The Thanksgiving Travel Conundrum: Trains Take Center Stage as Air Delays Loom Large
As the holiday rush descends upon New York City's airports, many travelers are opting for a more stress-free alternative – trains. With air travel plagued by delays and cancellations in recent months, Amtrak is experiencing an unexpected surge in ridership.
For Allan and Alexandra Gibson, a family of four from New York, taking the train to Washington D.C. was the perfect solution. The couple, who had previously suffered through an air travel nightmare when their flights were delayed both times, chose to forgo the airport security lines and avoid potential anxiety.
"We like the food and spending time with my family," said 10-year-old Grant Gibson, proudly carrying his heavy scooter and backpack on board. His mother Alexandra echoed this sentiment, having recently endured a chaotic flight experience that left her skeptical about flying again.
Meanwhile, Allan acknowledged that taking the train may not be as quick, but it was worth avoiding the hassle of airport delays. The Port Authority estimates 3.3 million people will travel through JFK, LaGuardia, Newark and Stewart airports during the Thanksgiving period, a 1% increase from last year.
Despite assurances from U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy that air traffic controller staffing levels are back to normal after the federal government shutdown, many travelers remain hesitant. "We're not expecting the train to be delayed and wait in the train station overnight," said Atlanta resident Brenda Fisher, opting for a train ride to Poughkeepsie over flying.
The train option is certainly not immune from delays, with chronic equipment problems in Amtrak's Hudson River tunnels causing repeated service disruptions. However, it appears that many travelers are willing to take on these challenges if it means avoiding the risks associated with air travel.
For comedian Amy Janes, skipping both trains and planes was a necessary decision when she opted for a 32-hour Greyhound bus trip to visit her mother in Kansas City, Missouri. "To buy a ticket and not be able to get through kind of terrified me," she confessed.
As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches, it seems that trains are taking center stage as travelers weigh their options against air travel. With chronic delays and cancellations plaguing airports, many New Yorkers are opting for a more predictable alternative – one that may take longer, but offers much-needed peace of mind during the holidays.
As the holiday rush descends upon New York City's airports, many travelers are opting for a more stress-free alternative – trains. With air travel plagued by delays and cancellations in recent months, Amtrak is experiencing an unexpected surge in ridership.
For Allan and Alexandra Gibson, a family of four from New York, taking the train to Washington D.C. was the perfect solution. The couple, who had previously suffered through an air travel nightmare when their flights were delayed both times, chose to forgo the airport security lines and avoid potential anxiety.
"We like the food and spending time with my family," said 10-year-old Grant Gibson, proudly carrying his heavy scooter and backpack on board. His mother Alexandra echoed this sentiment, having recently endured a chaotic flight experience that left her skeptical about flying again.
Meanwhile, Allan acknowledged that taking the train may not be as quick, but it was worth avoiding the hassle of airport delays. The Port Authority estimates 3.3 million people will travel through JFK, LaGuardia, Newark and Stewart airports during the Thanksgiving period, a 1% increase from last year.
Despite assurances from U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy that air traffic controller staffing levels are back to normal after the federal government shutdown, many travelers remain hesitant. "We're not expecting the train to be delayed and wait in the train station overnight," said Atlanta resident Brenda Fisher, opting for a train ride to Poughkeepsie over flying.
The train option is certainly not immune from delays, with chronic equipment problems in Amtrak's Hudson River tunnels causing repeated service disruptions. However, it appears that many travelers are willing to take on these challenges if it means avoiding the risks associated with air travel.
For comedian Amy Janes, skipping both trains and planes was a necessary decision when she opted for a 32-hour Greyhound bus trip to visit her mother in Kansas City, Missouri. "To buy a ticket and not be able to get through kind of terrified me," she confessed.
As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches, it seems that trains are taking center stage as travelers weigh their options against air travel. With chronic delays and cancellations plaguing airports, many New Yorkers are opting for a more predictable alternative – one that may take longer, but offers much-needed peace of mind during the holidays.
. With all the air travel chaos going on, I think it's time we reconsider our reliance on planes. The thought of dealing with security lines, long queues and potentially delayed flights is just too stressful for me 
. Plus, the scenery from a train window is so much more enjoyable than gazing out at clouds from 30,000 feet 
.
. We've lost that sense of adventure on planes. 
. But if it means I get to spend quality time with my loved ones without the stress of air travel, then it's worth it for me 
.
. Plus, it's great to see communities coming together like this – families bonding on a train ride or sharing stories with fellow travelers 
. And let's be real, there's something super satisfying about watching those departures boards at the station and knowing you're not stuck in some crowded, delayed flight queue 
I had a nightmare experience on my last flight too, got stuck in a 3-hour layover because of a "technical issue" 
and now I'm totally sold on taking the train. It's not gonna be a blast (get it? like Thanksgiving dinner? 
) but it's so worth it to avoid all that stress and anxiety. Plus, think of all the quality time you'll get to spend with your fam on the train! 
. I mean, who needs to sit in an airport for hours waiting for their flight to be delayed? The train is literally the way to go. Sure, it's not the fastest option, but at least you can actually walk around and get some fresh air while you wait 
. I'm totes Team Train all the way this holiday season! 
i mean what kinda stress do ppl need in their lives? delays and cancellations are just not worth it anymore. my grandma took a train to visit her grandkids last year and was so much more relaxed than if she had flown out of JFK 
. With all the air travel chaos going on, it's no wonder folks like Allan and Alexandra are ditching planes for trains 
. And let's be real, some of those airport security lines can be brutal 
... I mean, who needs to sit in an airport with all those people and anxiety, right? I used to hate flying too, always worried about delays and cancellations