The best way to travel: why most travelers have a prejudice against buses

Usually, when it comes to land travel within the country or for short distances, one thinks of traveling by train or bus. However, the latter mode of transportation, although quite popular, has a reputation for being unreliable and dirty.

Traveler Veronika Bondarenko, who quite often uses intercity bus services, told why she chooses such transport and what is its difference compared to the railway. This was reported by TheStreet.

According to Veronika Bondarenko, those who live between Montreal and Washington and travel along the Northeast Corridor are more likely to use Amtrak, which is closer to European or Japanese trains. At the same time, buses are considered a more alternative and cheaper option for traveling.

Veronika notes that she traveled from New York to Philadelphia every few months. Since the last time she traveled to the city by bus and returned by train, she decided to compare and contrast the differences between the two modes of transportation.

The cost of travel

The trip to Philadelphia from New York by Megabus cost the traveler $18.98 per ticket and another $3.99 in booking fees. At the same time, the trip home by Amtrak cost $20. However, Veronica emphasizes that while Amtrak can offer great ticket prices with its more affordable pricing, the Philadelphia-New York route can cost as much as $200 if you book a seat on a weekend. That's why, when comparing these two popular modes of transportation, buses remain more affordable.

Conditions and comfort

According to the traveler, there are no significant differences between buses and trains in terms of comfort. In particular, she says she did not feel any discomfort during the trip, and the train and vehicles were clean. However, the train offers more space and the ability to move around the cars, which helps to alleviate possible neck pain.

Speed

Given the varying traffic and other factors that can complicate travel, rail has significant advantages at this point. On the route from New York to Philadelphia, a high-speed train covers 82 miles in an hour and 18 minutes, while a slower train takes 90 minutes. In turn, this distance can be covered by bus in 2 hours under ideal conditions.

Location

The advantage of railways is the central location of stations, while bus stations can be much further from the center. However, there may be exceptions depending on the direction.

Earlier, TravelWise reported on the most anticipated trains to look forward to in 2024.