OK wins three grants for high speed rail

[nathanm]

And how many of you have actually traveled on Amtrak – while it's better than being crammed into coach on an airplane, it's not the luxurious setting of a Cary Grant movie (although I might change my mind if there is the promise of meeting Eva Marie Saint).

The Acela is pretty darn nice in first class. Sure, it's no flagship suite, but there's plenty of room. And the food is better than what you get on the airlines. The only thing I wish they would do on Acela that they don't is reserved seating. When it's busy, it's not terribly unlikely that you'll get separated from your traveling partner until some folks get off in Connecticut.

It's still somewhat faster to fly (a little under an hour less from Manhattan to downtown Boston), but a first class Acela seat is only a few bucks more than a deep-discount economy seat and the ride is much more pleasant. More moving and less waiting, and much less (as in zero) security hassle. If MTA would let Amtrak run 150mph on their tracks, the train would be faster than flying for that particular route.

[heironymouspasparagus]

Trip to Ft Worth, the conductor worked hard to keep groups together, and did a good job.  The train was FULL.