Tampa Rays wear fedoras, ride train to Boston

[Tomasso]

There's a certain distance range, maybe under 500 miles, where train can save you time. .

Well, it's gotta be around 100 miles. Example.......Chicago-Cleveland= 312 miles. Amtrak has 3 trains per day: One takes 5h 49m and the other two take 7h 05m. The airlines offer a total of 20 flights per day with a flight time is 1h 14m.

 

[David Conwill]

Tomasso, that's not a pure comparison, though; because D. Hermann's example was based on the hassles of flying due to transfers and security - which is probably not accounted for in the flight times you quoted. Although this may soon become a moot point, as I understand they're beefing up Amtrak security now.

-Dave

 

[Tomasso]

Tomasso, that's not a pure comparison, though; because D. Hermann's example was based on the hassles of flying due to transfers and security - which is probably not accounted for in the flight times you quoted.

Sorry, I thought that the standard 90 minute early arrival was understood and that people could do their own math.


Here: 90m + 74m= 2h 44m vs. 5h 49m/7h 05m.

 

[dhermann1]

I just know that when I used to go from New York to Buffalo, the train was only a little longer, and much pleasanter. And yes, all those highjackings and bombings on Amtrak trains have obviously made beefed up security a necessity. They'll probably scan people when they get off instead of on, as they recently did somewhere on a bus line.

 

[Tomasso]

I just know that when I used to go from New York to Buffalo, the train was only a little longer, and much pleasanter. .

There's like a 5 hour difference between train and plane (90min early arrival included).......I think that you enjoy train travel so much that time literally flies......

 

[sheeplady]

Tomasso, that's not a pure comparison, though; because D. Hermann's example was based on the hassles of flying due to transfers and security - which is probably not accounted for in the flight times you quoted. Although this may soon become a moot point, as I understand they're beefing up Amtrak security now.

-Dave

I think it depends on how bad the security procedures are at your airport. Our local airport is small, and although you are much more likely to get a pat down, shoes/ liquids swabbed, or your bag searched (everyone practically gets something), you can get through security in under 10-15 minutes because the line is short. If you're not checking a bag and are already checked in, you don't need to plan on getting there more than an hour from when your flight takes off- which means you walk in the door, do security, and within 5 minutes of arriving at your gate, you can board.

Although I'd prefer to travel by train, I couldn't do so if I needed to be someplace at a specific time for something important without leaving a day in advance. Because if something does happen, the next train isn't coming for a long time- often 24 or more hours later- and many of the smaller stations close overnight (which is a hassle, as there often aren't hotels near these stations).

That being said, I like the train- it is more pleasant.