That runs from Raleigh to Charlotte and Back?

9/26/2006 1:01:02 PM

Unless you want to ride hobo-style, yeah, I think that's the only one.

9/26/2006 1:04:17 PM

lol

9/26/2006 1:23:31 PM

I'm gonna watch the Panthers game next weekend and I've never taken a train to Charlotte, is $66-75 round trip normal?

9/26/2006 1:42:33 PM

[yes]

9/26/2006 1:43:22 PM

Last time I took the train from Raleigh to Charlotte (on this past Thanksgiving weekend) it was like $25 one way, so that seems kinda high.

9/26/2006 1:55:43 PM

nm I found one for $23 each way

9/26/2006 2:07:42 PM

Make sure to show your AAA or Student Advantage card for something like 10% off. I can't stand that drive to Charlotte and would take the train in a heartbeat. Put some liquor in your hip pocket and you're straight.

9/26/2006 2:45:39 PM

^Works for the hobos. Just make sure you hop on the train before breaking out the flask. Unless of course amputee status is the hobo-style you are going for.

9/26/2006 3:19:02 PM

Quote :

"Unless you want to ride hobo-style, yeah, I think that's the only one."

me and my co-workers got a kick out of this

amtrak is the only train passenger service in the US

9/26/2006 3:20:52 PM

Quote :

"amtrak is the only national train passenger service in the US"

9/26/2006 3:23:39 PM

its actually cheaper to rent a car (assuming you are riding train because you dont own a car).

9/26/2006 6:19:57 PM

Quote :

"I can't stand that drive to Charlotte"

what the hell is wrong with the drive to charlotte??? its only around 2 hours....

9/26/2006 6:27:45 PM

It's three hours, not two. Sometimes you just don't want to deal with driving. I'll probably take the train to DC for Canes/Caps just so I don't have to deal with the drive. Speaking of which, a round trip to DC is $80, so that price for Charlotte seems a little steep.

9/26/2006 8:01:28 PM

It's two and a half, and that's with my heavy speeding.

I recommend taking the train that leaves Raleigh at 7 am. If it's one of those trains that travels the length of the east coast first, it's going to be late.

9/26/2006 8:06:41 PM

train takes about thrice as long too

9/26/2006 8:32:12 PM

We took the train to Charlotte for New Years one year...

only took about 6 fucking hours.

THE

LONGEST

TRAIN

RIDE

IMAGINABLE

9/26/2006 8:40:02 PM

Amtrak only stays afloat due to corporate welfare...not like any other company is jumping at the chance to compete in that market.

9/27/2006 12:03:06 AM

^ like southwest offering $90 fares up and down the east coast?

9/27/2006 12:04:35 AM

southwest isn't offering train rides

[Edited on September 27, 2006 at 12:06 AM. Reason : which is part of the reason amtrak can't turn a profit]

9/27/2006 12:06:28 AM

for real though

9/27/2006 12:13:38 AM

Quote :

"train takes about thrice as long too"

No, it doesn't. Not if you take the one leaving from Raleigh only. Then it's only a little more than three hours because there aren't as many passengers.

[Edited on September 27, 2006 at 12:14 AM. Reason : .]

9/27/2006 12:14:13 AM

Quote :

"Amtrak only stays afloat due to corporate welfare...not like any other company is jumping at the chance to compete in that market."

Amtrak stays afloat because it is funded by your tax dollars. It is basically run by the government which is why it can't turn a profit. They are not trying to turn a profit, it operates for a vital service to the country. Except they are trying to change that in the North East Corridor only. Over the next years the are going to try to improve the acela rates to make it profitable. Maybe buy high speed trains too to bring average speed to 120mph.

The chair of the board is appointed by the President of the US. There are NO share holders. They lose about 50million a year. Mainly on long distance routes.

[Edited on September 27, 2006 at 12:37 AM. Reason : .]

9/27/2006 12:25:14 AM

that's what i said, just in more detail.

9/27/2006 12:27:01 AM

wasn't tryin to say you're wrong or anything... just adding

[Edited on September 27, 2006 at 12:30 AM. Reason : .]
I've had to listen to my friend @DOT talk about this shit for the past year..

[Edited on September 27, 2006 at 12:35 AM. Reason : .]

9/27/2006 12:30:42 AM

roger

9/27/2006 12:33:28 AM

Sure Amtrak loses money, and if idiot congressmen didnt stick in extra routes going to nowhere hick towns as part of Amtraks annual reauthorization bills, they might be doing better. But then again, the airlines have taken much...much more money in subsidies. And may I remind you that when 9/11 happened, the only way to travel for a few days was on Amtrak.

9/27/2006 12:35:35 AM

if you put in code V617 you get like 20 percent off most all trains comin into raleigh. i used it when i went up to PA and it saved me like 50 bucks

9/27/2006 5:47:27 AM

-The drive to Charlotte is 2.0-3.5 hours long, depending on how fast you go, where in "Charlotte" you live, which route you take, and how fortunate/unfortunate you are with traffic on those routes.
-Amtrak takes 3.0-5.0 hours from Raleigh to Charlotte, depending on how full the train is, whether you hit something unexpected on the track, how many stops are required, etc.
-The train the travels the east coast (from NY to DC to Raleigh) is usually late on busier travels days, as somebody mentioned.


I *believe* it's still the case you can show your student ID and get free Raleigh city bus service, correct? From what I remember (4 years ago, possible they have changed routes), there are two buses that can take you to the train station. One drops you off about two blocks from it, and comes really close to campus. The second drops you off at the station, but doesn't come by campus. If you are coming back at night, there are usually taxis waiting ... about a $5 fare if you split it with others.

9/27/2006 7:24:32 AM

Well, my friends and I don't mind the drive to Charlotte. Our plan was to take the train sunday morning and get there for the game. Drinking on the train was a definite plus because we were gonna drink at the game regardless. This way we thought we could just ride the train back and just chill out if we were hungover. But we figured for four people at $46 a piece we would just pony up some cash for gas money.

9/27/2006 10:04:30 AM

Quote :

"Amtrak only stays afloat due to corporate welfare...not like any other company is jumping at the chance to compete in that market."

As opposed to the airlines?

9/27/2006 10:24:46 AM

DON'T HAVE TIME TO TAKE A FAST TRAIN

9/27/2006 10:56:07 AM

Between the free buses in Chapel Hill/Carrboro (where I live & work respectively), an amtrak station nearby in durham, and the taxi option to RDU. I'm seriously considering going without a car for a while when my current one gets too old, just to see if it would work.

The Raleigh to Charlotte ride usually seems to get me in late b/c you have all the trains delays from coming from up north, so its behind schedule. But for the Char to Ral, it usually leaves from Char it seems like, so its on time.

9/27/2006 11:03:42 AM

if you feel like spending $50 on a taxi ride to the airport and another $50 on the way back go for it...

9/27/2006 2:24:16 PM

That's a long train ride just to watch the Panthers lose.

9/27/2006 2:37:19 PM

Its better than riding the train 8 hours to Philly, and watch Brett Favre sodomize the Eagles.

[Edited on September 27, 2006 at 3:05 PM. Reason : that could be a cool photoshop]

9/27/2006 3:05:09 PM