Should I drive or take train to Boston (live in, prices)

[Libertarian1776]

Hey everyone. I live right outside NYC but would like to take a weekend trip up to Boston next month to visit Bunker Hill and other old colonial areas on Boston. Anyone ever take the train from NYC to Boston? I try not to drive long distances anymore as gas prices are a killer. thanks.

[TAM88]

Originally Posted by Libertarian1776

Hey everyone. I live right outside NYC but would like to take a weekend trip up to Boston next month to visit Bunker Hill and other old colonial areas on Boston. Anyone ever take the train from NYC to Boston? I try not to drive long distances anymore as gas prices are a killer. thanks.

I've done the opposite, taken the train from Boston to NYC a few times. Not a bad way to go. The Acela is faster than the Northeast Regional, namely because it makes less stops. It's also more expensive, but the train cars are newer and nicer. I like the train because you can get up and move around a bit during the trip. There's also a snack car too which is nice.

Bus is also a decent option. It's cheaper but not as nice of a ride (comfort) as the train is.

Aside from the Fung Wah bus, the bus and train will drop you off at the same spot, South Station, in Boston.

[xS☺B☺s]

Bus is much cheaper. get the Fungwah bus from Chinatown and you'll pay no more than 20 bucks one way. I paid $15 a few years ago. plus there was no line and it was not crowded.

Go online and you might get a one dollar fare.

[Verseau]

Megabus and Bolt Bus are also very affordable (and have a better record than Fung Wah). The bus is almost as fast as the train, at a fraction of the price.

[Bob Lanata]

I've done the train thing a few times and lots of walk around room as needed which helped. Hope we are good to you

[missionhill]

Depending on where you live in New York, the train may be more convenient--the Northeast Regional, for example, stops in New Rochelle and Stamford, so if you live north of the city it can be much more convenient than taking the bus from PA or the Chinese buses from Chinatown. But if you're a libertarian, you probably should take the private bus company operating over socialized highways versus the the socialized passenger railroad.

[Jimrob1]

Definitely take the train or the bus. Unless you planned on visiting outside of Boston itself. Then I wouldn't drive.

[JacksonPanther]

If it's just you, take the train (or even the cheap bus people have mentioned).

If it's you, your wife, and 2 or 3 kids, then drive. 4 or 5 train tickets will blow away what you would spend on gas.

[sponger42]

FungWah is still $15 one way. No reservations needed, just show up on the NYC Chinatown corner and pay at the window. Drops off in South Station, same as the train. Done a half-dozen trouble-free round-trips this way.

FungWah drivers are maniacs. They get a giant multi-ton bus to Boston in 4 hours, with a rest stop along the way, when it takes me 4.5 in my subcompact; and I speed like a m-f'er.

[xS☺B☺s]

Originally Posted by JacksonPanther

If it's just you, take the train (or even the cheap bus people have mentioned).

If it's you, your wife, and 2 or 3 kids, then drive. 4 or 5 train tickets will blow away what you would spend on gas.

Yeah good point! If you leave today, it will cost you $71 one way for the slow train (4.5 hours) or $125 for the fast(ish) (3.5 hrs).

Personally, I'd save the $56 and take the bus.

Amtrack was built to fail really. The could have built a true high speed rail like in China or Japan that would run from NY-BOS in 45 minutes, but they didn't. Instead the built a slightly faster train and call it high speed. You can be sure Detroit and Houston helped derail that idea.