More take the train
Recent environmental protests at airports have urged travelers to reconsider their plane tickets and jump on a train instead. It seems that people are starting to listen. That or they just can’t face another five hours in the crowded security lines at Heathrow. Whatever the reason, Eurostar, the train linking
by Emily Welch July 21st, 2007
Amtrak goes five-star with new cabins
There has been a lot of talk about luxury cabins recently, but all of the new and improved private cabins have been in planes. This trend has crossed over into the world of rail travel, with the American government-owned Amtrak rail company joining forces with GrandLuxe to provide first-class service
by Dave Bess July 17th, 2007
If you want high speeds, it’s going to cost..
Amtrak’s president Alex Kummant told Congress on Wednesday that even with an investment of $7 billion, America’s rail company couldn’t cut the time on the route between Washington and New York by more than 25 minutes. The statement came after members of the House transportation committee voiced their frustration about the
by Emily Welch July 12th, 2007
Edinburgh rail link to airport scrapped
Plans that would have seen a direct rail link from Edinburgh’s city centre to its international airport have been shelved for now, with local councilors claiming the long term costs would outweigh the benefits. Questions of its future remain unresolved, but the plan to forge ahead with a tram system
by Dave Bess July 10th, 2007
Public transit makes a comeback this summer
Summer vacation season is upon us, and that means a lot more mobility in people’s lives. Attractions will be more crowded, parking spaces more elusive and waiting times in general will be longer. In the case of transportation, it seems more Americans are becoming more conscious of their cars and the
by Neill Zerk July 3rd, 2007
Disheveled, distraught and wayward man found in Arizona
A frequent traveller will always have an anecdote of an unruly passenger making a scene that immediately draws your eyes to the ground and count the seconds that pass until the situation does. Last week in the United States, the aftermath of one such passenger was found in what must
by Neill Zerk July 3rd, 2007
Longest overland railway tunnel opens in Switzerland
The Loetschberg Base Tunnel runs 21 miles under the Swiss Alps, making it the longest overland tunnel on earth. After eight years of construction and $3.5 billion project will link Germany and Italy via Switserland and cut the travel time ...
by Neill Zerk June 18th, 2007
Train rage
A recent survey conducted by Passenger Focus found that only 40 per cent of train travelers felt like they got good value for their purchase. The watchdog group interviewed more than 25,000 train passengers. Two percent more travelers this year were dissatisfied with their train trip. Almost a quarter of travelers
by Charlotte Fellows June 7th, 2007
Does riding the rails still go the distance?
Europe is big place. It’s a popular place. There used to be three things you needed to get around Europe: Flight ticket, passport and rail pass. Any number of rail passes were available with any number of country combinations. ...
by Neill Zerk June 4th, 2007
Alternative luxury vacations
If private jets aren’t an option (perhaps you’re afraid of flying) and you have simply done the presidential suite scene in New York to death, then there are still plenty of options for luxury travel out there in the world awaiting. Take a ride on the Venice Simplon Orient Express. Amid
by Jennifer Jones May 30th, 2007
One heck of a journey
A new train line that began business yesterday has made it theoretically possible to travel by rail from Inverness in Scotland all the way to Seoul in Korea. Here’s how it can be done: Number of stages in the journey: 19 Total time in trains: 177 hours, 35 minutes; just over 7
by Rosie Vaughan-Jones May 18th, 2007