Transportation Alternatives

I’ve never been crazy about traveling on business because most of it is done by plane. When you live in New York, hassle Number 1 is just getting to the airport. It’s a schlep regardless of whether you are flying out of LaGuardia, JFK or God help you, Newark Liberty. Add the recommended minimum one hour arrival time before departure, the indignity of airport security, the often late takeoffs, the cattle car-like seating, the fee-based in-flight services and it just takes all enjoyment out of the process. I didn’t even mention the rising costs of air travel.

So this recent trip down to Washington DC was a welcome relief because I took the train. Being a bit of a romantic, nostalgic type, I have always liked trains anyway, but this was an especially enjoyable journey. A simple subway ride from my apartment to NY Penn Station, then a seat aboard the Acela Express, the new roomy, quiet, clean, comfortable high speed trains that run between Boston and DC.

No TSA Nazi made me open my suitcase or remove my shoes. I took a seat in the “Quiet Car” where there was space to stretch my legs, get up and move around, go to a café car that served food at its real cost (not the $5.00 per everything rate the airlines charge) and in just a few short hours I was in downtown DC, a short cab ride from my hotel, rested and unstressed.

My recommendation to President Obama is screw the airlines. They’ve never been well run anyway. Let’s make a major investment in a far more environmentally friendly form of transportation and make railroad travel popular again in every part of the country. Get Americans out of their cars and ground the airplanes. Faster travel isn’t synonymous with better travel. Train travel is simply more civilized.