Just after midnight last Saturday night, an Amtrak
train derailed in Nodaway, Iowa, cutting short spring break ski trips to
Colorado, delaying reunions of various sorts, killing one passenger and injuring
96 others.
Why do people still take the train? Economics for one.
Take the ski trip for instance. The regular fare might or might not beat airline
rates to Denver, but there's still the cost of getting from there to ski
country. When my son was in school and used to take ski trips, it was by
chartered bus. To "take the bus and leaving the driving to us" is a
smart move sometimes, but the speed and comfort of a train is better for a
longer distance. My last long bus trip was almost two decades ago, from Kansas
City to New Orleans at Mardi Gras time. I was thankful that Southwest Airlines
had just inaugurated service between the Crescent City and Kansas City then with
special rates. I flew home.
The romance of rail travel is another reason. Those of us
who take commuter rail lines may not be able to relate to this so well. When I
lived in New Jersey and worked in New York City I used, at various times, the
Erie Lackawanna railroad, the PATH trains, and the New York City subway (as well
as bus, and as much of the trip on foot as time and weather permitted). There
were "luxury" cars on some of the Erie Lackawanna lines which in the
afternoon served liquor and had limited food service; and tables around which
businessmen sat playing cards. Through most of the train however, were business
people catching another 40 winks on the way in, or reading the Wall Street
Journal, New York Times, Star Ledger, or their local paper. Repeat performance
on the return trip, although more dozing after the rough day at the office.
There was a "romance" or nostalgia related to
the old rail cars used on long journeys - the great views of majestic
countryside or of the yards and buildings of industry alongside the rails (as
well as, I recall seeing, homes of the impoverished whose back yards were just
yards away from where the great trains passed). There are two Kansas City area
organizations promoting the history of rail who run scenic rail trips in
refurbished old trains (in Belton and in Baldwin City if you're in the area).
Such rides are not unique to this area, and National Geographic and the
Smithsonian seem to try to include a rail segment to their tours whenever
possible.
Derailments make headlines, just as air crashes do. Safety
is not a major issue, however. If time allows and the route looks interesting,
consider "taking the train and leave the driving to them." Put
the newspaper down and don't doze past some scenic delights.
Coming soon: I am making great progress on my new
cities and travel sites with links to the best information sources for dining,
entertainment and attractions, as well as local headline feeds for the cities,
states or regions I feature. Later there will be articles about attractions I
found of interest - including those which disappointed. Meanwhile, when making
travel plans, visitExpedia.com,
my travel affiliate.
