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Amanda (Ridgewood, NJ) — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 18:40:37 GMT

Shows you're more of a dare devil to go faster.

It would be great if train travel was better in this country, thain transportation is one area that Europe has us totally beat. On a few occasions I have looked to Amtrack as a possibility for travel and in each case either they didn't go where I needed or it was going to take longer than it would to drive. How silly is that?

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Stacia (Omaha, NE) — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 20:03:41 GMT

Tom, can't wait to see your story tonight. I always enjoy your stuff on the Today show.

I live in Omaha and travel to Lincoln, Nebraska quite a bit. I always thought it would be cool to have a fast moving train between the two cities, but obviously it's never going to happen.

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Joe, Washington, D.C — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 20:40:15 GMT

Living in D.C., I have often used the Acela to commute between my firm's offices in Philly, Boston and New York. I can say without question it's the best way to fly. Acela vets can all atest that the "quiet car" is a little piece of heaven...

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Christopher (Livonia, MI) — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 20:56:00 GMT

I'm planning on taking Amtrak for my trip to Chicago later this year but Michigan my home state has a great aversion for public transportation. Hopefully the rising price of fuel will compel the most die-hard automobile state to give a comprehensive transportation plan a try.

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Mike,Indy,In. — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 23:12:44 GMT

Hold on to your seats folks. Amtrak has cut it maintenance on their Diesel Locomotive fleet starting last year. Think the train will get you where you want to go? The new Pres. and his boys from the freight railroads have anew idea. Less maintenance fewer Overhauls last year and this good luck. By the way they are laying off Maintenance works at their only Overhaul Shop. In a time when Amtrak could pick up Passengers from the Airlines it will be hard pressed to keep the Diesels running. Just watch Chicago and the delays due to equipment failures. Also the car Fleet is about 33 years old, the Diesel Fleet is only 10 to 15 years old.

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Evelyn, Orlando, FL — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 23:13:35 GMT

This would definitely help all those that travel between Florida & the northeast. The existing trains take longer than driving. Ridiculous, eh?

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Al Lincoln NE — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 23:18:37 GMT

I travel by train as much as I can. Our transportation system in the US is in shambles. I only fly now when I absolutely have to or if Amtrak doesn't serve the town or city I'm going to. Amtrak has been starved to death since May 1st 1971 and then expected to be the ultimate transportation athelete. The folks who want to kill Amtrak with legislation are the ones who have never sat crammed in a bus or in an airplane. They fly privately or in first class or in limo's. I will take dinner on a train over peanuts in a plane ANY DAY! PS. I'm not a "foamer" or a railfan, just a guy that found Amtrak to be 100 times better and more relaxing then flying or driving.

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Barry E. Green, Glendive, MT — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 23:27:29 GMT

Here in Montana where distances are great between cities and towns, Amtrak's "Empire Builder" across Northern Montana is a much needed form of public transportation since there is no bus service and especially since flights provided under the Essential Air Service have been lost in the towns of Wolf Point, Glasgow, & Havre which are locations served by Amtrak.

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Jackie Rawlings 62 Riverside California — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 01:23:39 GMT

I'm from the old school and I don't rush to get anywhere. My experience on the planes lately hasn't been good. People are pushing and unfriendly. The Homeland Security is a joke and they would know a terrorist if he/she introduced themselves. I travel from the West Coast to the East Coast to have quality time with my grown children. I get to meet people and site see parts of the country I've never seen before. Our country is so beautiful and makes you just say thank God. Now while in the plane you see clouds and dots. People sit so close together and don't even speak. Give me the train anytime.

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Eleanor, Cleveland, OH — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 01:33:58 GMT

Better train transportation in the U.S.? I've been asking that question since I rode the high speed TGV in France. I loved it! Why are we being outdone? There is no question in my mind that if we had high speed train service here in the states and safe stations, the people would use train service.

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Cliff Hayes — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 22:06:24 GMT

In 1971 I road the bullet train in Japan from Osaka to Tokyo to pick up my wife at the airport. I was stationed in Japan in the Marines. Japan, Germany, France, Taiwan, UK, Argentina, Iran, Morocco, Netherlands, Brazil, Canada, Saudi Arabia, Australia, Spain, China, Italy, Turkey, Portugal, S. Korea, Belgium, Norway, Russia, Mexico and Sweden either have high speed rail, building high-speed rail or making serious plans for such a service.

We could do much better here and think of the jobs we could generate.

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Mike S. Boston MA — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 23:14:17 GMT

If people really want to know the truth about AMTRAK ,they (NBC) should interview the employees that repair these ACELA TRAINSETS. OH YEAH i'm not talking about the top heavy management, or the Hired contractors/former NAVY personal that took over running repair of the FLEET. I mean the starving employees that took it on the chin for 8 years.