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Columnists Laud Amtrak Experience
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Three newspaper columns this week are singing the praises of American intercity passenger trains, enumerating their many advantages over driving and flying.
The Boston Globe’s Rebecca Ostriker tried the Lake Shore Limited from Boston to Chicago, and made a video to complement her article. She waxes poetic about the journey:
Tucking yourself into a bunk next to your own picture window, the landscape unfurling a wordless bedtime story, is a marvelous sensation. You hear the rumbling rails, the bells ding-dinging at train crossings, an occasional faint, distant whistle. As night falls, there are no more announcements over the loudspeaker, just the train rocking quietly. You linger on the views, even if all you can see are the black shadows of trees slipping away, silhouetted under the moon and stars.
She continues, describing the spontaneous camaraderie that is unique to dining and lounge cars:
You’ll surely find some kindred spirits. But it’s a funny thing, presenting yourselves to a new set of companions, one meal after another. How do you tell your own story? While you digest how others come across, you may ultimately find yourself reflecting on the show you’ve just put on. Who were we just now, for couples one, two, and three?
Mike and Liz Busch of Vancouver, British Columbia, write:
McClatchy’s Roger Rapoport explains why he chose Amtrak over flying:From the start the rails exposed us to the forests and mountains of the Northwest, dreamy waterfront vistas of Puget Sound, interspersed with grimy industrial back lots, sleepy little towns and a fascinating peek in to America’s back yard.
Looking back, we found the entire rail trip to be an inexpensive yet civilized mode of travel especially suited to those not rushing to the next meeting or bound by a stopwatch existence.
Airlines make a big deal out of the fact that they waive some cancellation penalties when it’s their fault. But they are quick to add a hefty up charge when passengers have a change of plans. Amtrak’s change and cancellation fees are either minuscule or nonexistent.For a long time, many frequent riders considered Amtrak to be the best-kept secret in American travel. Now, happily, it seems that the cat is out of the bag.I’ll be the first to admit that Amtrak isn’t perfect. But on the whole train service appears to be improving. During my regular weekly trips over the past two months only one of my trains was delayed a mere 45 minutes, though several others were early.
—Malcolm Kenton
Posted by Malcolm Kenton
Tags: amtrak, columnists, driving, enjoyable, flying, intercity, journey, long-distance, newspaper, passenger train, relaxing, sleeping car, travel,©2010 National Association of Railroad Passengers | » NARP website
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