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[quote user="Sunnyland"] But I have always loved trains, so it doesn't upset me, but I have friends who would not feel the same way.  Today, planes are just not pleasant and way too expensive, that's why I haven't flown in over 10 years.......   Southwest seems to be a decent line, but I've never flown them.  [/quote] Whether a plane trip is more expensive than a train trip depends on where you are going and how far in advance you book a ticket.   The Amtrak coach fare from Austin, TX, to New York, NY on September 19th is $212.  The cost of a roomette on the Texas Eagle would be $194 whilst a roomette on the Capitol Limited would set one back $368. If you are amongst the 2.2 per cent of Amtrak's passengers who can afford to ride sleeper class, the cost would be $774.  If coach class is selected, in addition to the fare, one could expect to spend approximately $50 for food and drink.  The train would take 48.3 hours plus dwell time in Chicago to complete the trip.  The airplane would be 5.16 hours on Southwest.  The Wanna Get Away fare on Southwest, which is my first choice amongst airlines, is $141.  Even if one waits until just one week prior to travel, the one way fare on Delta is only $156.  However, last minute walk-up fares could be as high as $550. If the airplane is full, as tends to the the case for most flights this year, the ride is nothing to write home about. But it is over quickly. Riding in one of Amtrak's coaches may not be more pleasant. I have ridden coach class from Austin to Dallas and screaming kids turned the ride into a nightmare.   I like trains also.  But the above cost and time comparison is one of the points in my argument that long distance trains don't make any sense.  The only people who are going to ride from Austin to New York on a train are train lovers, those who are afraid to fly, and a few rich people who can afford to book a sleeper at rates that are equal to or exceed the cost of a first class hotel room.  On the other hand, taking a train from Temple, TX to Dallas, TX, especially if we had good corridor service, would be a desirable option.
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