I think that Amtrak has some kind of rail pass entitling you to unlimited train travel for a specific period of time for a flat fee.

If you are on vacation, and NOT in any hurry, the trains are wonderful. But be warned, they are rarely if ever on time.

The trains do not run all over the country. But check out Amtrak's web site and you'll find that they do run through quite a lot of it.

The two loveliest sceneries are on the Empire Builder, which runs across the top of the country, and on the Coast Starlight, which runs the length of the Pacific coast between Seattle and Los Angeles.

The longest train journey is on the Sunset Limited, which goes the entire length of the US via the southern route, betwee Los Angeles and Jacksonville, FL.

There are two main classes of travel: coach and sleeper car. In coach, you sleep sitting up in your chair and share restroom facilities with everyone else in your coach. Approx. 50 people in each coach. In sleeper cars you get two single beds (on the standard room), one above the other, and there is a shower in the car. Approx. 14 rooms in each sleeper car. There is also a Deluxe sleeper room on some trains which is self contained with its own shower and toilet.

The cost of meals in the dining car is substantial, though all meals are included in the fare if you book a sleeper car. Less costly meals can be had in the snack car (on some trains it's call the club car or or lounge car); pre-made sandwiches in plastic wrap, etc.

I travel only by train; I never fly. But then I'm never in a hurry :-)

Mary Katherine