I too would take the train if it were convenient. I also have a disdain for flying...Ugh...what a pain it is...you pay through the teeth and they treat you like cattle...I want them to take every safety precaution possible to keep me safe but it sure makes it hard to travel....The service once you get in the air from the attendants is always superb but getting on the plane is the issue...my husband and I use a credit card to pay for everything we buy so we can get air miles to use to upgrade our flights...we hardly ever fly any more that we don't travel first class but we couldn't afford it if we didn't have the air miles from the card.

Before all the silly "false sense of security" measures were put in place I loved to fly. Now I avoid it.

I would enjoy the train if I had plenty of time and it was a scenic route.

I've always felt that the next act of terrorism will be to our rail system now that everyone is focused on the airlines. So I just don't know...

I love to fly!!

Have never ridden on a train, but would like to try it one of these days.

Until I can take a train to Hawaii and rent a car at the train station when I get there, I'll continue to take a plane. :)

Seriously though, trains are a lot more comfortable than planes. And if you have the time, they are a great way to travel. But for most people, who have a limited number of vacation days, air travel makes more sense.

Haven't taken a train in about 40 yrs. but I loved them then. I'm not crazy about flying, especially these days. I was a white knuckle flyer way before 9/11 & I'm definitely worse now. Last time DH & I flew anywhere it was about 8 yrs. ago. I'd love to take a train up the Calif. coast.

I used to travel on trains with my Granny when I was a little girl. I guess our last trip was when I was about 12. I liked the train except the dining car. I had motion sickness and food didn't help. I'd love to ride the train again but it's gotten almost as expensive as flying.

Linda

I enjoy the train - but not many choices for a Midwesterner. Flying is usually the only practical option.

Only travelled by train once...NYC to Philly. It was OK, but I could have gotten there faster by car!!

I fly about twice a year. Most of my travel is done by cruise ship; service is terrific!

Enjoy and stay safe!
Dee

We just got back from our train trip night before last. It was only a 10 hour trip each way but we really enjoyed it. It was so pretty going through the mountains. If I were going across country I would definitely want to get a sleeper. I was never a good flier and after 9-11 I really don't care to fly.

I get motion-sickness on trains, not on planes or in cars.

Haven't flown in years--we generally just drive so we can enjoy the scenary, and stop at any interesting places we pass along the way.

I would rather fly anyday. Trains seem to take forever to get to your destination and I cann't read on a train. All of the times I have ridden on a train the ride was bumpy, jerky and nothing to see. Like Lindyluwho and Azzalea I end up with motion sickness on a train.

I grew up riding trains. They are a great source of public transportation in Germany. No novelty to me. LOL

I love flying, cause it gets me there fast. But, I only use it for overseas flights (well, mostly).

There isn't much of a train option living in Oklahoma. Only one train daily to Ft.Worth and back from Oklahoma City. No decent connection to go anywhere.

Moni

it's all in the timing. like today took dd2 and family to airport. they only could take 3 days off work. wouldn't have had enough time to drive to florida.

my last train trip was just after 9/11. i wasn't about to fly home from las vegas (i was taking care of my mom) so took the train. it was long, but very rewarding...saw american flags flying in the most remote places...the down side was in-seat sleeping, and horrid food.

The only way I can get to Tokyo to see Jake, I have to fly.
I grew up riding trains. My dad worked for the railroad and we would get free passes. I rode from Bakersfield to Portland, OR many, many times when I was in my teens. My grandpa lived there and he had worked for the railroad for 43 years.
Love rail travel but haven't been on a train except at Disneyland or Japan since I was a kid.

I don't just disdain flying, I hate it, and now because of vertigo, I can't fly. Thank goodness.

I've been traveling by trains all my life and love it. True, it's slow. Aside from that, for me it's very relaxing. I don't get sick and I can read and do crossword puzzles, plus meeting so many very interesting people at mealtime. There are amazing people with fascinating stories on the trains! A year ago I took the CA Zephyr from San Fran to Chicago and back, and in another week, am taking the Coast Starlight up to Oregon to visit DS and DIL and DGS. The most beautiful scenery I've ever seen by train was last December, as the Starlight crossed through the Cascades. Millions of trees, all covered in snow. Incredible. The Zephyr's route through eastern Utah and southern Colorado is also lovely.

I travel by roomette if the trip is overnight. It's expensive, but it's our only luxury. If I can't sleep, I turn off the light in the compartment, pull open the curtains and watch the lights. Have never had a bad experience, knock on wood, and the sleeping car attendants are wonderful.

I haven't been on a train since I was about twelve, when I took a trip up to Portland with my grandmother. Why, I don't know. I do enjoy beautiful scenery, but after a while it is just BOORRING! Are we there yet?

I have become accustomed to flying, but it's white-knuckle time at takeoff. After that I just dig out one of the stash of books I've brought along, and go somewhere else in my mind until it's time for touchdown..then white knuckles again. And most airline terminals are the devil's invention. Always have to change planes at least twice to get where I'm going. But I do get there faster than any other way, and that's the objective.

Then, of course, it's pick up the rent-a-car and drive another two hours. And drive another two hours on the way back in the wee small hours of the morning to catch the return flight. Please beam me up, Scotty!

My mother didn't like to fly, so we used to take trains to Florida to visit my grandparents. Unless it's a luxury train I never want to get on a train again. I actually was covered with flea bites after one trip. Awful.

It depends on how far I'm going and how much time I have.

I just did a quick check on airfare from Washington DC to NYC. The cheapest air fare runs about $176 and takes 1 hour 20 minutes. This does not include time spend in the boarding process and the cost of getting from JFK to the city. Amtrak costs $124 and takes 3 hours 20 minutes.

If one is headed to Chicago from Washington DC, air fare runs $199 and takes 4.5 to 5.5 hours depending on connections. Amtrac costs $174 and takes 17 hours 35 minutes.

For me, it would be a toss up for the DC to NYC trip but DC to Chicago, I'd fly.

do I have to do either?...at this point in my life...I'm so tired of traipsing up and down aisle's of airplanes for the last 30 years that I would just rather stay at home! Of course, if I have to go somewhere...it's gonna be a plane...