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MrSpice
Lounge Wizard
Joined: 14 Jul 2003
Posts: 3431
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 Posted: Sat Aug 12, 2006 1:46 am Post subject: |
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| Ekaterina wrote: | MrSpice,
You probably haven't noticed that we are talking about long distance trains here.
The railway system in the US is ot developed and I have already told here about my experience. I will never spend a minute ont a cent for Amtrak any more. The uncomfortable seat among alcoholics cost me $70 per night and it didn't take me to the destination point at all as got stuck in the forest. The Ameticans in the train didn't worry about it because it was not unusual.
There are many interesting places where there is no public trasport at all. You seem to have forgotten that I am not after moving from one restaurant to another one in big cities. Reread my previous posts if you still don't understand where and how I travelled.
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Amtrak has a high-speed Acela service between Boston, New York and Washington DC. Secondly, in the US, most people take planes since it's often cheaper than taking a train and virtually every city - including small cities - have a good airport. Also, many tourists just rent a car because roads are generally good and it's often cheap and east to rent and drive (I rented a compact car with air conditioning in Las Vegas for $15/day at Thrifty). Another option is long distance bus service (Greyhound is the largest bus company).
That is the main reason why most Americans never take long distance trains because other options are either more convenient or cheaper than trains. If I can fly to Miami for $200 round trip and be there in 2 hours, what's the point of taking a train for $140 and spend 2 days on the train?
So once again, it's a bad comparison. The public transport is not developed in those parts of the US where it's not necessary. I am not saying that the situation is perfect, but it's not bad. |
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surfguy
Lounge Wizard
Joined: 13 Apr 2006
Posts: 6979
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| Posted: Sat Aug 12, 2006 2:08 am Post subject: |
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Here's the deal and my experiences are limited but I did find that this works: if you need help-ask the younger college age girls as most of them study english. And I never had a problem.
"What she sees as a simple transaction of buying a train ticket at the *foreigners window* at Leningradsky Vokzal, I can assure you, will seem like a climb up Mt. Everest once you embark on this task. And I've got 5 bucks that says even if you can find this magic window (I never have) there is a low probability that it will be actually open. On break, out to lunch, closed on Tuesdays and Saturdays, the only English speaker employed there is off on maternity leave for a year. (you think I'm making this stuff up? How many times have I had such experiences.....?)" this is so true. I have experienced all this first hand. My GF warned me about all this and she is Russian. But this is the unique experience of visiting russia. It makes you appreciate how good we have it here at home.
| Quote: | She was only briefly in the US and spent most of her time in the desert and has no idea about public transport is like in the US. Cities like Boston and San Francisco, for example, have excellent public transportation systems. New York subway system is less attractive visually, but it runs 24 hours a day, trains have air conditioning and express trains run quite fast covering huge distances in a realatively short time. Buses in New York are pretty comfortable and good (pretty much like anywhere in Europe).
Metro (subway) in the major cities like Moscow and St Petersburg are very good. However, they don't cover a lot of the areas in the city. Especially in St Petersburg, you cannot get to many areas without changing to a bus or trolley bus or tram. Buses and trolley busses are much worse than those in the US. In the winter they are very cold. In the summer, they can be hot. They are packed with people and you have to keep your pockets and wallet safe. Also, people in Russia have no problem pushing others. You want hear a typical "excuse me" in Russia when someone needs to get off the train or bus.
Service in Russia sucks, so don't expect much in that area. I did not feel it that much because I am somewhat used to it (lived in a Russian area of New York for many years), but most Europeans and Americans complained that Russian service workers were very rude to them. It goes back to Soviet times and typical attitudes of many people towards work... |
Where ever it comes from-time and time again that's all I hear about is the low quality of Russian Service. But I do hope it gets better |
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Mark-in-Melbourne
Frequent Guest
Joined: 26 Jun 2006
Posts: 16
Location: Melbourne, Australia
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| Posted: Mon Aug 14, 2006 8:59 am Post subject: |
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Sorry to stir up so much trouble. When I get back home in September, I will post a reply here to tell you how I went. Even if it's really difficult, I think it's going to be part of the Russian experience for me. My main concern is that I only have three full days in Moscow and I don't want to waste too much of that in a train station...
Resorting to an argument of "our transport system is better than your transport system" kinda misses the point, though. And besides, how easy would it be for a person who speaks Russian but doesn't speak a word of English to buy a train ticket at Kings Cross in London, Central Station in Sydney or [insert name of large North American train station] in the USofA. Probably pretty bloody hard!
I recently had to have a filling at the dentist, so I will test overseas_expat's dental analogy after I try to buy a Moscow train ticket and let you know how the two experiences compare. Wish me luck! |
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surfguy
Lounge Wizard
Joined: 13 Apr 2006
Posts: 6979
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| Posted: Mon Aug 14, 2006 9:25 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: | | The railway system in the US is ot developed and I have already told here about my experience. I will never spend a minute ont a cent for Amtrak any more. The uncomfortable seat among alcoholics cost me $70 per night and it didn't take me to the destination point at all as got stuck in the forest. |
Most people as spice says rent cars or fly. In the US buses and trains are the worse forms of transport. And I advise against hitchiking-it's not safe here. Much better to fly or rent a car. I used to take the train from SF to San Diego and it was good and no problem. But that is a day trip so no big deal. Anyway in the states it's all about money, nicer areas offer nicer things. |
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Ekaterina
Talk Show Host
Joined: 28 Sep 2005
Posts: 265
Location: Moscow
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| Posted: Mon Aug 14, 2006 11:59 am Post subject: |
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Yes, there are nice areas like Yosemite NP and Crater Lake. What about flights between them? I would have taken one with pleasure.
I was lucky to get a casual bus from Yosemite to nearby town where I could take a direct train to Klamath Falls.
Rent a car if you can't drive? I don't need a car in Moscow because to use public transport is more convinient here than to spend hours in traffic jams and I didn't have time to learn driving expressly for my trip to America.
All the buses and trains I took in America were full so it is strange that you think that it is unnecessary.
As for English speaking cashiers, how many cashiers in the US speak foreign languages? How many American people speak foreign languages?There are much more Chinese people here. It would be more understandable if you wanted Russian cashiers speak Chinese.
There are not so many of you who come here independently. According to Russian law you may get a visa if you have all accomodation and transportation around the country paid and show your vouchers and tickets to the embassy. If you try to save and find a way to go beyond the law is it our fault that you face some difficulties? |
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