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[quote user="Phoebe Vet"] I just went to both Amtrak and USAirways websites and priced a round trip between DC & NYC Traveling next week on Tuesday and returning a week later on Tuesday to avoid the extra that the airlines charge on their busiest days. Amtrak was $152 and takes about 3 hours and 20 Minutes each way. USAirways was $822 and takes 4 hours and 18 minutes each way. Now add the baggage fees and the time required to get through the idiotic security play at the airport...[/quote] Tthe round trip fare on Frontier, Delta and American for the dates indicated would be $404 to JFK or $587 to LGA.  There is no charge for carry-ons, which is what most people do when flying between the nation's capital and the Big Apple.  However, the cost of checked baggage would add approximately $50 to the cost of flying, assuming that the passenger was only checking one bag. Waiting until the last minute or only checking one airline for fares is not an effective search scheme.  By planning ahead, e.g. March 15th to NYC and March 17th back to Washington, the round trip air fare could be as low as $195. The gate to gate airline time from Washington to LGA is approximately one hour and five minutes.  The average amount of time to clear security at both airports is less than 30 to 45 minutes.  In fact, last year, when I passed through the security at both airports, I only had to stand in line for approximately 10 minutes.  I was not searched, and the TSA folks were very pleasant. Those traveling by air would receive a federal subsidy of less than a penny per passenger mile.  Those taking the Bolt or similar bus would receive an indeterminate federal subsidy, i.e. highway costs not covered by fuel and other taxes, but it probably would be less than a penny a mile.   The Amtrak passenger on a regional train, which appears to be your benchmark, would receive a subsidy of 4.5 cents per passenger mile or $20.34 for the round trip.  This is before allocation of interest, depreciation, and management pass through charges.  The interest and depreciation associated with the Northeast corridor is steep.  It would probably double or triple the federal subsidy if it were allocated by route and train. Taking the train between Washington and New York, at least from center city to center city, is a good choice providing time is not critical, which is rarely the case for business people.  Planning ahead and shopping all the airlines is key to getting a good deal.  Using a last minute walk-up price from one airline is not reflective of the cost of flying for most people.
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