Compares auto, bus, plane & train ridership between various cities of the NEC. Comments ?
http://www.citylab.com/commute/2015/11/why-most-northeast-us-intercity-travelers-still-drive/417303/
The hardest part to understand is that the longest distance (Boston-DC) is the one mostly likely to be done by car.
MidlandMike The hardest part to understand is that the longest distance (Boston-DC) is the one mostly likely to be done by car.
I think a lot of people choose to drive for convenience and cost. I know I prefer to drive for these reasons:
1. I don't have to worry about parking or paying for parking at the train station I'm departing from.
2. I don't have to worry about someone picking me up or paying for a cab at my destination.
3. I can bring as much luggage with me as I desire.
I just did a quick search for trains from Harrisburg, PA to Old Saybrook CT and I can say I'd still prefer to drive this route. I know I can get to my Mom's house in CT in about 5 hours. One tank of gas at roughly $30-35 (now that gas is cheap) and a meal. Now, I like to drive. In fact, I love to drive. I have a car I just bought about a month ago and I've already put over 2,000 miles on it. The train from Harrisburg to Philly does not allow checked baggae.
The cost of the Amtrak ticket is $150 and my departure from CT is very inconvenient (very late Saturday night vs. Sunday morning). If i wanted to leave Sunday morning, the cost goes up to $204. I'm frugal and I feel my money can be spent better elsewhere. I'll risk getting stuck in traffic, and I have many times, but I still like the convenience (it is to me) of driving and of having a vehicle at my destination.
avonlea22 I think a lot of people choose to drive for convenience and cost. I know I prefer to drive for these reasons: 1. I don't have to worry about parking or paying for parking at the train station I'm departing from. 2. I don't have to worry about someone picking me up or paying for a cab at my destination. 3. I can bring as much luggage with me as I desire. I just did a quick search for trains from Harrisburg, PA to Old Saybrook CT and I can say I'd still prefer to drive this route. I know I can get to my Mom's house in CT in about 5 hours. One tank of gas at roughly $30-35 (now that gas is cheap) and a meal. Now, I like to drive. In fact, I love to drive. I have a car I just bought about a month ago and I've already put over 2,000 miles on it. The train from Harrisburg to Philly does not allow checked baggae. The cost of the Amtrak ticket is $150 and my departure from CT is very inconvenient (very late Saturday night vs. Sunday morning). If i wanted to leave Sunday morning, the cost goes up to $204. I'm frugal and I feel my money can be spent better elsewhere. I'll risk getting stuck in traffic, and I have many times, but I still like the convenience (it is to me) of driving and of having a vehicle at my destination.
Harrisburg isn't in the NEC corridor and I suspect there isn't sufficient demand betweeen points North of New York and Harrisburg to warrent a dedicated Boston-Harrisburg train(s). Passenger rail, by it's very nature has to cater to the mass movement of people between points.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
If there were decent train service with several times a day frequency, between NY/Philly and Pittsburgh, then Harrisburg would have better service, and through service to Boston would make more sense.
12 Hours of NEC
I am certain their figures include Megabus and its rivals because those companies do and keep track of the number of fares collected. No reason they would not provide the information. But use of SEPTA-NJT for New York - Philly travel may not have been considered. How much of this exists? Has any reader of this thread on a SEPTA Philly-Trenton train or NJR NY-Philly spokien to any other passenger using this combination? It certainly isn't advertized as a viable travel option other than connections shown in timetable, and reasonably good connections planned in those schedules.
Certainly if one were to add communter traffic in general, even against including shorter trips on the interstates, rail would come in comfortably ahead. But that is not what the purpose of the statistics is.
daveklepper But that is not what the purpose of the statistics is.
But that is not what the purpose of the statistics is.
The purpose of statistics is the PROVE, whatever point those supplying the statistics wants PROVED. Figures lie, liars figure.
BaltACD daveklepper But that is not what the purpose of the statistics is. The purpose of statistics is the PROVE, whatever point those supplying the statistics wants PROVED. Figures lie, liars figure.
Statistics textbook definition: " A science that provides appropriate processes to collect, organise, classify, present and interpret data sets."
Mindlessly repeating untrue variations on Disraeli's (or Twain's) quote (usually bandied about by those who do not understand stats due to a lack of coursework) is a reflection of a poor argument. If you wish to forfeit some of the scientific and medical advances achieved through the proper use of statistical research, go ahead. But be prepared for an unpleasant, and likely short existence.
C&NW, CA&E, MILW, CGW and IC fan
schlimm BaltACD daveklepper But that is not what the purpose of the statistics is. The purpose of statistics is the PROVE, whatever point those supplying the statistics wants PROVED. Figures lie, liars figure. Statistics textbook definition: " A science that provides appropriate processes to collect, organise, classify, present and interpret data sets." Mindlessly repeating untrue variations on Disraeli's (or Twain's) quote (usually bandied about by those who do not understand stats due to a lack of coursework) is a reflection of a poor argument. If you wish to forfeit some of the scientific and medical advances achieved through the proper use of statistical research, go ahead. But be prepared for an unpleasant, and likely short existence.
When you mix statistics and politics - all bets are off on how the numbers get used.
BaltACD Harrisburg isn't in the NEC corridor and I suspect there isn't sufficient demand betweeen points North of New York and Harrisburg to warrent a dedicated Boston-Harrisburg train(s). Passenger rail, by it's very nature has to cater to the mass movement of people between points.
Yes, I do realize this. I was just trying to show some justification as to why some people would rather drive than take a train. My point was not specifically regarding the NEC (although a fair portion of my trip would be on it), but train travel in general.
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