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Rethinking Low Speed Rail
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<p>[quote user="KCSfan"]</p> <p>Nowhere in this discussion have I seen any mention of the fare differential between airline and train travel. It's a given that there are really bargain air fares between major cities, often lower than those on Amtrak. However lots of us live in smaller cities and towns where the airfare is a lot more pricey. I live in Shreveport, LA a city of around 350,000 population (in the metropolitan area) and we have an excellent airport and frequent flights mostly on regional carriers going to DFW or Atlanta to connect with longer distance major airlines.</p> <p>My wife and I just completed a round trip on Amtrak's Texas Eagle to Chicago. Our roundtrip fare was around $380 vs the cheapest air fare of about $765, a difference of $385. The rail time was about 20 hrs which included a bit over one hour on the Amtrak thruway bus between Shreveport and Longview, TX where we catch the train. Had we flown the trip would have taken about six hours (counting arrival at the airport an hour ahead of the actual flight time and 1-1/2 hrs between planes in DFW or ATL). That figures out to making (or saving if you prefer) $28.50 per hour by taking the train.</p> <p>There's a whole lot of people of limited means (like us) to whom the fastest time isn't a paramount consideration that find the economics a big incentive to travel by rail rathner than fly.</p> <p>Mark [/quote]</p> <p>You did not include any meal costs on the train. Also, what would your fare have been if you and your spouse had booked a roomette? My experience tells me that as soon as you book a sleeper, the fare comparison usually swings in favor of flying.</p>
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