I know that other parts of the world have much more extensive train systems than the US has.

Where ever you're from, no matter what country you are in, do you use trains? Very often? Why?

Train services are used extensively in India. In fact trains serve as the backbone of transport system in certain cities like Mumbai. The long train journeys, especially to scenic places are very enjoyable.

I spent the last two years living in Spain. I use the train system for all my travel. Purchasing a ticket is easy, and on the longer distances, for example Valencia to Madrid, I can even enjoy movies that are shown on the train. If there was train service from Europe to the States, it would be the only way I would travel.....You have to drag me kicking and screaming to airports now!

I've lived withing 60 miles of NYC my whole life.
I occasionally took the PATH from Hoboken into the city, but my buddy who lived in Hoboken recently moved to Minneapolis.
If I'm only going to Javitt's Center for a convention or trade show I'll take the ferry from Weehawken.
Usually I drive, though.

The only "real" train ride I've ever taken was from Paris to London on the Eurostar. Everything else has been light rail.

I live about 55 miles north of London and travelling there by car makes no sense at all. The journey time is about 45 minutes by train and can be hours by car. When you add on the difficulties of parking and paying congestion charges, the train is the only sensible way to go.

The same should applly to other large cities such as Manchester and Glasgow but there's an additional factor for me for these destinations. They are further away and rail fares are very high. If several people are travelling together, the car works out slower and less convenient but much lower cost.

The UK railway network was savagely reduced in the 1960s and many feeder lines were taken out of service. It was a short sighted decision and the cost of replacing this infrastructure is now prohibitive.

I rode the L all weekend this past weekend in Chicago. Blue/Orange line from O'Hare to Midway, Orange/Red to the Tigers-White Sox Game, Green downtown, Red/Orange back to Midway. Not the most comfortable ride, but not bad for $2 per trip.

I live in the San Francisco bay area and use the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system to get from home to work and back. It is relaxing, comfortable, and cheaper than bridge tolls, traffic congestion, car maintenance, and gas cost. It takes about the same amount of time and I can talk to friends, read, listen to music, or just look out the window, when I am not under the bay.

I rode the L all weekend this past weekend in Chicago. Blue/Orange line from O'Hare to Midway, Orange/Red to the Tigers-White Sox Game, Green downtown, Red/Orange back to Midway. Not the most comfortable ride, but not bad for $2 per trip.

I hope you enjoyed your stay in Chi town.

My son will be using the train to commute to school.

The hubby used it today - he is a carpenter and had to work downtown Chicago. It will pay for itself in 2 days - with downtown parking at $30 USD per day.

:bigwave:Hello Sir/s,

I wonder if you'll find my experienced unpleasant. I travelled on our oldest train here in the Philippines not so frequently. The experienced really not that good since our trains are the oldest model on earth (i guess! :frust:) and they were crangky for old and continuous use. They left your butt stiff on their metal seats if your lucky and fast enough to find a vacant one, else you have to bear standing and balancing in the middle of it. We, on the lower class, still use them thought.:o as part of frugality but mostly as to tightening our belts since we feel the sting of swelling gas price and ineffectual rice supply. I guess this is quiet:topic:
But so far we got new and fast trains along Manila (LRT and MRT) which are very useful for a great populace of mid and upper class of the congested city. But if any of you wanted to travel here, and visited my country, its best that you fly, otherwise you'll find yourself stuck and swearing in the mids of heavy traffic on land :notme:

I hope i can get out of here and try the modern trains somewhere though!:cool:

:thanx: for bearing with me!:magic:
E.m.