Top 10 reasons to travel by train

6. Door-to-door convenience
Unlike airports, most major train stations are located right downtown in the heart of the cities they serve. Instead of taking an expensive airport cab ride from miles outside of town, you can step off your train and be just moments from your hotel.

7. Eco-friendliness
Trains are more energy-efficient per passenger mile than planes or cars, making them one of the most eco-friendly transportation options around (short of walking or riding your bike!). Carbon emissions from trains are less damaging to the environment than those of airplanes because those emissions are not released directly into the upper atmosphere. As a bonus, the relative energy-efficiency of trains means that the industry is less vulnerable to increases in fuel prices — making train fares more stable in an unstable economy.

8. Comfort and relaxation
Rather than cramming yourself into an ever-shrinking airplane seat or squinting at road signs trying to figure out where to make your next turn, why not relax on a train? It's one of the least stressful forms of transportation out there: someone else does the driving, you'll have more legroom than you would on an airplane, and you'll be able to move around at will — not just when the captain turns the seatbelt sign off.

9. Old-fashioned charm
There's something refreshingly traditional about taking a train, particularly if you're traveling over a long, multi-night route. The days of silverware and fine china in coach class may be long gone in the airline industry, but on overnight trains you'll still find dining cars with full-service meals and uniformed wait staff. During the day, many train travelers choose to read books, play cards or simply enjoy the scenery rushing by. (High-tech travelers, don't worry — iPods and laptops are more than welcome aboard trains too.)

10. Beyond just transportation
Unlike airplanes, which whisk you from point A to point B with barely a glimpse of what's in between, a train ride can be a destination in and of itself. Take the California Zephyr — a dramatic route that wends its way through the Rocky and Sierra Nevada Mountains from Chicago to San Francisco. A ride on this popular Amtrak route offers spectacular scenery. During fall foliage season, try a ride on the Ethan Allen Express from New York to Vermont and enjoy the autumn colors.

For more route ideas, see U.S. Train Travel.

MORE RESOURCES

Train Travel Resources from IndependentTraveler.com
Information about train travel in North America and Europe, including rail passes

Amtrak
Train travel across the U.S.

VIA Rail Canada
Train travel across Canada

Rail Europe
Everything you need to know about European rail travel, including schedules, ticket prices, rail passes, scenic train rides and tips

TrainTraveling.com
The most comprehensive site we've found for worldwide train information

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