Traveling by train is a mode of transport that seems romantic and fun. When one thinks of rail travel, one evokes movie images, like the Hogwarts train sailing through the hills of the English countryside, or the Polar Express as a warm traveling beacon in the harsh snowy landscape. And yet, few travelers have actually enjoyed the comfort and style of traveling by train.

Image source: dailymail.co.uk

Why is this? For one, train travel is not very popular in North America. It’s a shame, because it is truly one of the most pleasant ways to get from one place to another. Here are some of the benefits of train travel, in North America or anywhere else in the world:

Traffic is not an issue: While flying can be expensive, traveling over land can be slow and unpleasant due to highway congestion. This is simply not an issue when traveling by rail. And no traffic means that there is a far lower chance of an accident.

Image source: Wikipedia

Travel in comfort: Flying means being shut in a cramped metal tube and hurled into the air. Driving means sitting in a cramped metal box with no bathroom or room to stretch your legs, while also trying to avoid a fatal accident. Enter trains. Sit, stand, walk to the bathroom or the onboard cafeteria, there is simply no comparison.

It’s about the journey, not the destination: Train travel is not as fast as flying, this is true. The ride from Montreal to New York takes a whopping 11 hours! However, since you are riding in style, you can enjoy the views of the landscape that you may never see otherwise, since trains take different routes than highways do. The Amtrak ride from Vancouver to Seattle is beautiful, I am told.

Image source: Wikipedia

Wherever your journey takes you, consider arriving there by train. Who knows? You may find your new favourite mode of transport!