Which would you choose? Bus or Train? (cost, rent, bridge)

[Future Trooper]

Just thinking around here If you had the time to take a trip from Boston,MA to San Diego,CA and air service wasnt an option which would you rather try? Train or Bus?


Lets take into account:


Buses

Pros:

1. get to see the scenery of our beautiful country
2. Cost less
3. get to stop frequently



Cons:

1.Buses get stuck in traffic
2. often are unsanitary
3. rude passengers
4. Missing connections can cost you dearly ( not only by money but by time also)




Trains

Pros:

1. Get to see the beautiful country
2. get to have more privacy
3. Passengers are often more nice
4. Trains are often more sanitary

Cons:

1.Trains accomodations are often very very expensive
2. Missing connections can cost you dearly ( not only by money but by time also)

[Summerz]

Train==========

although Buses can be nice too

[20yrsinBranson]

Well, I'm sure many more people have been killed on buses during the past 40 years than on trains (not so pre 1950s but that doesn't count).

Aside from falling off a bridge into the Mississippi, your chances of buying it on a train are significantly less, I would say.

I also think that fewer crazy people who hack up their seat mates ride trains. That's another good reason.

Either would be better than falling 30,000 feet to your death on an airplane.

have a nice day

20yrsinBranson

[hdinia]

A train would be so much better! Could get up and move around. DH and I have collected a lot of train "stuff" over the years so it would only make sense for us to go somewhere by train someday.

[scarletneon]

TRAIN, hands down.

[Crew Chief]

Trains for me, too! Years ago, I went from Oakland, CA to Richmond, VA via Amtrak. I didn't upgrade to a sleper but still was comfortable sitting in the seats of my regular car. (Granted I was younger then...) But I still believe the train would be more comfortable. Took the 'Hound from Philly to Dayton, OH a couple of years ago. Trip wan't unbearable. but we were made to get off the bus every time we stopped. I thought the food was better on the train; less fast food unless you wanted it.

[PurpleLove08]

The train takes longer than the bus....and it's a lot more expensive but if the train wasn't as cost prohibitive as the bus and didn't take as long, I'd ride the train more often.
if train transportation was more common, I'd do it more often.

[Aylalou]

As far as sleeping (without a sleeper), I think buses are more comfortable.

[BergenCountyJohnny]

The whole point of not taking a plane, to me, would be to either save money, or to see more of the nation/scenery as I traveled through.

If I just want to see more of the nation and have the time to take 2 days or more to do a trip that a plane would do in under 5 hours, then I'd rather drive. Since my car is old, I'd rent a car, unlimited miles, and drive.

Now, if money is an issue, the train isn't going to be much cheaper, if it will be cheaper at all. So that leaves the bus.

I have yet to find a very good instance in which train would make the most sense for long distance travel. I always wanted to take a train voyage but the realities of it make it impractical.

The same can be said for a bus. But, with a bus, you do at least usually save a good chunk of money, and that would be helpful if someone is destitute and making a one-way move to a fresh start somewhere else.

Of course, if someone's destitute, they can also take a train for free, by sneaking onto a freight train, hobo style...

[Stripes17]

I'd prefer the train, but I can't afford Amtrak fares for the family. Holy cow! I didn't want to lease the train, just ride on it!

Take the bus? No. I'd rather walk or get a rental car.

I typically tell friends commercial air travel has degraded to the point to where it's like riding a "Greyhound Bus with wings", so there's NO WAY I'd step foot on one of them things.