I worked with someone that had some Great Aunt or whatever that did this. The lady just didn't like planes, so she would travel like this. Basically, you get all the amenities of an RV, water tank fill up, power hook up, plus you can walk up to the admittedly gross food car. She said it looked like an RV apartment combo, and that the Aunt was old money, so the Mr. Monopoly vibe is accurate.
Plus, you could make it an event or party car. Imagine a traveling bachelorette party with a murder mystery dinner, karaoke, no flying, no driving, and you end up somewhere cool and can nap on the way back.
(100% of the pre-wedding parties I've been to have had karaoke and a murder mystery dinner. Sample set of one.)
Coworker said that time is the luxury item. Unless your car is following exactly a regular Amtrak route, at some point you get decoupled in a yard and passed off to another train, which can take hours. Basically a layover. So it sounds like it can easily become a multi-day thing to get somewhere you can get in like 5 hours by air.
But yeah, if you have the time and inclination, it seems like a pleasant way to go.
in certain they’d tell you where that would happen… if the destination is less important that simply going, you could just go to whatever random city, have a night out, come back
Is it gross to other people? Seems like an ordinary bare bones cafe to me: a few snacks, including some basic hot food, coffee/tea/soft drinks, beer, wine.
I've always found it gross. Fine for wine or coffee, but food...eesh. Soggy sandwiches, microwave hot dogs, and $9 airplane style snack packs with a $0.75 cereal bar or whatever. Had a mediocre but tolerable breakfast once, but it was just eggs and hashbrowns.
I'm gonna take my time and enjoy the ride. If you need me, come meet me on my train. I'm pulling into Kansas City tomorrow. See you there. Meanwhile I'm gonna have a cocktail and play some video games.
Amtrak does have the "auto train" which runs from just outside DC to just outside Orlando. You load your car on the train and ride the train rather than driving that distance. It's apparently really popular with both snowbirds as well as vacationers
There's also rumblings of potentially setting up a new Auto train route from NYC to LA. I have wonder if they'll do the obvious thing of making a stop in Chicago as well given most long distance Amtrak services stop in Chicago
I live a few hours drive from Chicago and have family in LA, I would love the option to take an autotrain to visit family. The ability to bring my car to visit folks in such a car dependant place would make the cost really make a ton of sense, especially if we opted to only drive one direction and take the train the other direction.
We're actually planning on driving out this thanksgiving (partly decided by cost and partly by making an added stop to visit family in Arizona which Amtrak and flying would both make extremely expensive in comparison) it also helps that our car was totaled by hail damage this year so since it now has no resale value despite being fairly new and fairly low mileage, there's just no incentive to avoid putting tons of miles on it anymore. But if we could pay a couple thousand dollars for the experience of riding the rails just one direction, we probably would go that route
This is also how the Channel Tunnel between Folkestone in the UK and Calais in France works, sans any amenities other than a toilet. Drive on, get taken under the strait, and drive off at the other side.
I remember watching a documentary about the chunnel back in the early 00s and the narrators highlighted how it's enabled day-tripping to the other country for some folks, and spoke with a British couple who went to France to do some shopping that day
It's also pretty normal in europe - It's pretty cheap if you compare it to the cost in fuel and wear on the car if you want to make a long distance vacation, and it beats driving long hours of mostly highway during the time where EVERYONE drives into vacation and traffic jams are common.
We used to have that in France but I think they killed the service in the late 90s or early 2000s. It was typically paired with night trains, I thought it was a pretty cool system.
I started a conversation the other day with some friends about if I ever ran for President and needed to travel the country, what impact would there be if I decided to go super old-school and get a Presidential train car.
Side conversation; Airforce 1 is the Airliner the Pres flies on. Marine 1 is the helicoper. What would be the train designation?
So theoretically if we got a new president who was into using trains to get around we could have a high speed uscar1 named Neil Armstrong or Yuri Gagarin? Though I assume astronauts wouldn't be considered explorers and would be reserved for spacecraft the president is on
Correct though it's unlikely any president will travel by train again given the best security is people simply not knowing where you are going or when. Being trapped in one direction is a big no no.
imagine getting to be late for school because your bus got stuck at a Presidential Train Crossing, and being able to see the copters and jets fly over.
Was it McCain who said that he’d campaign in every state but was said to have regretted it because the time to travel to Hawaii, Alaska and a few other states (Idaho etc) were kid of a waste?
Major problem is that Amtrak has the lowest priority on our rail network. Getting to a campaign rail-stop on time would be almost impossible without greasing some palms. So you'd have to hook up with a cargo rail line or something like that.
Edit: Now, if you had "improve rail transportation" as a major platform plank, showing up late would be a feature, not a bug.
Legally, passenger rail gets the highest priority.
However, the punishment for violating this is a fine which hasn't been updated in decades. The rail companies realized a long time ago that it's better to just take the fine instead of actually following the law.
But I've also heard of private groups pooling together to buy an old passenger car and keeping it maintained and up to whatever the current Amtrak requirements are so that they can do this regularly. Alternatively there's several private companies who you can rent and charter a car or several with if you don't want to commit long term to owning a railcar. I've specifically seen this one on private charter before for some model railroad events: https://261.com/cedar-rapids/
Short hop (300 miles, 1 car): Mileage = 300×$4.72 = $1,416, but you’ll pay the $2,296 minimum (plus any parking/switching).
Regional trip (500 miles, 1 car): 500×$4.72 = $2,360 (above the minimum). With one night of standard parking, ~$2,583 before any special switching.
Overnight long-distance (1,000 miles): ~$4,720 for one car. Two cars on the same request price ~$8,340 (first car $4,720 + second car $3,620) before parking/switching.
Even assuming some passenger limit (otherwise you could sell your own tickets and make a tidy profit) for groups large enough to require a charter bus, this sounds like a reasonable alternative. In fact that might be their target market.
You are basically in a moving apartment, with bed, shower, bathroom, fridge, ability to cook...
It's out of my price range, but I certainly could see the appeal.
The car will be way faster and more open ended in terms of where you start and finish, so it's far more practical if you just want to get to where you are going.
well, you'll notice how the private shower provides ample hot water, while ... ... gently massages your buttocks. well, count jerkface, shall we discuss the ...
There were articles about people who make a lifestyle of this. Though the practice is apparently under pressure, as allowing random people to attach private carriages to your trains does complicate operating a railway.
Probably not too impractical owing to the fact that you probably aren't allowed to do jack shit yourself. It's not like you can tow it from the depot to the station with your f150. Much easier than owning a boat :) presumably just as pricey though and with even less utility
I'mma be taking so many trains when Rail Baltica gets built
Wait that sounds a bit wrong
Anyway yeah, for short to medium distances, rail is awesome. I haven't tried super long distance rail yet. I've flown twice in my life and it was nice, but the first time was a short flight (3 hours) and the second time I had someone abuse their platinum status to get me one of dem nice emergency exit seats where there's no limit to your legroom. I imagine if you're going on like a 2 or 3 week vacation, taking a train or several there and back would be super nice, but if you're spending a week on another continent because of time constraints, a plane sounds better.
Once shit gets built though, I can take a local train to Tallinn, then take the new slightly faster train to Poland, then from there to Germany. The most ridiculous thing about this is the fact that this train route is going to be a HUGE thing for car enthusiasts, because the biggest used car market in Europe is Germany, and right now you have to fly to Germany to go buy a car if you can't find what you want closer (also German prices are better). So it's gonna be a great train route for car enthusiasts (among all the other people of course).
Yet slower, and far less convenient than air travel.
you should be aware there is a non-insignificant population that despise air travel. whether it's personal issues (fear, stomach problems etc.,) or they really hate the TSA...
From some searching, they're also available for charter. Still not something for a person of average means to do on their own, but maybe a group of upper-middle class people. Some Amtrak routes go through some incredibly scenic areas. The one that comes to mind in my neck of the woods is the Empire Builder. It would be a luxury experience for sure.
I have another thread in here talking about cost, but just the mileage fees for a trip on a car you own can be a significant percentage of the cost of chartering a plane. If you rent the car it can cost significantly more.
Owning a private rail car is a bit like owning a superyacht; it’s not a particularly fast or practical form of travel but it can be luxurious and fun so people with money do it anyways.
If we have a civil war that destroys the railroads only the worst outcome would avoid massive improvements to rail infrastructure. It's still absolutely crucial to pur indistrial capacity. A fascist victory would have low speed rail redesigned for precision scheduling. A progressive victory would get high speed rail between major population centers, expansion of intraregional rail, and reconstruction of the industrial rail network. Balkanization would wind up with progressive areas considering high speed rail to be vital.
Like if the west coast ditches, we'll probably continue towards the San Diego - Seattle line because when all your major population centers are in a row and reasonably spaced it becomes obvious to do it.
But yeah currently American rail is more functional than the governmental and political landscape.
You pay for someone (another rail company operating at that railyard) to move it for you into storage, where you pay the storage costs. If you need that railcar somewhere else, you pay someone to transport it somewhere else, same as how cargo rail would work.
I think private rail carriages are slightly more expensive and limited use than vans, which is why vanlife has taken off and carriagelife has not
Only the rich could afford this likely, and a huge subset of the rich are people who value their time too much to spend it on transportation they don't have direct control over.
However, I do think there are people out there who'd do this if they found out. Travel YouTubers. The more popular ones have decent income and starting a new niche or getting in on one early can pull a lot of new viewers.
It’s FAR more expensive than vans. For comparison, a fully renovated carriage could cost in the neighborhood of $1M, and Amtrak mileage fees are in the neighborhood of $5/mil. Renting a private car is around $15k per day per car, including mileage fees.
For comparison San Diego to San Francisco is a one day trip by train and about 600 miles. So, you’d be paying in the neighborhood of $2500 for those miles if you own the car, and $15k for charter. You could charter a private turboprop airplane to go that same distance for around $7000. Add in that some private car owners will string multiple cars together, and it can easily exceed the cost of just going by private plane even if you own the cars and charter the plane.
At the end of the day, it’s like having a superyacht—it’s rarely the most affordable or practical route but it is fun and luxurious so rich people do it anyway.
I'm looking at this and it's so sad. Not just that several states lack lines altogether, but... The existing lines lack some obvious interconnections. Where's the OKC to Albuquerque line? Or even El Paso to Albuquerque. Get those two long distinct lines connected! Similarly, a shortcut to Denver from the line that goes through KC and Albuquerque? And I think Jacksonville should get direct lines to Atlanta and New Orleans.
There's so much that could be improved here with just a few tens of thousands of miles. Focus on better interconnections between the already existing routes first because it improves mobility for more people with fewer railroads to build, then build routes to cities currently completely unserviced (actually both should be done at the same time, just a bigger focus on the former early on)
not private automobile, private rail/train Car….
so if you happen to be a millionaire and own your own entire rail car, then you can hook it up to an amtrak
Pretty sure you can do this with freight trains as well, and it should be cheaper. Though there would be no water, and likely no power hookups this way.
This got me wondering. What if you build out a luxury trailer home in a shipping container. Could you just pay to have the thing shipped around while you're living in it? It seems like it's got to be efficient since there's so much infrastructure and logistics for moving containers around.
You're thinking of cargo rail. Amtrak owns the rails and the passenger service. They actually run way more than you probably think as they operate the northeast corridor as well as some of the other more serviced lines like the cascade corridor.
Thank you for asking though. I got a smile out of imagining someone with a bicycle firmly attached to an Amtrak train and stuck sitting on it for 200 miles.
I mean, in my area we do have the ability to put bicycles on trains and buses alike. Though you don't attach them at the back, you just enter the vehicle with your bike.
If it's a foldable, you can always enter for free (so no added fee on top of the fare). For non-foldable bikes the same applies, though if you do that during rush hour you will have to pay a small fee.
Super convenient, really. Way cheaper also than having a car (as in, the vroom vehicle). You bike from home, enter bus/train, maybe switch from bus to train, and then exit and bike the last few kilometres.
Don't need to look long for a parking spot, don't need to pay much in petrol, no need to focus on traffic, can enjoy the view or do work/hobbies/listen to music while travelling, and so on.
Only downside is that here the fares are pretty high, but the Green & Labour Party is proposing to enable unlimited travelling across the entire country for less than €60 per month outside of rush hours.
For comparison, travelling from one end to another of the country right now would cost €30 per trip. A typical 4-day commute of 40 km per trip would cost around €320 per month now (accounting for travelling both ways).
So, the Green & Labour Party's proposal would result in fares becoming more than 80% cheaper(!) for everyone.
Some of the larger cities in the US have light rail. I live near Cincinnati, which had their light rail projects killed in favor of personal vehicles. I believe a proper rail system here would be a huge boon, but it is not well visualized by the half million residents here between three states and 8-9 counties.
Amtrak here is mainly used for service between cities. People generally forget it exists until it is brought up. I only ever hear about people traveling by car or plane.
So, to address my giggles and before I answer your real question, this is what I thought your bike was going to be hitched to. I believe it would have been a terrible ride.
Yeah, I'm catching your message and am sad that I cannot realize it here and now. Our bus system is not robust and complicates anything more than a simple trip along the line.
That's a thing here too. Seattle's light rail even has bike hangers inside the trains. No fee though
How big of a country is it? Amtrak is usually similar price to flying at the cheapest (outside the northeast) with the least convenient schedule ever (the state I grew up in has two stations and never receives or launches a passenger train during the day).
Amtrak in the northeast corridor is about as fine as European rail is from what I hear, except no high speed. I really wish it could expand or get to Japan levels.
140 Comments
hansolo@lemmy.today · 128 pts · 360d
I worked with someone that had some Great Aunt or whatever that did this. The lady just didn't like planes, so she would travel like this. Basically, you get all the amenities of an RV, water tank fill up, power hook up, plus you can walk up to the admittedly gross food car. She said it looked like an RV apartment combo, and that the Aunt was old money, so the Mr. Monopoly vibe is accurate.
grysbok@lemmy.sdf.org · 49 pts · 360d
I'm with Great Aunt whomever. Flying sucks.
Plus, you could make it an event or party car. Imagine a traveling bachelorette party with a murder mystery dinner, karaoke, no flying, no driving, and you end up somewhere cool and can nap on the way back.
(100% of the pre-wedding parties I've been to have had karaoke and a murder mystery dinner. Sample set of one.)
hansolo@lemmy.today · 24 pts · 360d
Coworker said that time is the luxury item. Unless your car is following exactly a regular Amtrak route, at some point you get decoupled in a yard and passed off to another train, which can take hours. Basically a layover. So it sounds like it can easily become a multi-day thing to get somewhere you can get in like 5 hours by air.
But yeah, if you have the time and inclination, it seems like a pleasant way to go.
pupbiru@aussie.zone · 6 pts · 359d
in certain they’d tell you where that would happen… if the destination is less important that simply going, you could just go to whatever random city, have a night out, come back
exasperation@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 8 pts · 359d
Is it gross to other people? Seems like an ordinary bare bones cafe to me: a few snacks, including some basic hot food, coffee/tea/soft drinks, beer, wine.
hansolo@lemmy.today · 1 pts · 359d
I've always found it gross. Fine for wine or coffee, but food...eesh. Soggy sandwiches, microwave hot dogs, and $9 airplane style snack packs with a $0.75 cereal bar or whatever. Had a mediocre but tolerable breakfast once, but it was just eggs and hashbrowns.
akilou@sh.itjust.works · 107 pts · 360d
This is so much more baller than a private jet
apftwb@lemmy.world · 77 pts · 360d
"I am rich but I don't need to rush around the country to keep being rich"
akilou@sh.itjust.works · 39 pts · 360d
I'm gonna take my time and enjoy the ride. If you need me, come meet me on my train. I'm pulling into Kansas City tomorrow. See you there. Meanwhile I'm gonna have a cocktail and play some video games.
Sabin10@lemmy.world · 9 pts · 360d
If I had to choose one, it would be the private rail car for sure.
sheridan@lemmy.world · 60 pts · 360d
For like 30 seconds I was thinking 'car' meant automobile and I was picturing like someone's SUV hitched to the back of a train.
I should get some coffee.
Trainguyrom@reddthat.com · 44 pts · 360d
Amtrak does have the "auto train" which runs from just outside DC to just outside Orlando. You load your car on the train and ride the train rather than driving that distance. It's apparently really popular with both snowbirds as well as vacationers
GenderNeutralBro@lemmy.sdf.org · 19 pts · 360d
Neat!
If anyone else is curious, there's a lengthy blog post with some photos here: https://www.aboomerslifeafter50.com/travel/is-the-amtrak-auto-train-worth-the-ride-heres-my-take-going-to-florida/
And a Wikipedia page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auto_Train
Trainguyrom@reddthat.com · 13 pts · 360d
There's also rumblings of potentially setting up a new Auto train route from NYC to LA. I have wonder if they'll do the obvious thing of making a stop in Chicago as well given most long distance Amtrak services stop in Chicago
https://www.trains.com/pro/passenger/intercity/private-company-ameristarrail-proposes-cross-country-auto-train-service-with-amtrak/
fuzzzerd@programming.dev · 4 pts · 360d
That would be incredible.
Trainguyrom@reddthat.com · 5 pts · 360d
I live a few hours drive from Chicago and have family in LA, I would love the option to take an autotrain to visit family. The ability to bring my car to visit folks in such a car dependant place would make the cost really make a ton of sense, especially if we opted to only drive one direction and take the train the other direction.
We're actually planning on driving out this thanksgiving (partly decided by cost and partly by making an added stop to visit family in Arizona which Amtrak and flying would both make extremely expensive in comparison) it also helps that our car was totaled by hail damage this year so since it now has no resale value despite being fairly new and fairly low mileage, there's just no incentive to avoid putting tons of miles on it anymore. But if we could pay a couple thousand dollars for the experience of riding the rails just one direction, we probably would go that route
AtariDump@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 359d
At that rate I’ll fly.
egrets@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 360d
This is also how the Channel Tunnel between Folkestone in the UK and Calais in France works, sans any amenities other than a toilet. Drive on, get taken under the strait, and drive off at the other side.
Trainguyrom@reddthat.com · 4 pts · 360d
I remember watching a documentary about the chunnel back in the early 00s and the narrators highlighted how it's enabled day-tripping to the other country for some folks, and spoke with a British couple who went to France to do some shopping that day
Part4@infosec.pub · 3 pts · 360d
a_wild_mimic_appears@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 3 pts · 359d
It's also pretty normal in europe - It's pretty cheap if you compare it to the cost in fuel and wear on the car if you want to make a long distance vacation, and it beats driving long hours of mostly highway during the time where EVERYONE drives into vacation and traffic jams are common.
AnUnusualRelic@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 359d
We used to have that in France but I think they killed the service in the late 90s or early 2000s. It was typically paired with night trains, I thought it was a pretty cool system.
sundray@lemmus.org · 57 pts · 360d
This feels like a holdover from the Teddy Roosevelt/robber baron era!
Blackmist@feddit.uk · 50 pts · 359d
Buy cheap carriage.
Paint with radiation symbols and rainbow flags.
Write "GAY-diation distribution system" on the side.
Send it on a tour of red states and enjoy the freak-outs.
surewhynotlem@lemmy.world · 13 pts · 359d
I would donate to this godundme
Pyr_Pressure@lemmy.ca · 7 pts · 358d
Label it as a mobile abortion clinic
Bgugi@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 358d
Alternative plan: do the same with unattended freight cars for pennies on the dollar.
Sarcasmo220@lemmy.ml · 4 pts · 358d
Top Gear did something similar with cars. It turned out as you would expect. https://inv.nadeko.net/watch?v=pKcJ-0bAHB4
ToiletFlushShowerScream@lemmy.world · 47 pts · 360d
Am I the only person without a personal train car? Am I surrounded by people in top hats and just don't know?
Th3D3k0y@lemmy.world · 13 pts · 360d
I started a conversation the other day with some friends about if I ever ran for President and needed to travel the country, what impact would there be if I decided to go super old-school and get a Presidential train car.
Side conversation; Airforce 1 is the Airliner the Pres flies on. Marine 1 is the helicoper. What would be the train designation?
KingGimpicus@sh.itjust.works · 28 pts · 360d
Choochoo McTrainFace 1
_apokalipto_@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 359d
I read that in Ringo Star's voice.
Madison420@lemmy.world · 7 pts · 360d
US-CAR 1 or uscar 1. We've had several before so it's not particularly an abstract.
They're all named after great explorers, Marco Polo, Ferdinand Magellan etc.
captainlezbian@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 360d
So theoretically if we got a new president who was into using trains to get around we could have a high speed uscar1 named Neil Armstrong or Yuri Gagarin? Though I assume astronauts wouldn't be considered explorers and would be reserved for spacecraft the president is on
Madison420@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 360d
Correct though it's unlikely any president will travel by train again given the best security is people simply not knowing where you are going or when. Being trapped in one direction is a big no no.
TehWorld@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 360d
You KNOW that they'd have a fleet of helicopters, AWACS, fighter jets and vehicle escorts just hanging around the side of the running train.
Th3D3k0y@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 360d
imagine getting to be late for school because your bus got stuck at a Presidential Train Crossing, and being able to see the copters and jets fly over.
TehWorld@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 358d
Was it McCain who said that he’d campaign in every state but was said to have regretted it because the time to travel to Hawaii, Alaska and a few other states (Idaho etc) were kid of a waste?
dejected_warp_core@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 360d
It would be a statement, that's for sure.
Major problem is that Amtrak has the lowest priority on our rail network. Getting to a campaign rail-stop on time would be almost impossible without greasing some palms. So you'd have to hook up with a cargo rail line or something like that.
Edit: Now, if you had "improve rail transportation" as a major platform plank, showing up late would be a feature, not a bug.
droans@midwest.social · 3 pts · 359d
Legally, passenger rail gets the highest priority.
However, the punishment for violating this is a fine which hasn't been updated in decades. The rail companies realized a long time ago that it's better to just take the fine instead of actually following the law.
_stranger_@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 360d
Land Sealion.
I mean Trainforce1 is right there, but Landforce1 sounds good too
PlantDadManGuy@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 360d
Locomotive 1
Ensign_Crab@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 360d
Amtrak 1?
knightly@pawb.social · 2 pts · 360d
Depends on which branch manages the railcar:
http://www.railgoat.railfan.net/other_cars/1private/us_military/us_military.htm
GreenKnight23@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 360d
Spaceforce 1
shalafi@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 360d
Awful for security. Your whereabouts would be known at all times, and the USSS can't protect every mile of track.
Hudell@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 2 pts · 358d
They stopped wearing the identifying top hats. Anybody might be secretly wealthy now.
Trainguyrom@reddthat.com · 46 pts · 360d
Mumford and Sons is currently running a tour by rail using Amtrak's services!
https://railroadrevival.com/
But I've also heard of private groups pooling together to buy an old passenger car and keeping it maintained and up to whatever the current Amtrak requirements are so that they can do this regularly. Alternatively there's several private companies who you can rent and charter a car or several with if you don't want to commit long term to owning a railcar. I've specifically seen this one on private charter before for some model railroad events: https://261.com/cedar-rapids/
kamills@sh.itjust.works · 36 pts · 360d
But how much is it?
TragicNotCute@lemmy.world · 56 pts · 360d
https://www.amtrak.com/content/dam/projects/dotcom/english/public/documents/privatecars/Amtrak-Private-Car-Rate-Addendum-7-111824.pdf
Septimaeus@infosec.pub · 16 pts · 360d
Even assuming some passenger limit (otherwise you could sell your own tickets and make a tidy profit) for groups large enough to require a charter bus, this sounds like a reasonable alternative. In fact that might be their target market.
logos@sh.itjust.works · 1 pts · 359d
Good god!
Guess I'll keep flying for the time being.
jerkface@lemmy.ca · 18 pts · 360d
What advantages does this train have over, say, a motor car -- which I could also afford?
Revan343@lemmy.ca · 50 pts · 360d
You don't have to drive the train
N0MAD@sh.itjust.works · 17 pts · 360d
But what if I want to?
Lawnman23@lemmy.world · 38 pts · 360d
apftwb@lemmy.world · 9 pts · 360d
25% discount
jj4211@lemmy.world · 15 pts · 360d
You are basically in a moving apartment, with bed, shower, bathroom, fridge, ability to cook...
It's out of my price range, but I certainly could see the appeal.
The car will be way faster and more open ended in terms of where you start and finish, so it's far more practical if you just want to get to where you are going.
enkille@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 360d
well, you'll notice how the private shower provides ample hot water, while ... ... gently massages your buttocks. well, count jerkface, shall we discuss the ...
AllNewTypeFace@leminal.space · 27 pts · 360d
There were articles about people who make a lifestyle of this. Though the practice is apparently under pressure, as allowing random people to attach private carriages to your trains does complicate operating a railway.
BigDiction@lemmy.world · 24 pts · 360d
This one of those hobbies that sounds so cool but so impractical to get into. Like it makes getting a boat sound like a cheap and easy hobby.
matti@sopuli.xyz · 3 pts · 360d
Probably not too impractical owing to the fact that you probably aren't allowed to do jack shit yourself. It's not like you can tow it from the depot to the station with your f150. Much easier than owning a boat :) presumably just as pricey though and with even less utility
hefty4871@lemmy.ca · 21 pts · 359d
Proprietary_Blend@lemmy.world · 16 pts · 360d
Ok. Mr Burns
stoly@lemmy.world · 15 pts · 360d
How much does a rail car cost, and what is maintenance, inspection, etc like? This is still something of the very wealthy.
dejected_warp_core@lemmy.world · 10 pts · 360d
Yet slower, and far less convenient than air travel. Sight-seeing aside, I honestly don't know who this is for.
Maybe there's a train-enthusiast club out there that has a small fleet of rail-ready cars?
Enekk@lemmy.world · 15 pts · 360d
My guess is that this is a holdover from when rich people did have train cars (and sometimes even full trains!).
I would bet there are still a couple of rich people living out their train fantasies.
Treczoks@lemmy.world · 14 pts · 359d
Slow, sight seeing and not flying is exactly the point.
thespcicifcocean@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 359d
I would literally rather eat a bug than fly anywhere, unless i absolutely have to.
stoly@lemmy.world · 9 pts · 359d
Because they love the experience. Trains are really a lot of fun.
Newsteinleo@midwest.social · 10 pts · 359d
I would gladly take the train over flying. You have more leg room, there is a dinning car, and way less security theater to deal with.
boonhet@sopuli.xyz · 1 pts · 359d
I'mma be taking so many trains when Rail Baltica gets built
Wait that sounds a bit wrong
Anyway yeah, for short to medium distances, rail is awesome. I haven't tried super long distance rail yet. I've flown twice in my life and it was nice, but the first time was a short flight (3 hours) and the second time I had someone abuse their platinum status to get me one of dem nice emergency exit seats where there's no limit to your legroom. I imagine if you're going on like a 2 or 3 week vacation, taking a train or several there and back would be super nice, but if you're spending a week on another continent because of time constraints, a plane sounds better.
Once shit gets built though, I can take a local train to Tallinn, then take the new slightly faster train to Poland, then from there to Germany. The most ridiculous thing about this is the fact that this train route is going to be a HUGE thing for car enthusiasts, because the biggest used car market in Europe is Germany, and right now you have to fly to Germany to go buy a car if you can't find what you want closer (also German prices are better). So it's gonna be a great train route for car enthusiasts (among all the other people of course).
mojofrododojo@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 358d
can you ship your purchased cars home by rail easily?
boonhet@sopuli.xyz · 1 pts · 358d
No? You drive back the 2000 km obviously. Part of it is the Autobahn!
You can also skip half the distance with a ferry, but it won't be saving much time.
mojofrododojo@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 358d
bummer. I'm a sucker for cars on trains :D
GroundedGator@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 359d
Definitely a case of the journey being more important than the destination.
mojofrododojo@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 358d
you should be aware there is a non-insignificant population that despise air travel. whether it's personal issues (fear, stomach problems etc.,) or they really hate the TSA...
pingveno@lemmy.world · 9 pts · 359d
From some searching, they're also available for charter. Still not something for a person of average means to do on their own, but maybe a group of upper-middle class people. Some Amtrak routes go through some incredibly scenic areas. The one that comes to mind in my neck of the woods is the Empire Builder. It would be a luxury experience for sure.
sfjvvssss@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 359d
nBodyProblem@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 359d
I have another thread in here talking about cost, but just the mileage fees for a trip on a car you own can be a significant percentage of the cost of chartering a plane. If you rent the car it can cost significantly more.
Owning a private rail car is a bit like owning a superyacht; it’s not a particularly fast or practical form of travel but it can be luxurious and fun so people with money do it anyways.
ValarieLenin@midwest.social · 15 pts · 360d
So is it possible to have a tiny home on rails?!?!?
thespcicifcocean@lemmy.world · 13 pts · 360d
i hope america, and by extension, amtrak is still around when i retire, because this is cool as hell.
GreenKnight23@lemmy.world · 9 pts · 360d
captainlezbian@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 360d
If we have a civil war that destroys the railroads only the worst outcome would avoid massive improvements to rail infrastructure. It's still absolutely crucial to pur indistrial capacity. A fascist victory would have low speed rail redesigned for precision scheduling. A progressive victory would get high speed rail between major population centers, expansion of intraregional rail, and reconstruction of the industrial rail network. Balkanization would wind up with progressive areas considering high speed rail to be vital.
Like if the west coast ditches, we'll probably continue towards the San Diego - Seattle line because when all your major population centers are in a row and reasonably spaced it becomes obvious to do it.
But yeah currently American rail is more functional than the governmental and political landscape.
slazer2au@lemmy.world · 12 pts · 360d
Who wouldn't want to take a private cartage? Id get one for baboo too.
Akasazh@lemmy.world · 11 pts · 359d
The thing I haven't read in this thread: how do you get your personal trail car to the station, and how do you move it about on your destination?
It sounds cool but very inflexible.
exasperation@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 17 pts · 359d
You pay for someone (another rail company operating at that railyard) to move it for you into storage, where you pay the storage costs. If you need that railcar somewhere else, you pay someone to transport it somewhere else, same as how cargo rail would work.
Blackmist@feddit.uk · 6 pts · 359d
It feels like the last time this service was used, everyone would have giant top hats, and their own personal railway spur to their houses.
captainlezbian@lemmy.world · 11 pts · 360d
Yeah iirc thats an old holdover from when that was how rich people got around
BleatingZombie@lemmy.world · 8 pts · 360d
Well, shit. Now I want to be rich
ivanafterall@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 359d
Do it!
ABetterTomorrow@sh.itjust.works · 10 pts · 359d
Why isn’t this sometime of trend or hobby?
boonhet@sopuli.xyz · 7 pts · 359d
I think private rail carriages are slightly more expensive and limited use than vans, which is why vanlife has taken off and carriagelife has not
Only the rich could afford this likely, and a huge subset of the rich are people who value their time too much to spend it on transportation they don't have direct control over.
However, I do think there are people out there who'd do this if they found out. Travel YouTubers. The more popular ones have decent income and starting a new niche or getting in on one early can pull a lot of new viewers.
nBodyProblem@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 359d
It’s FAR more expensive than vans. For comparison, a fully renovated carriage could cost in the neighborhood of $1M, and Amtrak mileage fees are in the neighborhood of $5/mil. Renting a private car is around $15k per day per car, including mileage fees.
For comparison San Diego to San Francisco is a one day trip by train and about 600 miles. So, you’d be paying in the neighborhood of $2500 for those miles if you own the car, and $15k for charter. You could charter a private turboprop airplane to go that same distance for around $7000. Add in that some private car owners will string multiple cars together, and it can easily exceed the cost of just going by private plane even if you own the cars and charter the plane.
At the end of the day, it’s like having a superyacht—it’s rarely the most affordable or practical route but it is fun and luxurious so rich people do it anyway.
MirthfulAlembic@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 359d
"Hey, jet setters! Today, we're going to be traveling across the United States in our own private railcar... attached to an Amtrak service!"
-Jeb, probably
DesertMagma@lemmy.world · 9 pts · 360d
No joke, at least back in the 80s some wall-streeters did thIs from my home town in Nj to NYC every day. Complete with full bar.
skisnow@lemmy.ca · 9 pts · 360d
with hookers and blackjack?
GreenKnight23@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 360d
as many as your car can carry.
XTL@sopuli.xyz · 3 pts · 359d
You can fit so nanny blackjacks in this "slaps side of car*
expatriado@lemmy.world · 8 pts · 360d
should be called Amtrak Barnacles
Kolanaki@pawb.social · 8 pts · 360d
Now I just need to know when and where Amtrak still operates. Because it ain't around here.
tal@lemmy.today · 13 pts · 359d
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Amtrak_routes
boonhet@sopuli.xyz · 4 pts · 359d
I'm looking at this and it's so sad. Not just that several states lack lines altogether, but... The existing lines lack some obvious interconnections. Where's the OKC to Albuquerque line? Or even El Paso to Albuquerque. Get those two long distinct lines connected! Similarly, a shortcut to Denver from the line that goes through KC and Albuquerque? And I think Jacksonville should get direct lines to Atlanta and New Orleans.
There's so much that could be improved here with just a few tens of thousands of miles. Focus on better interconnections between the already existing routes first because it improves mobility for more people with fewer railroads to build, then build routes to cities currently completely unserviced (actually both should be done at the same time, just a bigger focus on the former early on)
AnotherUsername@lemmy.ml · 2 pts · 359d
This is just Amtrak. There's a lot more rail lines than Amtrak.
nBodyProblem@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 359d
Yup. I regularly have to travel flagstaff to Denver, and it would take me over two days to make the trip.
OldChicoAle@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 359d
Pathetic
Blackmist@feddit.uk · 2 pts · 359d
I really is. 34,000km vs 200,000km for the EU. An area of comparable size and population. Germany alone has about as much as the US.
AnUnusualRelic@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 359d
Theoretically, you can still do NY to LA?
JargonWagon@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 359d
New York to Louisiana? Sure can! (jk jk)
ozymandias@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 7 pts · 360d
not private automobile, private rail/train Car….
so if you happen to be a millionaire and own your own entire rail car, then you can hook it up to an amtrak
SethTaylor@lemmy.world · 7 pts · 358d
Private car? Check
Decorative fireplace? Check
Small round wooden table? Check
Top hat? Check
Monocle? Check
Schmuppes@lemmy.today · 1 pts · 358d
If "between specified locations" includes your oil wells and silver mines, enjoy.
kieron115@startrek.website · 5 pts · 360d
Where else am I supposed to perform my ablutions?
Fedizen@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 358d
Seems more affordable than a private jet
NikkiDimes@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 358d
Safer and more fun too!
MachineFab812@discuss.tchncs.de · 4 pts · 360d
Pretty sure you can do this with freight trains as well, and it should be cheaper. Though there would be no water, and likely no power hookups this way.
GreenKnight23@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 360d
what if I bring my own reactor?
AnotherUsername@lemmy.ml · 3 pts · 359d
http://www.sterlingrail.com/classifieds/classified.php?id=29453
https://www.railmover.com/
LibertyLizard@slrpnk.net · 3 pts · 360d
Interesting. Anyone know that the cost is?
unknownuserunknownlocation@kbin.earth · 4 pts · 360d
The page is here. Under "rate addendum number 7" you can find a pdf with the prices.
qevlarr@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 360d
I have an idea...
Kolanaki@pawb.social · 2 pts · 360d
How many pack tops did that sucker cost?
curiousaur@reddthat.com · 1 pts · 358d
This got me wondering. What if you build out a luxury trailer home in a shipping container. Could you just pay to have the thing shipped around while you're living in it? It seems like it's got to be efficient since there's so much infrastructure and logistics for moving containers around.
pineapplelover@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 1 pts · 360d
I was just on an amtrak and read about this too. On board, I heard this being a thing too
aeronmelon@lemmy.world · -15 pts · 360d
At the rate Amtrak derails or rail bridges go out? I think I’ll just fly Boeing.
ubergeek@lemmy.today · 8 pts · 360d
How often do you think they derail, or bridges go out?
I think over the last decade, I've heard of one incident.
captainlezbian@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 360d
You're thinking of cargo rail. Amtrak owns the rails and the passenger service. They actually run way more than you probably think as they operate the northeast corridor as well as some of the other more serviced lines like the cascade corridor.
exasperation@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 2 pts · 359d
Amtrak doesn't actually own most of the rails, and pays the rail owners like CSX for access to those routes.
birdwing@lemmy.blahaj.zone · -19 pts · 360d
And what about bicycles?
I think we shouldn't let cars be attached, but bicycles be able to.
Mitchie151@lemmy.world · 50 pts · 360d
I think you misunderstand, this is not talking about road cars, but railcars, like a train wagon.
birdwing@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 15 pts · 360d
Aah, gotcha, that makes more sense. I got confused then, I guess.
SpikesOtherDog@ani.social · 22 pts · 360d
Thank you for asking though. I got a smile out of imagining someone with a bicycle firmly attached to an Amtrak train and stuck sitting on it for 200 miles.
birdwing@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 10 pts · 360d
I mean, in my area we do have the ability to put bicycles on trains and buses alike. Though you don't attach them at the back, you just enter the vehicle with your bike.
If it's a foldable, you can always enter for free (so no added fee on top of the fare). For non-foldable bikes the same applies, though if you do that during rush hour you will have to pay a small fee.
Super convenient, really. Way cheaper also than having a car (as in, the vroom vehicle). You bike from home, enter bus/train, maybe switch from bus to train, and then exit and bike the last few kilometres.
Don't need to look long for a parking spot, don't need to pay much in petrol, no need to focus on traffic, can enjoy the view or do work/hobbies/listen to music while travelling, and so on.
Only downside is that here the fares are pretty high, but the Green & Labour Party is proposing to enable unlimited travelling across the entire country for less than €60 per month outside of rush hours.
For comparison, travelling from one end to another of the country right now would cost €30 per trip. A typical 4-day commute of 40 km per trip would cost around €320 per month now (accounting for travelling both ways).
So, the Green & Labour Party's proposal would result in fares becoming more than 80% cheaper(!) for everyone.
SpikesOtherDog@ani.social · 8 pts · 360d
Some of the larger cities in the US have light rail. I live near Cincinnati, which had their light rail projects killed in favor of personal vehicles. I believe a proper rail system here would be a huge boon, but it is not well visualized by the half million residents here between three states and 8-9 counties.
Amtrak here is mainly used for service between cities. People generally forget it exists until it is brought up. I only ever hear about people traveling by car or plane.
So, to address my giggles and before I answer your real question, this is what I thought your bike was going to be hitched to. I believe it would have been a terrible ride.
The information here may address your questions. As loud as I have been, I am actually terribly unfamiliar with rail travel. https://www.amtrak.com/bring-your-bicycle-onboard
birdwing@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 3 pts · 360d
Aah, I was thinking moreso like this vibe
SpikesOtherDog@ani.social · 3 pts · 360d
Yeah, I'm catching your message and am sad that I cannot realize it here and now. Our bus system is not robust and complicates anything more than a simple trip along the line.
captainlezbian@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 360d
That's a thing here too. Seattle's light rail even has bike hangers inside the trains. No fee though
How big of a country is it? Amtrak is usually similar price to flying at the cheapest (outside the northeast) with the least convenient schedule ever (the state I grew up in has two stations and never receives or launches a passenger train during the day).
Amtrak in the northeast corridor is about as fine as European rail is from what I hear, except no high speed. I really wish it could expand or get to Japan levels.
lpinfinity@retrolemmy.com · 5 pts · 360d
Iirc, Amtrak does give the option to take your automobile on the train with you
ozymandias@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 5 pts · 360d
only if it fits in the luggage rack
lpinfinity@retrolemmy.com · 3 pts · 360d
If only that were true https://www.amtrak.com/auto-train
ozymandias@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 3 pts · 360d
“from the Washington, DC area to Florida, just outside of Orlando.”
they have 1 auto train that goes to 2 cities only….
not that useful
jj4211@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 360d
So what if I rig my bicycle to be a rail cycle?