Amtrack to give free rides to writers!

covingtoncat73 · 02-24-2014, 10:38 AM

This is so cool. http://www.thewire.com/culture/2014/...riters/358332/

crich70 · 02-24-2014, 03:21 PM

Sounds interesting.

SolRaven · 02-26-2014, 12:41 AM

I can definitely see that. I took Amtrak last year to visit my cousin and liked it quite a bit. There's room to stretch out, you have outlets for your phone and computer, and I got to see where all the orange groves are in central Florida.

I must admit, there was something about seeing the world going by that made me feel relaxed, but productive.

frahse · 03-01-2014, 07:44 AM

I have always loved trains since I was a child and could hear them coming in the distance and then watch them.

I believe I heard them say on the Olympics TV cast from Russia that for either 1 or 2 thousand dollars you could ride the fabulous old Russian line nearly the extent of Russia and some beyond, and that is quite a long way.
I hope meals are included in that price.

HarryT · 03-01-2014, 07:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frahse

I believe I heard them say on the Olympics TV cast from Russia that for either 1 or 2 thousand dollars you could ride the fabulous old Russian line nearly the extent of Russia and some beyond, and that is quite a long way.
I hope meals are included in that price.

Are you referring to the Trans-Siberian Express that runs from Moscow to Beijing? One of the world's great railway journeys.

Billi · 03-01-2014, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Are you referring to the Trans-Siberian Express that runs from Moscow to Beijing?

To Vladivostok, I think.

HarryT · 03-01-2014, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billi

To Vladivostok, I think.

It's actually one continuous railway line (the longest one in the world) that goes all the way from Moscow to Beijing. You're right - technically only the part in Russia is the Trans-Siberian line, but it then crosses into China and goes all the way to Beijing. There are quite a few tour operators who offer the whole journey.

Prestidigitweeze · 03-05-2014, 05:17 PM

So glad to hear about this! I've never applied for or accepted a residency myself, but a lot of my friends have. They took a financial hit by forgoing their normal work to focus on a sustained piece of writing.

I just wrote a letter of recommendation for a writer friend that helped her to be accepted for a writer's retreat. Free transportation could really be helpful to her once she's ensconced.

drofgnal · 03-06-2014, 05:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

It's actually one continuous railway line (the longest one in the world) that goes all the way from Moscow to Beijing. You're right - technically only the part in Russia is the Trans-Siberian line, but it then crosses into China and goes all the way to Beijing. There are quite a few tour operators who offer the whole journey.

I know someone who took it and started in St. Petersburg. If I went over there I'd want to see St. Petersburg as a starting point. I've seen Moscow extensively, but not St. Pete.

HarryT · 03-06-2014, 05:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drofgnal

I know someone who took it and started in St. Petersburg. If I went over there I'd want to see St. Petersburg as a starting point. I've seen Moscow extensively, but not St. Pete.

The St Petersburg to Moscow line is a separate line. You arrive from St Petersburg at Moscow's Leningradsky station (which serves destinations to the West), whereas the Trans-Siberian line leaves from Kazansky station and goes eastward.

Kumabjorn · 03-06-2014, 06:03 AM

There is a boat that goes from Niigata in Japan to Vladivostok, there you change to the train that will take you to Moscow.

Namekuseijin · 03-06-2014, 05:25 PM

less useful than fakebook likes, some might say

wizwor · 03-12-2014, 12:31 AM

Amtrak loses $500,000,000 per year. There is NO WAY they should be giving tickets away. Maybe they should stop offering free rides, eliminate directors of social media, and stop paying people to post this nonsense on reddit?

Rizla · 03-12-2014, 07:50 AM

Maybe they should learn to run their trains on schedule. I took the train and a 7 hour ride took 14. The staff were pigs about it. I told them I'd ridden trains in India that were more efficient. That shut them up. I read somewhere that the auto industry bought up the rail system in the 70s in order to run it into the ground. I dont know if its true. Certainly my experience with Amtrak was dreadful.

tompe · 03-12-2014, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rizla

Maybe they should learn to run their trains on schedule. I took the train and a 7 hour ride took 14. The staff were pigs about it. I told them I'd ridden trains in India that were more efficient. That shut them up. I read somewhere that the auto industry bought up the rail system in the 70s in order to run it into the ground. I dont know if its true. Certainly my experience with Amtrak was dreadful.

I have always heard that it is the fact that the freight train companies owns the rail and give priority to freight train that is the cause of all the delays. I like taking the train but do not do it so often when in the US due to the uncertainty in arriving time.

02-24-2014, 10:38 AM	#1
covingtoncat73 Wizard Posts: 2,745 Karma: 83407757 Join Date: Mar 2011 Device: Kindle Paperwhite, Lenovo Duet Chromebook, Moto e	Amtrack to give free rides to writers! This is so cool. http://www.thewire.com/culture/2014/...riters/358332/

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02-24-2014, 03:21 PM	#2
crich70 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,305 Karma: 43993832 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Monroe Wisconsin Device: K3, Kindle Paperwhite, Calibre, and Mobipocket for Pc (netbook)	Sounds interesting.

02-26-2014, 12:41 AM	#3
SolRaven Wizard Posts: 2,214 Karma: 12796976 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: The Sunshine State Device: Clara, Voyage, Oasis, Paperwhite & PRS-650	I can definitely see that. I took Amtrak last year to visit my cousin and liked it quite a bit. There's room to stretch out, you have outlets for your phone and computer, and I got to see where all the orange groves are in central Florida. I must admit, there was something about seeing the world going by that made me feel relaxed, but productive.

03-01-2014, 07:44 AM	#4
frahse occasional author Posts: 2,314 Karma: 2064403292 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Wandering God's glorious hills, valleys and plains. Device: A Franklin BI (before Internet) was the first. I still have it.	I have always loved trains since I was a child and could hear them coming in the distance and then watch them. I believe I heard them say on the Olympics TV cast from Russia that for either 1 or 2 thousand dollars you could ride the fabulous old Russian line nearly the extent of Russia and some beyond, and that is quite a long way. I hope meals are included in that price.

03-05-2014, 05:17 PM	#8
Prestidigitweeze Fledgling Demagogue Posts: 2,384 Karma: 31132263 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: White Plains Device: Clara HD; Oasis 2; Aura HD; iPad Air; PRS-350; Galaxy S7.	So glad to hear about this! I've never applied for or accepted a residency myself, but a lot of my friends have. They took a financial hit by forgoing their normal work to focus on a sustained piece of writing. I just wrote a letter of recommendation for a writer friend that helped her to be accepted for a writer's retreat. Free transportation could really be helpful to her once she's ensconced.

03-06-2014, 06:03 AM	#11
Kumabjorn Basculocolpic Posts: 4,356 Karma: 20181319 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Sweden Device: Kindle 3 WiFi, Kindle 4SO, Kindle for Android, Sony PRS-350 and PRS-T1	There is a boat that goes from Niigata in Japan to Vladivostok, there you change to the train that will take you to Moscow.

03-06-2014, 05:25 PM	#12
Namekuseijin affordable chipmunk Posts: 1,290 Karma: 9863855 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Brazil Device: Sony XPeria ZL, Kindle Paperwhite	less useful than fakebook likes, some might say

03-12-2014, 12:31 AM	#13
wizwor Wizard Posts: 1,068 Karma: 23867385 Join Date: Nov 2011 Device: kindle, fire	Amtrak loses $500,000,000 per year. There is NO WAY they should be giving tickets away. Maybe they should stop offering free rides, eliminate directors of social media, and stop paying people to post this nonsense on reddit?

03-12-2014, 07:50 AM	#14
Rizla Member Retired Posts: 3,183 Karma: 11721895 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: Nook STR (rooted) & Sony T2	Maybe they should learn to run their trains on schedule. I took the train and a 7 hour ride took 14. The staff were pigs about it. I told them I'd ridden trains in India that were more efficient. That shut them up. I read somewhere that the auto industry bought up the rail system in the 70s in order to run it into the ground. I dont know if its true. Certainly my experience with Amtrak was dreadful.

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