I’m surprised that specialized routes in the us haven’t gotten more traction. I think the Heathrow express is brilliant example of this (depending on what terminal your flying from) it’s almost always faster than driving, it gets you into central London, it’s cheaper, and there are no connections/ transfers. It boggles my mind that their isn’t an equivalent in the us (say a DIRECT rail link to terminals at EWR, JFK, LGA and manhattan.
My experience with rail travel in the us, is (outside the NE corridor / Acela: 1) trains do not depart/arrive at convenient locations, 2) go too slowly[1], and often are not very price/time competitive [2].
1. I believe the Pennsylvania Railroad Congressional train averaged about the same speed as the Acela DC>NY in 1940’s -1960’s
2. DCA>LGA 12/31 is $202 ~2:40 door to door time, Acela is $255 and is ~3:15 door to door.
My experience with rail travel in the us, is (outside the NE corridor / Acela: 1) trains do not depart/arrive at convenient locations, 2) go too slowly[1], and often are not very price/time competitive [2].
1. I believe the Pennsylvania Railroad Congressional train averaged about the same speed as the Acela DC>NY in 1940’s -1960’s 2. DCA>LGA 12/31 is $202 ~2:40 door to door time, Acela is $255 and is ~3:15 door to door.