Crossing the USA by Train

Appeal of Long-Distance Train Travel in the US

• Many commenters loved trips like the California Zephyr, Empire Builder, and coast‑to‑coast routes, describing them as “surreal,” relaxing, and a great way to see varied US landscapes (deserts, Rockies, canyons, forests).
• Roomettes and sleeper cabins are strongly recommended for overnight comfort; coach is acceptable for shorter legs but can be hard to sleep in.
• Dining cars and observation cars are repeatedly praised for socializing and scenery; food is considered decent to very good on long‑distance routes.
• Some treat the train itself as the vacation, taking slow multi‑day journeys with intermediate city stops.

Costs, Passes, and Value

• Sleeper accommodations can be very expensive compared to flying; coach is often similar in price or cheaper than planes, especially last minute.
• Rail passes (e.g., Amtrak passes, historical USARail, Interrail/Eurail in Europe) are mentioned as ways to explore more flexibly and cheaply.
• Several note that sleeper prices effectively include lodging and meals, partly offsetting cost.

Delays, Reliability, and Freight Priority

• Chronic delays are a major theme in both US and Canadian long‑distance rail; 10–12+ hour delays and missed connections are common in anecdotes.
• Freight trains often get effective priority despite legal “preference” for passengers; very long freight consists don’t fit sidings, making dispatch complex.
• Amtrak sometimes provides hotels and rebooking for missed connections; European experiences vary by operator and cross‑border rules (HOTNAT, AJC, etc.).

Comparisons: Trains vs Planes vs Buses vs Cars

• For ~3–6 hour corridors (e.g., DC–Boston, NYC–Boston/DC, Cascades, some European routes), many prefer trains over planes due to central stations, minimal security hassle, and comfort.
• For US transcontinental distances, most agree planes dominate on time; some still choose trains for the experience.
• Long‑distance buses (mainly Greyhound) are widely described as cheaper but far less pleasant, with horror stories about stations, delays, and customer service.
• Driving cross‑country is seen as flexible but time‑consuming and often more tiring than trains.

Cultural and Media Context

• Commenters argue US film/TV underrepresents trains and subways compared to cars and planes, shaping public perception.
• Some note US car‑centric urban form and poor local transit make seamless train trips harder than in Japan or parts of Europe, where dense cities and integrated systems support rail.

International Comparisons

• European and Japanese high‑speed rail is frequently contrasted with slow, freight‑shared US tracks.
• Europe is praised for corridors; long multi‑country journeys are seen as fragile due to missed connections and fragmented ticketing.
• Opinions differ on whether continent‑wide, reliable rail networks (in EU or US) are politically or economically realistic.