All articles tagged with #train travel
A sister duo rides Amtrak’s California Zephyr for 53 hours from Chicago to California in a roomette. Daytime travel is comfortable and the dining car meals are surprisingly good, with scenic views from Illinois to Colorado and beyond. But nighttime sleep is difficult in the bunk setup and sharing a bathroom adds to the roughness. They’d consider another trip, but only shorter or with a larger room and private bath.
A Business Insider reporter details a 30-hour journey from New York to Miami on Amtrak, highlighting the features of a $500 private roomette, including beds, a toilet, and smart storage, making efficient use of limited space and providing a more comfortable alternative to coach.
A Business Insider reporter reviews a 30-hour Amtrak trip from New York to Miami in a $500 private roomette, highlighting its compact yet well-utilized space, amenities, and personal experience of the journey.
This holiday season is expected to be the busiest in 24 years in the Philadelphia region, with 1.4 million people traveling, mostly by car, though some opt for trains due to snow and winter weather conditions. Despite snow slowing roads, travel is expected to improve later in the evening, with lighter traffic on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Amtrak is launching its new NextGen Acela high-speed trains on August 28, connecting Boston, New York City, and Washington, D.C., with more trains, increased capacity, modern amenities, and a focus on American manufacturing as part of a broader fleet modernization plan.
Amtrak is launching its NextGen Acela high-speed train on August 28, aiming to modernize and expand its rail services across the US and parts of Canada, enhancing travel experiences for passengers.
Train travel between France and the UK has resumed after a surprise strike by French workers at Eurotunnel ended. The strike caused significant disruptions on the London-Paris route, with some trains having to return to Paris. The French government called the strike "unacceptable," and thousands of travelers were stranded at the Gare du Nord terminal in Paris. The strike was over bonus pay, and the trade unions rejected a payment of 1,000 euros, demanding it be tripled. French Transport Minister Clement Beaune called for an immediate solution, and Eurostar advised travelers to postpone their journeys if possible.
The Dogu Express, also known as the Eastern Express, has become a popular tourist route in Turkey, offering stunning scenery and off-the-beaten-path treasures. The 30-hour sleeper train journey from Ankara to Kars sells out within minutes, making tickets highly coveted. The train passes through picturesque landscapes, including the Stone Road in Dark Canyon and the vast Anatolian heartland. The final destination, Kars, is known for its winter wonderland landscape and unique architecture. Visitors can explore historical sites like the medieval city of Ani and experience the warm hospitality of the eastern regions of Turkey.
A mother and her 11-year-old son embarked on a 27-hour train journey from Boston to St. Louis via Amtrak, booking a private bedroom and two roomettes for added comfort. Despite the cost, the experience was deemed a fun bonding adventure, with the spacious bedroom and comfortable roomettes providing ample space for relaxation and entertainment. Access to the Amtrak lounge and the convenience of onboard amenities made the journey enjoyable. The mother recommends considering the time commitment and potential delays when planning a long train trip, but overall, she found the Amtrak experience to be an excellent way to travel and would do it again.
Brightline, a passenger train service in Florida, has officially launched its service to and from Orlando International Airport. The inaugural train journey from Miami to Orlando marked a major milestone for the company, which has been operating trains between Miami and West Palm Beach since 2018. The train offers modern amenities such as power outlets and high-speed Wi-Fi. Despite a delay and safety concerns, the experience was described as fantastic, and Brightline has plans for further expansion to Tampa and a Los Angeles-to-Las Vegas route.
Nat Read, an 84-year-old traveler who has visited all seven continents and both the North and South Poles, has completed his goal of riding every mile of the Amtrak rail network, totaling about 21,000 miles. He didn't set out to achieve this feat, but four years ago, he realized how close he was to completing the entire network and marked each leg he hadn't finished. Read finds a unique magic in train travel, appreciating the scenic views and the sense of connection it brings.
Amtrak is speeding up trains and eliminating the need to transfer at some stations in the Midwest, with higher-speed trains already running between St. Louis and Chicago. Upgrades along some 300 miles of tracks cost an estimated $2 billion and have been in the works for years. Federal lawmakers have allocated some $66 billion for improvements to passenger and freight train lines over the next five years as part of the bipartisan $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act signed by President Joe Biden in 2021.
France has passed a law banning some domestic flights and encouraging travelers to take the train instead, with flights that can be replaced by a train journey of under two-and-a-half hours to be scrapped. Critics say the ban will have a negligible effect on carbon emissions, and there are a number of caveats that severely limit its scope. An exception in the ban allows flights with a transfer to continue to operate, and that has led to some convoluted routes that take much longer than a direct flight or a train — and mean even more harmful emissions in takeoff and landing.
France has banned domestic short-haul flights when alternative train journeys exist, in an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The law prohibits public internal flights between French destinations when a train journey of under 2 hours and 30 minutes is available. The flight substitution applies only when train travel "provides a satisfactory alternative service." The ban is a "global first that is fully in line with the Government's policy of encouraging the use of modes of transportation that emit fewer greenhouse gases."
France has banned short domestic flights for journeys that can be completed in two-and-a-half hours by train in an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Only three routes have been discontinued, and connecting flights will be unaffected. Critics have pointed out that high-speed train lines were already draining passengers away from airlines and that the ban pays lip service to climate concerns without really doing anything about them.