Washington to Detroit: Amtrak vs. Northwest Airlines

[WMAveteran]

I am going to Detroit later this month for a civil rights conference.  I would rather travel by train when possible so I queried Amtrak and Northwest for travel information.

Northwest will fly me from BWI to Detroit in 1 hour 36 minutes for $168.50 roundtrip.

Amtrak offered two alternative routes: Route 1 involved taking the Capital Limited to Toledo OH where I would alight at 4:56am!?! (after a 12 hour train ride) and wait until 6:30am for a bus that would take me to Detroit in approximately 90 minutes.  Route 2 involved taking the Capital Limited to Chicago (15 hours), wait about 4 hours and catch the Wolverine to Detroit which is a 5 hour trip.

Since Amtrak would take anywhere from 17 hours to 24 hours to go a little over 400 miles, I purchased a plane ticket. 

[rideonrulez]

I am going to Detroit later this month for a civil rights conference.  I would rather travel by train when possible so I queried Amtrak and Northwest for travel information.

Northwest will fly me from BWI to Detroit in 1 hour 36 minutes for $168.50 roundtrip.

Amtrak offered two alternative routes: Route 1 involved taking the Capital Limited to Toledo OH where I would alight at 4:56am!?! (after a 12 hour train ride) and wait until 6:30am for a bus that would take me to Detroit in approximately 90 minutes.  Route 2 involved taking the Capital Limited to Chicago (15 hours), wait about 4 hours and catch the Wolverine to Detroit which is a 5 hour trip.

Since Amtrak would take anywhere from 17 hours to 24 hours to go a little over 400 miles, I purchased a plane ticket. 

Amtrak is usually my first choice to travel BUT it's not always the most fastest or direct way to get to certain destinations. In this case, I don't blame you for purchasing a plane ticket.

[btconet]

Interestingly, I remember my stop through New Orleans on the way back from a conference in Arizona, where I met a friend with whom I'd return to Baltimore.

Airfare was more than $225 per ticket for the flight into Baltimore with the flights all being rather awkward connection flights.

The Crescent came in at $125 per ticket, while both of us scored a Roomette for $162.

$450+ to cram into a plane vs. $412 to relax, ride in style, and get fed 4 included meals.  Definite no brainer there.

$158 for Detroit RT is pretty decent.  I can do short, direct flights - the longer ones are endurance contests to me though.

[coneyraven]

Either way, at least wth the Capitol Limited, I'd at least be able to stop and say "hi" at the stop in Cumberland....It's always nice to meet a fellow railfan --- and if the time ever presented itself, I'd be able to show you where several old LIRR cars are being stored....vintage 1970's ---they have Bicentennial logos on them and a couple have ads for Eastern Airlines...but presently owned by the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad

[RailBus63]

Smart move buying the plane ticket.  Amtrak makes sense if direct service is offered and the transit time is reasonable.  I'm a lifelong railfan and I like riding trains and buses, but air travel almost always works best when I'm traveling on business.

[WMAveteran]

Either way, at least wth the Capitol Limited, I'd at least be able to stop and say "hi" at the stop in Cumberland....It's always nice to meet a fellow railfan --- and if the time ever presented itself, I'd be able to show you where several old LIRR cars are being stored....vintage 1970's ---they have Bicentennial logos on them and a couple have ads for Eastern Airlines...but presently owned by the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad

Thank you, I would love to know where the LIRR cars are stored. I will wear my Eastern Airlines t-shirt when I see them!!