Benefits of Train Travel versus Car Travel - Essay Example

When one is presented with a choice of whether to travel by train or by car, the first choice that is normally considered is concentric upon the price of the ticket as opposed to the price of gas that one would spend to fuel the vehicle (Ingels 42).  In almost every case, the price of the train ticket is invariably lower than that of the overall price of fuel that the car would require.  There are of course many reasons for this.  First, the train does not require as much fuel per person transported as the car due to the fact that it is a much more efficient means of transportation.

The second resounding benefit of rail travel is the fact that unlike car travel, the individual is given a large amount of leg-room and personal space with which to enjoy on the train.  As opposed to the cramped seats that are often exhibited within a vehicle, train seats are on average much more spacious and comfortable (Stewart 1).  Additionally, the individual who travels on the train has the ability to move around the cabin without disturbing other travelers.  Likewise, on the train, one can make a choice as to whether they would like to enjoy their food at their seats or venture to the dining cars; such options are readily available to the train traveler and non-existent choices to the vehicle traveler (Caesar et al 2).

  Similarly, when one travels by car, depending on if they are driving, they oftentimes are not able to devote any attention whatsoever to the scenery that passes them by as they travel down the road.  Due to the fact that safety on the roads takes precedent to sight-seeing, the car traveler is oftentimes unaware of the beauty of his/her surroundings.  Such is not the case of the train (McCommons 31).  Due to the fact that the train travels more slowly, the passengers are able to enjoy the full breadth and depth of scenic views that greet them while taking the journey.

As most individuals who have traveled via train will be quick to relate, there is something highly magical about the experience due to the fact that it is somehow inherently easier to strike up an interesting and meaningful conversation, and oftentimes relationship, with individuals one meets while traveling (Saran 1).  As a result, as compared to vehicular travel where passengers are oftentimes withdrawn and little desirous of being troubled by a conversation, one will find the atmosphere noticeably different within the cabin of a train.

  Naturally, the train does have one prime drawback that any analysis and/or comparison and contrast essay would be remiss if it did not note (Reutter 27).  The train adds the drawback of having to arrange additional transportation once one arrives at the desired location.  As such, if time is of the essence, the train is not always the best means to accomplish a given journey.  Yet, if time and overall convenience at the target location is not the most important factor, as is often the case for individuals who are going on vacation or to visit relatives, for the reasons previously mentioned, the train offers the better alternative method of transportation.

Accordingly, it is impossible to say definitively that one form of transportation is superior to another.  Such a wide and categorical statement can only be considered and/or understood if one is interested in comparing unique aspects of the journey and contrasting them to the alternatives.  As this analysis has attempted to engage the reader with a multitude of ways that the train is a far superior means of travel as compared to the car, the factors that have been considered demonstrably prove the train to be the superior method of travel as long as convenience at the final location is not the most important factor that the traveler must consider.