Why is it so much cheaper...

[MushyMushy]

to fly than it is to take a train or bus???

We're in the beginning stages of planning a trip to WDW in December and I hate to fly, so I was looking into Amtrak or Greyhound. I did the Auto Train a few years ago and just loved it. I'm in sticker shock.

 

[Muushka]

I wonder the same thing. And add to the mix that Amtrak is subsidized by the government, I have no clue.

 

[mrsv98]

to fly than it is to take a train or bus???

We're in the beginning stages of planning a trip to WDW in December and I hate to fly, so I was looking into Amtrak or Greyhound. I did the Auto Train a few years ago and just loved it. I'm in sticker shock.

We have taken the Auto Train a few times and when I priced it last time it had jumped WAY up. Generally, I try and book well in advance to get the best prices, this time I think I was at least 10 months early and the cost had gone up at least $500 IIRC. I love the train but there is no way we are going to pay those prices!

 

[golfgal]

Just a guess but since the railroads have to maintain tracks, buy land to lay tracks, etc. operating costs are higher . I have wondered this as well.

 

[Christine]

I think their costs are higher, though it seems like they shouldn't be. I think part of the problem is that, unlike air travel, trains cannot add additional routes easily, add more cars easily. So as demand rises, so do prices. They just can't add a few more planes when they need to. The passenger trains share tracks with the freight trains so scheduling or adding to the schedule is nearly impossible.

 

[DebbieB]

Greyhound is more? I would be afraid of Greyhound - they are always having accidents. Your sig says 938 miles from WDW, you would be on it at least 20 hours.

 

[Christine]

Greyhound is more? I would be afraid of Greyhound - they are always having accidents. Your sig says 938 miles from WDW, you would be on it at least 20 hours.

I agree. Those busses seem to be having all sorts of problems and troubles. I think their bus drivers are either overtired or filled with road rage. Because I live off I-95, I often drive along side of Greyhound and/or charter busses. Pretty scary driving.

 

[golfgal]

Greyhound is more? I would be afraid of Greyhound - they are always having accidents. Your sig says 938 miles from WDW, you would be on it at least 20 hours.

So do planes, trains and automobiles

 

[MushyMushy]

We have taken the Auto Train a few times and when I priced it last time it had jumped WAY up. Generally, I try and book well in advance to get the best prices, this time I think I was at least 10 months early and the cost had gone up at least $500 IIRC. I love the train but there is no way we are going to pay those prices!

It did go way up! My DD and I got a roomette when we went before, and the price I was just quoted for just me in coach was several hundred more.

I was thinking of maybe just going coach in a regular train instead of auto train, but I still don't think I can justify it pricewise, let alone being able to tolerate 30 hours in coach with my neck, back and sleeping issues.

I might have to suck it up and take a plane.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I would guess a combination of factors....

No competition...outside of greyhound and Amtrak, I am not aware of any competing alternatives. Competition will drive prices down even at the expense of profits.

Supply and demand.

We live near DC...I think there are more purchasing opportunities to fly out than there are to take a train or bus. A plane---depending on the destination, can fly the same route at least twice if not three times. It seats more than a bus, maybe the same as a train. But it can make up for it in one day. Then there are the multiple planes going to the same destination for one airline not to mention all the others. More options---more seats...drives down prices.

We took the autotrain up recently. For our clan it was about $1100 for a family room + oversized vehicle. The vehicle was $300 or so of that. For us it was economical for our needs. That was for 2 adults although 1 adult was really a child and 2 children. My infant was free.
YMMV of course.

 

[Kath2003]

Greyhound is more? I would be afraid of Greyhound - they are always having accidents. Your sig says 938 miles from WDW, you would be on it at least 20 hours.

It's exactly this. Pay air staff for two hours, or train staff for twenty.

Here, you can get real bargains on the train (considering how much gas costs). I can get a 500 mile round trip that would cost me $90 in gas for $30 if I book in advance, but if I want to book just a couple of days before hand, that same ticket would cost me $120.

 

[DebbieB]

So do planes, trains and automobiles

Planes have the best safety record. I was commenting on the OP's statement that they hate to fly but would consider a Greyhound.

 

[DebbieB]

Out of curiosity, I checked Greyhound Pittsburgh-Orlando for my trip dates in late October. It's well over 24 hours in each direction with 2 transfers. $180 roundtrip. I'm using miles for my flights so I can't compare, but I checked Delta online and fares for my dates are $214 for bad times, $301 for the times I have.

 

[tvguy]

Bus and train are about half the cost out here of flying. My son has done the bus, train and plane from Sacramento,
Southwest ranges from $109 to $166 round trip.
Greyhound is $49 round trip.
Amtrak is $79 round trip, but you have to get off the train in Bakersfield and on an Amtrak bus to and from LA.

 

[LadyZolt]

I think one reason the prices have gone up is because so many people now think it's such a huge hassle to fly, what with taking your shoes off and going through line after line, and packing your three ounces of liquids in your clear plastic one-quart bag, and being treated like your picture is on the FBI's Most Wanted List, etc., etc., etc.

We still fly, but we drive a lot more now than we used to. I don't think we're alone, and the bus and train travel options are far more appealing for people who really can't stand the air travel regulations now.

-LadyZolt

 

[NHdisneylover]

I think it is mostly a supply and demand problem. There are just not enough consumers for trains in the USA (which is partly because they are so costly and do not go as many places--viscous cycle). Lots of other good points have been brought up too though.

It happen even in Europe from time to time and the train are heavily used here. Sometimes the routing just doesn't work to your advantage on one transportation system as well as it does on another. For example: it will nearly always cost twice as much (or more) to take a train from Heidelberg to Barcelona as to fly. There are just not good rail lines for that route. Other places you can get to on the train for a lot less than flying (and often just as fast when yo consider that you need to arrive at the airport 1-2 hours ahead, leave time to park, take time to claim luggage, etc--I think the travel time that people should consider is door to door, NOT time spent in the air vs. on the rails).

 

[Acklander]

I'd guess because of infrastructure. for a train from point a to point b, you'd need 2 stations plus a lot of track, plus the train. To fly you just need the two airports and the plane. Airports are self supporting with stores, restaurants etc. where you're a captured audience once you've gone thru security. At a train terminal, if you don't like the price a hamburger you just walk across the street to McDonalds. So the cost to maintain a train station is higher than an airport terminal.

 

[Liberty Belle]

I just checked Amtrak and for the four of us (one of our children is considered an adult - 16+) to travel to Washington DC from Cincinnati, it's 195.00 round trip! That's just coach. I looked into the sleeper cars, but the toilet was right in the room and...ew.

You can't fly for that. Hmm...my little one loves trains, maybe this could be a good spring break trip.

 

[golfgal]

I just checked Amtrak and for the four of us (one of our children is considered an adult - 16+) to travel to Washington DC from Cincinnati, it's 195.00 round trip! That's just coach. I looked into the sleeper cars, but the toilet was right in the room and...ew.

You can't fly for that. Hmm...my little one loves trains, maybe this could be a good spring break trip.

We can always get fights for $150 or less if you know the right times to buy or use Priceline. How long is the train trip? If you want to see the countryside, sitting on the train is fine but I would rather fly and get to my destination quickly.

Ok, I just looked it up, that is 15 hours on the train YIKES.

 

[Liberty Belle]

We can always get fights for $150 or less if you know the right times to buy or use Priceline. How long is the train trip? If you want to see the countryside, sitting on the train is fine but I would rather fly and get to my destination quickly.

Ok, I just looked it up, that is 15 hours on the train YIKES.

That's 195 for all four of us, though. Yeah, 15 hours, but that would be part of the fun for my kids. And we're used to driving to WDW, which is close to that.