Guest post from Jodi of Plastic Back Books
Remember the old saying, “Getting there is half the fun“?
Well, I have to say that the “miracle of flight” isn’t what it used to be. My head starts spinning when I think of purchasing an airline ticket.
There are so many variables that go into finding the best price. I have gotten some good deals when I have “named my own price”, but they don’t offer a “name your own time” option for those deals. Leaving at 4:45 a.m. to get to the airport in time is not always so fun.
Shuffling barefoot through airport security, sitting for hours waiting for a delayed flight, only to have to run like a crazy person through the concourse to make a connecting flight adds to the stress. And if you miss your plane — well, I hope is wasn’t a non-refundable ticket!
After my last flight, I decided driving was a simpler option. Then I looked at my bald tires and odometer (which was nearing 300,000 miles). Not to mention the cost of gas — ouch!
I needed an alternative. That’s when I thought about the train. I looked up Amtrak and was pleasantly surprised at how inexpensive my trip would be: it was less expensive than flying or driving — it was even cheaper than the Greyhound!
Here are some benefits of traveling on Amtrak:
- There’s one site to shop for a ticket: Amtrak.
- The cost of the ticket really is the cost of the ticket. There are no additional fees or taxes.
- Children ages 15-2 travel for half price, and those under two travel for free.
- If you cancel, you only lose 10% of your ticket price (this won’t exceed $100).
- If you change your ticket, Amtrak will credit what you paid toward your new ticket.
- You can bring three 50-pound bags, two carry-on items, plus personal items without baggage fees.
- You get to keep your shoes on (you don’t have to go through a thorough security checkpoint).
- There are no fasten seat belt signs — because there are no seat belts!
- There are electrical outlets and free Wi-Fi available for work or entertainment, tables for games, spacious seating, freedom to roam about the cars, and beautiful scenery!
- Riding the train makes getting there half the fun once again!
Jody Susan loves reading, but isn’t a fan of dusting bookshelves, so she loves e-books. She is creating PlasticBackBooks — a marketplace for wholesome, helpful, and hopefully entertaining e-books. She is slowly learning to break goals into bite-sized pieces. Finishing her ebook, Riding The Train, is one goal she has completed recently.
I agree that it is MUCH more pleasant and comfortable to travel by train, rather than plane. I very much enjoy travel by train. However, It has NEVER been less expensive for me/us than an airplane or driving — not even once. One advantage of train travel I enjoy is the ability to keep moving toward the destination while I/we sleep. That generally makes it faster than driving for me and my family over a long distance. Still much longer than air travel, but again, it’s a much more comfortable experience than airplane travel. I have never booked a sleeper car, but that is absolutely on my bucket list! I would certainly travel much more by rail, but the price not justifiable when compared to air or driving for me or my family. If I or my family take the train, it is a rare luxury expense that we thoroughly enjoy.
My husband and I just moved to North Dakota from Arizona last year and have been trying to get a handle on the “very new” traveling expenses we have endured as a result. This may be our answer thank you!!!!
If you’d like a free copy of my ebook, just click on my name above, click an “add to cart” button and type MSMFreeRide in the discount code box that appears. Hopefully it will help you get a good price on tickets and know what to expect on the train.
Arizona to North Dakota. Wow! I hope you all don’t freeze this winter – that is quite a climate change! 🙂
I took the train from Kansas City to st Louis just a few weeks ago. There were a lot of stops but I loved it. I read, listened to music, tool a nap, and ate my own food and drank my own water and juice. I saved money versus driving and flying. The sightseeing was nice too.
On the way back there was some delays but you can get those with planes as well. As for security, Amtrak staff walked around almost constantly and was very viligant. They also advise that all riders keep their eyes open. I never felt unsafe.
I plan on traveling by train again but I will most likely stick to shorter distances. Many of these comments are talking about crossing the country either east/west or north/ south and in that case flying may be cheaper. However for shorter distances, I encourage people to look into the train.
I remember as a kid standing at the train station watching the STL cardinals leave to play the Kansas City Royals in the World Series. I always thought it was neat how the two cities connect so easily.
I tend to get motion sickness when I try to read in cars, planes and other moving vehicles, but that was never the case on a train because the motion is back-and-forth, over and over, and that’s it. I read A LOT when I rode the train!
I love love love Amtrak! I take the train from Detroit to Chicago every few years to visit family and it has always been great. We just went in June with my 2 year old and she really enjoyed the trip. She had a very hard time going potty when the train was moving so we would just take her when we stopped at other stations. The train goes about 90 miles an hour from Grand Rapids into Chicago now which has shaved some time off the trip. It’s definitely a money saver for me, especially going to Chicago. You don’t have to worry about parking!
I included a whole sub-section about the train bathrooms in my eBook. 🙂 Yeah, I would try to only go during one of the frequent stops. Otherwise it’s like being in a phone booth during an earthquake. 🙂
You can read my train bathroom trips for free by going to http://plasticbackbooks.com/riding-the-train/ clicking on “add to cart” and typing MSMFreeRide in the discount code box. Maybe you could pass on some of your bathroom wisdom for me to include. 🙂
🙂 I do too – at first I was a little concerned on the train, but after we got out of the city it wasn’t a problem.
I am so appreciative to hear all of these positive Amtrak comments! My husband was laid off when the economy down turned, and Amtrak hired him shortly after that. He is based out of Los Angeles but travels all over the country. Most of the long haul trains will have the same service crew for the whole trip. Although there are always a few “bad seeds”, many Amtrak employees have been with the company for years and love what they do. Hopefully service areas and schedules will continue to improve as ridership improves.
I thought it was neat how you kind of get to know the crew as you go. I was curious how long they usually work? It sure seemed long.
The long haul trips (out of state) are four to six days. Then the crew will get about that many days off when the trip ends. So while it’s hard to manage when my husband is gone that long, we get some serious family time in when he is home! And I know many couples (military for example) that are apart for much longer, so I don’t complain:-)
In high school my Girl Scout troop took the train from Hampton, VA to Denver. We loved it! It took 3 1/2 days and we were delayed a bit, but it was cheaper than flying 16 girls plus 7 adults. We had enough time during our layover in Chicago to sight see and it was fantastic! We had the ability to move around, go to the scenic car, the snack bar, and have a meal in the dining car. Plus we could switch seats anytime so we didnt have to sit with the same person the whole time (this is important when you are 15!). I looked into the train for a trip we are taking in a few weeks from Louisiana to West Va, but it will take too long and we will need our car for part of the trip. We are going to plan a trip next summer though just to take the train, I think my kids (4 and 1) would love it! It is about the experience, not so much the cost and time invovled. If you can plan a train trip I highly recommend it, its an excellent way to travel.
“Plus we could switch seats anytime so we didnt have to sit with the same person the whole time (this is important when you are 15!).” Ha!
I liked this because you can move seats if you are near “loud cell phone talkers”. 🙂
Did you know you can make arrangements to take a car on the train? I would think you could pack extra luggage in it as well.
My husband and I have taken Amtrak 3 times over the last few years. We did it more for the train trip and scenery than to save money.
Some things we have learned is that the earlier you book a sleeper car, the cheaper it is. Also, when looking at the cost of a sleeper room, remember that it is not only your lodging for the night, but also pays for all your meals on the trip.
We have picked our last 2 trip routes to see scenery that you just can’t see via road or plan . We took one from Denver to Sacramento and took a train from St Paul (where we are from) to Seattle. We got to see amazing mountain views that were breath taking.
In some of the more scenic areas, they have park rangers on board in some of the cars to give information and stories on where your located.
We prefer trains over plans hands down! Now, we don’t have kids right now, so things may change later. But for now, Amtrak is a life saver.
Another time we have used Amtrak was when I went up to my parents 3 hours away and my husband wanted to join me later in the week. Instead of him driving yet another car up there, he took the Amtrak. It only cost $45 but saved us gas and wear on a second vehicle.
It is fun to get the maps and history from the park rangers – it’s like a field trip on rails! I talked to one older man who pointed out plants that he sells on e-bay. You can learn all sorts of stuff on the train.
When I was in college I would often use the train to go back to my parent’s place (since I did not have a car). I lived in a city the train went through, and it went to something close by my parent’s as well. I loved it even though it is a 3 hour trip. the conductor would wake you up for your stop, give you pillow and blanket. In coach that is. I think the sleepers make it more expensive. It’s not something for everyone that’s for sure.
I agree riding the train is not for everyone, specially since it’s not available everywhere or the connections might not make sense. Of course nobody wants to go cross country in it with 5 kids in tow but I’ll would recommend people to consider it if it seems like a reasonable option. If all the bad things you have to say about it are based simply on vage opinions rather than experiences it would be like saying you hate a certain restaurant where you never ate at. The subway doesn’t have security, yet since many many more people take it compared to Amtrak as far as I am concerned it’s much more likely to be a terrorist target.And I’m sorry but if your plane is going into the ocean the seat belt will probably be worth nothing (note I do not think airplanes are unsafe). I travelled alone once on Amtrak from Denver to Omaha overnight and do not remember anything that I did not like about the experience. It was clean, not to many people (quiet), I got to have all seats around me which were huge and it was cheaper than flying. The year after I went from Denver to Salt Lake City and it took 16 hours, sounds crazy but once the sun came up and it was going thru the Rockies along the Colorado River it was one of the most memorable travel experiences ever! I sat on the sightseeing car (windows from top to bottom, seats facing out) and saw amazing places and animals (including 7 bald eagles!!) that travelling by car or plane would never have allowed for that. I would highly recommend taking a even a stretch of that trip if you want somthing to remember for years to come! Try it, you might like it!
I would love to take the train from Denver to Glenwood Springs – I’ve driven that route many times, but would love to be able to look around without keeping my eyes on the road – so pretty!
I thought the train was a cool idea for me and my husband to go to Chicago for the weekend. When I started to look up prices and found that it was only 27.00 round trip pp I thought that was awesome. Even the business class was only 9.00 more. So after discussing it we decided to go and I went to book the fair. As I got further into the reservations I found out that the “round trip” was really only one way and the return fair was even more than the trip there. So all and all they ended up wanting almost 200.00 for round trip business class and we was expecting only 72.00 for 2. Well, for a 6 hour trip by car we thought that was alot of money for a train and it seemed that the sight was deceiving.
FYI, I just checked again and the prices have double since then.
I have noticed that summer prices are much higher – try looking during the “school year” and at least three weeks in advance – also play around with the days of the week. If you find a fare you like, but aren’t ready to make a purchase make a phone reservation for it without using your billing info – they will lock that price in for you for 72 hours – no obligation.
I am so glad to hear these good reports about train rides. Tomorrow morning my husband will be taking the train from CO to WI. It was much cheaper than a flight (used a AAA discount). It will take more time to get home, but the money savings was worth it. Neither he or I have ever had a train ride before, so I am curious to see how it goes!
We have an Amtrack in our town and the kids are very interested in riding it, but looked at the schedule and it only comes through around 1 am in the morning!
What a surprise that would be if you put them in bed at night and they woke up on a train! 🙂
I am hoping that as Amtrak grows in popularity their schedules will expand.
I hope he has a good trip. If you want a free copy of my ebook click on the add to cart button and put MSMFreeRide in the discount code box that appears. Maybe it can help him know what to expect. 🙂
We just took the train from Chicago to Albany. No problems on the way there. We were warned that Amtrak is notorious for being late. They operate on the freight car tracks and are at their mercy for scheduling. On the way home, we had a 5 hour delay! There was no Wifi on either trip, we were without electricity for 2 hours of the delay. We ran out of food in the snack car and the dining car reservation person never even made it to our coach car. It was a frustrating day for both passengers and Amtrak staff. Thankful we were warned about the delays!
Sorry you had a bad experience. 🙁 Yes, there can be delays. I would come armed with extra snacks, layers and stuff to do. 🙂
I’ve got to agree. When I traveled from Portland to Utah in the summertime, it was pleasant on the ways there – roomy, quiet, only 30 minutes late. Coming home was another story. I called 30minutes before we left for the station and were told the train was on time – It was three hours late, packed unpleasant. By the time we arrived in Portland we were over 7 hours late and had spent the night sitting up on the train with no explanations. It can be fabulous, just go prepared for long delays with plenty of snacks, books and distractions for kids. I think when you’re prepared for the worst it never happens.
“I think when you’re prepared for the worst it never happens.” 🙂 How True. 🙂
I saw a headline today about people stranded at an airport for three days – yikes! I have definitely spent sometime sitting in concourses and on closed freeways, so I think anyway you go there can be delays.
On my train trip we went through freezing rain – which would have delayed a car or plane, so it seems like every option has it’s pros and cons.
Thanks for sharing your experience. 🙂
Why is no thorough security check and no seatbelts a benefit? I’m not understanding the thinking behind this….or maybe I’m reading into it? Hmm…..
im right there with you on the no security n seatbelts. I’ve commented twice about it. I don’t know. cheaper fare or my safety? hmmm I’ll take safety. my life trumps frugality. as does my familys. but hey thats me.
Stacy, trains are very safe. Whether planes or trains are safer depends on what metrics you use, but both are so much safer than traveling by car that it is scarcely worth comparing.
http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/explainer/2004/04/which_are_safer_trains_or_planes.html
as stated in a previous comment of mine, I lived in NYC on 9/11 so security hits home for me and i find it to be very inportant. trains are not for me and that is my opinion, not up for debate on this end. to each their own.
Everyone can have their own opinion, but your comment goes a step to far to suggest that those that choose to take their family on a train are choosing frugality over safety. That’s uncalled for and completely incorrect. As many have commented, this is subjective and the facts of the matter support Amtrak’s decision to not have seat belts/safety checks.
We all are trying to be frugal and trying to find fun and family friendly activities. There is no need for such negatively and cattiness.
Well said!
Thanks! Stacy edited her previous comment. Her previous comment said something like “for my family safety is more important than frugality”. I’m glad she edited it and realized it was inappropriate.
Kristen, I wanted to leave a comment on your blog, but am not sure how to. It is asking for a password. Can you let me know? Thanks. 🙂
I guess people have different views. Personally I feel there is less of a chance of me getting hurt on a train without a seat-belt than there is in a car with one. I was highlighting the point that on a train, you are free to move around from car to car. Your kids can walk around in the aisle – it is a much more relaxed atmosphere than on a plane.
Security check-points are a sensitive issue. All of us want to travel safely, but many of us have had bad experiences going through security check-points.
People train their children not to let strangers touch them, yet when they go to the airport this is sometimes a requirement to board a plane. It is a very sensitive issue. Many people – especially parents – are looking for ways to get from point A to point B without having to be touched in a way that they feel is inappropriate. Not everyone agrees on this issue, but for those who are looking for an alternative to airport screenings, the train is a good choice.
As I mentioned above, the sorts of criminal/terrorist activities that could take place on a train are not really any different than those that could take place at a shopping mall or office building, while planes have a unique and much greater element of risk because, unlike trains and buildings, they can be turned into weapons strong enough to bring down skyscrapers.
I lived on Long Island for four years and frequently took the Long Island Rail Road and NYC subways (every weekday for the last year), plus the Staten Island ferry, PATH train to NJ, and NYC bus at least once each. None of these options had security beyond the presence of conductors on board and police officers in the subway stations, but this was not an issue for me because I don’t expect airport-style security at shopping malls either.
And at least at the Chicago station, Amtrak does swab some passengers’ bags for explosive residue. (I don’t remember seeing this done in other cities where I’ve boarded Amtrak, including DC and NYC, but I may have overlooked it.)
We’re going to Disney World from Philadelphia next spring and are planning on taking Amtrak. Traveling with a 5 yo and 2 yo, we thought this option might be best. We’ve flown to Hawaii with our older child when he was 2.5 and it went well, but with 2 toddlers, we liked the idea of Amtrak. Plus we’re able to bring our vehicle with so we won’t have to rent a car down there.
Hope you have a fun trip! 🙂
If you live in the eastern half of the country you may want to consider the frugal option of megabus.com
Megabus is a great frugal option. I haven’t taken it myself, but have heard great things about it and the prices are very reasonable.
My family lives in California and our relatives live in Maryland. We are a family of four, with a 3-year-old (1/2 price) and a 1-year-old (free). Still, the only way that it is cheaper for us to travel by train is if we all sit up in seats for the 48-hour trip.
By airplane my 1-year-old still travels for free, and we get there in less than half the time. We’ll still have to sit up the whole way, but we can sleep in a bed when we arrive after one day’s travel. That seems less stressful to me than riding by train. Getting a room for a family of four would cause the price of taking the train to more than double that of a flight.
We tried Southwest Airlines for our last flight, and really enjoyed them. Your checked “bags fly free”, you get carry-on luggage too, and if you need to reschedule your flight there are no change fees. During our last flight we had gorgeous views of the Grand Canyon, Rocky Mountains, West Coast beaches, and the night lights of Las Vegas and Baltimore, Maryland.
I’m not sure what you mean about additional fees/taxes, but when I’ve paid for my flights in the past, I’ve never been asked to pay more later. However Amtrak warns that “Fares are not guaranteed until we provide you with a reservation confirmation” which sounds a little nebulous to me.
Anyhow, we haven’t decided against train travel completely, but as of yet, the advantages of train travel have not outweighed the advantages of air travel.
Round Trip Sacramento to Baltimore (November 14-November 28):
Driving: $850 gas (not including meals/sleeping arrangements/oil changes/wear on our truck)—3 days + each way
Train (seats only): $1060—48 hours, including 2 nights each way
Train (family room): $2821—48 hours, including 2 nights each way
Southwest Airlines: $1359—8-9 hours each way
As you can see we’ll only be out of town for two weeks, so the longer it takes us to travel there and back, the shorter our time with our relatives will be.
The amount of time you have, where you are traveling and who you are traveling with are all factors that each individual has to consider.
You wrote: “I’m not sure what you mean about additional fees/taxes, but when I’ve paid for my flights in the past, I’ve never been asked to pay more later.”
I didn’t mean you had to pay more later (after purchasing your ticket), I meant that when you first look at airline prices, they don’t always include the taxes and fees until you actually purchase the ticket – they have gotten better about this, though).
You wrote: “However Amtrak warns that “Fares are not guaranteed until we provide you with a reservation confirmation” which sounds a little nebulous to me.” I’m not sure what that statement means, either – I would guess it means that as the departure date nears, the price may change. They aren’t going to change your price once you have purchased a ticket, though. This is no different than it is for the airlines.
From what I have seen, purchasing at least 3 weeks before your departure helps keep costs down.
The seats do recline, but I can’t say it was the best sleep I’ve ever gotten. 🙂 Whatever way you decide to travel, I hope you enjoy your time together. 🙂
“Fares are not guaranteed until we provide you with a reservation confirmation” Amtrak pricing goes up as seats/sleepers are booked. It is based on percentage of open seats. I have had the site tell me that my session expired, when I logged back in the fare was slightly higher, luckily at the time I was just browsing rates for trips.
Thanks for clarifying that. 🙂
No seat belts? Oh boy! I love being thrown from moving vehicles if there’s an accident!
I took an Amtrak train that was 4 or 5 hours late, we went slower than by car, it was awful.
Sorry you had a bad experience. 🙁
When I first got on-board I instinctively looked for a seat-belt. When I thought about how few train accidents there are, I realized why they don’t have them. Seat-belt or not, I still feel like I am safer in regards to an accident traveling by train than by car, but I know what you mean.
haha between the no security and seatbelts, I think I’m good. no trains for me
We rode the train from Kansas City to Chicago and it was so much fun. It took a little over 8 hours for the entire trip (includes check-in, baggage and waiting in line to board) and cost less than $100 for 1 adult & 1 child!! If we were to fly, the actual flight would have only been an hour but when you calculate in parking & shuttle transport at the airport, waiting in line, baggage check-in, security clearance, delayed flights & baggage claim the time is probably about the same. It also would have cost more than double the cost of train tickets to fly.
We had a great time on the train enjoying scenery, playing uno & reading. We were also able to bring our own lunch and beverages. We will definitely be traveling by train again!
Isn’t it funny how the things that seem “slow” are actually about the same amount of time? I got so much accomplished on the train, too. It was like a mini-retreat on wheels – err, rails. 🙂
We have taken a train from NC to Orlando, Fl twice. The first time was when my children were 4 & 6. Going down was fun, but I don’t think any of us slept much in coach. Coming back home took 6 hours longer than expected, since there was a problem with the track. The toilets weren’t emptied, so the car was very stinky. Also there was a child coughing all night behind us, and my son came down with pneumonia a few days later.
Next train trip, my children were 12 & 14. Going down was pleasant, and it was nice traveling through so many towns and watching the landscape change. Coming back home though from Florida to NC, the car was so cold that night, the staff kept the a/c on even though it was winter.
So I don’t think we will travel by train again, unless we can afford a sleeper car.
Kids alert-on the train
remember the old toy still sold monkeys in the can (plastic tub)
pretty cheap and it is a game.
Every time we took the train we took this. Have the kids hang them from the light and watch the monkeys sway. Keeps kids entertained for HOURS.
Fun idea – I would think a puzzle would be fun – or even monopoly if you are on a train with tables.
I tell people to bring cough drops, so if there are any “coughers” you can hand them one and their germs won’t be as likely to be propelled in your direction. Yikes! At least if you are near a “cougher” on a train, you have a better chance of getting to move away from them than you do on a plane.
I would definitely bring layers if you are riding overnight – I brought a blanket, too.
Thanks for sharing your experiences. 🙂
After 20 years in the airline business, I HATE to fly, it just freaks me out, all the what if’s that can happen, and I don’t mean the really bad stuff I just mean the aggravating delays, air turbulence, getting all 3 kids to the potty while the carts are out……
We are heading out on vacation, I looked at all the types of transport except boat to get from Central Texas, Austin to Norther Kentucky (one of 3 cities). Driving was the cheapest and my preference, but husband nixed me driving alone with the kids for 2 days. The bus was an option but the departure times, 3am, were not okay with me. The train took 3 days and the cost was astronomical, the routes were way out of the way. So, we are flying with 1 connection in GA.
I have taken the bus 58 hours Calgary to Austin, TX .. it was fine but w/o the kids. And next time I am going to pack my own food.
I really wanted to take the train but….. I also checked out the train if we would go to DisneyLand and that was doable, looked great and the cost about the same as flying. I think I will just wait for the Pacific N.W. scenic ride from Alberta to British Columbia.
Just something romantic and exciting about train ride.
It is a great way to see the country. 🙂
Our family of 5 have become quite the train travelers.
While the price is negotiatable in savings, the ability to allow my children the freedom to move around is priceless. As is also the atmosphere. We were somewhere in Indiana when a young man less loose a stream of vulgerities that had me jumping to cover my children’s ears. The conductor walked over to the young man and let him know that traveling by train is a family friendly environment, and if he felt the need to continue his filth, he and his luggage would be left at the next stop, and no refund would be offered.
I once traveled from Kansas City to Chicago to Erie, PA, by myself, with a 4 month old, a 4 year old, and a 6 year old. The conductors made sure I had assistance moving luggage, gave my family priority boarding, and when we arrived in Chicago well into the night, instead of sending my children & I off to a waiting area, there was a gentleman with a motorized cart awaiting our baggage and us. He took us straight to our train, where we were boarded and settled into our bedroom 2 hours before our train was scheduled to depart. My babies were showered and asleep long before we left the station.
A frugal thought to keep in mind: there is a window to buy tickets that is cheaper than if you wait to last minute or plan too far in advance. Veterans are offered a discount. If you travel first class, this includes bedrooms, all your meals are included. And, in the event you need a ticket changed last minute, a smiling and friendly employee will make the needed adjustments, while insuring that you will not miss your connecting train. I know from expierence 😉
And, because I can’t say enough good things about train travel, remember, it’s not the destination, but the journey. And a journey in a spacious seat, aboard a gently rocking rail car, with a fabulous view, sure beats the snot out of a tiny seat, turbulance, and getting strip searched. Just saying.
You crack me up. Seriously, being able to recline your reclining seat without feeling like a jerk is a beautiful thing, isn’t it?
All the kids that I saw on the trains I rode seemed much more content than they do on airlines. I would think any parent would prefer train travel to strapping their kids in and shushing at them while waiting on a tarmac any day. 🙂
I do not like the fact of no security screening. In this day and time, it’s very much needed.
If your train is traveling during daytime hours or you don’t mind sleeping in coach, I agree with you – the train is easy, inexpensive and fun. You can even pack all kinds of snacks and food to bring along with you, and they don’t mind at all.
But the sleeper cars are very expensive, and trying to get small children to sleep in coach is an adventure I never wish to repeat! 😉
🙂
They don’t have security screening at malls or grocery stores either, yet I never feel unsafe in those places.
That’s true, they don’t. But travelling by train is a form of transportation and who would dare get on a commercial airplane without going through security? I’m only referring to forms of travel, not our every day life activities.
Planes and trains are both forms of transportation, but they are not at all similar in their potential to be turned into weapons. If someone wants to bring down a skyscraper and kill at least a thousand people, a hijacked plane has unfortunately been proven quite effective, but while I haven’t done the physics, I seriously doubt anyone could do the same with a much slower train that is not designed to keep moving if it somehow gets off of its track. Obviously they could still set off a bomb on a train and kill the passengers, which would of course be terrible; however they could cause as many or more deaths by setting off a bomb in a shopping mall (or, sadly, an office building), which is why I consider the risks about equal in each situation. The don’t have security screening on public ferries either (even the ones passengers can drive their cars onto) probably for similar reasons (although I suppose a hijacked ferry could theoretically be rammed into another boat, or possibly even a waterfront building).
Plus they do swab at least some bags at train stations and test the swabs for explosive residue. This seems a reasonable, quick, and fairly non-invasive precaution to take, although again I wonder why people support it without finding it necessary for other areas where large groups of people gather.
Well said.
I completely agree with you on the security. i was living in NYC when 9/11 happened so maybe thats why I’m more concerned with that kind of thing. being in nj now n growing up here, there’s always kind of a “high alert” sense of awareness in this area ever since then. not as much as back then, but still in the back of the mind. I don’t mind going thru security checks when my safety is concerned.
I’ll likely do this to go from Ann Arbor to Milwaukee next month.
To fly: $365
To drive @ 30 mpg 766 miles = $94 in gas plus nebulous wear and tear on car …
To take the train (1 person) = $110 – AAA discount
Of course, the more that are in your party, the less cost efficient it becomes.
Thanks for sharing your cost breakdown. People forget that the cost of driving is not the cost of gas. Irs.gov averages .55 cents per mile – driving is VERY expensive!
The cost of airfare has stopped me from flying… ever. The first and only time I’ve been on a plane was at 6 months old when my parents took me to Utah for a few weeks to spend some time with my grandparents. I grew up in Maine and went to college in upstate New York, so I took the Greyhound from Brunswick, ME to Syracuse, NY a few times a year. I looked into the train, but the timing didn’t work out… People made fun of me for not traveling by air (which I thought was strange that anyone would even CARE how I traveled!) but when I told them the cost, they stopped laughing at me. A round trip ticket, if purchased 21 days in advanced, was somewhere around $150. I didn’t mind spending 10 hours on a bus, though. I brought a book, an mp3 player, and took plenty of naps 🙂
My husband has to travel 2x/mth for work and chooses to take Amtrak over flying every time. He’s been doing this for a year and says he’ll never fly again if he doesn’t have to.
Also, on the NE coast, Amtrak has a train called Acela Express, it’s faster then driving or flying.
🙂 Thanks for the tip. My trip was so much more laid back than flying.
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Whenever we’ve priced it out, it hasn’t been cheaper at all. In fact, flying has been cheaper than by train. And, driving ($300 gas) vs. $1500 on Amtrak is a lot better deal. Also, by train is slower than just driving. If I were travelling alone, I think it might be a better deal. With a family of 5, it’s tough to beat driving a vehicle. The AAA discount was $100. However, a train may be more fun though.
When I considered driving I was also thinking about the wear and tear on my vehicle (irs.gov averages .55 cents per mile including gas – which would have been well over a thousand dollars for me). I was traveling alone and didn’t need a car when I got to my destination, so that is something to consider.
Your right, it was slower, but very enjoyable.
I checked 2 different routes that I am likely to travel by flight- Phoenix/Denver and Phoenix/Detroit. Both were more expensive and longer travel times than either flying or driving. The trip to Detroit was 71 hours for what I know to be a 36 hour drive or 4-5 hour flight). When I was in college years back my now husband took a Greyhound from Detroit to Dayton, OH to see me. A 4 hour drive was 7+ hours by Greyhound. For shorter trips I can see Amtrak being a possibility, but every route I tried said my selected stops weren’t available.
I am hoping they will expand their routes. Going north to Denver doesn’t have many options yet – hopefully that will change.
Our family of 5 (the youngest was under 2) traveled from Portland to Chicago last fall. I was able to get a great deal for the family sleeper, it was only $1800 round trip and it included all our meals (gratuity not included) for the 2 days on the train.
We would definitely travel again by train regardless of whether or not we had a sleeper, but it sure did make it nice with a toddler.
I have heard great things about the sleeper cars being comfortable.
I did the sleeper car once years ago and at that time anyway, only one person had to pay for the sleeper car and the rest in the room can pay coach and share the room. that is a great way to save money. I even got the free meals from the first class sleeper even though I only payed coach.
I think now everyone pays for a coach fare and then there is one flat fare for the sleeper car – I don’t know if there is a limit to how many people you are allowed to have in a room, but it does sound more economical if it is shared. I’ve gotta sell some e-books before I can afford to stay in one, though. 🙂
I enjoyed the time I took the train. I did find that not all locations could be accessed by train in a reasonable time (ie, having to take a 24-hour roundabout way to get to your destination) but if your destination is easily accessible by train it’s an awesome way to go.
We have enjoyed using the train for short day-trips for one parents + one of our kids to celebrate a birthday. But those who live in locations far-removed from terminals will find that they do a lot of car driving to get to the Amtrak station. Plus, here in Illinois the Amtrak seems to have been severely cut. For us to travel by train means that all tracks must go through Chicago (5 hours north of us), and then the layovers are very long. It seems that the benefits of Amtrak might depend on where you live.
I definitely agree with this. Hopefully Amtrak will build up its routes again. I live about ten minutes from a station, so for me, it works, but I have looked into trips in certain areas and can’t understand why certain destinations don’t connect.
I’m currently in St. Louis, and it is indeed ridiculous that to take the train to New Orleans, I’d have to connect in Chicago! However, taking the train to Chicago itself is great. It takes no longer than driving, especially considering Chicago traffic, and while flying might save an hour or two (depending on check-in, security, and boarding time), the train is a much more pleasant experience. Round trip for 2 adults is about $100. There have been some service disruptions over the past year because of the high-speed upgrades, but the worst of those are supposed to be over by September, and when it’s all completed in 2014 or so the trip time will be cut down by at least an hour. (It’s too bad that even the “high-speed” route will only get up to 110 mph — I don’t know why they didn’t go for the 200+ technology.)
I agree that a lot of the connections to points north of Chicago don’t make sense, but a few of them work (St. Louis to Milwaukee — several departure times with layovers around 30 minutes; or Grand Rapids to St. Louis — layover long enough to get out of the station and get deep-dish pizza and still arrive home in time for dinner; however, St. Louis to Grand Rapids only works if you’re ok with getting in at 10 pm, which I wasn’t.)
Deep Dish?!? I’m an Imo’s thin crust girl myself. 🙂
I can’t fathom why they don’t have a route from STL to Denver. Hopefully they will start adding routes. Most of the people I met on the train were disillusioned with flying – I think train travel is going to grow in popularity.
We’ve used the train to get back to my parent’s house, but it has never been cheaper than driving, even counting the sometimes inevitable hotel stay and the need to take a gas guzzling 4WD vehicle in the frozen north. We have a family of four, so this may have some impact, but driving is usually half the cost for us. Taking the train is much less stress than driving, though, and the kids love it!
Thanks for the insight. 🙂
I love traveling by train! I took Amtrak in December to get home to see my family – it was a great experience.
I am gluten free, which did present it’s own challenges because Amtrak does not “cater” to any specific dietary needs. I managed to survive, though – here’s a post about how I did it:
http://ourfrugalhappylife.blogspot.com/2011/12/traveling-by-train-when-youre-gluten.html
Thanks for the post – I have food sensitivities, too, so planning ahead is always good. (Train bathrooms aren’t the best place to spend the trip!) 🙂
The food on the trains is NOT cheap – I would encourage people to bring their own whether they have allergies or not.
I took the Amtrak from Grand Rapids, MI to Denver, CO this past winter. It was so much fun (I travelled by myself and met some really cool people). It is so much more relaxed and more roomy than by plane. I would disagree with one part of the article – only because there are limited stations/lines. From Grand Rapids to Chicago – there is no checked backage allowed and you are only allowed 2 carry-ons – BUT their carry-on baggage size is VERY generous. I packed for a two week trip and 35 Lbs of my luggage was all items that my sister left behind when she moved out there. Also, on both lines – from GR to Chicago and from Chicago to Denver there was no WiFi available. When I went a round trip tix for me was $270 (around the same – if not a little cheaper than flying) – however NOW, when I’ve looked at booking another trip it would cost me over $400! Cheaper to fly now 🙁 If they hadn’t raised their prices – I would totally travel by Amtrak again – especially by myself!
I agree on a few things, Angela –
Some lines do not allow checked baggage, which means you manage it yourself on the train and during all switches at stations. That’s not so bad when you’re alone, but it’s something to consider if you’re in a group, especially one with small children.
And not all lines have wireless – only some. And it has to be working for it to be utilized! 🙂
One other thing – Amtrak does offer a AAA discount (10% I think), which can help with the cost.
Thanks for the heads up on the Wi-Fi and Checked Bags. 🙂
Your right about prices. It seems like Amtrak is higher in the summer (I wrote the article a few months ago).
And you can get discount on tickets (student, AAA, etc..)
great tip 🙂
Tell Jody to add to her book that if your moving the train offers transport of additional packages at great prices we shipped 6 boxes along with our family at very low cost we also brought our car.
Thanks for the tip – I mentioned that you can move your cars this way, but I didn’t know about additional packages.
Really depends on where you live. East and West are best, but going North and South are rough. All trains go through Chicago with long layovers. Took 14 hours to go from Detroit to Indianapolis…….a 6 hour drive. But years ago I went from Mi to Oregon, over the Rockies!!!!! Quite an interesting if not harrowing trip!