Can we talk more about trains?

[LoveTrains]

Did I ever tell anyone on here that I love trains?! 

The train discussion board has been boring lately. Everyone is complaining about amtrak service cuts. 

This is the new train I want to take:

www.vancouversun.com/news/world/Video+Rail+Canada+introduces+Prestige+Sleeper+Class/9890156/story.html

Well its not really a new train, its just swanky new upgrades to cars on an existing route (the Canadian). 

[ssmjlm]

I don't get how places like Europe have great train transportation and we don't.

I took the train a couple times as a kid and it was a fun experience.

[msmerymac]

Does your love of trains extend to commuter rails? I'm a big advocate of public transit. In fact, that was a huge factor in where we bought a house - being able to walk to a station.

[mbcdefg]

That looks very comfortable!

I mentioned Amtrak to MH when we were first planning our summer trip to the Pacific Northwest. We're going to take the train from Seattle to Portland. I was actually checking prices this morning and texted him that we'd better book soon before all the $26 seats are gone.

[LoveTrains]

Jun 5, 2014 12:54:02 GMT -5 msmerymac said:

Does your love of trains extend to commuter rails? I'm a big advocate of public transit. In fact, that was a huge factor in where we bought a house - being able to walk to a station.

Sure, I like the commuter rail and I support it for all cities. It helps property values, helps keep cars off the road, etc. That was huge for us when we bought our first condo, and my husband and I still only have one car because of availability of public transit. 

[LoveTrains]

Jun 5, 2014 12:55:24 GMT -5 mbcdefg said:

That looks very comfortable!

I mentioned Amtrak to MH when we were first planning our summer trip to the Pacific Northwest. We're going to take the train from Seattle to Portland. I was actually checking prices this morning and texted him that we'd better book soon before all the $26 seats are gone.

If the prices go down after you buy your tickets you can get a refund for the difference! It's a little known fact but true. Just call 1800 USA RAIL and ask for it. 

[msmerymac]

Jun 5, 2014 12:56:48 GMT -5 LoveTrains said:

Jun 5, 2014 12:54:02 GMT -5 msmerymac said:

Does your love of trains extend to commuter rails? I'm a big advocate of public transit. In fact, that was a huge factor in where we bought a house - being able to walk to a station.

Sure, I like the commuter rail and I support it for all cities. It helps property values, helps keep cars off the road, etc. That was huge for us when we bought our first condo, and my husband and I still only have one car because of availability of public transit. 

We do too. What's funny is that yesterday my neighbor was like, "Where do you park?" and I explained that my husband had our one car with him at work. But if I need it, I either drop him off, he bikes, or he takes the bus. And like 90% of people she was all, "Bus?!" There's a bus line that goes to his office from our train station. 

[Susie]

I take Amtrak pretty frequently but never anywhere fun. Mostly northeast corridor trips that are so short that you can barely tell the Acela from the regional trains in terms of duration. E.g., last week from DC to Wilmington, DE. I prefer trains to flying, but wish there was better/faster service between Albany and NYC (and shorter layovers). Those kill a lot of my Amtrak plans. I just don't have 7 hours to get from here to a client in DC, even if I can work on the way.

[mbcdefg]

Jun 5, 2014 12:57:28 GMT -5 LoveTrains said:

Jun 5, 2014 12:55:24 GMT -5 mbcdefg said:

That looks very comfortable!

I mentioned Amtrak to MH when we were first planning our summer trip to the Pacific Northwest. We're going to take the train from Seattle to Portland. I was actually checking prices this morning and texted him that we'd better book soon before all the $26 seats are gone.

If the prices go down after you buy your tickets you can get a refund for the difference! It's a little known fact but true. Just call 1800 USA RAIL and ask for it. 

Thanks!

I'd like to go to Montreal on the train at some point, too. And I'm going to DC in the fall for a conference so I'll probably take the train again.

[wanderlustfoodie]

MH grew up in Europe and has nostalgic love for trains so I always try to work them into our travels.

We've done trains in many countries. The high speed trains in China and France were great. When we have longer stretches to travel we'd like to so the ones in Siberia and India.

[dr.girlfriend]

I went on that Palace on Wheels train trip through India...it was pretty awesome! :-) Add that to your wishlist if you haven't been already.

www.palaceonwheels.net/new/home.htm

[vtdiamond]

I love your posts about trains, they always make me smile. The train you posted looks amazing!!

I have grown to love my time on the commuter rail every day, it's so nice to read and decompress before getting home. I drove in today and it was miserable.

Amtrak has also been very helpful in going to visit my family and DH has to leave earlier then me!

[crashgizmo]

Those trains are awesome! Maybe I should convince DH this is something we should look into. Sadly, I don't think I've ever been on an Amtrak-type train.

[Deleted]

You would have liked the train we took from Cordoba to Seville -- it got up to 250 km/h (there was a digital sign at the front of each car that told us the speed at any given moment).

That was the fastest of the 6 high-speed trains I took in the past 3 weeks

[hopenotlost]

I've been on so many trains in Europe, and love them. It would be nice if there were more options in the US.

[msmerymac]

Jun 5, 2014 12:53:28 GMT -5 ssmjlm said:

I don't get how places like Europe have great train transportation and we don't.

I took the train a couple times as a kid and it was a fun experience.

I think in some ways it's a size issue (because the US is so big) and in other ways its a political issue. 

Of course, if we had put high speed rail in back in the 70s, it would have been cheaper...

[LoveTrains]

Jun 5, 2014 13:05:42 GMT -5 v said:

You would have liked the train we took from Cordoba to Seville -- it got up to 250 km/h (there was a digital sign at the front of each car that told us the speed at any given moment).

That was the fastest of the 6 high-speed trains I took in the past 3 weeks

Oh that sounds awesome!!! 

[Deleted]

I would take public transit to work, if the route was more direct. If I were to travel by train it would require 2 different lines + shuttle and take an hour and a half, not including the walk between the station and my office. Driving takes 35-45 minutes.

[LoveTrains]

Jun 5, 2014 13:10:47 GMT -5 msmerymac said:

Jun 5, 2014 12:53:28 GMT -5 ssmjlm said:

I don't get how places like Europe have great train transportation and we don't.

I took the train a couple times as a kid and it was a fun experience.

I think in some ways it's a size issue (because the US is so big) and in other ways its a political issue. 

Of course, if we had put high speed rail in back in the 70s, it would have been cheaper...

In some ways it is kind of messed up because the federal government gave a ton of free land to the rail road companies.....who then sabotaged passenger service on purpose in the 1960s so they could ditch it because it was no longer profitable. 

But yeah, there is no political will to build the new infrastructure at this point. Not to mention that when I have gone cross country, while it's very scenic, true high speed rail would require a whole new ROW (right of way) because we were crawling at like 25 mph through sections because of the curves, grade (climbing into the mountains) and the poor condition of the tracks. I mean it is kind of ridiculous that it takes 48 hours to get from San Francisco to Chicago via rail, which is why most trips on the long distance trains are not end point to end point but rather mid point type travel (ie, Denver to Reno, Omaha to Denver, etc on the San Fran to CHI train)

[niq]

Jun 5, 2014 13:15:15 GMT -5 LoveTrains said:

Jun 5, 2014 13:10:47 GMT -5 msmerymac said:

I think in some ways it's a size issue (because the US is so big) and in other ways its a political issue. 

Of course, if we had put high speed rail in back in the 70s, it would have been cheaper...

In some ways it is kind of messed up because the federal government gave a ton of free land to the rail road companies.....who then sabotaged passenger service on purpose in the 1960s so they could ditch it because it was no longer profitable. 

But yeah, there is no political will to build the new infrastructure at this point. Not to mention that when I have gone cross country, while it's very scenic, true high speed rail would require a whole new ROW (right of way) because we were crawling at like 25 mph through sections because of the curves, grade (climbing into the mountains) and the poor condition of the tracks. I mean it is kind of ridiculous that it takes 48 hours to get from San Francisco to Chicago via rail, which is why most trips on the long distance trains are not end point to end point but rather mid point type travel (ie, Denver to Reno, Omaha to Denver, etc on the San Fran to CHI train)

All of this, plus passenger train regs have been safety first rather than speed first for a while. Also, construction costs in the US are crazy for no good reason, AFAICT. For the price of one station on an existing line in VA, Berlin is building like 1.5km of new track plus three stations. (commuter rail/subway, but the same problems affect medium-haul rail).

The whole "Midwestern Governors turn down free stimulus money for better intercity passenger rail because OBAMA" made me so sad. Even though I don't live in the midwest. I just love trains too.

[lishie]

I have very little train experience, but my youngest son is currently obsessed with trains. We're taking an Alaskan cruise this summer, and I booked us tickets on the White Pass Summit railway. I'm really excited about it. It's supposed to be a beautiful ride.
www.wpyr.com/history/

[msmerymac]

Jun 5, 2014 13:42:13 GMT -5 lishie said:

I have very little train experience, but my youngest son is currently obsessed with trains. We're taking an Alaskan cruise this summer, and I booked us tickets on the White Pass Summit railway. I'm really excited about it. It's supposed to be a beautiful ride.
www.wpyr.com/history/

I was in Skagway last year. I didn't do the White Pass train (I did a sled dog experience where I played with puppies and then also a walking tour), but people said it was good. And depending on your son's age, super easy. The train picks you up right where the cruise ship docks. 

[lishie]

Jun 5, 2014 13:44:54 GMT -5 msmerymac said:

Jun 5, 2014 13:42:13 GMT -5 lishie said:

I have very little train experience, but my youngest son is currently obsessed with trains. We're taking an Alaskan cruise this summer, and I booked us tickets on the White Pass Summit railway. I'm really excited about it. It's supposed to be a beautiful ride.
www.wpyr.com/history/

I was in Skagway last year. I didn't do the White Pass train (I did a sled dog experience where I played with puppies and then also a walking tour), but people said it was good. And depending on your son's age, super easy. The train picks you up right where the cruise ship docks. 

I used a private company to book our train tour, and it also includes time a puppy camp and a sled ride. My boys are 3 and 5, and I'm ridiculously excited to do this with them.

[lasagnasshole]

Jun 5, 2014 13:37:13 GMT -5 niq said:

Jun 5, 2014 13:15:15 GMT -5 LoveTrains said:

In some ways it is kind of messed up because the federal government gave a ton of free land to the rail road companies.....who then sabotaged passenger service on purpose in the 1960s so they could ditch it because it was no longer profitable. 

But yeah, there is no political will to build the new infrastructure at this point. Not to mention that when I have gone cross country, while it's very scenic, true high speed rail would require a whole new ROW (right of way) because we were crawling at like 25 mph through sections because of the curves, grade (climbing into the mountains) and the poor condition of the tracks. I mean it is kind of ridiculous that it takes 48 hours to get from San Francisco to Chicago via rail, which is why most trips on the long distance trains are not end point to end point but rather mid point type travel (ie, Denver to Reno, Omaha to Denver, etc on the San Fran to CHI train)

All of this, plus passenger train regs have been safety first rather than speed first for a while. Also, construction costs in the US are crazy for no good reason, AFAICT. For the price of one station on an existing line in VA, Berlin is building like 1.5km of new track plus three stations. (commuter rail/subway, but the same problems affect medium-haul rail).

The whole "Midwestern Governors turn down free stimulus money for better intercity passenger rail because OBAMA" made me so sad. Even though I don't live in the midwest. I just love trains too.

This just about killed me.

There is no reason that regional passenger rail shouldn't be stronger in this country. I don't really see trains replacing planes for cross-country trips, but there is no reason it shouldn't be easier to go from Chicago to St. Louis on a train.

[raangoli]

Jun 5, 2014 13:02:29 GMT -5 wanderlustfoodie said:

MH grew up in Europe and has nostalgic love for trains so I always try to work them into our travels.

We've done trains in many countries. The high speed trains in China and France were great. When we have longer stretches to travel we'd like to so the ones in Siberia and India.

Traveling via train in India is such an experience - I'd recommend it to anyone who wants to visit.

[Pom]

In my past life, I worked group sales for a historic hotel and inn.   One of the most complex events I ever worked with was the lodging, meals, etc for a rail trip for a national historic railway society.  I believe the train carried about 450 passengers and it was a quite a big deal in the community.  We also got to check out the rail cars.  It was a really great experience and the trains were so cool and the guests were major enthusiasts.  Are you in to the history of the railway or more just the travel aspect?  

Here is the group I worked with:

www.nrhs.com/chapters/bluewater-michigan

[flatlan]

My parents took us on trip to Chicago when I was about 13. We rode the train from Kansas City to Chicago. I think back on that with so much fondness! It was so fun.

[alleinesein]

Jun 5, 2014 13:51:40 GMT -5 raangoli said:

Jun 5, 2014 13:02:29 GMT -5 wanderlustfoodie said:

MH grew up in Europe and has nostalgic love for trains so I always try to work them into our travels.

We've done trains in many countries. The high speed trains in China and France were great. When we have longer stretches to travel we'd like to so the ones in Siberia and India.

Traveling via train in India is such an experience - I'd recommend it to anyone who wants to visit.

No thanks!!  I'll stick to my rickshaws and cabs   Never stepped foot on the train when I lived in Mumbai; I dont do well in hot crowded spaces and getting to the Bandra station involved either a cab or rickshaw ride so it was kinda pointless to pay for 2 types of transportation to get somewhere.

That may change if I end up in Bangalore later this year. 

[Deleted]

Oh I've recently discovered there's a train that goes from California to Chicago and I'm dying to take it. It's on my list.

I've recently become interested in train adventures. Day dreaming of Harry Potter like trains escapades.

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[InBetweenDays]

My dad is a huge train fan. As kids we took it quite a bit for vacations. As an adult I've taken the Empire Builder from MSP to Seattle a number of times, the Coast Starlight, and the train from Boston to Chicago. Our kids LOVED the Coast Starlight. That Canadian train may even get H interested. He had a ok time but would much rather fly.

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