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What? No trains? Just ask for more!!!

The traffic isn't there to even set up a simple air shuttle service, such as the Delta and USAir DC-NYC-BOS services which already exist. Hell, "regular" NYC-Chicago train service is either the 20-hour 6:35a.m.-2:25a.m. Pennsylvanian or the 17.5-hour 1:45 p.m.-9:08a.m. Three Rivers -- and both of them require a connection in Philly. While an NYC-ORD flight on USAir might require a stop in Philly, you'll be there in less than 17 hours.

Two hours to get through security in an airport is a bit steep unless you're playing the funny guy and making stupid jokes. When I got pulled out of line for an "interview" with some FBI guys, I still made it through in about an hour.

You also ignore the fact that you have to get to a train station, which, admittedly, is generally faster than getting to an airport. Unless you live in the suburbs. When I visit DC, it takes me 40 minutes to get between the house and Union Station; it takes me 20-30 minutes to get to National or Dulles.

Don't get me wrong: I like the maglev idea, but right now, it makes no sense economically or practically.

woof.

Amtrak already does this, depending on your definition of "cheaply".

The North-East Corridor already has high speed electric trains.

It would be interesting to see how one would use a train to crash into a skyscraper.

I don't know if 30 minutes qualifies, but I can tell you I've gotten vouchers for the full amount of my fare, sleeper cost included, for a train that was a couple hours late. And I've gotten partial-fare vouchers more than once as well. See http://www.amtrak.com/about/satisfaction.html

In terms of customer service, within the past couple years, I've had MUCH, MUCH better luck with Amtrak than with airlines.

The Acela has all business-class seating, very large windows, and is very quiet. There are no rules about standing or walking around.

Quite a few of the seats are configured in facing pairs around a "conference table" which is nice if you're in a small group, or can snag a table to yourself - plenty of space to lay out laptop, newspapers & magazines, and food and drink. The regular seats may be better for pure laptop work, though, since their tables are more like airline tables - they fold down over your lap, which is a bit better positioned for typing.

They also have (sometimes?) a "quiet car" where cellphones and other noisy distractions are forbidden.

Nobody seems to have mentioned Amtrak's Acela Express trains yet. They're already up and running along several major routes. At just 150 mph this system hasn't got anything on the European high-speed rail, but it's nice to see the US at least taking some interest.

Wireless on the train has been done, sort of. Amtrak Acela (northeast corridor), Hiawathas (Chicago) and Capitols (SF Bay Area) provide wireless internet access. But only with their computers, not yours.

Then what are we supposed to do if we want/need to travel outside the area serviced by this or other public transit systems?

You head over to your local Zipcar and drive there. Or, even better, take one of these little things to the train and then take another little taxi to your destination.

Yes, it's a scary thought, but reducing the number of personal cars on the road by 90% would be a great thing.

Driver Licensing vs. the Right to Travel

It is not becaue you painted yourself in a corner (by virtually eliminating public transportation) that you suddenly have the "right" to use a car!!!! Expect to have that "right" pulled from you if you don't exercise it responsibly!!!

This is going to cripple the airline industry further.

Joy, great timing for Amtrak to get disolved. :-(

not a big surprise, but more trains & cars have been added.

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Let's not forget that Amtrak is essentially owned and operated by the US government. Would you find this all that suprising if you found out that the post office is coordinating with the DEA to stop suspected drug shipments?

Although this does bring up a good point... they're a government entitity, they're subject to Freedom of Information requests. If you really want to know the full scoop on what's happening, just ask.

Unfortunately, once you get off the modernized tracks, you're sharing older tracks with freight trains and may find yourself delayed significantly. They're getting much better, but for business travel it really depends.

In a move that the airlines (and the computer biz!) should emulate, they recently introduced an unconditional money-back guarantee. Pretty damn good.

As for cellphones on trains, this doesn't work so well on electric routes (notably the NE Corridor, DC-Boston). I think there's too much interference. Anyone working on always-on net access from trains (which would be so, so nice!) would need to solve this problem before it would work well.

sulli

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