Amtrak can deliver

Regarding Matthew Eisley's Dec. 30 column "Let's get the trains on track":

My wife and I travelled from Raleigh to Washington, D.C., on Amtrak's Silver Star. While the rail cars' constant rocking took some adjustment, the additional seat room and freedom to move about to the lounge and dining car gave us a more relaxed trip than airline travel.

We arrived 30 minutes before our train departed and parked for free 30 feet from the train. We boarded without the usual strip search by grim-faced TSA guards. The train carried us right to the architectural marvel of Union Station. The whole trip took only about five hours and the cost was much less than flying. The kicker is we had a wonderful brunch in the dining car while travelling at 80 mph looking out over the countryside.

Now I know why so many movies show Europeans enjoying travel by train.

Mike Phillips

Raleigh