(This is the complete “Train Journey” series that I wrote on LinkedIn while on the train recently that received significant attention and generated impassioned conversations for a couple of weeks. Last count it had 6.3 million views, 41,800 reactions, received nearly 4,000 comments, and was shared over 700 times. If you’d like to read this series in several parts as I wrote it in real time, you can read it and join the conversation on LinkedIn here. But please feel welcome to share your thoughts in the comments below.)

Traveling by Train is Wonderful and Sustainable (and Should Also be Affordable and Efficient)

I'm 30 minutes into a 21 hour train trip on Amtrak, traveling from Pittsburgh, PA to Greenville, SC -- a trip that takes about 9 hours by car or a little bit less by plane (if you count door to door times with travel to airport, security, waiting, flying, connecting, waiting, flying, travel from airport).

Not Nearly Enough Trains to Meet Demand

There are two options per day to leave Pittsburgh to go south - one at 5:30am and one at 7:30am and almost every single route, except some in the Northeast (between Boston-NYC-DC) in the United States takes much longer by train than by car - the exact opposite of how our transportation network should operate, and the exact opposite of how trains function in most other countries.

People WANT to take trains - the demand is here but the service and the capacity is not and we are wasting so many opportunities to reduce road congestion and air travel and combat climate change by keeping trains out of reach for so many people who can't travel for 21 hours (I'm fortunate enough to be able to work on the train and then to read a novel after!).

This is a huge opportunity to grow, if we accept that we can do better than we did a century ago.

A Look Back at the Johnstown Inclined Plane

I'm working from the dining car of Amtrak which always reminds me of my grandma when we'd take the train from NY to DC and eat triangular ham and Swiss sandwiches from the semi-cafe. I LOVED IT. And it's a huge reason I love transportation and trains.

Here we're stopped at Johnstown and beyond the unsightly utility pole you can see the Johnstown Funicular (see photo above) or the "Johnstown Inclined Plane" which opened in 1891 (but sadly is closed for repairs through 2024) and goes up Yoder Hill which has a 70.9% grade!

The Inclined Plane opened two years after the Johnstown Flood of 1889 which killed 2,209 and was instrumental in preventing catastrophic damage during the flood of 1936 by carrying nearly 4,000 people to safety. And during yet another flood in 1977, the incline carried people up to safety while transporting boats, emergency equipment and personnel down to the flood.

We Need Transportation that Works with the Varied Geography of Places

All the while providing an efficient form of transportation that can't be matched by any other.
Let's get back in the practice of creating and building transportation that works WITH the unique geography of different places rather than trying to use the same things everywhere.

Comfort of Train Travel: the Feast!

I packed several feasts for this 21 hour journey which you can't easily do by plane.
I'm enjoying a baguette and goat cheese and have a giant container of cold brew (weird flavor combo definitely).

And in the dining car, I have my own booth with enough room to open my computer, my notebook and prepare and enjoy my yummy meals AND there's still plenty of open tables if other people want to enjoy the same.

Really grateful I was introduced to trains as a child (thanks Grandma! who hated driving) and have been taking them my whole life -- even though there is still much to be done to make them a viable option for everyone. Hardly any friends outside of my transportation bubble have taken the train here and it's disappointing it's not feasible for many people.

How Long Could It Possibly Take to Travel 137 Miles by Train?

A few months ago I interviewed for a transportation role in Memphis. I love consulting (want to work together? Let's chat) but sometimes I see transportation roles that seem VERY thrilling with transformative potential so I think about settling down with my green velvet couch.

I was searching for options for getting around as a person who doesn't like driving (so I never replaced my license when I forgot my wallet in a cab in Washington, DC in 2007) or flying but loves trains.

Memphis... close enough to visit some of my favorite humans in the best city of New Orleans. Fabulous.

What about... Little Rock? I've never been!

By google maps, only two hours by car.

3.5 hours by bus. Okay but I really love trains.

What do you say, Amtrak?

Oh... just TWENTY EIGHT HOURS!

28 hours to travel 137 miles between the capital of Arkansas with a population of 201,000 and Memphis, a critical cultural capital with 628,000 people.

28 hours.

So to travel 137 miles between these two cities by train, you must first take the train from Memphis wayyyyyy north to Chicago — 579 miles to the north.

Then change trains and go back in the same direction — 653 miles south then a tiny bit to the west.

So that’s ~1200 miles by train just to go 137 miles to the nearest city to the west!

You can ride a bike between these two cities in HALF the time — 14 hours!

You can WALK in just 46 hours.

WTF.

So that’s...

2 hours by car 
4 hours by bus
14 hours by bike
28 hours by train 
46 hours to walk

No wonder people think you need to own a car in the United States.
******

Our Dependence on Automobiles is Depriving Many People of Independence

Here's a post I wrote a few months ago showing how our dependence on automobiles is depriving so many people of independence -- over 100 million people don't have access to a driver's license for various reasons. Maybe they're too young or in poor health or can't afford the ever-increasing price of owning and maintaining a car or maybe just don't want to "invest" in a dangerous and destructive depreciating vehicle.

Access to transportation is one of the most important parts of life and even though so many people think it's a boring topic but it's so far from it!! (almost as far as Memphis and Little Rock by train!!)

This a bit like people who have always had wealth who don't like to think or talk about money -- you don't think about it until you have no option because you lack it.

It's embarrassing how misguided our priorities are in the United States.

Halfway There? Made It to Philly and Spotted This Video about the Farley Building!

Just spotted this exciting video at Philly's 30th Street Station about Vornado Realty Trust 's Farley Building /Moynihan Train Hall which was the first commercial property to receive ActiveScore certification in New York AND the US.

And the Farley Building just received ActiveScore's 2023 innovation award for ESG strategies.

Thrilled to have played a role in this with the ActiveScore team and Lauren Moss. James Nash, Alex Georgiadis Alexi Chomyszyn David Reed Josh Coleman Alys Kate Samuel-Thomas.

ActiveScore certification & the ActiveScore AP program

Learn more about ActiveScore certification here and their impressive roster of ActiveScore certified developments around the world.

Want to help grow the number of ActiveScore certified facilities in your community or in your portfolio? Become an ActiveScore AP — and tell them Laura sent you!

Comfort of Train Travel: The Leg Rest

This simple but incredibly thoughtful innovation is one of the main reasons I will always prefer traveling by train, even though it’s often not an option.

Putting up my feet.

Train seats are unbelievably luxurious and spacious compared to standard airline or bus travel and even better than that — they come with a foot AND a leg rest. It’s like traveling on a recliner. I LOVE it.
Anyone else wild about these foot and leg rests?

Train Travel and Scenic Views of the Country

Crossing the Potomac at sunset on the Amtrak and the Metro crosses with us.

That's the Metro line I used to take to visit my little sister when she lived in Alexandria, VA and I lived in the Colombia Heights neighborhood in DC.

And now I'm on this very long train to visit her in Greenville, SC.

It IS possible to fly much faster but the experience of taking the train is much more delightful and comfortable (like the foot rest I talked about earlier) and scenic and people on the train generally seem happier so the environment is better all around while being better for the environment.

Concluding the 21 Hour Train Journey

Thanks for all the exciting conversation about trains and all the fabulous new connections! It's going to take me a bit to respond to all the messages because I have a busy couple of weeks but I will!

Update:
I arrived in Greenville, SC this morning at 5:30 after a very enjoyable and comfortable Amtrak journey and we were just 4 minutes behind schedule (muchhhhh better than when I missed the December holidays with my family because of constant flight debacles).

Right on Time

We were a bit behind when I had to change trains in Philly but what an enjoyable place to spend an extra 30 minutes! The station still retains much of the old charm (though I was sad that it no longer had the noisy train board that flips all the train announcements. I used to LOVE that part. Digital isn't always better).

And I was looking forward to enjoying the spectacular "porch" swings at the 30th St Station! Look at this magnificent use of public space! In lots of places this area would just be a parking lot but Philly did something really special here and I look forward to it every time. This is an excellent example of public space designed for people and I'd like to applaud everyone involved in making it happen. Thank you!!

And, though I shared this separately not in the Train Journey "series", I was beyond thrilled to hear the words "the Farley Building" when I walked back into the station from my Swing Time. The Farley Building!? That's in NY! Why are they talking about it here?

Well it's part of a train station transformation success story! I work with ActiveScore which certifies new and existing developments (commercial or residential) on their "friendliness" and amenities to encourage active transportation.

We Launched ActiveScore in the US in Late 2022

We just launched in the US late last year after certifying hundreds of buildings in the UK and Europe and Vornado's Farley Building was the first commercial building in the States to achieve ActiveScore certification, which can play a big role in their ESG strategies.

So it was super exciting to see the video showing the transportation of the Farley Building / Moynihan Train Hall in NY. Big things are happening! Contact me at laura@activetravelscore.com or laura@sustainabilitystories.com to learn more.

... and then it was time to get on my new train to continue the journey south!

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Next Part: After the Train: Engagement and Demand