Topic: Rail Travel

Amtrak reports record-breaking passenger counts during the Thanksgiving holiday week, with over 846,000 riders expected to be exceeded this year. While most trains remained on schedule, the California Zephyr traveling from Emeryville to Chicago experienced a five-hour delay.

TSA and AAA predict record-breaking travel numbers for the 2019 Thanksgiving holiday, with over 26 million people flying and 49 million driving. John Dvorak shares a report on seeing a vintage "dome car" from the Great Northern railway attached to a modern train. The hosts discuss the logistical nightmare of airport security during the holidays.

A discussion on the irony of geographic proximity reveals that many Europeans living near major capitals like Paris or Berlin rarely visit them. This phenomenon is compared to residents of Port Angeles, Washington, who seldom take the ferry to Victoria, Canada. The observation suggests a universal tendency for people to remain within their immediate local regions despite easy access to international travel.

Michael Moore appeared on Bill Maher's program to advocate for high-speed rail, claiming a train could travel from New York to Los Angeles in 12 to 14 hours. The hosts debunk this calculation, noting that even at 210 miles per hour, such a trip would require a perfectly straight line and no stops. They argue that state legislatures would never allow a rail line to pass through their territory without demanding local stops, which would significantly increase travel time.

The global push for high-speed rail is analyzed as a strategy to replace short-haul air travel under the guise of reducing carbon emissions. Reports from North Carolina, the UK, and Australia highlight technical issues with Siemens-built trains and the potential for airlines like SAS to pivot toward rail investments. The hosts remain skeptical of the efficiency and motives behind these massive infrastructure projects.

A discussion regarding recent travel experiences on Southwest Airlines highlights the carrier's unique culture and its roots in the original PSA model. The conversation covers humorous PA announcements during a turbulent approach into Burbank and the historical consolidation of California regional carriers like Western and US Air. The potential impact of high-speed rail on the San Francisco to Los Angeles flight corridor is also noted.