Which would you choose between, let's say, NYC and DC?

[Stinky The Clown]

An airplane cabin?


A semi-high-speed Acela train?


Or even an older (former) Metroliner trainset?

[Ian David]

1. If the Acela train only cost $50 each way, I'd take the train.

If it cost less than the plane ticket, I'd at least consider taking the train.

[Travis_0004]

3. Due to cost, the train is almost certainly cheaper

Amtrak takes almost 3 hours to get there as of now. The airplane would probably take 30 minutes. Granted one will spend 2 hours in airport security, but if all else was equal, I would fly.

[Ian David]

5. The train costs about twice as much as the plane last time I checked.

Just looked it up.

The Non-Acela is now down to $90 if you leave at 3:25 PM and arrive at 11:25 PM.

The Acela starts $128 each way. Leaves 11:15 AM and arrives 5:47 PM.

[Captain Hilts]

16. I read recently that it's cheaper to fly between London and Edinburgh. How crazy is that? nt

[LibertyLover]

22. Having both flown up to Edinburgh from London and taken the train

I'll take the train every time. It's not that much more expensive. And with the train you are dropped off right in the middle of Edinburgh with no need to collect your luggage from the carousel or go through security checks. And you can arrive 10 minutes before the train leaves and still make it on - I know because I've done that. Yes, the GNER train takes longer than the BA flight, but with the flight you have to factor in the time you need to arrive before the flight to get through security and the time it takes to deplane, get your luggage and get in to Edinburgh. It evens out and the train may actually be a bit quicker. And the coastline route is lovely, not to mention seeing Durham cathedral from the train and running right through the ruins of Carlyle castle on the train.

[Captain Hilts]

23. Which airport out of London do you take to E Burgh?

[LibertyLover]

28. The time I flew up to Edinburgh we went out of Heathrow

We had flown over to London from Baltimore, but technically we were flying Baltimore to Edinburgh - we just had to change planes in Heathrow. But the flight up from London to Edinburgh was purely a domestic flight. I know that you can fly up from Gatwick and I would imagine Stanstead as well - although I've never gone into Stanstead so I don't know that much about it.

[Ian David]

31. Plus, you're really not SUPPOSED to, but you can bring your own booze on the train. n/t

[Stinky The Clown]

6. If you consider door to door travel time, the train is almost always faster

[Captain Hilts]

18. Getting into the city from LaG or Newark can take some serious time. nt

[zipplewrath]

2. Price?

I have to make these decisions every year when I travel in Europe. Cost and schedule drive the decision.

[Happyhippychick]

4. I make this trip several times per year.

I hate flying because 1) you can't stand up between DC and NYC (no pee pee breaks); 2) you end up in Queens and I always need to be in Manhattan; 3) delays, delays, delays. If I have to take the shuttle I will but it's not my first choice.

I LOVE the train! I don't often take the Acela because it is a fortune and it only saves 20 minutes over the metroliner however it is very nice and very comfy. If money wasn't an object I would take the Acela but in reality I generally take the metroliner. I can metro to Union Station and then subway out of Penn Station.

[Captain Hilts]

True. The Acela isn't worth it between NYC and DC. nt

[rocktivity]

7. Is this too late to be turned into a real poll?

And you can't fly from DC to Newark?

Shows you how often I fly--and I live minutes from Newark Airport!

:shrug:
rocktivity

[pipi_k]

8. Anything that stays within ten feet of the ground is OK by me

Regular train, high speed train, roller skates, pogo stick, horse and buggy...


:7

[Captain Hilts]

9. DON'T fly between NYC and DC. The airport traffic is a hassle, the planes fly low & in the weather

and you spend more time on the tarmack.

[NYC_SKP]

10. Which ever doesn't have security lines, pat downs, and orifrice searches...

by people with unclean fingernails.

[pipi_k]

20. If they're doing orifice searches, no wonder their fingernails aren't clean

:+

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

30. Hey, sometimes you feel like an orifice search, sometimes you don't

It's good to have options.

:hi:

[belpejic]

11. If price is not a huge factor, then Acela.

If price is the overriding factor, then whatever is cheapest. Bear in mind all of the hassles involved with air travel, including getting to and from the airport (not to mention the TSA). At least in NYC it isn't pleasant to use public transportation to LaGuardia, and if you end up using a cab or car it adds a lot of cost. And air travel, door to door, takes a lot of time.

[Captain Hilts]

12. Take a regular train and, if you need, upgrade to Biz class. nt

[Stinky The Clown]

14. Yanno ..... I've always been happy to buy a coach seat on a Northeast Direct (former Metroliner)

Maybe a few minutes longer trip, but just as civilized as the Acela for way less cost.

I've done the Acela, and it is a marvelous train. But still too pricey.

[Captain Hilts]

15. Yes. I always upgrade to Biz class if it's a Friday afternoon. What is it? $30 extra?

[madinmaryland]

13. The MetroLiner. It's cheaper than the Acela (which is also a nice ride)

and not much longer. Besides, you can get something to eat and have a couple of beers on the ride home in the evening!

Gotta love the Bar Car!!

:beer:

[Captain Hilts]

19. They change the terminology so often 'Acela', 'Acela Regional', etc. it's really confusing knowing

what's what. I remember one of the last times I rode, the regular old train was called the 'Acela Regional' even though it wasn't an Acela and all sorts of folks were giving the conductor crap or were peppering him with questions because they were just plain confused.

Is any train called the 'Metroliner' anymore? It was always THE train for snobs if you wanted to avoid students, soldiers, sailors, children or black people.

Then there was the regular train with the upgrade to a 'business class' seat in the rear car. That was a good deal worth it if you were riding on a Friday afternoon.

But it's all confusing.

[Captain Hilts]

17. Ya know...now that you can plug in on Amtrak, it's all the better. I plugged in Xmas lights at my

seat one December. The conductor and all kids thought it was cool, which it was. It also made it easier to find my seat after my walkabout for food.

But, now, you plug in your laptop and you're good to go. Easy.

[madinmaryland]

24. I took Amtrak from BWI up to connecticut several times and did like

the electrical outlets! Do they offer wi-fi also?

I don't do the small phone/internet thingie.

[DCBob]

21. Acela is my preference

Very comfy, fast and easy breezy.

[Gormy Cuss]

25. Train on that route.

Much more relaxing. There's more room in the seats and between the seats. There's changing scenery out the windows -- not as pretty as the Boston - NYC stretch or some other routes, but it's something to look at even if you have an aisle seat. Passengers can get up and stretch their legs and even walk to the cafe car for a few modest refreshments. You leave and arrive in central locations.You don't need to disrobe prior to boarding. Frankly, the only reason I'd fly between the two is if I couldn't fit the train schedule into my itinerary.

[KamaAina]

26. The stretch from Baltimore to Wilmington is the best for scenery

you're right near Chesapeake Bay for much of it, and you cross several of its estuaries.

[Gormy Cuss]

27. Yes it is.

Then it gets more mundane again. I love even the industrial views from a train -- much more interesting to me than seeing the farm checkerboards for hours when flying coast to coast. For flying though an early morning trip from Boston to DC is spectacular because the ocean looks golden for most of the flight.

[Blue_In_AK]

29. I like trains.

I'm not really a fan of air travel, but of course we don't have much choice up here if we want to get out of the state.


But between DC and NY, absolutely a train.