NFR Taking the train instead of driving...

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Josh

Josh

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I can't remember the last time I traveled by train in the USA. Probably somewhere on the east coast. NY/DC or something.

But I'm currently on the Amtrak Cascades heading down to fish with Evan. It's an interesting experience. 20 minutes late out of the gate. Something to do with Fraser river boat traffic and the border (Cascades starts/ends in Vancouver, BC). I guess that's a fairly common occurrence. Train isn't packed, but it's more full than I would have expected. Mixed bag of folks. Fair number of traveling Canadians, some folks obviously heading to the city for business, and some just needing a cheap way to get from A>B that isn't the bus. The train isn't as nice as the ones I've ridden in Europe. But I guess that's to be expected given that America doesn't put much money into its passenger rain system. And perhaps for good reason, the size of this country makes anything larger than regional rail travel a slow and expensive way to get around. Easier and cheaper to fly if you're going that far. Wifi is absolute garbage, I've resorted to tethering through my phone. But at least the charging outlets work. just regular wall plugs though, no USB.

I do enjoy the sound and rhythm of the train though. It's relaxing in a way that air travel can never be. And you don't get that "trapped in a tube" feeling. I am sitting in a rear facing seat though, which is a little odd. Reminds me of the "wayback" station wagon seats from the 70's.

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I've taken that train from Portland to seattle twice and Vancouver BC to Edmonds, definitely a relaxing way to travel, especially if your in the Bar!
 
mcswny said:
How much was the ticket @Josh and how long was the trip?
@Evan B cooking ya pizza or what?
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$15 if you can believe that. This ticket was a little cheaper because it was easier to get picked up in Vancouver. PDX seems to add a chunk more onto the price. In general, they seem to range from around $15 to like $75 depending on where/when. Trip should take about 6 hours, was a little slower because of the delay.
 
I used to travel by train in college and beyond. I'm with Josh. It's really relaxing, efficient, cost effective, and filled with great scenery you don't get to see. It's a great way to travel. I'm as much a car American as the next but if offered the respite from traffic and stress on the train I'll take it.
 
I like trains. When I first moved here we lived in Mukilteo and my office was in Seattle at 4th and Pike. The Sounder train was a great way commute! But now we live in Mill Creek and our office moved to Fremont. Public transit here to there is a huge hassle, far easier and quicker to drive, unfortunately. If there was a good, easy train I'd take it all the time.
 
Public transportation is for the poors. Sack up and get a cyber truck will ya?

I rode BART trains a lot growing up in the Bay Area. I wouldn't call it relaxing(rarely got to sit), but it sure was satisfying going past miles of bumper to bumper traffic at 50mph.
 
Going to Norway this summer we are probably going to take the train from Oslo to Trondheim rather than the extra flight or driving. The train route does not follow the highway and traverses a part of the country that can,t be seen any other way. It parallels the shore of the largest lake in Norway for over an hour and climbs mountain several passes. Should be an interesting way of getting from point A to point B.
 
For me, traveling in Europe was pretty much all by train. Fast, easy, cheap, enough local and sub-regional lines to get you pretty much anywhere you wanted to be. My favorite was the Paris to Brussels hi-speed train, although 200mph is a bit disconcerting when you only have a lateral window view.
Too bad we can't get enough of our collective shit together for a better non-car transportation system here.
 
I used to take the shuttle from Eburg-> King St Station in downtown Seattle and then Amtrak down to PDX for multi day meetings and conferences. The shuttle was reliable. Had a few several-hours type delays on the train. But it was cool when it was working.
 
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Rode the overnight milk run from Omaha to Denver on seats resembling park benches. 1969.
 
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