Spain to become leader in high-speed trains

by Sean McLachlan on

Spain is tipped to become the world’s leader in high-speed trains next year, surpassing Japan and France for the most kilometers of track.

With the rising costs and hassles of airfare, train travel has become more competitive. The high-speed train between Spain’s two most important and visited cities, Madrid and Barcelona, takes just two-and-a-half hours. That’s quicker than flying once you factor in taxi rides and waiting at the airport. Another advantage of trains is that you go from city center to city center.

This past summer the Madrid-Barcelona route proved its dominance by serving more customers than the airlines, and with more lines planned, including a much anticipated Madrid-to-Paris service, it looks like high-speed rail is the transportation of the future for Spaniards and visitors. In total more than 40,000 people use Spain’s high-speed trains every day, enjoying a 99% on-time rate.

Having gone on many train journeys in Spain I have to say that Renfe, the state railroad company, gets high marks. The trains are much more comfortable than airplanes and many offer bars, dining cars, and other conveniences. Madrid is set in the dead center of the country and the lines branching out to all major cities are convenient for visitors. Prices are slightly higher than airline tickets, but the cost comes out to be about the same once airport transportation is taken into account. I personally prefer to travel by train because I get to see the country as I pass by, and you don’t want to miss Spain’s beautiful countryside.

Amtrak to become gun-friendly?

by Tom Johansmeyer on

Thanks to a Senate vote on Wednesday, Amtrak is a step closer to becoming the nation’s gun-friendly travel alternative. The proposal was approved by a vote of 68 to 30 and would allow passengers to take firearms with them on trains – as long as they declare that they are doing so. The firearms also have to be unloaded and locked in a container.

Of course, Amtrak is, so to speak, being held at gunpoint on this bill. If it does not change its gun policy, the railroad would lose its $1.6 billion government subsidy, thanks to some wheeling and dealing by Mississippi’s Senator Roger Wicker.

The current policy, which prohibits travel with weapons, was implemented following the terror attacks on Madrid‘s passenger trains in 2004. Wicker cites the importance of second amendment rights in pushing for the change in policy.

Opponents of the bill say that it would be too costly to allow firearms on trains, particularly since Amtrak doesn’t have the security measures and equipment in place to manage the change. Putting it into place would be too expensive.

A House version of the bill, which passed, doesn’t include the gun measures, and the two proposals have yet to be reconciled.

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Murder on the Orient Express? No, just good eating!

by Sean McLachlan on

If you want to combine fine dining, an historic train ride, and Art Deco elegance, here’s your chance.

The Orient Express is offering a new dining service called simply “The Dinner” which gives passengers a luxury meal aboard the company’s historic British Pullman train.

The trip departs from London’s Victoria station at 7:30pm and returns at 11pm, so don’t expect to pull into Constantinople in time to see the Ottoman Empire fall. An epic rail journey this is not. But what you do get is champagne and an exquisite menu featuring dishes such as Organic Welsh Salt Marsh Lamb, Truffled Welsh Rarebit, and something called the Orange and Chocolate Tasting Plate. All this is served on selected nights in restored Art Deco carriages that make you feel like you’re back in the early twentieth century.

The dinner costs a tooth grinding $640 or more, but if you got the dosh, this sounds like a fun one.

Across Austraila by train

by Kraig Becker on

Australia’s transcontinental railroad, affectionately referred to as “The Ghan”, has a long and storied history. In fact, on the 4th of August, it will celebrate the beginning of its 80th year of service as an 1850 mile north-south route running between Darwin and Adelaide. As the Ghan approaches this milestone anniversary, Australian newspaper The Age, hops the train to see how it is adapting to the 21st century, and reports back on the experience.

Nearly a year ago, the train was upgraded to include luxury service that offers private cars with comfortable couches that convert to a double bed, in-suite showers, gourmet meals and champaign delivered right to the passenger’s door. But travel writer Louise Southerden, who wrote this article, notes that it isn’t long before your attention is drawn away from the comfort and luxury to the beaituful scenery outside your window. Fortunatley, the luxury cars have windows on both sides, so you won’t miss a single thing, and unlike most other trains, this one stops for a part of each evening to ensure that nothing important is passed in the dark.

The Ghan, which derives it’s name from the caravans of camels that once delivered supplies to the Outback, which were driven by Afghans, or “Ghans” as they came to be called, runs twice weekly, with stops in the towns of Katherine and Alice Springs. The article notes that taking the journey is a bit like taking a step back in time, as much of the Australian countryside remains quite remote and steeped in tradition.

I’ve always felt that there was a certain romantic nature to traveling by train. It is a throwback to a different era, and gives you a much better sense of the countryside. The Ghan crosses the entire length of Australia and seems like an amazing way to take in a country that offers such diverse scenery, spreadout across a vast distance.

For more info this amazing train journey, go to gsr.com.au.

ACES train makes NYC to Atlantic City less of a gamble

by Mike Barish on

Summer in New York City is all about weekend getaways. The city gets hot, sticky and smelly. Thankfully, we’re surrounded by beaches to the north (Connecticut), east (Long Island) and south (New Jersey). But only the trip south can add something unique to your beach getaway: gambling. And that’s why thousands of New Yorkers flock to Atlantic City, NJ every summer to enjoy the sand and the slots. And a new express train service is aiming to get people out of the heat and into the action quicker than ever before.

The ACES train makes only one stop in Newark in between New York’s Penn Station and Atlantic City. The train gets you there in under three hours and it’s reasonably priced at $39 each way (with an upgrade to first class for $25 more). It only runs on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, but that’s when most people are heading to AC anyway. I rode the ACES train round trip from New York to Atlantic City last weekend and came away with the following thoughts.
Pros

  • The price really is reasonable for the ease of the trip, limited stops and traffic-free travel.
  • The first class service offers a significantly more pleasant ride and is worth the upgrade.
  • ACES service is 30-60 minutes shorter than any bus service.
  • A free shuttle is provided to-and-from ACES partner properties (Harrah’s, Caesars and Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa)

Cons

  • The trains are not scheduled at the most convenient times for maximizing weekend travel plans.
  • Some ACES trains are scheduled to take two-and-a-half hours. Others close to three hours. So the time savings isn’t consistent across the schedule.
  • There are huge gaps of time when no trains run, so if you want to leave Atlantic City later than 10:45am, you have to wait until 7:25pm (on Sundays).
  • There’s no wi-fi internet access.

Overall, ACES is an upgrade over the cramped bus services that many people use for trips to Atlantic City. There’s no traffic and the trains are clean and comfortable. But, at present, the schedule is somewhat inconvenient. I would love to be able to leave AC after my hotel’s checkout time but early enough to get back to NYC in time to unwind before the weekend concludes. And, of course, internet access would make any ride more enjoyable.

I asked the good folks at ACES about the schedule, and they told me that they were somewhat limited by the schedules of NJ Transit and Amtrak, with whom ACES shares tracks. However, they plan to reevaluate their schedule this summer (six months after their February 2009 launch) to see what, if any, changes should be made. I vote for a northbound Sunday train around 4:00pm.

If you’re looking to escape NYC this summer and have a hankering for some roulette, waves and prime people watching, then you’re probably already planning to head to Atlantic City. ACES certainly seems like the best way to get there.