kdonnel
DVC-BCV
- Joined
- Feb 1, 2001
- Messages
- 7,113
I was looking at options to get to Ft Lauderdale/Miami from Atlanta.
The four of us can fly for $450-$1500 depending on ultra low cost, low cost, or full cost airline.
I have always been interested in passenger rail. We have taken trains many times while in the UK and Europe. Often times finding the fare cheaper than flying and comparable to flying in travel time, just slightly longer.
Driving is 10.5 hours, not accounting for any stops. We really don't like driving more than 7-8 hours.
So I priced out Amtrak.
To take Amtrak we would have to leave 2 days early to account for the 42 hours 32 minute travel time from Atlanta to Ft Lauderdale. The return trip also takes 2 days with a travel time of 44 hours 25 minutes.
The total cost for the roundtrip is $1720 for four in coach. So more than flying which even accounting for driving to the airport, getting there early, and the flight, is under 5 hours.
I even tried having us drive to Savannah, GA to start and end our journey there to keep from having to ride to Virginia to get to Florida. That cuts a huge amount off the train travel time, 11 hours there 13 hours back, even adding in the 4.5 hours from our home to the Amtrak station in Savannah the total travel time is 16 - 18 hours. But the train times are really inconvenient, 4:37am or 6:49am departures are the only two options out of Savannah.
So again we would actually need to leave an extra day early to ensure an arrival on the date we want. The price is atleast closer to flying at $740.
Why are passenger rail options so horrible for so much of the US?
The four of us can fly for $450-$1500 depending on ultra low cost, low cost, or full cost airline.
I have always been interested in passenger rail. We have taken trains many times while in the UK and Europe. Often times finding the fare cheaper than flying and comparable to flying in travel time, just slightly longer.
Driving is 10.5 hours, not accounting for any stops. We really don't like driving more than 7-8 hours.
So I priced out Amtrak.
To take Amtrak we would have to leave 2 days early to account for the 42 hours 32 minute travel time from Atlanta to Ft Lauderdale. The return trip also takes 2 days with a travel time of 44 hours 25 minutes.
The total cost for the roundtrip is $1720 for four in coach. So more than flying which even accounting for driving to the airport, getting there early, and the flight, is under 5 hours.
I even tried having us drive to Savannah, GA to start and end our journey there to keep from having to ride to Virginia to get to Florida. That cuts a huge amount off the train travel time, 11 hours there 13 hours back, even adding in the 4.5 hours from our home to the Amtrak station in Savannah the total travel time is 16 - 18 hours. But the train times are really inconvenient, 4:37am or 6:49am departures are the only two options out of Savannah.
So again we would actually need to leave an extra day early to ensure an arrival on the date we want. The price is atleast closer to flying at $740.
Why are passenger rail options so horrible for so much of the US?
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