Train travel is one of those things that often gets taken for granted. There are commuter rails, which we associate with stress, being late, and going to work. There are commercial freighters, which remind us of hobos and rail jumpers and a wild uncertain lifestyle we don’t have the balls to commit to. Trains more directly connect places we don’t want to drive by car, obviously; but instead of associating train travel with a need to get from point A to point B, try taking a trip that will help you relax and recharge. It’s time we looked at the power of the journey, not just the destination.
Train Travel – Not Just For Old Timey Villains and Bored Europeans
When was the last time you told yourself, “Well, it’s going to take me three and a half hours to get where I’m going, but that’s just fine.” ? (More like, “said no one, ever.”) Train travel offers an escape from our fast lives that is absolutely worthwhile to take. Put down your phone, stop Instagramming the on board meals, and start living by learning to observe again. Does this sound like some new age hippy-tastic nonsense? Fine. But if you spend hours a day in transit, with your smart phone and your computer connected directly to your nervous system, learning to unwind will make a huge difference in your overall well being. Think of all the tough guy westerns or the gentlemanly Victorian depictions of train travel: for a very long time, sitting in comfort and watching the world roll by was considered the height of elegance and luxury. Since the world is so much more concerned with how quickly we can get a Starbucks while coming from the gym in our office and heading home so we can remotely connect with the office again, train travel has gradually declined in favor.
The truth is, sometimes train travel- especially dedicated luxury and tourism travel- appears to get a little pricey. Instead of giving up on the dream, look at what’s available in your area. Most lines will have a resident’s special or discounts, since tourists are the common user and they’re complete suckers. Look at off peak times, like the beginning and the end of the season- pricing will skyrocket over long weekends and the height of the sunniest months, which you likely know from any travel experience ever. Don’t assume that you have to get away for days to achieve relaxation: day trip routes can be less expensive and just as effective (not to mention easier to fit into your schedule, so no excuses.) And finally, perhaps contrary to our ingrained habits, choose a location you could get to more easily or quickly.
In my area, the Rocky Mountaineer runs a route called the Sea To Sky climb, which travels from North Vancouver to Whistler, BC. Now, to drive this route takes approximately an hour give or take how much of a death wish you may have, but train travel takes three. I’ve made this drive dozens of times, and the highway is beautiful- but it’s easy to forget, even a scenic route cuts off large chunks of the landscape in favor of speed. When you see a pull off for a viewpoint that stretches an amazing vista out into the distance, imagine being out there in the midst of it. Train travel can take you there, without a bushwhacking adventure that requires a lot of prep and could potentially end up with you being mauled by a bear.
Making the conscious decision to take the long way home is the first step to freeing your mind from a lot of your daily stress. When you’re driving, or taking a train into work, you miss a lot of what’s going on around you- you see what’s out the window, but you don’t see it. Train travel means having time to do a crossword puzzle because you want to (not because the person next to you smells and is trying to catch your eye and oh god I think maybe rubbing your leg), watch the trees roll by, look for wildlife or marvel at the beauty of nature while stuffing your face with delicious complimentary food. If there are any absolutely stunning landmarks, usually the train will slow to a crawl as you go by, and many trains feature open cars that afford you the same proximity as a good hike without the blisters. While this might sound a little froofy for you he-man I-eat-mountain-climbs-for-breakfast-along-with-a-muscle-max-protein-shake types, I watched a train car full of grown men waving to every hiker, fisher, and animal partially capable of waving back gleefully. When you’ve let go of all the arbitrary “MUST DO” timeframes and deadlines, everything becomes just a little brighter, more fun, and more fascinating. You might not realize it yet, but owe this to yourself.
If you take only one thing from this, it’s that occasionally, you need to slow down. We all know it, but train travel isn’t something that normally floats to the forefront of your mind- especially train travel right where you live. But I promise you, if you put a day aside to try train travel just for the sake of learning more about your state or province, and to enjoy the feeling of moving through the landscape while truly experiencing it, you’ll come out a better man for it. When people ask you how you liked it later, you can tell them that it made you just a bit more finished.
Got an awesome train route in your area? Tell me about it, so I can come there and we can rock the caboose and drink a whole bunch while reenacting famous train battles cross country.
