Why Fly When You Can Take the Train? 21 Trains Cheaper than Airfare

Air travel is a hassle. From parking to negotiating the crowds inside to getting onboard only to find that you can barely fit into your tiny seat, it’s an uncomfortable luxury for which we pay dearly. But, there’s another option if your flight is short. Trains are often cheaper, more comfortable and less of a hassle. America’s train system is far from perfect – hopefully it will be greatly improved upon in the years to come – but it’s still a great option that many people seem to have forgotten about.

From the Traveler’s Notebook:

Consider a 5 hour train ride from Boston to Philadelphia. The equivalent flight takes over two hours; however, after adding in time spent arriving early plus waiting in baggage claim, you can easily spend close to 5 hours in transit. If you take the train instead, you’ll spend $157. The cheapest flight available is $265. That’s a 43% savings over flying, and you can get an additional 10-15% if you are a student, AAA member, or military.

Now that airlines are raising airfares and tacking on more and more fees, it’s a great time to look into whether train travel could be a good option for your next trip. The Traveler’s Notebook has compiled a list of 21 trains that are cheaper and faster than flying. Brilliant! And, taking the train is better for the environment – mile by mile, trains use 28% less fuel than planes and cars.

Link [The Travelers Notebook]
Photo credit: Flickr user Odalaigh

Bad Carbon Karma: Lawyer Flies from Oregon to Saudi Arabia Every Three Weeks

Thomas Nelson, a lawyer from Oregon, regularly flies back and forth to Saudi Arabia to visit a client who can’t fly to the U.S. That’s ‘regularly’ not as in once or twice a year, but every three weeks. Nelson says he’s forced to do so because his client faces charges here for financing terrorism, and that he’s afraid to communicate via telephone or email due to possible surveillance.

From the New York Times:

Because he is constantly shifting time zones to see his client face to face, “I just don’t sleep normally anymore,” Mr. Nelson said. “But I don’t have a choice. It’s very clear to me that anything I say to my client or to other lawyers in this case is being recorded.”

Across the country, and especially here in Oregon, it seems, lawyers who represent suspects in terrorism-related investigations complain that their ability to do their jobs is being hindered by the suspicion that the government is listening in, using the eavesdropping authority it obtained — or granted itself — after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

There are all kinds of issues in play here, not the least of which is the creepy fact that the government is able to violate lawyer-client privilege by snooping on their communications. But there’s an unspoken aspect to it: what about all of the carbon being produced by the constant unnecessary flights? Oregon to Saudi Arabia is a very long trip – and as the article suggests, Nelson isn’t the only one making frequent flights like this. I can only imagine how large this guy’s carbon footprint is. It’s stupid and definitely bad for the earth…

Link [New York Times]

Photo credit: Karl Dolenc

Airlines Slowing Down, Lightening Their Loads to Save Fuel

Would you care if you got to your destination 2 minutes later than usual? Airlines are starting to bet that you won’t even notice, and slowing down slightly will end up saving them big bucks in fuel. Belgium’s Brussels Airlines is the first to try it, slowing their speed by about 10 kilometers per hour and lightening each plane’s load by using lighter seat covers, bringing less water on board for toilet flushing and possibly getting rid of the ashtrays, all of which can add up pretty quickly.

From BBC News:

The airline said slowing its planes by about 10km/h would cut its annual fuel bill by 1m euros ($1.6m; £800,000) and add a minute or two to flight times.

The measures will also reduce the airline’s emissions of global warming greenhouse gases, a spokesman said.
Oil prices have risen steeply recently, adding hugely to airlines’ costs.

Brussels Airlines is looking at nearly 100 ways of cutting fuel use, including more efficient fuel use and reducing weight on its planes.

Undoubtedly these changes are due to strain on the airline’s finances rather than concerns about the environment, but in this case, who cares? What matters is, they’ll result in a huge reduction in fuel use, and if more airlines follow, we could see some dramatic effects. This is exactly the way more companies need to start thinking. Leave it to Europe to pioneer such a simple yet smart concept.

Link [BBC News] via [The Road to the Horizon]

Great Flying Spaghetti Monster! Look at Those Gas Prices!

In spite of my noble belief that $4/gallon gas is good for our country, I can’t help but wistfully remember the day back in the 90’s when I filled up my little Jetta for less than a tenner on $.67/gallon gas in one of the southern states. Hell, right now even $1.59 sounds like it’s from a dreamland. A dreamland full of cheap gas and crashed airplanes.

Via [Frostfirezoo]