Top 5 Reasons to Travel by Train

The travel industry continues to be one of the fastest growing and evolving business industries in the world. With technology constantly advancing and travel becoming increasingly more accessible to the average consumer (and with some leftover cabin fever from covid), virtually everyone I know is looking forward to the next opportunity they have to travel to their next new destination.

We're seeing airlines constantly changing their systems to accomodate for all the influx in demand. With all this chaos, I've heard all kinds of horror stories people are experiencing at the airport as they try to pursue their travel dreams. Some people are giving up on their travel dreams altogether, as they wait for airlines to "get their act together," but so many people forget a great alternative method for seeing the world, and that method is train travel.

People barely even think to look into the option of train travel anymore. We're so used to a fast-paced form of life, that we feel like we have to travel by plane if we want to take full advantage of the time we spend on vacation. However, train travel isn't simply a slow way to get from one place to the other. It's a great alternative option for experiencing the world altogether. Many people don't even think about all the great advantages to train travel, so below I've gathered my top 5 reasons to travel by train.

5. No bag check or going through security

We've all heard some of the worst stories when it comes to going through airport security. And many of us can even easily recall some of our own horrible experiences. When preparing to board a train, you barely interact with security at all!

There's always some security on hand to make sure everything and everyone is safe and orderly. However, I don't think I've ever even been spoken to by a security officer when I've traveled by train. As long as I'm not up to anything suspicious, security leaves me alone, which makes my travel experience so much better.

Also, let's not forget how much of a pain it can be just to get our bags onto a plane. I feel like every time I fly, I always see that one person who's giving the gatepeople a hard time, because they're trying to end around their strict bag policies. And usually, they end up getting an upcharged fee just to bring their bag with them to their destination.

Every time I see them though, part of me can't really blame them. Airlines are notorious for having ridiculous bag size rules and also restrictions regarding what items you can even bring on the plane to begin with. For trains, most bag policies are much less restrictive, and they'll let you bring virtually anything that's not a weapon. Some don't even charge a fee for a checked bag at all!

4. You have space to move

We all know planes are tight. To get a seat with more legroom, you have to pay extra, and if you don't, you're stuck rubbing elbows next to that creepy person who doesn't understand the concept of respecting personal space. The seats on trains have enough legroom where you can recline in your seat comfortably, and you don't have to feel like every time you move, you risk bumping into the person next to you.

Better yet, you can easily walk around on a train, and you're free to move between train cars. Some trains even have a lounge car where you can easily relax and look out the window. And let's not forget the snack car. On a plane, you have to wait for the flight attendants to ask you if you want food or a snack. On a train, all you have to do is walk down to concessions, and you can go whenever you want. Also, a train has way more food options than any flight.

We all know how much of a pain it can be to go to the bathroom on a plane. If you're brave enough to walk down the aisle, you feel like everyone's watching you like you're on some kind of show. And if the flight attendants brought out the snack cart while you were away from your seat, you have to be that person that makes them stop everything they're doing just so you can get by. On trains, you don't have to worry about these things. A lot of people don't even know where the bathroom is.

With all the space of trains, it's a lot easier to get away from objects or people we don't want to be around. Some trains don't even assign you a seat, meaning if you don't like where you're sitting, you can move to a better location on the train without worrying about getting moved later. I've even spent an entire 8-hour train ride completely away from my assigned seat.

3. You can spend the ride practicing leisurely activities

Sure, you can bring a book or a movie on a plane with you, and you can also spend the flight listening to music you love, but not only can you do these things on a train, you can do so much more.

One of my favorite things about trains is that the ride actually gives me a better opportunity to connect with fellow travelers. Virtually every long train ride I've been on, I've connected with at least one other person to enjoy the experience with. People anticipate having to find ways to spend their time on a train, so they tend to be a lot more friendly and talkative than they would be on a flight. And if I'm ever feeling like keeping to myself, I can easily do that too.

Some train routes are even equipped with WiFi, meaning you don't have to pay extra just to be able to get some online work done. And even if there isn't WiFi, cell service is much more accessible on trains than it is in the air, so you can stay in touch with co-workers and the people you care about while you're enjoying the ride.

Train rides are great opportunities to spend hours focusing on relaxing and doing things we like to do, without feeling like it's taking away from our experience on the trip. You get to the exact same destination as you would a flight, but can focus on actually enjoying the journey. Flights are so destination-focused that it can feel like our life is put on hold until we've landed. Trains give us the opportunity to actually relax, like we probably hoped we'd get to do when we imagined going on the trip. And that means we can focus more on having fun when we've reached our destination.

2. You can purchase a private room to yourself

Privacy doesn't exist on a plane. I've literally had someone fall asleep on my shoulder during a flight before. On trains, you have the incredible opportunity to pay for an entire room just for yourself! And on those overnight train rides, this can be a lifesaver.

Most trains give you the option to purchase a room with a bed, or a roomette with seats that unfold into a bed. It may not be as comfortable as a hotel bed, but it is pretty cool getting to sleep while still being on the move to your destination. And those train beds will beat sleeping on a plane any day.

One year, for my birthday, I paid for a private roomette on an Amtrak train from Dallas to Chicago. It was so nice getting to comfortably travel overnight to a city I had always wanted to see. My train car had a conductor who had been assigned to only service the passengers who were staying in a room (and he did a wonderful job). I even got to become friends with the person who was staying in the room next to me. Oh, and I better not forget to mention that every person who pays for a room on an Amtrak train automatically gets meals included.

The food isn't 5-star, but it's as good or better than airline food. The dining car even scheduled a meal time for me, meaning I could eat in the dining car without having to fight other passengers for a table. It was a great way to feel like I was being given special treatment, so I could enjoy the trip even better. Sometimes when we're traveling, we just want to get away from the noise of all the other travelers, and a private room is a great way to do it.

1. You actually get to see where you're going

My absolute favorite reason for train travel is the views. Once you've been on a train ride with incredible views, there's no going back. I've seen some beautiful sky views on planes before, but they pale in comparison to the views you see when traveling along the coast, past city skylines, or through the mountains.

My favorite train ride ever was taking an Amtrak train through Colorado. The night before, it happened to snow on the mountains, so everyone on my train got the pleasure of seeing the continental divide with fresh, untouched snow cover. They were the most beautiful views I've ever seen in my entire life. I remember everyone on the train walked around the observation car with gigantic smiles on their faces, because the sights were putting them in such a good mood.

Trains are a great way to see the world while staying grounded. It gives us the opportunity to see the world as we're passing by, which helps us feel like we're actually experiencing it. Planes can feel like dark portal chambers where we enter at one destination and get off at another, without really seeing any of the world in-between. We may see the place we wanted to see all along, but we missed all the sights we could have seen along the way.

After that train ride through Colorado, I knew I was never going to go back to spending the majority of my travels by plane. Plane rides fly over all kinds of wonderful things that we only get to see when we stay close to the ground. Even if you don't stop to get off and explore every destination, train rides give you the opportunity to feel like you're exploring the world on your journey. It's an experience unlike any other, which is why train travel is truly the best way to see the world.