This is my first post, so hello to you all! I live in Sweden, and train travel here is relatively more large than in the US. The main operator SJ alone had approx 26 million sold train tickets in 2005, and this in a country of 9 million people.
During my last visit to the US in december I got to travel on Amtrak, even though it wasn't planned. I thought maybe a comparison between the Swedish and American railroad could interest someone.
I arrived at Newark airport (EWR), and had planned to go on to Washington DC (DCA), but for some reason that flight was cancelled, so we were given tickets for the regional train to Washington union station. To start with I was pleasantly surprised of the cleanliness of the station and platform. Our train was supposed to leave at 4:28PM, but was delayed appox 30min due to signal problems, or so the loudspeakers told us. This is where some confusion started. Our train was listed on the monitors on the platform at the track we've been told, but many trains came and went during our wait. Many trains from NJT (if I recall correctly), and obviosly those were not for us. But, several Amtrak trains also came and they were not clearly labelled for where they were going. If we were lucky a conductor would yell out the train destination, but it seemed to be a hit-and-miss type of doing business. Swedish trains are always marked with their final destination (though not often with the train number, but that is usually redundant information).
When our train finally came, we didn't actually know it at first, but through some sort of majority decision of the people on the platform we decided to board anyway (we were a bunch from the cancelled flight), and luckily it was the right train.
The comfort onboard the train was good, I would say about on par with swedish regional trains. The speed, however, was less than impressive. I know the reasons are mostly outside the control of Amtrak though. Standard swedish trains usually travel at 100mph maximum (and can hold that speed for the most part), while the high speed trains go up to 125mph (however even the new regional trains go up to 125mph in Sweden now).
The station announcements were another source for confusion. The train driver made announcements that were so muted that they were basically unreadable. The conductor usually came in afterwards and repeated them in a much clearer voice. Not at every stop though, and we actually got off at New Carrolton by mistake due to the confusion. We soon realised our mistake though and got on the train again before it left.
So to summarize: I have wanted to travel on trains in the US for some time, and this was an unexpected chance. I plan to to it again in the future, but then on a longer cross contry journey.
The station areas were much cleaner and actually felt safer than in Sweden. I think this may have to do with the fact that only passengers with tickets were let through to the track area. In Sweden anyone has access to the tracks and platforms.
The trains were about on par, comfortwise.
The speed was much less than that of swedish trains.
The signs on the trains should be improved so that the train destination and train number can be read on every car.
Any comments?
/ Magnus
During my last visit to the US in december I got to travel on Amtrak, even though it wasn't planned. I thought maybe a comparison between the Swedish and American railroad could interest someone.
I arrived at Newark airport (EWR), and had planned to go on to Washington DC (DCA), but for some reason that flight was cancelled, so we were given tickets for the regional train to Washington union station. To start with I was pleasantly surprised of the cleanliness of the station and platform. Our train was supposed to leave at 4:28PM, but was delayed appox 30min due to signal problems, or so the loudspeakers told us. This is where some confusion started. Our train was listed on the monitors on the platform at the track we've been told, but many trains came and went during our wait. Many trains from NJT (if I recall correctly), and obviosly those were not for us. But, several Amtrak trains also came and they were not clearly labelled for where they were going. If we were lucky a conductor would yell out the train destination, but it seemed to be a hit-and-miss type of doing business. Swedish trains are always marked with their final destination (though not often with the train number, but that is usually redundant information).
When our train finally came, we didn't actually know it at first, but through some sort of majority decision of the people on the platform we decided to board anyway (we were a bunch from the cancelled flight), and luckily it was the right train.
The comfort onboard the train was good, I would say about on par with swedish regional trains. The speed, however, was less than impressive. I know the reasons are mostly outside the control of Amtrak though. Standard swedish trains usually travel at 100mph maximum (and can hold that speed for the most part), while the high speed trains go up to 125mph (however even the new regional trains go up to 125mph in Sweden now).
The station announcements were another source for confusion. The train driver made announcements that were so muted that they were basically unreadable. The conductor usually came in afterwards and repeated them in a much clearer voice. Not at every stop though, and we actually got off at New Carrolton by mistake due to the confusion. We soon realised our mistake though and got on the train again before it left.
So to summarize: I have wanted to travel on trains in the US for some time, and this was an unexpected chance. I plan to to it again in the future, but then on a longer cross contry journey.
The station areas were much cleaner and actually felt safer than in Sweden. I think this may have to do with the fact that only passengers with tickets were let through to the track area. In Sweden anyone has access to the tracks and platforms.
The trains were about on par, comfortwise.
The speed was much less than that of swedish trains.
The signs on the trains should be improved so that the train destination and train number can be read on every car.
Any comments?
/ Magnus