US Announces High Speed Rail for 23 States - - Atlanta 3-Way Hub to AL/SC/NC/FL

[ATL Golfer]

I would have to think the cluster F of the airport won't be the same at a HSR station (one can dream). Given that, your options aren't the same.

I think a train would always win to Charlotte. Plane, 5 hrs door to door. Hopefully a train would be equal or less than for 1/2 the price. Car on the other hand wins out with 3.5hrs and hopefully 1/2 the price of the train.

If you're talking about 5-6 hour drives, I think the train will start winning out. Faster car and plane, cheaper than plane, win. If I can do Raleigh in 4hrs on HSR, for $100 ....I'm in.

[cwkimbro]

Originally Posted by ATL Golfer

I would have to think the cluster F of the airport won't be the same at a HSR station (one can dream).

Thanks for your comment! You made me think of something. I travel overseas a lot for work. I am an international contractor for a specific narrow function in one industry. This has allowed me to experience transportation in many different ways.

One thing I wanted to spot out to anyone who hasn't traveled around as much is that, like other posters have stated, HSR tries to go right to the center of town and connect with subways and LRT, so you don't need an expensive cab and you can get to your final destination/office meeting in 10 minutes from stepping off the train.

However, to explain further, because a train never leaves the tracks and there is less concern of someone hijacking a train and taking it off course, security is nothing like it is at the airports. You can buy a ticket ahead of time or at the station. You just walk straight to the platform no more than 5-10 minutes before a train arrives. To transfer trains it only takes a few minutes, so it is nothing like the crowds of an airport.

By default train travel saves about 2.5 hours despite it traveling slower than planes. That is why it is better for traveling moderate distances (500 miles or less). Most people won't travel as far as NY or Chicago, except for nostalgia reasons. You don't have to walk as far to transfer and few, if any people go to the station 2 hours early to wait around. One of the biggest benefits of rail travel in saving time is removing the extra time to travel to airports on the edge of town and getting there 2 hours early to check-in and go through security.

On most trains they check the ticket on the train and you are fined if you don't have a ticket.

When a train pulls into a major stop. It only is there for a few minutes and then it moves on.

You don't have to check luggage. In fact most travelers travel light and take on their luggage with them. You don't have to worry about strict limitations of carry on size.

Put in short....
Stations are much smaller than airports, handle many travelers, but it is less crowded than an airport, since people don't have to wait around as much.