After procrastinating to buy my flight home for Thanksgiving one too many times (sorry, Mom), I’ve been left with no other option but to turn to the Pennsylvanian, a 9-hour and 20-minute Amtrak train that travels from New York to Pittsburgh.
This time, I paid $316 for the round-trip ticket, and was happy to book the train instead of a flight. I’ve taken this train ride almost a dozen times in the past five years, and have turned into somewhat of a train enthusiast because of it.
Additionally, flying disruptions — such as the recent government shutdown — and the seemingly endless construction at my hometown airport have made me more inclined to take the train over the past few years.
It’s not perfect, but from avoiding never-ending security lines at the airport to having a row to myself, here are the four reasons I prefer traveling by train.
1. There are no security lines or airport hassles
I’ve been stranded in too many hour-plus airport security lines to count. When I arrive at the train station, I simply wait for my track to be announced, which typically occurs 15 minutes before departure, and then board the train when it arrives.
There aren’t any annoying security lines or shuttles to take between terminals, so I can get to the train station around 30 minutes before the train leaves. Plus, boarding usually goes pretty fast because the train attendants can stagger the boarding lines between train cars.
2. I don’t have to worry about size restrictions or checking too many bags
Have you ever shed a tear watching TSA throw away a precious perfume or hand lotion you just bought?
One of the lovely things about traveling by train is that there are no size restrictions on liquids. This is a small win, but when I fly, I’m constantly holding my breath to see if my carry-on toiletry bag will make it through TSA, so it’s another tick on the pros list for me.
Additionally, Amtrak has a really generous luggage policy. Each passenger is allowed one personal item, two carry-ons, and two checked bags free of charge. Additional checked luggage is only $20 a bag.
3. There aren’t assigned seats, and I usually have a row to myself
With no assigned seats, there’s usually an opportunity for me to find a row to myself. I’ve taken this train route five times in the last year, and there’s only been one ride where I wasn’t able to snag that luxury.
There’s a roughly two-to-four-hour period of the train ride where I lose cell service entirely, and I use that time as a deep work block to get writing, planning, or anything else that I need to get done accomplished.
One benefit of having a row to myself, besides the obvious extra room, is that I can spread out my work in front of me and not worry about bothering anyone.
4. It’s a beautiful train ride
Lastly, it’s a scenic ride. Although I try to focus on getting some work done or taking stock of my priorities, both personally and professionally, I sometimes can’t help but get lost in the views for hours.
My favorite part of the ride is about halfway through, when we go on the horseshoe curve in Altoona, PA. It’s a 220-degree railroad curve that was finished in 1854. I’ve now seen the curve through almost every season and look forward to marveling at the view each time.
As much as I do love the train, the ride itself isn’t always the smoothest, the café car never has consistent hours, and sometimes, by hour six, the 9-hour ride feels like it will never end.
But overall, if I have the time to spare, I’ll always choose the train over flying. I’ve realized that having this time for myself helps me reset in between destinations.
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