Originally Posted by
jefmcg
OK, now I understand why no one travels by train in America. Carry on allowances? Checked luggage? You may as well fly.
Originally Posted by
mulveyr
These are all very recent, actually, and are a reaction to increased ridership.
Being from London, jefmcg can be forgiven for not being aware that he is repeating a sound bite from the anti-rail, anti-bike-as-transportation, anti-walking lobby. Other than that crowd, now-a-days when someone says "no one travels by train", they are usually being sarcastic, mimicking someone who couldn't find the nearest train station if they had to.
Train travel in the Northeast, at least, is still at least a megaflopdoodle times better than flying.
Not just the Northeast. I just returned from a bike ride from Chicago to north of Milwaukee and back. To get home I took the Illinois Zephyr. Despite a 6th car being added to the train, it was still crowded. And Quincy, at 40,000 population is the largest stop on the line.
I have to admit that I regret not having used Amtrak more for bike tours while the service was less popular...
Yeh, the last time we took City of New Orleans, the luggage rack in the sleeper was full; and the attendant had to put our folders in the handicap room.
If you are flexible, check out
Amsnag to try to avoid high bucket fares.