On September 15, 2022, Amtrak trains were seen traveling through Washington, DC, as domestic travel rebounds from pandemic lows and prices soar. Some travelers are opting for trains over planes due to the simple tradeoffs: Trains are often cheaper, provide more leg room, and are better for the environment than air travel. These advantages and others are driving riders to Amtrak, the government-backed U.S. rail service, as it tries to revive pre-Covid ridership and smooth out operations.
Since emerging out of the pandemic, airline ticket prices have skyrocketed as travel demand surged. On top of that, uncertainty in the airline industry has ballooned in part due to high-profile incidents, like one that commanded headlines earlier this year when a section of an Alaska Airlines plane blew off mid-flight, leading to the discovery of loose hardware on Boeing 737 Max 9 planes in multiple airlines’ fleets.
Though train routes often take longer than flight times, the appeal of cheaper fares, more space, and environmental benefits is drawing more travelers to Amtrak.
2024-02-11 08:00:01
Article from www.cnbc.com