Amtrak’s MOST POPULAR TRAIN - Why so busy?

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Edited by: ‪@MattMort‬
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[@sandywatkins8484]

When you take a plane, the destination is what the trip is all about, however, when you take a train, the journey is just as important as the destination. I love experiencing the journey. Trains are great!

[@alexharris2495]

Facts. Trains give you a way more valuable experience

[@Avionicx]

Even as an avgeek, I agree. Rail is the best for medium distance, and it looks awesome! Although imo there's beauty on ground and above, there's nothing like seeing islands or desert from above, or especially the Arctic.

[@nunyabeeswax3936]

Rode the Floridian twice '78-'79 then it was gone[ Nashville through Jacksonville- Cocoa ... etc Please don'T intergrate the trains with other things so the fuds at the fed level can shut it ALL DOWN!!

[@monkeybusinessasusuall5467]

Newark to Singapore.

[@ncard00]

For me, the destination is still the only goal when travelling by train, why speed, punctuality, and travel time are the only things that matter to me. I don’t even care about sleeping, eating, working, and watching or listening to entertainment on the train, cause I can’t relax, cause I have to keep an eye on when I have to get off the train. Cost benefit it is for me, removing bottlenecks, and doing everything as close to instantly as possible. Quality or mininalism doesn’t matter to me.

[@Ojisan642]

When you left Boston in the morning you were going opposite the direction of commuter traffic. Most people getting on in Boston at that hour would probably be heading to NYC so they would prefer the Acela. As you got closer to NYC you started to pick up commuters but it was already after rush hour. Once you got to NYC you picked up all the normal daytime traffic who missed the morning Acela and didn’t want to wait an hour, or wanted to go somewhere the Acela doesn’t serve. By the time you got to DC you were again heading opposite of the commuter traffic, which would be leaving the city. So by the nature of going end to end, you missed the most crowded times and segments. If you started in CT or NJ and went towards NYC at 7am, you’d see how crowded those trains can get. I did two years of that commute every day, an hour each way, and I’m glad I don’t have to do that anymore!

[@kyles5960]

Great explanation, I was so confused why it wasn’t that full

[@brandonclarke8620]

how much did that cost, hope it was a job covered expense

[@attemptingmusic0918]

Spot on. I take this line from Providence to Boston often at 7am. Completely different story (as is the return from Boston at 5pm-ish). Also, the T (MBTA) runs parallel commuter trains to and from Boston to PVD and other close cities. It's a little slower (because Amtrak owns the rails) but is cheaper. So a lot of people take those local trains instead. I know the same is true with the MTA in CT/NY/NJ.

[@foreverbrod]

Another reason is that they had more riders in 2019 then 2022.

[@mirzaahmed6589]

You commuted on Amtrak? I strongly suspect you are conflating Amtrak with NJ Transit or Metro-North. Amtrak doesn't typically serve the daily commuter market. Also not sure why "most people...probably be heading to NYC so they would prefer the Acela". The Acela serves only a premium business traveler market. Most leisure travelers or small business persons take NE Regional.

[@AAeolian]

I'm from London, UK and took the Northeast Regional as part of an itinerary across the USA (from DC to NYC) and was surprisingly impressed by the punctuality, comfort and speed of it considering I paid just $40 for a "coach" fare. was cheaper, more convenient and just about as quick as the plane.

[@lavaregion6968]

what do you mean "just as quick as a plane"? Planes can do this trip in a quarter of the time

[@AAeolian]

@@lavaregion6968 Northeast regional was something like 3.5 hrs DC Union to NY Penn. DCA to JFK/EWR/LGA is 1hr 15 mins, lets say getting to the airport 2.5 hrs for check in/TSA etc, PLUS the travel time to city centres, i count it just about the same

[@cjb8010]

@@lavaregion6968 the plane ride itself, but not all of the collateral activities associated with air travel.

[@MikeWiggins1235711]

@@lavaregion6968 I have taken the Northeast Regional many times. What Aeolian said isn't far from the truth. It all depends on how you look at it. I tend to use the "doorstep-to-doorstep" model, where EVERYTHING is taken into account. It may take longer by train, but there is more to do (TSA, luggage, etc) and more lines to stand in (this even includes taxiing to take-off and after landing) using airlines that REALLY eats up time. So using an airline only pays off the further away your destination is. Example: Rhode Island to downtown NYC: Train to Philadelphia: Train or car to Baltimore: Air (if I'm making connections and travelling further on), or train Also there are benefits of the train that weren't mentioned. On all Amtrak coaches, each seat has an electrical outlet which is quite nice.

[@lavaregion6968]

@@AAeolian yea that’s fair. The hassle of going to and from the airport can be painful

[@The4905]

6:46 from my experiences, coach class on the northeast regional is much more packed than business class.

[@ridesharegold6659]

Absolutely true. The only reason you pay business class fare on Northeast regional is because Acela doesn't stop at your station..

[@The4905]

@@ridesharegold6659 businesss class on the northeast regional is terrible as well, the price is completely unjustified and the seats are terrible. The only good amtrak business class is on their cafe / business class combination cars.

[@PeterBlack-nl5hy]

@@ridesharegold6659 And to get away from noisy kids. Otherwise, coach is a great value with super comfortable seats.

[@thetravelgeek4154]

Absolutely can't wait for the 10 episode train journey. Looking forward to it!

[@DOSBoxMom]

I just read on a travel blog this morning that the Ethan Allen Express (the "least travelled route" you recently traveled on) is being extended to Burlington, Vermont (which hasn't had rail service since 1953).

[@maureen14]

If you saw his previous video he mentions that. 🚅

[@sandal_thong8631]

It looks like you take the Vermonter Train to Essex Junction, then take the bus to Burlington. Ethan Allen should open to Burlington at end of July, but I wonder if it will connect to the Vermonter line for more in-state possibilities.

[@seraphina985]

@@sandal_thong8631 As a European looking at that I see a few other missed opportunities to make that an even better interchange there. Montreal-Boston for one there is a line running down that way which passes through there and they seem like they would both not only be large cities but hubs for further links. Providence, RI; Toronto, ON; Ottowa, ON I'd presume should all be reachable via changes at the Montreal or Boston ends etc. One small extension and one new service and you create a bunch of new routes this is how the network effect compounds on itself and makes a robust network often far more attractive than the sum of it's individual parts for the simple reason people can move from one train to another one.

[@christiecakes014]

I typically take the northeast regional from Baltimore to NYC but last fall I took it all the way up to Boston. Absolutely incredible with the leaves changing color along that Connecticut/Rhode Island/Massachusetts stretch.

[@IzzyOnTheMove]

FUN FACT : 11A is the seat that Via Rail reserves either for people traveling with their cat or who redeem a trip with points on the Québec-Montréal trains, so i've ridden 11A twice this month and will ride it again on July 1st with my cat Merri 💜

[@TheMrPeteChannel]

I love cats but I hope you have your cat in a carrier.

[@Patterrz]

These videos are awesome, the editing and commentary is super engaging

[@isisstarlights]

Wow! Fancy meeting you here…

[@AverytheCubanAmerican]

Exactly high-speed rail is effective at connecting communities. I mean China is a pretty big country and look how vast their system is! If they can do it, so can we! But like the rails that connect people, we need to come together, cooperate, and change perspectives in order to make the societal change America needs. Trains connected the country first before highways did, they're just as much of a part of American history as the revolution.

[@guppy719]

China has aproximately 4 times the population. the USA really needs to focus on its zoning and local public infrastructure before it throws too much money at rail. Probably need to learn from the mess in california too.

[@ChadwickTheChad]

As Americans, we clearly don't care that much about trains.

[@VieleGuteFahrer]

China has a much higher population density than the United States and the vast majority of the population lives in the eastern half of the country, where pretty much all of the railroads are. China is a unitary state with an authoritarian government. The quality of the structures and the working conditions are questionable. You either buy it nice or you buy it twice.

[@AverytheCubanAmerican]

@@VieleGuteFahrer “questionable” yet the so called “questionable” high speed rail is much nicer than any US train I’ve seen. And sure they’re authoritarian but that just means they can just straight up build a system that size without opposition. While here, we have conservatives who don’t like change when change is inevitable. Point being, if China can build that massive, we can too. Size doesn’t matter. Stop making excuses for a stale system like the current US rail system

[@VieleGuteFahrer]

@@AverytheCubanAmerican Then please. Move to China and don’t come back. It’s concerning how you just ignore all the points I've mentioned.

[@pmichael73]

The running along the beach in Connecticut is a great part of the route. South Station was gutted in the late 1980s and only the façade remains. For a great station, check out 30th Street, Philadelphia inside and out!

[@williamerazo3921]

👍👍👍 yes it is. I think it’s up there with Chicago Union And Los Angeles union

[@qjtvaddict]

@@williamerazo3921 lol keep up the cope

[@JohnnyAngel8]

I remember the interior of South Station in the 1970s. It wasn't anything special, as I recall. It had huge rolling track doors out to the train yard which often remained open in the winter because nobody would bother to take the time to shut them. Sitting in the station cold was brutal.

[@pmichael73]

@@JohnnyAngel8 Pretty much an open shed with wind-tunnel effects! There's are some good internal shots about the web.

[@JohnnyAngel8]

@@pmichael73 Exactly. One time I was stuck there for 10 hours waiting for a train home after the Blizzard of '78.

[@brybryguy6314]

I am on the Northeast Regional almost on a monthly basis. Usually from Philadelphia to DC. I've done Philadelphia to Boston a few times so far. For us living along the Northeast corridor, train travel is the most practical way to travel between all the major cities in the Northeast United States. All 4 cities aren't that crazy far apart but still too far to drive and too short to fly. So train is practical.

[@PeterBlack-nl5hy]

Well, our highways are often very congested, so rail is the only sane option for many trips, especially when traveling solo.

[@chanman4rings]

Yeah when I explain to people that we have trains up here that can go 150 and even the "slower" amtrak trains on the corridor can do 125 it kind of surprises them. The Regional and the Acela are both pretty much longer distanced commuter trains, at least that's the way they're treated up here. Rarely people go Boston to DC, but instead do Boston-New Haven or NYC/ NHV-NYC/Philly, NYC-Philly/DC. Then you can understand why pre-pandemic the NEC had almost 13 million passengers Enjoyed the video, hope you have the chance to ride the Acela at some point

[@filanfyretracker]

yeah Amtrak needs to seize the rest of the tracks they run on, the NEC shows what passenger rail can be in the USA. I went to a gaming convention a few years pre-COVID in Boston called PAX-East. Took Acela from Philly, Such a nice ride and even on sunday morning coming home the Acela was full all the way down. Kinda shocked me that it was full load on a sunday. I didnt want to drive to Boston(though I have) and have to pay to park, And by the time one goes through security theater at PHL, would a plane have been faster? probably not. Also Amtrak Acela remembers that humans have legs. Unlike an airline seating designer.

[@mirzaahmed6589]

@@filanfyretracker Seizing the tracks will do good how? You cannot have NEC-level passengers without NEC density or historical affinity for using trains.

[@MarioFanGamer659]

@@mirzaahmed6589 The NEC is the densest region of the US... but also has worse service than... Japan. Stop pointing out to the NEC for your inability for bad passenger trains elsewhere in the US, thank you.

[@karenmackie9665]

Love the series! USA needs more high speed rail!

[@qjtvaddict]

High speed rail should replace all the other non northeast regional trains cause they are utterly useless and some copium wasting fools defend them it’s sad.

[@Neville60001]

@@qjtvaddict, the only fool here is _you_ .

[@tropicalsimonthirty2283]

@@qjtvaddict Lol

[@TohaBgood2]

@@qjtvaddict Huh? That makes zero sense. What are you even saying?

[@erniewarinner7692]

If you had stayed on the Northeast Regional in Washington DC, you would have ended your trip in Norfolk Virginia. That station is just a few minutes from our home. That is the train we take when going to Washington DC and New York. Once we took it to Baltimore to catch a cruise shop in that port. Love your channel, and am looking froward to your next adventure.

[@someshbanerjee1638]

Can’t wait for the 10 part US train series! Loved the Canada series!!

[@Nynke_K]

Now that's a proper train running at proper speeds! I realize that the US needs more high speed rail for real effectiveness, but this was a decent start, from my European perspective 😁. Looking forward to the series! Very impressed that you'll travel all the way over to Alaska by rail!

[@sandal_thong8631]

There's a couple interesting rail trips inside Alaska. The main one was to Denali Park on the route between Anchorage and Fairbanks. Unfortunately, it was raining the day I went through there. The other one used to be the only way to get to Whittier by land until they opened a tunnel to cars. Unfortunately, I don't think there's much to see in Whittier.

[@TheBaldr]

HSR is just not economically sensible in the United States. You'll either need to be in the 1% to ride it or have governments that can't currently manage their budgets subsidize it heavily.

[@sandal_thong8631]

@@TheBaldr Car travel is heavily subsidized: roads, bridges, tunnels, and parking lots! I didn't think about parking lots, but recently learned zoning laws require lots and lots of parking spaces, reducing the property tax base when replacing a large building with a smaller one with its own parking lot. A bad investment. Also, reducing pollution by going from cars and planes to electric trains is a good investment. As someone said, replacing the auto fleet with electric cars won't stop global warming, but getting more people on trains could.

[@himbourbanist]

Northeast Regional is a real, proper commuter service. It's way affordable and it's plenty fast enough to feel like you're moving. Acela is cool for sure, and I can't help but feel attached to it, but unfortunately until the NEC is upgraded to allow it to go its full speed, it's more of a novelty than anything. That is not the case with the Northeast Regional.

[@TheMrPeteChannel]

At one time the NEC was the fastest passenger train in the world.

[@bahnspotterEU]

The Northeast Regional isn‘t just one specific train line, but rather a network of lines with a common core, that being the NEC. Northeast Regionals also serve several destinations in Virginia, and I think some trains to Hartford, CT and Springfield, MA are also part of the Northeast Regional. That means the ridership numbers don’t apply to specific NE Regional services, but the whole range, making them higher than they might otherwise be.

[@RAdaltonracer]

But that style of service definitely works here. All these lines splintering off in DC, and again in New Haven, but all with that crucial core on the Northeast Corridor from New Haven to DC, just works. The NER may be a collection of lines, but it’s an effective collection that has largely captured the market between cities.

[@gparyani]

Every single train in the corridor once had a different name (inherited from PRR) until the 1990s when Amtrak unified the names (initially NortheastDirect, then Acela Regional, then just Regional, then its current name)

[@bahnspotterEU]

@@RAdaltonracer Not denying that, but I just wanted to clarify that “Northeast Regional” is not a pure A-to-B operation.

[@helenramsdell1959]

South Station looks like its having construction done. Its a shame you didn't get to see the beautiful wood seating it used to have and the giant gorgeous clock. I used to go out of my way to go to South Station instead of a different one to get home from work each day. Love watching your videos!

[@_Bobbin]

As someone originally from Delaware, I admit that I did get briefly excited when you mentioned Delaware. Also, I recently took a roomette from Wilmington to Miami and am planning a trip on the California Zephyr due to some inspiration from you and other train youtubers. Keep making the videos and I'll keep watching 😀

[@WanderThisWay]

Loved your last video about the least used Amtrak train route, so am really excited to watch this one!! Edit: I've taken the northeast regional many times from DC to NYC - an easy trip, and can be very cost effective if you buy early and then you don't have to worry about a car in the city.

[@sandal_thong8631]

It's funny, because it's just a spur off the Albany route and it leaves NYC after 2PM. Someone said it's for ski service.

[@evasibrava6895]

Hey Downie I just signed the petition for the high speed rail and I noticed they are at 92% so many signatures are still needed. Thank you for suggesting signing the petition and why it’s greatly needed. By the way I just discovered you when I was trying to get information on taking the Amtrak for the first time in my life. My trip is coming up in a few months. Thanks also for giving such detailed scoop of the train experiences and making it very entertaining as well!!!! 😊

[@andiscott8470]

Looking forward to the new 10 part series! in 2005 I travelled for 7 weeks on Amtrak, as a visitor, the rail pass was such a cheap way to get around, and adding Roomettes to the ticket made for excellent value... I travelled New York - Chicago - Seattle - San Francisco - LA - Chicago - New York - Washington DC - New York... One hell of a trip, but amazing!

[@johnfenlon458]

My wife and I rode Acela Amtrak. I looked at the mobile speed app showing 151 MPH last Sept 2019. Thumbs up! Cheers!

[@lemapp]

I live in Norfolk, Va. We have at least 8 trains each day. Our trains only go North to or South from either New York or Boston. I've ridden that section of track many times. My next trip is DC in August/ September. Kind of wish we had a train that went West or South, but Amtrak has other priorities.

[@kokoken1]

I think you'll have a great time, Mike. So many things to see as you travel. If you do it like the Canada trip, you'll visit offbeat things in each city. We your fans will enjoy that.

[@zenergetic66]

As someone who has taken the commuter rail into and out of Boston's South Station for two decades now, I can assure you that the station has looked better and will look better again -- you visited right in the middle of a massive multi-year construction project that has definitely impacted the look and feel of the station itself. Hopefully you can try again in a few years to see the finished results!

[@SkarKingg]

Downie, not only do you make top tier entertaining content for me and others to watch for free but you've also educated me and others about Canada (my favorite series) and another great way of travel that personally I'd forgot about since I've only been on two trains as a kid.

[@xmen9916]

You just made my week with that announcement! 10 great train adventures episodes from the best Canadian KZbinr!!

[@thompsonriverrailfan]

As a train geek myself, I truely love your train related videos! Please keep them coming! Thanks for sharing, and amazing work likes always, Mike.

[@SupremeLeaderKimJong-un]

We don't have high-speed rail yet (our southern half does though) but we do hope to be able to reopen the lines going south from Pyongyang to Seoul and beyond. We hoped this would happen with President Moon Jae-in when he was in charge of the south but alas, things got in the way. Northeast Regional trains can go fast because the Northeast Corridor is electrified (hence the wires). That's why people who live along lines that use diesel trains advocate for those lines to be electrified, because it makes a big difference.

[@peskypigeonx]

You learned a lot from Switzerland haven’t you

[@lws7394]

@@peskypigeonx 😅🤣 i expected him to suggest nuclear trains ! Sorry, i meant ' dictate'

[@ianhomerpura8937]

@@peskypigeonx rail electrification is pretty intense in Switzerland. So yep

[@starventure]

Gouda cheese and porn is no way to go through life, Kim Jong-Un.

[@arh1234]

10:19 "Smoked 'em" was perfect comedic pitch and timing.😂 Yet another reason we love that you let us travel with you!

[@storispinner]

As a Boston-ite, I LOVE this route! Makes it so easy (and beautiful) to pop over to nearby towns in the area. Recently went to and from New Haven in a single day to visit a friend and didn't even have to take off work thanks to being able to work with the WiFi on the train.

[@storispinner]

Also, Providence is worth a longer stop for sure!

[@daRealB-Rex]

Nice video! I just took the Acela from Washington to Boston for spring break. The Regionals we saw along the way were absolutely packed.

[@Ajlikestraveling]

The LEVEL of detail you put in these videos is amazing!!! Keep up the good work Downie!!!

[@TheFarix2723]

As profitable as Accela and NER are, I'm surprised that Amtrak hasn't done more to acquire more track corridors. It makes a big difference when you can set and keep your own schedules.

[@G-546]

It’s because freight railroads won’t sell in most cases where it would make sense for Amtrak to buy. For example the Capital Corridor between San Jose and Sacramento in California is their 4th most popular line. It’s also one of the shortest lines at only around 130 miles. But Union Pacific would never sell the tracks at a low cost as they are the main tracks they use to connect the port of Oakland to the rest of the United States. Amtrak would likely have to make a deal with Union Pacific to build new tracks parallel to the existing ones if they wanted their own tracks.

[@darthmaul216]

Because unfortunately Amtrak doesn’t have the money for that

[@SLRTheRobotArmy]

I took this train about 3 years ago to NYC from CT, it was my first time on a train and I was very impressed.

[@troysup]

The Northeasst Regional actually continues on down to Norfolk VA. And BTW I sat in seat 11A from NYC to Norfolk about three weeks ago. Love your series. Also, in DC the train changes from electric to diesel.

[@k.a.s.8247]

I'm so excited for your next journey, Mike. I am so hooked and slways look forward to your videos each week. You have to be the most entertaining KZbin travel host out there. Thank you for your hard work and dedication to your craft. From Dallas, Oregon USA

[@FROMKYLE2U]

I can't wait for this series ... I used to live in Boston and AuBonPain pumpkin muffins are the best... I used the subway, commuter rail and train systems to the fullest... Washington DC station - beautiful.... Again - Thank you for all this !!!

[@RichardinNC1]

Looking forward to your US travel series! I learned a lot from your Canadian one. I've not been on the same train but I took the same route, Charlotte NC to Washington DC to NYC and a different train on the same route on the return.

[@dianeboileau2026]

Great video Mike! Can't wait for the 10 day train ride from Florida to Alaska!

[@orgophd]

Thanks for this video! Growing up in MA and travelling around the northeast did not prepare me for the size of the states when I moved to the Midwest. I do miss the coastal views but I'm glad you were able to see them. Can't wait for your series!

[@SimonTekConley]

He went to MT though

[@mrspontiac9174]

This is the one train we took (Boston to New London) on our US trip. Next time we're going to do the whole thing. Looking forward to the south to north series! That's something hubby and I would love to try! Thanks Mike.

[@siobhancrawford7236]

Hey Mike! Another excellent video. So looking forward to series 2 of Downie Live travels by train (USA) Excited to see Will in the clip too lol! xxx

[@alexanderkoziol863]

Hey mike! I’m born and raised from Victoria, BC, now live in Boston for work. Just want to say I love your channel, fellow train enthusiast and love vicariously living through your journeys. Keep up the great work dude!! If back in Boston, try out the Downeaster (going up to Maine), Portland is a fun detour :)

[@michaelpalm2210]

Yes and in the summer you can take the train to Old Orchard beach Maine which I think is the unofficial Vacation capitol for Canada. I swear everyone there is from Canada! Great beach, great waves, giant boardwalk. Good times

[@Anon21486]

For an interesting experience, go from Washington DC to Boston's South Station, take the MBTA from South Station to North Station, and then take the Downeaster to Maine....

[@TheMusiclover500]

I take this train from MA to visit a friend in New London CT frequently and as inglorious as is it I don’t have to drive! So I adore it

[@MrStoppingallstation]

3rd state of the day and you hadn’t even finished your coffee🤣 And the way you managed opening the door with your coffee was priceless!

[@DownieLive]

😁

[@pegolasgreenleaf4370]

Can’t wait for more of the Mike and Will show! That’s gonna be a great trip!

[@davidfuchs845]

Amtrak ridership is still heavily down in the post-Covid world, so on top of going the "wrong way" with your train goes a long way to explaining why it's relatively quiet for you. Enjoyed the vid!

[@josholiveros]

Really excited for that 10 episode series! Nice videos! We're from the Philippines and started loving long train rides when we moved in Toronto. So I was stoked when I discovered your channel! Keep it up! 🙌

[@Larry-325]

Awesome content Mike. Like the train trips. You started in my home state. I grew up in a small town North of Boston. South Station is a busy hub! Don’t know if you have ever spent any time in Boston but it’s a great City. Can’t wait for your next trip. 👍👍👍👍

[@jmbtrain1]

Look forward to the new series on all of Amtrak's trains in America. 😀

[@FJeezy]

So excited for the ten day trip!!! As a Canadian that has never seen much of Canada, you inspired me to travel across the country to experience more of the culture and beauty that we have here. Not only that, but you’ve inspired me to vlog those experiences so that I could show other exactly what you’ve shown me! I can’t wait to see your next adventures Michael!

[@DownieLive]

It's a 10 episode trip. It will take me a lot longer than 10 days to film it.

[@FJeezy]

@@DownieLive Whoops, ten episode is what I meant lol

[@georgesarapa3651]

I used to travel between Boston and Old Saybrook, CT on this line in the 80s while attending college and my grandfather traveled the same route from New York to Boston during WWII when he served in the Navy...of course, his train would have been pulled by a steam locomotive but still kind of neat to ride the same rails as your grandpa!

[@tracyrichmond-pshyk8863]

Thx for sharing, looking forward to your travels across America 👍🏼

[@christianoliver3572]

Part of it's popularity has to be that it's only an hour longer to go by train than to drive. But if you think of an Amtrak route like NOLA to Chicago the time difference between driving and taking the train is huge even if it is bang on time.

[@FTrainProductions]

And then if you factor in I-95 traffic, it can potentially be a time saver to take the train, especially between New York and Washington.

[@Joesolo13]

@@FTrainProductions not to mention parking, having to stop for gas/to charge a long the way(its almost 450 miles,most cars have tanks for between 300 and 400 miles )

[@alanjrobertson]

Haha I was on the NE Regional from Boston to NYC just last month!! Very good value when booked in advance and so much less hassle going city centre to city centre cf flying 👍 Your new series crossing America sounds great, looking forward to it.

[@stevejacobs964]

Thanks for another great video Mike!!! Also highly appreciated all the translink videos you did, I'm a bus driver with them and all the behind the scenes videos you did with them were great

[@DownieLive]

That is awesome! Thanks Steve!

[@matthewhildebrandt1901]

Excited for the next season of Travels By Train! D.C.'s Union Station is probably my favorite, so I'm glad you got to experience it.

[@OllieRamone]

This 10 episode train adventure you are talking about has me excited. Can’t wait 😀

[@JKanimations7718]

Just looked it up and did some research, the southernmost station in the US is dadeland south, but the most southern “actual train” station is bright-line Miami central

[@EHancock37]

Love this, been watching you since the journey with your dad to the north of Canada, always a good crack.

[@michaelformaini7053]

Love the fact that you scooted through 7 States in one journey. The best I did back in '95 was five..... and the north west corner of Connecticut was part of that trip. Looks like the best bit of yours was right at the end....The Great Hall of Washington Union Station. Looks like you had great value and healthy options in the cafe car. Looking forward to your next Amtrak adventure. Boy oh boy! Florida to Alaska! That will be some trip. Cheers from Michael in Melbourne.

[@jimwilloughby]

Mike, It's nice to see you departing from my old stomping grounds. Before retiring from my job as a firefighter in Shrewsbury, which is my home town, for a few years I had a part time job driving a motorcoach for an interstate bus company based in Springfield, Ma. At the time, the company had an operating division just outside Worcester, so I was in and out of South Station a lot. When does "Travels By Train USA" start? I watched the first season of the show, and didn't miss an episode. I'm looking forward to the second season.

[@charlesm.1638]

Actually the last stop in Rhode Island is West Kingston, Rhode Island. When my wife and I visit family in Rhode Island. We take Amtrak to New York but like in my last post, from Boston to Providence.

[@himbourbanist]

LOVE the NER!! Great value and still pretty fast (for North America at least, lol). I've gotten some insane deals

[@pischgensinsen]

Absolutely great video, and we both have in common how we explored Rhode Island, I did the exact same route with Amtrak from Boston to New Haven and I love this ride in the evening, you can enjoy an awesome sunset. Hope to see more trains in America like in the Northeast Corridor soon, can't wait! 6:27 passengers per year ;)

[@SquarePegs]

As always Mike, your videos are inspiring and positive. Thank you for continuing to do incredible adventurous work.

[@phyllisogis129]

Sure wish we had high speed rail here in Canada!

[@nazzarenopisano652]

Looking forward to more videos and the new series! No matter what kind of day I'm having, your videos always put me in a good mood. Thank you!

[@DownieLive]

Glad to hear it!

[@fotomann40]

I really appreciate your views on this. I've thought about traveling by train but never have. Your videos are helping my delicious making. Thank you

[@lorinsmith9898]

I’m looking forward to the series Mike. Hope Will makes an appearance.

[@bluej511]

Hey Mike, super excited for the new series. The US has some beautiful landscapes. Downie live rides Europe by train?

[@DownieLive]

That will definitely happen!

[@lovesickstayreacts]

I took the Northeast Regional a ton from Boston when I went to school in Baltimore and it was definitely always busy! depending on the time of day and what direction you're going, Providence can be a busy station too with people commuting there to & from Boston! great video as always and I'm excited for the series!!!

[@jj6148]

I used to live in New Carrolton and used it to visit my aunt in Wilmington DE. I loved taking the Amtrak with my mom. We also used it to travel to Baltimore for a part time job she used to have.

[@wkpdenie22]

I actually have pretty severe anxiety for traveling by train, yet strangely your videos are so relaxing to me and make me feel like I can also do this one day. I guess what I want to say is thank you for making these videos, and for taking us along on your adventures. You're making me want to challenge myself and go ride a train again, and that's huge!

[@mlbrooks4066]

One of the best things about traveling by train are the people you meet. When flying, you get people who are anxious, rude, eager to get where they're going and miserable from being packed in like sardines. On trains, you have room at your seat (or in your cabin if you get one), you can move around (just be careful if the train is moving), and you can eat a meal sitting down with people who are not in a hurry and rude. I've traveled all over the US by train myself, and met maybe a handful of unhappy people in a dozen years of doing it. I've enjoyed a lot of good company, made friends, and relaxed watching beautiful scenery go by. Yes, you get some bouncing around from the rails, but you get used to it and it's not as bad as turbulence in the air.

[@kleeblattchen38]

why are you anxious to ride trains may I ask?

[@davidgodfrey1815]

Parts of the ride from Boston to New York are fun, along the water in the fog. The Northeast Regionals change to diesel and continue south into Virginia (there is a station a mile from where I live.) Can't wait for the ride from corner to corner.

[@mbgrafix]

I just discovered your videos a few days ago...enjoyed what I watched...and I subscribed and set the bell to notify me of new episodes! You say you've never been to Connecticut...I have lived in Connecticut my entire life! And although there are LOTS of VERY wealthy people living in _some_ parts of Connecticut ( _like say...the Gold Coast_ )...there are also lots of regular old, middle class folks like myself. You ought to check out Connecticut sometime. There are too many things to check out for me to list here...but a couple of train related things that come to mind... the *Essex Steam Train & Riverboat,* and one town over from my home town is the *Connecticut Trolley Museum* in East Windsor. But as I said...there are TONS more things that I could list, but I know that you could easily _track them down!_ (...ya see what I did there? *_Track_* them down! 😏😀😂... 🙄😶I apologize.)

[@butth3ad]

was waiting specifically for Philly!!!! a philadelphia station being mysteriously wet while covered is the most on-brand Philadelphia thing I've ever heard!

[@mrsalwaysright6478]

Can we all appreciate the fact that Mike never disappointed us with his travel content. 😊😊😊

[@ChouetteViolette]

Boston to Washington DC is an area known as a megalopolis, essentially a continuous city. If you look at it on a world at night type map you’ll see the solid lights up the east coast. I’m super excited for the Florida to Alaska!!

[@smwca123]

I once heard it called BOSNYWASH - yes, it overlooks Philly.

[@SiobhanWaldock]

Can't wait for season 2!! My family watched your first season together and loved it.

[@robertshelton9881]

I'm glad to hear you're making an expedition from Florida to Alaska. I'll look forward to hearing about your adventures.

[@someguy6268]

i definitely do not giv a fuck abt building highspeed rail when states will tax their citizens into poverty to do it, and then charge 100/ticket to ride it. Its extremely near sighted and childish for you to excitedly promote building of new rail like its asking disney to build a new star wars ride. There are so many issues at the state and city level that lead to unwalkability in our cities, which then makes building HSR nonpriority. Just signing you email to some vague list saying "pwetty pwease i wike twains" does nothing but give the state to have a reason to destroy our lives with those said taxes.

[@NickDemers-of6bo]

just subscribed after the least popular route and i’m so happy i did now i get to look forward to one of one of the most exciting trips the world!! keep up the great work and super pumped for the content to come!!!

[@bradbates2339]

I always appreciate your advocacy for more train travel and so this video's sponsor.

[@grandmasmagic3858]

I think I've watched about 8 episodes today, first time viewer, and when you announced your 10 ep series I decided that I would follow your instructions and subscribe..I generally don't subscribe to channels until I've viewed several eps and have enjoyed, so you have now joined my subscription list..

[@DownieLive]

Amazing Carol! Welcome aboard!

[@camp.kayak.explore.2531]

Tip for not sloshing your coffee while opening the automatic doors: there’s a “kick plate” button near the floor that acts the same as the one at hand level.

[@DarthSmirnoff]

CAN'T WAIT for the upcoming series! Safe travels Mike!

[@petermladinic8249]

Good idea to follow the least popular with the most popular train, Mike. Glad you got a glimpse of my home state, New Jersey.

[@joevermillion9748]

Mike it’s great to see your videos again. Stay Safe and God Bless You

[@blaqueathena]

The timing of this video was everything. I’m on the Northeast regional now. NYC to DC.

[@mpm1204]

Hi Mike….enjoyed the Ethan Allen trip too…..I’ve ridden the NE Regional a couple of times…..basically people ride point to point versus end to end…….and of course it was early! Always like your trips….

[@barbaralienhard3490]

Great job!!! I'll be watching all the rides across America.

[@steveng6911]

Will be taking my first Amtrak adventure on the Northeast Regional from Newport News VA to Baltimore MD. Can't wait.

[@fleishum]

Thank you Mike for the awesome video. I'm glad you got some great pictures of my home state of Maryland. I love the Amtrak bridge over the Susquehanna River in Havre de Grace, Maryland, where the Susquehanna meets the Chesapeake Bay. If you are in Havre de Grace down by the waterfront, you get some nice views of the bridge and it's so cool to hear the trains crossing.

[@DownieLive]

Thanks again!

[@prez10points]

You easily have the best production quality I've seen on a train video yet, well done ✨

[@talonbottomley1800]

I’m an northeast corridor resident 👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾 and taken this train quite a few times and loved it.

[@frglee]

Nice video! That poster for the 'Turner's Modern World' art exhibition in Boston at 0:07 coincidentally predicts your journey through the kind of misty impressionist landscapes that the British artist J M W Turner loved to paint some 200 years back.