Are trains better than airplanes?

Is a train better than a plane?

Trains. Planes. Ugh. The whole thing feels…heavy.

Cost: Plane tickets? Robbery. Seriously, I paid $400 for a two-hour flight last month. Ridiculous. Trains are often cheaper. Much, much cheaper. I’ve had better train experiences for under $100.

Convenience? Depends. Airports, you’re herded around like cattle. Train stations? Inconvenient sometimes, but definitely less stressful on a good day. My local station’s a pain, but Chicago’s Union Station? That’s something else.

Comfort: Planes are cramped. Claustrophobic. Trains? Okay, sometimes uncomfortable seats, yeah. But legroom’s usually better. More space to breathe, at least. That’s a big one for me.

Environment: Trains win this hands down. I’m not a tree-hugger, but…planes, environmentally? Awful. Just awful. Guilty feeling after a flight.

It’s personal, I guess. For me? Trains feel safer, somehow. Less rushed. I feel… calmer. Less stressed. The anxiety of flying, man… I dread it. Even short flights. 2023 has been a year of far too many flights, and I’m exhausted. I prefer the slower pace. It’s a mood thing, mostly.

Which is more powerful, a train or a plane?

Planes, duh. Trains are for slowpokes who enjoy scenic routes, like a tortoise racing a rocket. A jet engine’s power? Forget it. It’s like comparing a chihuahua to a T-Rex. Seriously.

Jet engines in 2024 routinely churn out over 30,000 horsepower. That’s enough oomph to tow my entire family’s collection of garden gnomes to the moon and back. Twice.

My Uncle Dave, a mechanic with grease permanently ingrained in his soul, swears they’re even more powerful. He says 30,000 is just a conservative estimate. The guy’s nuts, but who am I to doubt him?

Think about this:

• Raw power: Planes win hands down.
• Speed: Planes obliterate trains. It’s not even a competition. Trains are for relaxing, sipping tea, and maybe knitting.
• Altitude: Planes fly way higher. They get a better view. Seriously. Trains are stuck on the ground, smelling exhaust fumes.

I’ve personally seen a 747 take off. That thing’s a beast! It shook the very ground beneath my feet. It was like Godzilla, but with better fuel efficiency. My dog, Barnaby, was terrified. Poor pup.

Additional fun facts, because why not?: My cat Mittens once tried to chase a plane, bless her cotton socks. She failed miserably. She’s a landlubber. And, completely unrelated, I prefer pineapple on pizza. Fight me.

Are trains faster than planes?

Are trains faster than planes?

Planes are just… faster.

Always.

I mean, think about it.

That feeling of taking off…

• Airplanes are designed for speed.

• Trains, not so much. Trains are more grounded, literally.

It’s not even a contest really.

Doesn’t mean trains are bad.

Just… different.

• My grandfather loved trains.

• He never flew. Said he didn’t trust it.

He passed away 3 years ago. I miss him.

I remember… the sound of the train.

Such a different world.

It’s quieter now, isn’t it?

What form of travel is safest?

Safest? Plane. Lowest accident rate. Cars? Bikes? No comparison. Astonishingly lower. Safety is an illusion anyway.

• Statistically, air travel reigns supreme.
• Fewer accidents, period. 2023 data confirms.
• Drove my Tesla from LA to Vegas yesterday. Risked more.
• Control is an illusion. Even in a hermetically sealed metal tube. Thirty thousand feet up.
• Safety regulations are stringent for air travel. Constant checks. Updates. Unlike my car. Which I haven’t checked in months. Besides oil changes.
• My bike? Forget it. Wind in my hair. Death wish.
• Human error is a factor. In any vehicle. Or mode of transport. Even walking. Tripped on a curb once. Fractured my wrist.
• Redundancy in aircraft systems. Backups upon backups. My brain doesn’t even have a backup.
• Think about that.

Which is the greenest form of transportation?

Walking or biking. Best for short trips. Duh. Like to the store, or, you know, around the park. Remember that time I biked all the way to that bakery in Pilsen? That was…like… seven miles, man. Pretty far, huh? Way greener than driving, that’s for sure. Even my beat-up old Schwinn is better for the planet. Think about it – zero emissions! Unless you count, like, breathing heavy…ha ha… but really. Buses are ok, I supose, but they still burn stuff. Trains too, although I took the Metra to see my mom last week. Much faster than driving, that’s for sure. Driving… ugh. My cousin Miguel is always driving, even just down the block! So lazy. Driving’s the worst. Then there are scooters. I almost got hit by one of those last summer! They’re everywhere these days. They’re sort of like bikes, I guess… but… faster and… more annoying. Then those electric rental bikes? Ugh, always blocking the sidewalk. The things is, just use your legs, you know? Good exercise, too. My doctor’s always nagging me to get more exercise.

• Walking: Zero emissions. Free. Good exercise. Perfect for close-by errands. Like grabbing a coffee at that new place on Milwaukee Ave.
• Biking: Still zero emissions (if it’s not electric, lol). Cheap. Even better exercise than walking. Good for slightly longer distances.
• Public Transit (Buses/Trains): Better than driving, but still uses fuel. Good for longer trips. Like visiting family out in the suburbs.
• Driving: Worst option, environment-wise. Burns gas like crazy. Only necessary sometimes, I geuss.
• Scooters/E-bikes: Hmm… mixed bag. Better than cars, but can be dangerous and annoying. Plus, those rental ones are everywhere! Cluttering up sidewalks.