#travelsnobs

[abuserfriendly]

A Conversation...

...with any number of people that I have had about Amtrak.

TravelSnob: The trains in Europe are so much better than in the USA.

Me: Oh, you think so? I've ridden all over Switzerland, France, Italy, Ireland and the UK on trains. I've also ridden most of the trains in the Amtrak and VIA rail systems. Tell me what you think is better about them.

TravelSnob: They are faster.

Me: Some of them are. Did you ride a German ICE or a French TGV?

TravelSnob: Um, I don't know...I rode whatever I got on with my second-class Eurail Pass.

Me: You rode locals that make every stop and average quite a bit slower than the 79 MPH Amtrak trains go in most places.

TravelSnob: But they have those high speed trains in Europe.

Me: They have them here too. In Michigan, Illinois, the Pacific Northwest and of course between Boston and Washington DC. On a scheduled-run basis, Amtrak actually operates more high-speed trains than some European countries and they beat some European countries even on a route-count basis.

TravelSnob: OK, but the trains in Europe are more comfortable.

Me: That's hard for me to believe, because I know for a fact that except in Germany, sleeping cars are history in Europe and no second-class coaches I have ever used in Europe have legrests or footrests..and sometimes there aren't even electrical outlets. Did you ride any trains in Europe that you could go to sleep in on a real, freshly-made bed?

TravelSnob: Um, no..

Me: Oh, hm. Any of those second-class trains in Europe have a dining car where they were cooking food for you to eat on board?

TravelSnob: No...but you know what, Amtrak is always late, so there.

Me: How many Amtrak trains have you ridden? When was the last time you took Amtrak somewhere?

TravelSnob: This weather sure sucks, doesn't it?