Family and I will be in Boston this summer and heading down to NYC.

Train is about $220. Longer travel time, but decreased arrival time ahead of departure.

Flight is $400. Shorter travel time, but have to arrive 2 hours ahead of departure.

As a family, we have never taken a train, so that is appealing for the novelty. We will have checked bags if that matters.

Which would you choose and why?

Train, no TSA, is it a day run, if so that makes the Train even more enticing.

They have an Auto Train from Here to DC, we've often discussed putting the bikes on it and riding back from NOVA..

Train. Less crowded. Bring your own food, Cheaper. DK as to your route. Some trains have frequent delays,

It's been a while since I've been to NYC, but parking is always a problem. I would probably take the train and use Uber to get around.

I'd take the train. Google says it's a little over three and a half hours.

I hate airports. I can't imagine departing & arriving in two airports not taking nearly that much time, regardless of flight time.

Price just seems an added bonus to me.

Taken that route about a dozen times in the last 10 years, train all the way

Train.
Also assuming you are staying in Manhattan, the train drops you off right in the middle of things, Whereas JFK, LaGuardia, or EWR(Newark) all take some some additional time and money for transport of some type into the city where you might be staying. The additional time for the train is quickly taken away once you factor in airport arrival, TSA, boarding, and time from the airport to final destination. For that short of a trip, the train is much more relaxing.

Train all day.

Sounds like train is the way to go. I did NYC to Boston on the bus for my wife and two kids. I recall it was 3-4 hours. I don't recall where we caught the bus in NYC, but it dropped us off near the Boston rail stop. Easy peasy.

For a short hop from Boston to NYC I wouldn't even consider flying, just to much of a hassle so my vote goes to taking the train. Plus the train is fun and you get to see a little bit of the country you can't see from the air.

I used to take the Acela all the time.

Train over airplane in the northeast every time.

Train. They rarely get hijacked.

Take the train.
I flew once from Newark to Philadelphia and got a bunch of crap from my co workers. Never thought about it being from the Midwest, but the train was faster taking into account all the airport bs to get into the plane.

quote:

Originally posted by nhtagmember:
I used to take the Acela all the time.

Train over airplane in the northeast every time.

The Acela is awesome!

I always took the train.

Several decades ago I had a consulting contract with a NYC bank. I would fly up on the Shuttle every Monday morning and fly back on Friday afternoon staying in a mid-town hotel within walking distance of the bank.

Air travel was a miserable experience even before TSA. The last few times up, I took the Metroliner. What a difference! Shortened the commute by a half hour or so (mostly getting from the airport to/from Manhattan). Never considered the Shuttle after that first train trip, although I got a few good stories out of them, George Will was a seatmate on a flight (we talked baseball, mostly), and that lost-a-lot-of-weight, forgotten-his-name, race baiter was always a presence on these flights.

Bottom line...I suspect that the train is about the same, maybe even better with the Acela, but air travel has only gotten worse!

my friend's son met his future wife on the SEA to PDX train. My friend is now a grandparent as a result.

Just sayin'

I've taken the train several times from DC/Baltimore to NYC. It's a longer ride but when you factor in the time at the airport and the train drops you in downtown NYC I like it better.

Another vote for the Acela. No TSA. Got off the train in spitting distance of the Statehouse in Boston. Grabbed a BNB and picked up the train to Meuthan the next morning.. Would do it again. Looking at doing the California Zephyr. Sometime this year.

NYC airports suuuuuck. I've used the train twice now to make the hop to NYC for the auto show. Not a ton of scenic sights but parts of CT are awful pretty. Penn Station is right in Manhattan so depending on what you're doing in the city, it is a huge advantage.

If you have the time, pop up here to NH and visit Sig's facility in Epping.