[TRAVEL] Advantages of Taking the Train
After taking the bullet train in Japan, it really got me thinking about what are the benefits of travelling by train. So today, I will list some of my top reasons for taking the train. I will also rank them according to my personal top reasons:
1) Comfort
Hands down, I find the train as the most comfortable means of transportation. Definitely above boat, bus, car and plane. Train seating is generally more spacious and you have the option of having a private cabin if you want even more privacy for long trips. Some trains even have dining cabins, so you can have a comfortable meal while travelling.
Trains make it easy to rest, relax, sleep or even read and work. Trains also have excellent windows, so you can appreciate the view while travelling. Generally the views on a train are pretty good, especially on the countryside or going through mountains. Better than watching other cars and trucks on a highway or staring at the clouds.
2) Safety
Trains seem to have a pretty good track record on safety relative to the other means of transportation.
3) Environmentally friendly
This factor is fairly well documented that trains definitely emit less pollution. Especially if the train is full, because it can carry a lot of people at a time.
4) Less affected by weather delays
Every means of transportation gets affected by weather delays, but trains are in a good position to overcome them better than the other means.
5) Cost effective
In many regions of the world, travelling by train is a very cost-effective way, especially in places that sell unlimited passes. Furthermore, in some cases, travelling overnight can also be a great way to save money on hostel or hotel accommodations. This goes back to factor number one, where I would rather sleep overnight on a train than a bus or plane.
6) Less hassle at the boarders
Also depending on the region of the world, but train help expedite the time you would have to spend crossing a different country’s boarder.
We have always loved train travel because you can see different parts of the country out your window and don’t have to worry about navigating. We’re actually on our first trip to Japan right now and just had our first experience on a bullet train earlier this week. Although the ticket situation and our questionable Japanese language skills had us a bit confused, we managed to get to where we needed to go. And we definitely enjoyed the ride. Someday, we hope to do a cross-country trip by train in the US or Canada.
Great story Michelle. Hope you have a good trip in Japan. Here’s a tip. Try to find a bilingual map, so you can both point on the map where you need to go and you will both understand!
Also worth mentioning that you don’t get altitude sickness or dryness on a train in the same way you would on a plane.
Yes. That is a good point. Definitely makes a difference.
Travel by train is great! While I love flying, nothing beats the comfort of a train. Well, I fly mostly economy so that probably explains my statement…
But I agree that trains are a super comfortable mean of transportation!
Economy flying versus the train. Train does have an edge there!