Goofus and Gallant made a go of the northeast corridor a couple of weeks ago, traveling from the New York area to the Washington area on board Amtrak. It really was a tale of two railroads.
Gallant booked a Friday afternoon Crescent (19) from New York Penn to Alexandria, Virginia; for the same price as an Acela Express to Washington (okay, $150 versus $145), Gallant was able to book a roomette. That’s two seats, two beds, a private toilet and sink, and a meal all included in the price. After a long and hectic week, the private bedroom hit the spot, as a mid-afternoon nap was followed up by a relaxed meal in the dining car.
On a side note, Gallant noted a single sleeper car passenger leaving at Washington Union Station, telling the attendant, "I think I'm going to get off here instead of at Alexandria." I think that was the plan all along, wink wink.
For the return trip Sunday afternoon, Goofus booked the Acela Express (2222) from Washington Union Station to New York Penn (and used the Metro to get from King Street to Chinatown). For the same price as the sleeper accommodation on the Crescent (okay $145 versus $150), Goofus got to sit at a four-seater table with three other people on laptops, furiously working on a late Sunday afternoon. Goofus also had to admonish someone for using his cellular telephone in the quiet car.
Both Gallant and Goofus checked their baggage, Gallant checked a bicycle a couple of days ahead, and secured his travel bag in the baggage car during the ride down to Alexandria. For the return, Goofus checked a bicycle and his travel bag to make their way east on board the Silver Star about three hours ahead of his train. Goofus was happy to travel light on the somewhat cramped Acela, and was more than a little alarmed at the size of some of the baggage that his fellow passengers elected to carry.
Goofus knows all about why the long distance trains don’t receive east of Richmond/Manassas, but would rather ride like Gallant, even if it means sacrificing an hour in order to enjoy a more relaxed ride home. Goofus works full weeks, knows all about work, but feels he doesn’t need to be around the crazy laptop people when traveling for pleasure.
Gallant has another voyage planned for a Friday about four weeks out, this time on the Silver Meteor (97). Goofus, in an attempt to avoid the mad Sunday scramble, has scheduled himself into a regional 84 Monday morning, where perhaps boarding in Alexandria (seven miles short and a day late) will save some of the headaches from boarding late in Washington; he’ll also send his baggage up on the 20 which runs a few minutes ahead.
If that doesn’t work out, for the next trip Gallant will ride a long-distance train west, and then perhaps a plane or a rental car for the eastbound trip. The 10 minutes on NJT between Secaucus and NY Penn ten times a week is more than enough exposure to the bad-dressing, cell-phone-talking, big-bag-carrying doofuses that apparently rule the roost these days. I’m not sure Amtrak quite understands that not everyone wants wi-fi, cell signal, and the fastest possible ride; particularly when that means sacrificing the kinds of amenities that make train travel enjoyable and not suck.
Gallant booked a Friday afternoon Crescent (19) from New York Penn to Alexandria, Virginia; for the same price as an Acela Express to Washington (okay, $150 versus $145), Gallant was able to book a roomette. That’s two seats, two beds, a private toilet and sink, and a meal all included in the price. After a long and hectic week, the private bedroom hit the spot, as a mid-afternoon nap was followed up by a relaxed meal in the dining car.
On a side note, Gallant noted a single sleeper car passenger leaving at Washington Union Station, telling the attendant, "I think I'm going to get off here instead of at Alexandria." I think that was the plan all along, wink wink.
For the return trip Sunday afternoon, Goofus booked the Acela Express (2222) from Washington Union Station to New York Penn (and used the Metro to get from King Street to Chinatown). For the same price as the sleeper accommodation on the Crescent (okay $145 versus $150), Goofus got to sit at a four-seater table with three other people on laptops, furiously working on a late Sunday afternoon. Goofus also had to admonish someone for using his cellular telephone in the quiet car.
Both Gallant and Goofus checked their baggage, Gallant checked a bicycle a couple of days ahead, and secured his travel bag in the baggage car during the ride down to Alexandria. For the return, Goofus checked a bicycle and his travel bag to make their way east on board the Silver Star about three hours ahead of his train. Goofus was happy to travel light on the somewhat cramped Acela, and was more than a little alarmed at the size of some of the baggage that his fellow passengers elected to carry.
Goofus knows all about why the long distance trains don’t receive east of Richmond/Manassas, but would rather ride like Gallant, even if it means sacrificing an hour in order to enjoy a more relaxed ride home. Goofus works full weeks, knows all about work, but feels he doesn’t need to be around the crazy laptop people when traveling for pleasure.
Gallant has another voyage planned for a Friday about four weeks out, this time on the Silver Meteor (97). Goofus, in an attempt to avoid the mad Sunday scramble, has scheduled himself into a regional 84 Monday morning, where perhaps boarding in Alexandria (seven miles short and a day late) will save some of the headaches from boarding late in Washington; he’ll also send his baggage up on the 20 which runs a few minutes ahead.
If that doesn’t work out, for the next trip Gallant will ride a long-distance train west, and then perhaps a plane or a rental car for the eastbound trip. The 10 minutes on NJT between Secaucus and NY Penn ten times a week is more than enough exposure to the bad-dressing, cell-phone-talking, big-bag-carrying doofuses that apparently rule the roost these days. I’m not sure Amtrak quite understands that not everyone wants wi-fi, cell signal, and the fastest possible ride; particularly when that means sacrificing the kinds of amenities that make train travel enjoyable and not suck.
Besides, you said yourself that Regionals are trending towards making money.