One huge difference is that I never had to connect to a train that could pull out and leave a large number of passengers behind. I should also add that this experience is not matched by anything in my bus and plane experience. I'm sure other passengers have missed a plane or bus connection, but I haven't. I don't know all the parties who could be blamed for this, but railway travel's reputation isn't glowing at the moment.
Human cargo is definitely second class.
If you've never experienced a savaging due to the airlines, you're either extremely lucky or you're a very rare flier. If there is any mode of transport where you can say "human cargo is definitely second class", it's air travel.
I'm crossing my fingers right now (which makes it extremely hard to type), but despite traveling over 18,000 miles on Amtrak, I've never been more than 2 hours late. Not once.
Already in 2012, I've been forced to sit on the tarmac in a teensy seat for 3.5 hours due to delays. And that was just one flight. Last year I spent 15 hours delayed in Cleveland on three separate occasions. One of those times, I missed my connecting flight by 7 minutes. It was literally 2 gates away, but they wouldn't hold it. And thus, I had to wait 4 hours for the next flight. Except that that plane experienced mechanical difficulties and never even made it to Cleveland. So almost 7 hours after arriving in Cleveland, I was finally on another plane. All I got was an $8 voucher for a sandwich in the airport. And I had to be obstinate to get that.
On the other two occasions in Cleveland, I only got home by elbowing my way onto a flight to an airport in a different state than I'd booked to, narrowly missing a night on the floor of the terminal one of those times.
The
Builder might have its problems, but I'd pick Amtrak over the airlines any day. At least Amtrak seems to care about its passengers. The airlines don't even
act like they care.
As far as buses go, I've been fortunate not to have to travel on them very often. I went to New York with some friends last year. I took Amtrak because it's much nicer, and I enjoy the ride. My friends decided to save a few bucks and take the megabus.
On our return trip, they left 90 minutes earlier than me, waiting for the bus in the pouring rain on Ninth Avenue. They were crammed onto a completely full bus with other wet passengers. And to top things off, their bus broke down somewhere north of Baltimore. While they sat on a dark, cold bus on the side of I-95, I was already settling into my own bed, thankful that I'd spent that extra $25 or so for the train. They got back to Washington at 3AM, and had to find their own way home, because the Metro had already closed.
Amtrak has its delays. Perhaps far too often. But at least when you're delayed on Amtrak you can unfasten that seatbelt and walk around. You can generally see scenery more interesting than a few flashing blue lights on the side of the taxiway. And if the hankering strikes you, you can get a hot meal in the dining car.
And when Amtrak really screws up and you miss a connection, they put you up in a hotel. When the airlines screw up, you don't even get a cot over by gate C21. You're lucky if you get a voucher for a 6-inch sandwich at Subway.
So, go ahead and tell us how much you hate Amtrak. My heart bleeds for you. Next time, try flying. I hear the airport in Minneapolis has really soft floors and good lumbar support.
EDIT: Clarity
