As someone who has driven the road from Anchorage to Fairbanks and back again countless times, the Alaska Railroad is beautiful but cars are better on both time *and* money, especially if you're transporting more than one person.
Oh yes! Well worth doing, but even a decade ago the math didn't make sense for one adult and two children. Now it's $285/ticket for adult and $143 per child. Even at Alaska gas prices, makes better sense to just load the family up in the car... And there's a certain fun to the road trip, too! https://www.alaskarailroad.com/ride-a-train/fares
Great essay, ma'am. thank you. The NYT article reminded me of a quote from Eisenhower - "Farming looks mighty easy when your plow is a pencil, and you’re a thousand miles from the corn field." It's pretty easy to sit in a cushy office in downtown New York City and complain about cars and whine about rail travel.
But if it were so popular, why has it taken decades to get rail travel in California? Why isn't there a high-speed rail line between Las Vegas and Los Angeles? Chicago and St. Louis? Houston and Dallas?
I'm not sure even private money could handle it. CA HS rail is into the 10s of billions, and private money would dry up pretty damn fast when faced with regulators with differing view points that result in endless delays, rising costs, and diminished public interest. I think the biggest point the NYT columnist overlooked is cultural. Yes, he spoke of freedom of movement, but that is a driving force of our culture. He also overlooks the historic fact that at one time, the only way to cross the country was by train. Passenger rail existed in quantify 70 years ago, but it died. Why? Because private money (rail lines) couldn't compete with free money (highways).
Very well put! Our freedom depends on our individual ability to move about the country. This was taught to me in school in the 70s and 80s. We desperately need a new approach to teaching our young citizens the things that separate us from other countries and the huge benefits of them. And how some people try to make us feel selfish for embracing them. They either don't really understand it or they have an agenda to steer us into further dependency.
I believe it is for the most part. There are some people who like the thought or idea of mass transit across the country and seeing the landscape. It's a romantic fancy I think. And there are a few that think it will save the earth from pollution and warming. I do not. I think that climate change is real but that our ability to affect it is extremely small. There has been huge strides in air pollution reduction since the 70s but we certainly haven't driven less miles or reduced traffic. The engine is way more efficient than it used to be. I've also met some young people who hate to drive themselves anywhere which I find very odd. I don't think it has much to do with energy consumption or the environment. I think they've been sold a narrative or they are just plain lazy in some cases. Thankfully I think it's pretty rare and we are going to be okay as a country but we have to keep educating the young people. I am thankful for your perspective and others like you in media. Keep up the good work that you do.
YES! YES! YES! Does anyone talk about what to do after getting to your destination? Magic carpet ride?!?!?!? Have they ever ridden on the trains in Europe? They’re crap! I was in two train rides in Europe and both times there were passengers taking the wrong seats. One was ours, we let it pass. The other needed the attendants and ten minutes of the violator arguing with them to get them to finally move! We were traveling with a group and had the whole car. The trains were hot. There was hardly any room for luggage and a whole lot of stress and hassle to go 50 mph! Why is there so much desire to get us all to poop in outhouses and eat bugs? Ugh!
As someone who has driven the road from Anchorage to Fairbanks and back again countless times, the Alaska Railroad is beautiful but cars are better on both time *and* money, especially if you're transporting more than one person.
I trust you! Haha. I bet they're a novelty luxury for tourists/visitors, more so.
Oh yes! Well worth doing, but even a decade ago the math didn't make sense for one adult and two children. Now it's $285/ticket for adult and $143 per child. Even at Alaska gas prices, makes better sense to just load the family up in the car... And there's a certain fun to the road trip, too! https://www.alaskarailroad.com/ride-a-train/fares
Great essay, ma'am. thank you. The NYT article reminded me of a quote from Eisenhower - "Farming looks mighty easy when your plow is a pencil, and you’re a thousand miles from the corn field." It's pretty easy to sit in a cushy office in downtown New York City and complain about cars and whine about rail travel.
But if it were so popular, why has it taken decades to get rail travel in California? Why isn't there a high-speed rail line between Las Vegas and Los Angeles? Chicago and St. Louis? Houston and Dallas?
Because it's not feasible - only a mere pipe dream. If it were privatized, perhaps rail would stand a better chance.
I'm not sure even private money could handle it. CA HS rail is into the 10s of billions, and private money would dry up pretty damn fast when faced with regulators with differing view points that result in endless delays, rising costs, and diminished public interest. I think the biggest point the NYT columnist overlooked is cultural. Yes, he spoke of freedom of movement, but that is a driving force of our culture. He also overlooks the historic fact that at one time, the only way to cross the country was by train. Passenger rail existed in quantify 70 years ago, but it died. Why? Because private money (rail lines) couldn't compete with free money (highways).
Good point. It's just not practical given our terrain and preferences for quick travel.
Very well put! Our freedom depends on our individual ability to move about the country. This was taught to me in school in the 70s and 80s. We desperately need a new approach to teaching our young citizens the things that separate us from other countries and the huge benefits of them. And how some people try to make us feel selfish for embracing them. They either don't really understand it or they have an agenda to steer us into further dependency.
Correct. Thankfully, this op-ed is a fringe opinion among our populace.
I believe it is for the most part. There are some people who like the thought or idea of mass transit across the country and seeing the landscape. It's a romantic fancy I think. And there are a few that think it will save the earth from pollution and warming. I do not. I think that climate change is real but that our ability to affect it is extremely small. There has been huge strides in air pollution reduction since the 70s but we certainly haven't driven less miles or reduced traffic. The engine is way more efficient than it used to be. I've also met some young people who hate to drive themselves anywhere which I find very odd. I don't think it has much to do with energy consumption or the environment. I think they've been sold a narrative or they are just plain lazy in some cases. Thankfully I think it's pretty rare and we are going to be okay as a country but we have to keep educating the young people. I am thankful for your perspective and others like you in media. Keep up the good work that you do.
YES! YES! YES! Does anyone talk about what to do after getting to your destination? Magic carpet ride?!?!?!? Have they ever ridden on the trains in Europe? They’re crap! I was in two train rides in Europe and both times there were passengers taking the wrong seats. One was ours, we let it pass. The other needed the attendants and ten minutes of the violator arguing with them to get them to finally move! We were traveling with a group and had the whole car. The trains were hot. There was hardly any room for luggage and a whole lot of stress and hassle to go 50 mph! Why is there so much desire to get us all to poop in outhouses and eat bugs? Ugh!