Catch Amtrak to bike-friendly destinations
Travel restrictions are easing, making distant-destination flights abundant. But carbon-intensive airplanes aren’t the only way to get around. Train travel is more climate-friendly. It’s also more bike-friendly and affords way more scenic views. Amtrak has recently made it even easier to bring a bicycle on board, rendering fuel-filled vehicles unnecessary for many trips. Given the current car-rental shortage – and skyrocketing rental costs – forgoing automobiles is not just better for the environment, it’s also increasingly wallet-friendly. [sierraclub.org]
Train travel with Kids: Tips from parents and travel experts
Parents new to train travel with kids can often be overwhelmed by the idea. Where should they go? How long should the trip be? What kind of tickets should they book?Traveling with kids, no matter how you do it, is rarely stress-free. But armed with insider tips, tricks, and hacks from train aficionados and other industry experts, you can make your family’s train adventure as much fun as the destination itself. [cntraveler.com]
Riding Amtrak? Take your furry sidekick along!
Looking for a unique and affordable way to see the country with your pet? Consider riding the rails! Train rides are a fun, classic, and very accessible way to travel. For example, Amtrak boasts over 30 train routes, traveling to over 500 destinations, across 46 states! Best of all, Amtrak lets you bring your small pet along for the ride! Dogs and cats weighing up to 20 pounds are welcome on Amtrak trips up to 7 hours on most routes. The railway allows 1 pet per customer, and requires a pet fee of $26 per travel segment. Checking your pet in is a straightforward, stress-free experience, so it’s fairly easy to bring Rover, Fifi, or Tiger along. [gwinnettdailypost.com]
Assisting deaf passengers with train travel: Introducing AI sign language
Train station announcements provide vital information regarding platform changes, delays, and cancellations, which if missed can disrupt passenger journeys and create a stressful situation. Due to a large majority of these announcements being delivered over tannoy systems, deaf individuals can miss out on vital information. With this issue in mind, experts at the University of Amsterdam are currently developing technology which enables announcements to be translated into sign language. [railway-technology.com]
