Never traveled by train? Have a little extra travel time? Then consider taking a train trip across America. Need to get from Boston to Washington, D.C. quickly? The train may be your best option. Tired of the hassle of air travel? Trips by car getting too expensive for your budget?, There may be some train travel in your future.
History
Most Americans point to the driving of that final golden spike in 1869 at Promontory Summit, Utah, as the beginning of rail travel in the United States. Though that event did signal the completion of the first transcontinental railroad, there were fledgling local rails about 40 years earlier. At the height of train travel in 1920, an astounding 1.2 billion passengers were transported in the United States., Along came the automobile and the Great Depression, during which train travel tumbled. Yet Amtrak (which was created in by Congress in 1970) estimates that it carried more than 25 million passengers in 2007.
Types and Geography
Amtrak trains serve long-distance travelers across the U.S.A. Regional services include the Acela Express train in the Northeast and the Auto Train from Washington, D.C. to Orlando, Fla. Adventure train trips are becoming popular ways to see America’s diverse landscapes. Grand Luxe Rail, Grand Canyon Railway and the Southwest Chief are among a traveler’s many options. Local metro rail services--like New York’s MTA, Florida’s Tri-Rail and New Mexico’s Rail Runner Express--carry commuters between home and work.
Features
Considerations
For the best travel options, make your trip, dining and sleeper-car reservations well in advance. Be aware that there may not always be train service to your destination. There are many gaps in service. For instance, you can’t travel from Flagstaff, Az., to Las Vegas by train. Amtrak offers train service to Los Angeles and then to Las Vegas by bus.
Benefits
Train travel is more comfortable, and many times more economical, than travel by air. You can relax and walk around without waiting for the seat belt sign to go out. Long-distance trains offer food service in the dining car, or you can bring your own food. On a train trip, you’ll be able to enjoy the scenery, like the fall foliage in New England or the national parks and mountains of the West. For passengers on regional lines in the East, train trips are much faster and less stressful than the same trip by air or car.
Resources
New edition of "USA by Rail"
Amtrak
Grand Canyon Railway
Grand Luxe Rail Journeys
By: Marilyn Crain
Marilyn Crain has been writing for 10 years and became a full-time freelance writer after retirement. Her interest in travel writing was sparked when she moved to the Southwest. She has had travel articles published on the Internet at About.com, BellaOnline and The Coconino Chronicles blog.
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