ways to make them viable.  Don't saddle them with the union contracts that Amtrak has ($50,000 for a conductor?  Gimmie a break-- what's the skillset involved?  Punching a ticket? oooo)  Pass a law so that a single company can only run multiple regions if they are not contiguous, but require them all to work together and use the same trains and technologies.  Limit profit margins for 10 years to 10% with all the remainder going to reinvestment, and then after 10, require a certain margin of reinvestment beyond maintenance. etc

The fed gov couldn't make air conditioners in hell profitable, but give it to the right companies and they can.

[herm]

Colorado people may remember this if they are long term residents....

many elections ago, the state was trying to decide whether to use fed DOT dollars to expand the north south highway (I-25), or to begin construction of a commuter rail along the front range. one of the ideas for the train was that it would go from either Cheyenne WY or Fort Collins, CO to Colorado Springs, or maybe even Pueblo, with Denver as the obvious hub.

anyhow, there was a big study commissioned, which lasted past Gov. Romers last term in office. it concluded that expanding the highway was not a good idea, since...
a) the construction would be on going for years (10 or more)
b) upon completion, it would not be sufficient for the expected traffic patterns

so the panel advised that the state put the money toward a train system. problem is, Romer left office, and the new guy had other ideas. after first trying to divert the money to a monorail system to get skiers from Denver to the various resort towns, he finally settled on expanding I-25.

why? 'cause people want to have their cars, even if it takes them longer to find a parking spot than it does to drive to their destination.

so,..........a) is the highway expansion complete yet? b) has it made things any better c) if it has in fact cut down on the congestion, how long do folks think it will be sufficient?

DISCLAIMER: the specifics here are to the best of my recollection. i apologize if time and my Alzheimer's has caused me to incorrectly recollect some of the facts

[Triple J]

Offer 99 year leases on the train land and stations and give them to private companies to run.  Let them figure out ways to make them viable. 

This is a good idea which is being done in Europe quite a bit for new projects.  It seems to be the only way to build very large capitol projects now a days.  Contractors there are forming design, build, & operate companies (probably not the right term) to construct the project and then operate it for a certain number of years to make their profit.

I know several companies have proposed this for various projects across the US (Seattle's Alaska Way Viaduct, and Highway 520 Floating Bridge, for instance), but I don't believe any government body has bit yet.  Sometimes local laws make this sort of arrangement illegal as well.  The laws need to be changed.

[slowpoke13]

As a kid, I used to ride the train from Martinez, CA to Sacramento to spend the day with the grand parents. Time was about the same. I had more freedom to wander around the train and not just sit in the car. Dad could read the paper, play with me, whatever. We both got there relaxed. We'd take the train home that evening and usually sleep the entire ride. Don't know about the cost. But, I'd believe it was a bit cheaper than driving. If nothing else, it was much more fun.

Rode the train from DC to Philly for Santathon with Knight. Was perfect. Rode home the next morning hungover, reeking of alcohol and dressed as Santa. I could just imagine being the kid listed above^ and seeing that on a train.

Ridden trains in Italy and Japan regularly. Italy was fine. Wasn't a long enough period to be any judge. I've been riding the trains here in Japan and I think it's the absolute best way to travel. I can make it just about anywhere on a train. There are local lines, extended distance lines, and bullet trains to whisk you around. They all use the same hubs and are fairly easy to Navigate. Some are Govvy run, some are private run. But, they all work together. All this in a land mass about the size of California.

[somegirl]

The train system in Japan is excellent.

[He Man]

NYC to Boston $18 round trip via chinatown bus.
NYC to Washington is something like $25 per way.

no idea how they keep the prices that low. not to mention the bus that goes to atlantic city. they pay you $50 casino credit and you get a meal voucher.

[ducatiz]

NYC to Boston $18 round trip via chinatown bus.
NYC to Washington is something like $25 per way.

no idea how they keep the prices that low. not to mention the bus that goes to atlantic city. they pay you $50 casino credit and you get a meal voucher.

no stations, just a room to buy a ticket.  no ticketing systems, you print it out at home.  you line up outdoors, etc.  lower overhead.  minimal insurance, God help you if they crash and you try to sue them -- each bus is its own corporation and has no assets.

$18 * 100 = $1800 which is a typical load.  Those buses have a 150 gallon tank and use diesel and can get 10-15 mpg.  Do the math, it works out, esp when you have no overhead.

[cyrus buelton]

I hate to say it, but the TGV train system in France is pretty make the beast with two backsing nice

[ducatiz]

I hate to say it, but the TGV train system in France is pretty make the beast with two backsing nice

sure, except when those frog bastards schedule a strike.  then the country stops.

[Kyna]

sure, except when those frog bastards schedule a strike.  then the country stops.

In Italy they very politely tell you when they are going to strike about a week in advance and still work the three rush hour trains in the morning and evening.  Doesn't make the general population upset and still makes a point because they loose all the ticket money during the rest of the day.  As a commuter I appreciated it.