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[quote user="sooblue"] The last cross country trip I took was Mpls. to LA. on the NP to Salt Lake city and the UP to LA. My return trip was on the Super Chief / El Capitan to Kansas City and the Rock to Mpls. 1967. Now I want to take my family on a new cross country trip by rail but I am turned off by the High price to travel from PA to any where west. I just can't spend the money to travel by train when I can go cheaper by auto or even by plane if I plan ahead. I looked into going by train to Orlando from DC. and choked on the $1000+ price tag. I love train travel but it's not affordable. In 1967 is was about the cheapest way to travel long distances. I must be getting on a Amtrak ticket site for those earning more then $200,000.00/year. The only way I can get a rail fix is by going on short tourist lines, fun but not cross country. Or am I doing something wrong. [/quote] In most instances coach travel on Amtrak is less expensive for me than driving.  This includes the cost of meals in the dinning car or lounge car and motel expenses if necessary.  I drive a Toyota Corolla that gets approximately 35 mpg on the highway.    In most instances Amtrak's coach fares are slightly lower than corresponding airfares but not by much. However, for trips of more than three or four hours, the difference can be wiped out by the purchase of eats on the train.  Except when traveling from coast to coast, one does not need to buy a meal on the airplane.  Moreover, if a value is assigned to time, especially over distances of more than 250 miles, the cost of taking the train could be much higher.   As a rule booking an Amtrak sleeper will result in a much higher cost than driving or taking the plane.  This is especially true during high demand periods of travel. Whether driving or taking the train or plane is the best deal depends on many other variables.  For example, if taking a train or plane means that you will need to rent a car at your destination, that needs to be included in the cost analysis.  It also needs to consider how many people are traveling, where you are going, etc.
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