(05-03-2021 02:14 PM)UofMstateU Wrote:  

(05-03-2021 01:14 PM)Hambone10 Wrote:  The problem with Amtrak is simple.

It costs too much and takes too much time as compared to bus, air or car. There are a FEW routes where it could make sense.,..
DC to NYC 5/21... $87 non-stop American Airlines 1:12
DC to NYC 5/21... $79 Amtrak 2:28

Is an hour of your time not worth $8?

How about this?
FlixBus, $20 4:40 but you're also in Midtown, not Newark.

DC to LA?? Hou? Chi? Not even in the conversation.


SOMEONE please tell me what the point of a subsidy is if it still doesn't make the event competitive??

For most of the country, the routes are stupid. If I wanted to go to Vegas or the west coast out of Memphis, I have to travel to Chicago or New Orleans first. I'd have to do that if I wanted to go to little rock. There is no west west corridor out of west tn.

So, if I want to go to Vegas, its a two day trip that costs more than if I flew and got there in four hours.

You can argue that you have to do the same for some smaller cities on Airplanes, UM.. (although i agree with your point about larger destinations.)

That being said, I don't have an issue with a 1 train changeover like that for that reason.

Quote:Also, some destinations will require you to get off of the train and take a bus ride. For the price of first class, you get to travel part of the way in a sewer smelling bus.

Yep, because otherwise, EVERY city in the states would have to have some form of railroad track/station involved. Imagine the nightmare of that kind of situation if you thought about it.

Quote:Its as if board members of Amtrak who came up with this setup spent a lot of time smoking crack and getting pegged by hookers.

Again, I'm one of those who enjoys the train travel over airplanes, despite the time differences... I prefer having leg space, and taking my time to my destination!

But everyone knows that the designers of the system always planned for it to be Big City to Big City and not for the average traveler in some little town off the beaten path, and the government should quit trying to push it as such.

(05-04-2021 09:03 AM)DaSaintFan Wrote:  But everyone knows that the designers of the system always planned for it to be Big City to Big City and not for the average traveler in some little town off the beaten path, and the government should quit trying to push it as such.

Same principle as pushing mass transit on everyone. The Memphis area doesn't have a subway system and I am fairly certain that hardly anyone would ride if they did. I've been to NYC and ridden the subway. John Rocker was 100% accurate. Couldn't imagine having to get around town like that every day. Especially in Memphis. God only knows who or what would get on and sit down next to you. Hop in my truck, go where I want, when I want and with only those people I want with me. Fresh air and freedom all around.

No doubt foreign leaders are laughing at Biden's speeches. But to me, posing in front of that Acela train is a bigger joke. That thing goes fast for about 20 miles worth of actual high-speed track, and the rest of the time creeps along at less than a third the speed of the rest of the worlds high speed rail. Even where it makes sense Amtrak can't get it right.

(05-04-2021 09:15 AM)MemTigers1998 Wrote:  Hop in my truck, go where I want, when I want and with only those people I want with me. Fresh air and freedom all around.

Yeah, but I like having cute train attendants (and I've had some cute ones.. and some not so good looking ones) check in on me from time to time :)

(05-04-2021 09:42 AM)DaSaintFan Wrote:  

(05-04-2021 09:15 AM)MemTigers1998 Wrote:  Hop in my truck, go where I want, when I want and with only those people I want with me. Fresh air and freedom all around.

Yeah, but I like having cute train attendants (and I've had some cute ones.. and some not so good looking ones) check in on me from time to time :)

I'll settle for a cute wife in some cut off jeans with her hair blowing in the wind. If train attendants are like airline stewardesses, well lets just say most are not very attractive and more and more seem to be male.