3 ms·

I got fucked with by a plains clothes cop on an Amtrak once. He flashed a badge at me that I didn't even have time to read. Then he produced a bag and asked me

I got fucked with by a plains clothes cop on an Amtrak once. He flashed a badge at me that I didn't even have time to read. Then he produced a bag and asked me if it was mine. It wasn't and I told him so. He left. He came back not 5 minutes more and claimed that it was my bag, basically insuating that I was lying. I told him again, this time rudely, that it was not my bag and to leave me and my wife alone. He looked pissed and left us alone. Most people who travel Amtrak, especially the long hauls, don't have as much money as people flying. I'd like to see the DEA try these tactics with rich people and see how far they get.

leetcrew 7y ago
> Most people who travel Amtrak, especially the long hauls, don't have as much money as people flying. why is this the case? I've only price shopped on the east coast, but I usually find that it's actually cheaper by plane than by train. sad because I am usually trying to justify taking the train.
- stevenjgarner 7y ago
  I took the Amtrak California Zephyr from Reno, NV, to Ottumwa, IA a week ago - $118 coach seat or $936 for a roomette vs $547 flying - 39 hrs train time vs 24 hrs driving (which I do several times a year). Beautiful scenery and lots of time to think, write and program. No wifi but git push origin master when I finally got online worked out just fine. "Most people ... don't have as much money as people flying" probably true for coach, but not at all true for the roomette cars. The dining car is where the two demographics meet.
  - leetcrew 7y ago
    I do have a thing for trains, but 39 hours in a coach seat sounds pretty rough regardless of the scenery. I can see why there would be a downward pressure on price for such a journey.
- pavel_lishin 7y ago
  Hell, it's probably cheaper to rent a car.
  - stevenjgarner 7y ago
    ~$200 for gas (~1,700 miles) + car rental > $118 Amtrak Plus (for me) 24 hours driving is time lost where I cannot work. I was able to work quite effectively on the train.

leetcrew 7y ago

> Most people who travel Amtrak, especially the long hauls, don't have as much money as people flying. why is this the case? I've only price shopped on the east coast, but I usually find that it's actually cheaper by plane than by train. sad because I am usually trying to justify taking the train.

stevenjgarner 7y ago
I took the Amtrak California Zephyr from Reno, NV, to Ottumwa, IA a week ago - $118 coach seat or $936 for a roomette vs $547 flying - 39 hrs train time vs 24 hrs driving (which I do several times a year). Beautiful scenery and lots of time to think, write and program. No wifi but git push origin master when I finally got online worked out just fine. "Most people ... don't have as much money as people flying" probably true for coach, but not at all true for the roomette cars. The dining car is where the two demographics meet.
- leetcrew 7y ago
  I do have a thing for trains, but 39 hours in a coach seat sounds pretty rough regardless of the scenery. I can see why there would be a downward pressure on price for such a journey.
pavel_lishin 7y ago
Hell, it's probably cheaper to rent a car.
- stevenjgarner 7y ago
  ~$200 for gas (~1,700 miles) + car rental > $118 Amtrak Plus (for me) 24 hours driving is time lost where I cannot work. I was able to work quite effectively on the train.