Hi All
My name is Geoff and am from Melbourne Australia. Found your site a couple of weeks back while looking for information on Amtrak.
My wife and I are visiting the US in April or May of 2014 and want to travel by train. (dont want to drive at all, and what can you see of a country from 35, 000 feet?).
Initially we were planning the Trans Siberian, but got spooked at the lack of language skills, the reported tourist scams (even shakedowns by the cops in some parts) and believe it or not, the prohibitive cost of getting there in the first place).
We decided on the US for at least two of the above reasons (costs less and and even if we do get robbed or scammed in the US at least the perp may understand our pathetic pleas for mercy )
Seriously though, after even a cursory search of Amtrak and its facilities (and a read through Jim Loomis' book - All Aboard -, we were impressed with the value and the sleeping compartments (especially compared to the sleepers on the Trans Siberian).
We are planning San Fran to Chicago (maybe stopping in Denver), Chicago to Washington, Washington to New York, fly to Las Vegas, back to San Francisco and Yosemite and then come home and collapse.
WIll be mainly browsing these forums for information and may ask a question or two as we get closer to booking etc.
We aren't train enthusiasts however we did travel throughout Japan in 2009 on all manner of trains (including Shinkansen) on the main Islands and found it a wonderful way to see the country.
Australia also has a couple of epic train journeys - The Indian Pacific, across the continent from Sydney to Perth, and The Ghan, up through the dead heart of Australia from Adelaide to Darwin. Both are comparatively expensive compared to Amtrak, however you get what you pay for in luxury.
An observation or two from afar if I may.
The US seems to have a pretty robust, low cost, fairly reliable mode of transport for the less wealthy in Amtrak. From what i have read it makes about 80% of its running cost in ticket sales, and passanger numbers are continuing to increase at a healthy rate. I dont understand why it is so critisised and why the govt funding is known as a subsidy like it is somehow "unworthy". The airline industry got a $16 bill subsidy after 9/11 and they weren't critisised. What type of taxpayer subsidy did the Finance industry get after the GFC?
I think there are many people who dont realise how efficient your national rail is running. 80% of running costs on ticket revenue would make it one of the most efficient national railways in the world.
The cost of tickets to us was quite extraordinary. We calculated the cost for our journey by all rail with at least 5 stops and all in sleepers and we thought it was great value, especially with all meals included.
Anyway, enough of me. Looking forward to getting some helpful tips over the coming months. Looking forward to seeing your magnificent country already.
cheers.
My name is Geoff and am from Melbourne Australia. Found your site a couple of weeks back while looking for information on Amtrak.
My wife and I are visiting the US in April or May of 2014 and want to travel by train. (dont want to drive at all, and what can you see of a country from 35, 000 feet?).
Initially we were planning the Trans Siberian, but got spooked at the lack of language skills, the reported tourist scams (even shakedowns by the cops in some parts) and believe it or not, the prohibitive cost of getting there in the first place).
We decided on the US for at least two of the above reasons (costs less and and even if we do get robbed or scammed in the US at least the perp may understand our pathetic pleas for mercy )
Seriously though, after even a cursory search of Amtrak and its facilities (and a read through Jim Loomis' book - All Aboard -, we were impressed with the value and the sleeping compartments (especially compared to the sleepers on the Trans Siberian).
We are planning San Fran to Chicago (maybe stopping in Denver), Chicago to Washington, Washington to New York, fly to Las Vegas, back to San Francisco and Yosemite and then come home and collapse.
WIll be mainly browsing these forums for information and may ask a question or two as we get closer to booking etc.
We aren't train enthusiasts however we did travel throughout Japan in 2009 on all manner of trains (including Shinkansen) on the main Islands and found it a wonderful way to see the country.
Australia also has a couple of epic train journeys - The Indian Pacific, across the continent from Sydney to Perth, and The Ghan, up through the dead heart of Australia from Adelaide to Darwin. Both are comparatively expensive compared to Amtrak, however you get what you pay for in luxury.
An observation or two from afar if I may.
The US seems to have a pretty robust, low cost, fairly reliable mode of transport for the less wealthy in Amtrak. From what i have read it makes about 80% of its running cost in ticket sales, and passanger numbers are continuing to increase at a healthy rate. I dont understand why it is so critisised and why the govt funding is known as a subsidy like it is somehow "unworthy". The airline industry got a $16 bill subsidy after 9/11 and they weren't critisised. What type of taxpayer subsidy did the Finance industry get after the GFC?
I think there are many people who dont realise how efficient your national rail is running. 80% of running costs on ticket revenue would make it one of the most efficient national railways in the world.
The cost of tickets to us was quite extraordinary. We calculated the cost for our journey by all rail with at least 5 stops and all in sleepers and we thought it was great value, especially with all meals included.
Anyway, enough of me. Looking forward to getting some helpful tips over the coming months. Looking forward to seeing your magnificent country already.
cheers.
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