Why Train Tickets Cost So Much In America

Maybe we shouldn’t classify a public service as a for profit company, it’s just crazy

One of the things Amtrak should have did was buy up trackage outside of the Northeast corridor. There were plenty of redundant lines running through many major cities that were abandoned in the tracks pulled up That should have been brought for passenger use in high speed service. You can buy all the new locomotives and rail cars you want, But it doesn't change anything if you're sharing tracks with slow freight trains and the tracks are in poor repair. It's like buying a luxury sports car to drive down a dirt road

Over the years (I’m only in my early 30s), I’ve compared prices of train tickets to plane tickets, hoping that traveling long distances by train would be cheaper since it takes longer, but it was always just as expensive or more expensive than air travel. I’d travel by train a lot more, and travel more in general, if trains were a lot cheaper and faster than they are now.

I like that they are focusing on linking major cities outside the northeast. I think that’s a good idea. I just wish there were less expensive “scenic route” trains that people could take to see the beauty of the US. This would especially attract international and local tourists.

You know what else doesn't make money? Highways. The value added is far beyond the operating cost. We need to stop demanding that public transportation be profitable and invest heavily in it.

I would love to see a Dallas/Houston/San Antonio high speed rail triangle. Mainly because it would be quicker and those freeways are awful to drive. You want mass transit, even if you don't use it. The more people that take a bus or train, the fewer cars on the road you have to deal with.

I traveled the Northeast Corridor via Amtrak to go to my parents' house for Christmas. My ticket cost more than a plane ticket would have, but I arrived at my parents' house! Had I taken a plane I would have spent Christmas in the airport!

Amtrak should be treated like the Post Office. It would be best as a public service, not a for profit company.

I was stationed in Korea for a year and some change and the one thing I lived about Korea was how amazing their trains were. When I came back to the states it felt like I travelled back in time.

I took a 4 hour train ride from Prague to Vienna 2 weeks ago and it cost $38. I then took a 1 hour round trip train from Vienna to Bratislava, Slovakia that cost me $16. This is crazy.

I took a twenty hour ride from Baltimore to Florida in December 2022. People thought I was crazy for doing that, but I really wanted to take a solo train ride. It was a cool experience. Although I’d love to travel via train more often, it was indeed very expensive. I could only afford the one way down & ended up flying back. The one way totaled $313. The air flight back was $246.

Trying to make public transit a for-profit venture is the most American thing ever and probably a big part of why it sucks so much here. Meanwhile, no one's reporting on how "profitable" the massive amount of police and military spending is.

We need to catch up to the rest of the world, and make real high speed rail connecting major cities around the country a priority!

Long distance Amtrak routes are basically akin to a national park experience. I greatly enjoyed my trip from Sacramento to Denver, which was only $113, and had great scenery and was so relaxing!

I really hope these plans to update the fleet/tracks while expanding service around the country pans out. I’ve loved the idea of traveling the country by train for a while now, but the lack of service to certain areas and prices have handicapped me quite a bit.

planning a trip to eastern OR to San Francisco and im stoked. you never hear of train travel in normal conversations but it makes sense to me and quite pleasant once youre rolling in open land. hoping for success for the American passenger train system.

I took the auto train for the first time this summer and it was fantastic. I couldn't afford to spring for a sleeping car but even in coach it was a good experience. The most striking thing for me when I (infrequently) get a chance to ride on Amtrak is how nice all the employees are. I really hope we do find a way to increase train travel in this country. It's the best way to travel.

I've taken the Northeast corridor multiples times as I live in DC but my parents live in NJ. The tickets actually aren't too expensive but you have to buy way ahead of time (I'd say around 2 months beforehand). Once you're within a month of a trip it starts to not be worth it.

I would love to see widespread rail development across the US - It's my preferred form of travel (so long as it's cheaper than flying)

Amtrak is subsidized, but they fail to mention how much more heavily European trains are subsidized.