Top 10 Best Things About Train Travel
There's something about a train ride that just feels right. Maybe it's the steady rhythm of the tracks or the way the scenery glides by like a moving painting.
You're not crammed in like cattle, juggling tiny cups of soda at 35,000 feet. You've got space. You can stretch out, walk around, grab a coffee that doesn't taste like battery acid, and maybe even read a book without motion sickness threatening to ruin your day.
Train travel hits that sweet spot between convenience and experience. It's fast enough to get you where you need to be, but slow enough that you can actually enjoy the journey. No long lines at security, no seatbelt signs blinking like angry eyes, no frantic sprinting through terminals. Just a smooth ride from point A to point B, with a few charming stops in between.
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It's comfortable
Hands down, train travel is one of the most comfortable forms of public transportation. Almost every other mode of transportation has one or more cons. Cars? You have little to no space, and it's extremely unsafe. Buses? Slightly worse because they are also incredibly slow, and the seats are very uncomfortable.
Airplanes? I've never been on one, but from what I understand, you aren't allowed to walk at all and have to sit in a small seat for seven hours straight. Ferries? Well, they're a decent alternative to trains as you can move around freely and enjoy nice views of the ocean. They're a worthy opponent, but trains are still the best. You can move around freely, the seats are amazingly comfortable, and the overall feeling of being on a train is just awesome. This is the top reason, in my opinion.
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It's fast
Trains are the fastest forms of transportation on land. Sure, airplanes are faster, but that's not the point here. If you need to get to work, trains are the best type of vehicle you can take. For example, a ride from Stockholm to Norrtälje takes about one hour by car, but with a train, it would be half as long. It's great.
Once, when we went to Seattle, the travel time was reduced by an hour.
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It offers incredible views of the outside
On cars and buses, all you see are roads and trees because they are built on highways. It's really plain. On planes, the sight is beautiful, but you can't see much. You normally fly over grassy fields or the ocean half the time, and you only get to see the city occasionally.
Trains, however, are different. Unlike highways, train tracks are built in beautiful locations. While slower trains (ones that aren't bullet trains or fast trains) take more time, that's because many of them are designed to show the beauty of nature. This is much better than staring at a bunch of random trees on the highway.
Since trains are a form of transportation on land, you can see so many awesome landscapes. Sure, airplanes have views too, but trains offer better ones. On airplanes, you're stuck looking out of the window high above the clouds with little to no impressive views. Since trains are on land, you can see awesome landscapes. Excellent!
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It's eco-friendly
Trains are perhaps the most eco-friendly form of transportation. Airplane travel, for example, is only half as eco-friendly. Don't even get me started on standard cars, which are a bane to the environment.
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It's flexible
Paying for a train ticket is as easy as it gets. Long-haul trains may require reservations, but short trips are easy. You can simply stumble upon a train station, buy a ticket right there, and you're free to go. It's amazing how simple it is.
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It's efficient
Efficiency is one of the most important factors, and train travel is certainly efficient. Train stations are located close to city attractions, and they take you through the core of the city. It's great!
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It's cheap
I don't know about the UK or US, but here in Sweden, buying a train ticket is very cheap. In Stockholm, a one-time ticket costs around 30 kronor (or $0.30). That's incredibly cheap, and I've heard it's affordable in other countries as well.
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There's no traffic
It's amazing. Trams and buses can get stuck in traffic as they cross roads, while trains just follow the rails and are the only ones on them. This means they can go much faster than a bus or tram. It's a great advantage.
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It gives you the feel of living in a big metropolitan area
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There are no hidden fees
You can take as much baggage as you like on a train ride, and it's free. You don't have to pay a fee for baggage, unlike with airplane travel, where most airlines charge travelers a fee for bags. That's just great if you ask me.
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Trains look cool
I love the shiny sleek futuristic ones!
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You don't have to stress about bad drivers
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Train stations are located inside the cities
Unlike airports, which are often located on the edge of the city, train stations are located within the city. So if you live in the city, you just need to take a walk to catch a train. It's very convenient.
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It's inspirational
Many pieces of European literature (novels, poems, short stories) are about trains or contain important scenes involving train travel. In a Hungarian story, it even metaphorically represents the stages of life and our relationships as people get on and off. You can't really read about people taking the bus or a taxi in novels, can you?
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It's exciting
I feel more euphoric and nostalgic before boarding a train than I do at an airport.