Oddbean

Trains are still kind of an option, but I didn't realize how sparse they were, along with that multiple days to do a 1 day drive. Often more expensive then flights too! Unlikely to go from one major city to another without taking a bus or a cab. Strictly on the east coast it's better, but anywhere toward the midwest is a no-go.

Yup. I did a east to east journey across the US in 2003. It was awful. Started off on train, then had to take busses. It's only gotten worse Ava more expensive since the whole system is even more regulated and subsidized these days.

Yeah. I still think the price is crazy. City transport is very good in Philly and DC for commutes, but long distance is terrible. I still want to make an east-west trip sometime because I've never been.

Have you used public transit in Philly or DC in the least few years? I can carry in Philly on public transit. I can't legally carry in DC. I will not use public transit in either city because of how terrible it has become.

Also probably worth clarifying. I guess I mean availability. The DC metro has lots of rails around for all those rich peoples north of Richmond. They're quite accomodating. I have family that will take the Philly trains just into nice parts of the city and they haven't been scared to travel. It's not great but sometimes it's better than driving if a station is close to your destination.

Yeah, we live in the mountain west and my family live on the East Coast. Flying is a pain. When my son was young, he went through a phase where he loved trains. We looked into taking a train instead of a plain. I can't remember exactly, but want to say it was several thousand dollars per person and 2-3 days travel. We would've had to drive 5.5 hours from our home just to get to the train. We quickly decide it was a no go. We live with a train track running along the edge of our property. I've thought it would be awesome to get a caboose or cabin car, build a little offshoot track to store the car on, and hook onto passing freight trains. It sounds awesome, but even if we spent the money to buy the car and build the off-shoot track, I have doubts on being able to schedule pickup by a passing train. I don't think it will ever be a reality, but I can dream.

i did once jump on the back of a train and ride it for a few miles in Serbia, checked that one off my bucket list... the train stopped in the middle of nowhere so i assume some asshat called the train company to tell them there was a dude riding on the back of a freight train... off i scooted into the farmland until i got to the road and then got a lift with this awesome hard core old lady in a car that was probably older than her into the next town, Despotovac