JFKLGANYC From United States of America, joined Jan 2004, 2666 posts, RR: 5 Posted (7 years 1 month 1 day 13 hours ago) and read 2001 times:
An interesting report was just on Fox 5 NY.
With the rising gas prices, driving is no longer the cheapest way to get from NYC to DC:
Greyhound: $69 roundtrip
Driving: $107 roundtrip
Amtrak: $128 roundtrip
Flying/United: $185 roundtrip
The reporter said that the bus would be much slower, and the train was the best value because it bring you from city center to city center just like the car did.
I ride the train about twice every 3 weeks and it's $84, $120 at peak times but mostly $84. You can also ride the Acela Express which isn't worth the money because it's only about 20 minutes faster for $135.
H53Epilot From Israel, joined Mar 2004, 177 posts, RR: 2 Reply 3, posted (7 years 1 month 1 day 13 hours ago) and read 1970 times:
Of course this is just for one person. If you drive with 4 people, well.....Also, what they don't take into account is the ground transportation to/from the airport or the parking bill. Let's see them calculate the true costs with 3 or 4 people.
Phelpsie87 From United States of America, joined Apr 2006, 498 posts, RR: 2 Reply 5, posted (7 years 1 month 1 day 13 hours ago) and read 1957 times:
Personally, if I am going to spend $128 on a train ticket, I might as well spend the extra $57 to get there faster, and to fly on UAL . Are you going to be traveling often, or is this just some info?
Brokenrecord From United States of America, joined Jul 2005, 772 posts, RR: 0 Reply 11, posted (7 years 1 month 1 day 8 hours ago) and read 1789 times:
Could work too, but I am a US Chairman's Preferred, so my opinion is a bit biased. :P
AirCop From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 12, posted (7 years 1 month 1 day 8 hours ago) and read 1770 times:
Quoting Phelpsie87 (Reply 5): Personally, if I am going to spend $128 on a train ticket, I might as well spend the extra $57 to get there faster
By the time to add on all the extra's getting to the airport, TSA hassle etc, the train will win. And you still have a couple of bucks for a cool drink or two.
CRGsFuture From United States of America, joined Jan 2006, 536 posts, RR: 0 Reply 14, posted (7 years 1 month 1 day 8 hours ago) and read 1760 times:
I think on the NE Corridor the train is the best option, I love Acela. Yes it is overpriced, but their 1st Class can't be beat and it is a very smooth ride.
Flying you to your destination; your girlfriend to her dreams.
PanAm747 From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 4242 posts, RR: 10 Reply 15, posted (7 years 1 month 1 day 7 hours ago) and read 1736 times:
The question is, where in NYC are you departing from, and where in the DC area are you heading?
As much as I love flying, on the east coast of the U.S. the train is the better bet for a couple of reasons:
#1 - Midtown Manhattan to downtown Washington DC. No long commutes to the airport - both train stations are tied into the cities' respective subway systems.
#2 - No security lines like the airports.
#3 - Extra room. No one is cramped on the train - wide and spacious, even at the cheapest level.
#4 - It is not terribly expensive to upgrade. First class and Acela cost more, but by comparison to F class on airplanes? No comparison.
#5 - Get up and move around. Enjoy the scenery. Let someone else deal with the hassles.
#6 - Scheduling. There are lots of trains, 24/7/365, and at all hours. Some leave NYC at 4:30 AM arriving in DC 3½ hours later.
#7 - MOST of the time, traffic is not an issue. Airports get clogged, and traffic in the United States is reaching farcical levels. Delays happen on trains, but generally, they run on time.
Flying should be for longer distances - it's just too convenient to use Amtrak on certain routes.
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Oldman55 From United States of America, joined Jan 2004, 1517 posts, RR: 38 Reply 17, posted (7 years 1 month 1 day 6 hours ago) and read 1668 times:
I have to agree with everything PanAm747(Reply 15) said. Oh for the days when you could park reasonaby close to terminal, buy a shuttle ticket and be on you way in 15 minutes or so. Those days are defintely gone for good.
too bad most of us get too soon old and too late smart
Scoliodon From India, joined Oct 2005, 217 posts, RR: 0 Reply 18, posted (7 years 1 month 1 day 5 hours ago) and read 1657 times:
I agree with ERJ170 and Aaron.
Chinatown is the cheapest - $35 for a roundtrip - one-way journey takes about 4.5 to 5 hours. You also have on-road entertainment, they screened "School of Rock" when i went from NY to DC.
Phelpsie87 From United States of America, joined Apr 2006, 498 posts, RR: 2 Reply 19, posted (7 years 1 month 1 day 5 hours ago) and read 1641 times:
Quoting AirCop (Reply 12): By the time to add on all the extra's getting to the airport, TSA hassle etc, the train will win. And you still have a couple of bucks for a cool drink or two.
Good point, I thought about that after I posted. Extra money is great and a few cool drinks might help that train ride go faster. I guess I am just the type of guy that would take a plane over a train.
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