MediaWest*Con transportation musings
Mar. 21st, 2011 09:33 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
amediaI am *seriously* considering taking a train to get to MW*C.
Advantages:
a) I can leave from the town I live in! I don't live near an airport, and we only have one car, and TODS will need it to get to work, so for me to fly, he has to make two five-hour round trips to drop me off and pick me up.
b) It's quite a bit cheaper than flying; airfare has risen at an alarming rate. I'm looking at $262 for train fare vs. $500-something for airfare to Detroit, plus a shuttle or rental car to Lansing.
c) Trains are much more comfortable than airplanes. Honestly, I hate the whole flying experience these days, which is sad because it used to be so much more fun. I've taken short train trips recently and just the amount of legroom seems positively luxurious.
Disadvantages:
a) It will take more than 24 hours each way. Now, I'm not working the week before MW*C, and I'm teaching online the week after, so that doesn't matter very much as far as doing my job is concerned (especially if there's wireless on the train). OTOH, it's a long time to sit still, and I don't know how comfortable it will be for sleeping (I don't intend to pay for a sleeping car). I occasionally sleep in the recliner at home when my back is bothering me, so it doesn't seem impossible.
b) It will drop me in East Lansing, not Lansing proper, although I'm guessing I can get from one to the other for a lot less than the difference in fare.
c) I will have a couple of transfers and I'm not sure how good trains are as opposed to airplanes when it comes to making connections.
Any experienced U.S. train travelers out there want to weigh in? All input welcomed!
I am still working on the REVELcon report, I promise!
Advantages:
a) I can leave from the town I live in! I don't live near an airport, and we only have one car, and TODS will need it to get to work, so for me to fly, he has to make two five-hour round trips to drop me off and pick me up.
b) It's quite a bit cheaper than flying; airfare has risen at an alarming rate. I'm looking at $262 for train fare vs. $500-something for airfare to Detroit, plus a shuttle or rental car to Lansing.
c) Trains are much more comfortable than airplanes. Honestly, I hate the whole flying experience these days, which is sad because it used to be so much more fun. I've taken short train trips recently and just the amount of legroom seems positively luxurious.
Disadvantages:
a) It will take more than 24 hours each way. Now, I'm not working the week before MW*C, and I'm teaching online the week after, so that doesn't matter very much as far as doing my job is concerned (especially if there's wireless on the train). OTOH, it's a long time to sit still, and I don't know how comfortable it will be for sleeping (I don't intend to pay for a sleeping car). I occasionally sleep in the recliner at home when my back is bothering me, so it doesn't seem impossible.
b) It will drop me in East Lansing, not Lansing proper, although I'm guessing I can get from one to the other for a lot less than the difference in fare.
c) I will have a couple of transfers and I'm not sure how good trains are as opposed to airplanes when it comes to making connections.
Any experienced U.S. train travelers out there want to weigh in? All input welcomed!
I am still working on the REVELcon report, I promise!
