Want airline food? Take Amtrak • Hacker News Board

Re: Want airline food? Take Amtrak

#71

Post by rdl » Fri, Apr 20, 2018, 9:50 PM UTC

scyclow wrote: post #69

tspike wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't disagree with your comment, but the thing that often gets lost in these discussions is that at least for the Empire Builder, people generally aren't using it to go from Chicago to Portland or Seattle. Sure, a flight from Chicago to Seattle would be much faster and cheaper. But what about getting from Minot to Whitefish? Or Spokane to Wenatchee? I personally use it 2-3 times a week to go between Bingen and Por…

That's a fair point. As uneconomical as it is for Amtrak, there really isn't much in the way of long-distance transportation options for people in some of these small towns.

Bus? (Sometimes operated by Amtrak, even)

Re: Want airline food? Take Amtrak

#72

Post by Doctor_Fegg » Fri, Apr 20, 2018, 9:51 PM UTC

rdl wrote: post #67

Taxpayers (and freight customers) shouldn't be subsidizing a novelty form of transportation for rail fans. If there's a subset of people who want this service, they should pay sufficient fares to cover the cost of service. Amtrak isn't doing that.

As a non-driver[1], I totally look forward to the day when my taxes are no longer used to fund the road network and its deleterious effects.

[1] can drive, choose not to, don't own a car

Re: Want airline food? Take Amtrak

#73

Post by rdl » Fri, Apr 20, 2018, 9:56 PM UTC

Doctor_Fegg wrote: post #72

rdl wrote: post #67

Taxpayers (and freight customers) shouldn't be subsidizing a novelty form of transportation for rail fans. If there's a subset of people who want this service, they should pay sufficient fares to cover the cost of service. Amtrak isn't doing that.

As a non-driver[1], I totally look forward to the day when my taxes are no longer used to fund the road network and its deleterious effects. [1] can drive, choose not to, don't own a car

Federal highways are about 30-50% funded by gas tax in the US; I agree fuel taxes should be increased to the point where they pay for the road network. (State/local roads are separate, and are much more multi-model in use, at least in cities, so it's harder to apportion costs.) (https://nyc.streetsblog.org/2009/09/17/do-highway-users-pay-...)

Re: Want airline food? Take Amtrak

#74

Post by op00to » Fri, Apr 20, 2018, 9:59 PM UTC

scyclow wrote: post #61

I took the Empire Builder a couple weeks ago, and the Lakeshore Limited + California Zephyr last year. As much as I enjoyed the trips, I have to admit that they longer lines are incredibly impractical. Amtrak is operating at a huge loss per passenger ($32 on average)[1], and the prices aren't even that much cheaper than flying. It's viable for people with more time than money, but most of the passengers are just weir…

How much does the US subsidize air travel via FAA, airport subsidies, etc? What about road subsidies? It’s like somehow rail has to be profitable on its own, but not bus or air.

Re: Want airline food? Take Amtrak

#75

Post by cc439 » Fri, Apr 20, 2018, 9:59 PM UTC

tspike wrote: post #66

scyclow wrote: post #61

I took the Empire Builder a couple weeks ago, and the Lakeshore Limited + California Zephyr last year. As much as I enjoyed the trips, I have to admit that they longer lines are incredibly impractical. Amtrak is operating at a huge loss per passenger ($32 on average)[1], and the prices aren't even that much cheaper than flying. It's viable for people with more time than money, but most of the passengers are just weir…

I don't disagree with your comment, but the thing that often gets lost in these discussions is that at least for the Empire Builder, people generally aren't using it to go from Chicago to Portland or Seattle. Sure, a flight from Chicago to Seattle would be much faster and cheaper. But what about getting from Minot to Whitefish? Or Spokane to Wenatchee? I personally use it 2-3 times a week to go between Bingen and Por…

Most of those trips appear to be under 3.5 hours each way... Why not drive since it's likely faster and cheaper than the train?

Re: Want airline food? Take Amtrak

#76

Post by bluGill » Fri, Apr 20, 2018, 10:00 PM UTC

niftich wrote: post #34

ng12 wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Google say it takes 31h to drive between the two -- any idea why the Amtrak takes twice that time?

If you're driving alone -- a reasonable assumption if you'd be in the market for a train -- a 31-hour "Google Maps" roadtrip takes 3 days, assuming ~10 hours of "map-time" driving, followed by 6+ hours of civilized sleep. The biggest constraint is "civilized" sleep, which is best had in a real bed at a real hotel, whose locations are constrained by settlements and whose typical availability hours begin at 15:00 local…

Over the road truckers are limited to 11 hours per day for good reason, your brain thinks falsely it can safely do more, but studies show otherwise.

I have found on my cross country trips that there are plenty of small towns scatters across the US to make finding a hotel within an hour easy (though I'm sure you can find exceptions). I have also found a lot of interesting "small town" parks and culture because I forced myself to stop and find something (anything!) to do after 11 hours on the road.

Re: Want airline food? Take Amtrak

#77

Post by op00to » Fri, Apr 20, 2018, 10:00 PM UTC

vibrio wrote: post #28

crmd wrote: post #11

I have a strange love for the Acela Express' cheeseburger. If I wasn't sitting in a meeting right now I would go to Penn Station now and take a ride to Newark for that burger.

wow I'd have guess that was untouchable. Now I'm going to have to try it. Since ShakeShack appeared in Penn station, that and a tall beer or two has been my post-work Acela fare.

It’s microwaved. It’s not good.

Re: Want airline food? Take Amtrak

#78

Post by raintrees » Fri, Apr 20, 2018, 10:00 PM UTC

My wife and I celebrated our 20 year anniversary with a 7 train, 3 week trip last year. The food was good for the first couple of weeks, but I think 3 weeks was a week too long - All things can eventually be monotonous.

We went out and scored a bottle of horse radish in DC to spice up the surf and turf... That helped.

The most picturesque of the routes we took for us were the California Zephyr and the Empire Builder.

https://raintreesbytrain.wordpress.com/

Re: Want airline food? Take Amtrak

#79

Post by scyclow » Fri, Apr 20, 2018, 10:06 PM UTC

rdl wrote: post #71

scyclow wrote: post #69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's a fair point. As uneconomical as it is for Amtrak, there really isn't much in the way of long-distance transportation options for people in some of these small towns.

Bus? (Sometimes operated by Amtrak, even)

Technically yes, but if I had to take a bus for 20+ hours I'd want to shoot myself.

Re: Want airline food? Take Amtrak

#80

Post by danielecook » Fri, Apr 20, 2018, 10:08 PM UTC

scyclow wrote: post #61

I took the Empire Builder a couple weeks ago, and the Lakeshore Limited + California Zephyr last year. As much as I enjoyed the trips, I have to admit that they longer lines are incredibly impractical. Amtrak is operating at a huge loss per passenger ($32 on average)[1], and the prices aren't even that much cheaper than flying. It's viable for people with more time than money, but most of the passengers are just weir…

My parents took us as kids on several long train trips. The trips are among my most cherished memories from childhood. We usually would train out and fly back. A few of the lines wind their way through the Rockies - the scenery is really beautiful.