Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I've left from the station in Rocky Mount a few times and have been delayed a number of times due to Other trains and mechanical breakdowns. We were once delayed somewhere in Southern VA for two hours because of AC breakdown. I wouldn't chance missing a flight. The response from the train staff after a two hour delay was "Wellll... you're on a train so you can't be in too much of hurry now can ya??"... hahaha....
I had a trip to DC last Summer for which I investigated a variety of options other than my car. I was meeting a friend in DC who was driving from the north and would take me back to Raleigh; hence me driving wasn't really the best option. What I learned is that both the megabus from DT Durham and the train both ran notoriously late. I chose the bus because it was cheaper. Plan on at least a couple of extra hours past the scheduled arrival time.
Today the northbound Silver Star arrived DC 6 minutes late, and the northbound Carolinian arrived DC 48 minutes late. Since the first of the month, that's the latest the northbound Carolinian has run. Yes, it can be 60-120 minutes late. So can flights into DC, and Megabus, and driving on I-95 for the poor soul who believes what Google Maps says.
By the way, just to be clear they're definitely flying out of Dulles (IAD) and not Reagan (DCA), right? If it's DCA I think you could go train since DCA is served by the DC Metro's Yellow and Blue lines.
Waterboy - Those delays can happen, but my last couple of times through there were delays of about 5 miles. What is the speed trap situation like on US 15?
Funny you ask that. I actually did get a speeding ticket on rt. 15 back in 2000 I believe (I was in college). I was going 68 in a 55 and the VSP pulled me over in Fluvanna. I wouldn't say I've ever seen a speed trap on that road. I just happened to be passing the trooper at the wrong time! You can't even go too fast on 15 since it's mostly a 2-lane road except for an 8 mile stretch through Orange County where it's 4-lanes. Keep it around 63-64 mph and you should make good time and have no problem getting pulled over. Rt. 15 is not like the southern VA parts of I-85 or I-95, where the local authorities love to write tickets
I make this trip about ten times per year for work, and my order of preference is:
1) car, if I leave at strategic times
2) airplane
3) walk
4) jog
5) bus
5) train
Train is only good if you have no real concern for deadlines and can spend two entire days simply traveling and not doing anything else during business hours. If you like to sit back and read or watch a movie, train is your best bet. Be careful during summer train travel, as the tracks heat up and they have to keep train speeds around 45 or 50 mph. Also splurge on business class.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
