National Train Day Celebrates the Rail Way
On May 8, 2010 Amtrak will celebrate the third annual National Train Day with events across the country to celebrate America’s love for trains. National Train Day commemorates the 141st anniversary of the first transcontinental railroad’s inception by bringing to life the rich narrative of how trains transformed America.
Each year National Train Day aims to remind the public of the many benefits of rail travel. Over the last 141 years, technology has changed transportation in the United States with automobiles and airplanes becoming major modes of travel. However, rail travel has withstood the test of time and still provides many benefits that other modes of transportation cannot fulfill. In honor of National Train Day we are taking a look at some great reasons to ride the rails:
Save a buck (or more!) – Rail travel is more cost efficient than other modes of transportation. According to Amtrak’s Critical Link 2007, the American Automobile Association estimated that the average cost of car travel is 62 cents per mile and, depending on the type of automobile, as high as 74 cents per mile. In comparison, the average cost of an Amtrak trip is only 23 cents per mile.
Skip rush hour – According to Amtrak’s 2007 Highway and Airport Congestion Mitigation report, some American drivers lose more than 93 hours per year sitting in traffic. In 1955, there were 65 million vehicles on U.S. highways. Today there are 246 million and by 2055 this number is expected to reach 400 million. Taking the train is a simple way to avoid this congestion and reach your final destination more quickly.
Save the planet – Taking the train is a greener way to travel.  Passenger rail travel is 20 percent more efficient than airline travel and 28 percent more efficient than automobile travel. For those looking to reduce their environmental footprint, commuting to work is a great way to start.
Relax! – Many people find that rail travel is the most relaxing mode of transportation. No need to worry about traffic congestion, security lines or luggage restrictions, people can kick up their feet and take some time for themselves.
Meet new friends – Train travel is the most interactive form of travel and many use it as an opportunity to meet new people, experience different cultures and make friends. Long-distance trains generally have dining cars, where people can share tables and exchange stories, all while traveling to their destination.
Finally for many people alternate modes of transportation are simply not an option. According to Amtrak’s Critical Link 2007, 16 percent of Amtrak passengers do not own a car. Furthermore, one in five Americans age 65 and older does not drive, and the number of people aged 65 and older is expected to more than double between 2002 and 2030. For those who do not have other means to get around, rail travel is a way of life.
On May 8 Amtrak will host free events from 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. in four of its gateway stations across the United States: Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Chicago and Los Angeles, all designed to help people discover the rail way. These large-scale events will feature live entertainment, interactive and educational exhibits, kids’ entertainment, model train displays and tours of notable private railroad cars, Amtrak equipment, freight and commuter trains.
Additionally, Amtrak will be joined by this year’s national spokesman, actor and avid train fan Taye Diggs, star of Private Practice. Taye will start the weekend’s festivities with a ceremony at New York’s Penn Station on Friday, May 7, and will board Amtrak immediately following the event to travel to Washington, D.C. to host the National Train Day celebration at Union Station and enjoy the festivities with other train fans on Saturday, May 8.
In addition, local communities across the country have developed their own National Train Day celebrations. So far more than 150 local celebrations are planned at rail stations, museums and other locations around the country. To find an event near you, visit www.nationaltrainday.com, “like” us on Facebook www.facebook.com/nationaltrainday, or follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/natltrainday.