Traveling by Train in the United States.
The United States is filled with lush landscapes and beautiful sceneries, but many restrict themselves to the simplicity of car or airplane travel. Many times, we can miss out on the opportunities that come with alternative means of transportation. While passenger trains once played a large and vital role in the nation's passenger transportation network, there are fewer trains now available for anything more than cargo and freight service. Traveling by train is now part of the adventure, and it enhances the journey rather than simply connecting you to your destination.
Over the recent years, the demand for passenger train services has waned, mostly due to the economic downturn that lasted up until 2012. Now, he sole intercity passenger railroad in the continental U.S. is Amtrak. Commuter rail systems exist in more than a dozen metropolitan areas, but these systems are not extensively interconnected, so commuter rail cannot be used alone to traverse the country. The most culturally notable and physically evident exception to the general lack of significant passenger rail transport in the U.S. is the Northeast Corridor between Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York City and Boston, with significant branches in Connecticut and Massachusetts. The corridor handles frequent passenger service that is both Amtrak and commuter.
When one thinks of commuter train service, they may wax nostalgic about the old-fashioned coal trains of days long passed. Nowadays, we can look forward to other types of commuter rails including high-speed rail services that can reach speeds over 110 mph.
In fact, there is one high-speed rail service in operation, the Acela Express running in the Northeast Corridor. There are plans for higher-speed rail and high-speed rail in California, the Midwest, New England, Florida, Texas, Pennsylvania, the Pacific Northwest, Colorado/ New Mexico, and the Southwestern United States. As of 2015, the California High-Speed Rail Authority is beginning construction on the California High Speed Rail project, which is planned to link Anaheim, San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento and other major cities in the state. It will take at least until 2029 to complete, with its first stage targeted for completion in 2017.
So what does that mean for outdoor adventurers? It’s another integral part of experiencing what the outdoors has to offer. Rather than muting the travel to your recreational outpost, you have the opportunity to take in the scenery - all while reducing the use of poorly efficient personal vehicles. It gives folks just another way to truly ‘enjoy the ride’.
