A Case for Taking the Train When a Car or Plane is Out of the Question

As more people get fed up with sitting in traffic and paying for constantly fluctuating gasoline prices or sitting in an airport never quite certain if their flight will be rescheduled, it is becoming more apparent that we are in dire need of an alternate form of transportation of this country - and walking everywhere is not going to cut it. Thus, many people have been making a case for trains for some time now.

Once thought to be stuffy and almost as bad as taking a Greyhound to get somewhere in this country, trains are making a comeback with their speed, comfort and affordability. Trains allow us to avoid the traffic and instead enjoy the ride. Plus, we can depend on them to get us anywhere (of course, as with anything, there are delays and other issues when the weather or something completely out of human hands occurs).

If you are new to the whole train riding experience, visit Amtrak's web site. It is full of useful information such as routes and travel planning tips. You can plan a whole vacation or day long trip using the Amtrak rail guides. It's an inexpensive form of traveling that allows you to avoid the hassels and headaches of more traditional forms of travel.

If you do decide to take the train somewhere it is good to be aware of a few things. For starters, odds are that you will at least have to drive to the train station. Make sure you arrive there at least an hour ahead of time and in general be aware of the type of foot traffic that is at that station. If you are planning a trip on a weekday, be cogniscent of the fact that you will be competing for a parking space with all of the regular workday travelers. Weekends tend to be a little less busy, but can still get a little crowded.

Understanding the parking layout of the train station you are going to can allow you to avoid the hassel of arriving only to find out that you have no place to park your car and then end up missing the train. If you can, go to a train station that has ample amounts of space. If you live in Southern California, for example, the Anaheim train station (which shares its parking with Anaheim Stadium) has far more parking spaces than a station like the Fullerton one.

Another tip to understand is the order in which the train stop routes are going. Chances are likely that you are buying a regular - not business class - ticket, which means you are buying an unreserved spot on the train. Seats are given out on a first come, first served basis. This means that once the train stops and you are given the go ahead to enter the train, it is up to you to find a spot. If you are traveling in a large group, be prepared to separate, and if you are at a train stop that is one of the later ones on the train's route, be aware of the fact that there will be fewer seats to choose from.

Trains obviously have food, drinks and restrooms. However, if you are a picky eater, pack your own snacks or just wait until the ride is over.

Once you are at the end of your route, you will be at your destination train spot. It is a good thing to know whether or not your destination spot is within walking distance from this station or if you will need alternate forms of transportation to get to wherever it is you are going. You should plan this out ahead of time, and the Amtrak web site can help you do this. Always plan ahead so that you are not left wondering what you need to do at a time when you will lack the resources to be able to figure out a solution.

Train stations are not always exactly where you need to be dropped off at. Sometimes you may need to take a bus or trolley or taxi to get to you final place. So, make sure you plan ahead.

As far as ticket prices go, they can range from $35 round trip and up depending on how far you are going. If you are a student, you will likely be able to get a discount and if you decide to become a frequent traveler, you may also be able to receive a discount.

Riding the train is a great way to avoid traffic and also taking advantage of mass transit helps relieves congestion on the roads and reduces the number of vehicles out there. It also allows you to have an enjoyable ride to wherever you are traveling to.