Born in the slums of Manila near the railroad tracks, my favorite mode of transportation had been the vintage jeepney that became popular after the war. Since I migrated to the US, RVed the continent, and traveled the world, I have experienced other transportation infrastructure that serves each traveler well. Here are the best and our favorites: the roads of America and the railways of Europe.
The Great North
American Road Network
Our eight
years of RVing full-time in the US, Canada, and Mexico gave us great
experiences on the great North American road network. The largest component is the
US highway system, the most extensive in the world. Today it constitutes about
165,000 miles of roads. 90% of US tourist traffic is carried in the system.
This is
complemented north of the US by the Trans-Canada Highway, Canada’s transcontinental
federal-provincial system that travels through all ten provinces of Canada from
the Pacific Ocean in the west to the Atlantic in the east. The main road spans
4,860 miles across the country, one of the longest of its type in the world.
And, in the
south, the roadway network in Mexico also does not disappoint, especially with
the concretization of Hwy 15 that connects to Arizona. There are 72,577 paved
miles, making it the largest paved network in Latin America, 6,508 miles of
which are multi-lane expressways, including six-lane ones.
This great
North American road system is complemented by a network of campgrounds and
motels/hotels that provide lodging options with no equal in the world. Road
travel in America is ultra-convenient. In addition, RV models range from small camper
vans to huge luxury motorhomes. We also experienced the same satisfaction in the
Australian road network.
The Reliable European
Railway System
The European
Railway system consists of the following:
Tier One:
Switzerland, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Austria, Sweden, and France.
Tier Two: Great Britain, the Netherlands, Luxembourg,
Spain, the Czech Republic, Norway, Belgium, and Italy.
Tier Three: Lithuania, Slovenia, Ireland, Hungary,
Latvia, Slovakia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, and Bulgaria.
We have used
all seven in the Tier One systems, six of the eight Tier Two, and three of the
ten Tier Three. We especially loved our train travels through Llubijana and
Bled in Slovenia, Vienna, Salzburg, and Innsbruck in Austria, Munich and
Oberstaufen in Germany, St. Gallen in Switzerland, Vaduz in Lichtenstein, Paris
in France, and Brussels in Belgium. We covered all of that in four weeks and a
half.
We have tried
economy and first-class trains, taking us to small towns and big cities. The
rail network is seamlessly interconnected to buses, taxis, and Ubers. Not a
single train ride was late or canceled. The stations were sometimes
airport-like in the big cities. In the small towns, quaint little shops are built
around them as walking malls. I love train travel in Europe.
Bill did,
too, because he did not have to worry about driving and enjoyed the scenic
views of country and city life that unfolded before us: dwarf apple trees, tiny
garden sheds, rolling hillsides, etc. Sometimes, the wide windows can even be
opened for a better camera shot. We enjoyed the bars and dining cars, too. I
even found comfort food for my upset tummy on a train ride between Innsbruck
and Vienna. Trains were certainly better
than driving rental cars on the other lane and on narrow roads of the UK.
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Travelers like us depend heavily on good transportation ionfrastructure like the North American road network and the European railway syste,
ReplyDeletegreat info! The traveling in Europe was fun and educational
ReplyDeleteLoved it!
DeleteI love both road trips and train trips. I am so thankful to have the ability to use both.
ReplyDeleteYes!!! Both great.
DeleteOh how I wish that train travel in America was as easy to use as in Europe. I live in Vermont and it would take me 13 hours to get to DC by train.
ReplyDeleteAmerica by car!
DeleteI totally agree, to travel the world, we still need to use transportation. Its got to the point with me that I do a lot of road tripping (espeically with my family) as it makes life a lot easier and its cheaper. However every time I fly to USA and Canada, I am always using a car as its easier and the public transport is no where near as good as Europe (but that is because everything is closer to each other here). Can understand why people stateside use planes more to get across the country than road and trains. One day it may catch up with Europe and have high speed rail lines.
ReplyDeleteI don't think the US will have better rails. Cars are the best way to travel the US. And rails are best in Europe.
DeleteWhat's Taking place i am new to this, I stumbled upon this I have found It absolutely helpful and it has aided
ReplyDeleteme out loads. I hope to contribute & assist other customers like its
aided me. Great job.
The road network in North America really sets it apart from other regions in a good and bad way. Road trips are incredible, but taking the train... not so much so.
ReplyDeleteWhat is the bad thing about roads in America? I don't think trains will fly in the US
DeleteThe road system in the U.S. certainly makes it easy to get around. Whether it is fast transit on the interstates or meandering trips along smaller roads. The Trans Canada Highway in Canada works because so much of our country is located along the southern borders. I always feel so spoiled when we use the European trains. I often don’t rent a car because trains work so much better. We sure wish the trains in Canada and the U.S. were as available and cheap.
ReplyDeleteI don't think trains will call ch up in America.
DeleteYou are so right about the importance of transportation infrastructure. I've been fortunate to benefit from roadways and railways for travel throughout my life. I love traveling by rail in Europe and have experienced all three tiers, most recently in Poland where service was quite good, only one delayed train out of several.
ReplyDeleteI love both. Great infrastructure!
DeleteI very much appreciate this post! My husband and I are considering taking a year or more to RV the US and Canada, but we don't want to do a super big RV because not all roads can handle them. I'd also love to RV Europe!
ReplyDeleteYosemite/,Sequoia roads, for example, did not allow 24-footers like ours. But we still did it!
DeleteI would love to do a road trip through the US and Canada. It's good to know the road network is solid, the distances are so big!
ReplyDeleteOh yes...we cris-crossed 4 times!
DeleteI have horrible train luck. It seems every trip to Europe I somehow miss a train, even though I am always 30 minutes early in anticipation of a problem. It’s still better than trying to park in those tiny parking spaces!
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear that. We had been so lucky, on the other hand!
DeleteI can understand how important the road network is when cruising the land in your RV. Network of campgrounds is also extremely important.
ReplyDeleteWhen it comes to me though, I can really relate to traveling by the European railway network. And I can't decide if I like those fast trains better that take you from Paris to Nice in 3 hours or so, or the ones to cover the "local" distance between Seville and Cadiz for instance. I also adore quaint villages and little shops next to local stations.
I'm sure your discovering Europe through trains is going to be very interesting. :)
Yes, it is
DeleteYou are so right, a countries transport system really mean the difference between people seeing a place or not. I love the European train system too - living here, it is a pleasure knowing we can get places so easily!
ReplyDeleteYou are lucky!
DeleteCongratulations on visiting 49 states of the US :) I agree the road network in the US is just out of this world. I also agree that both road and train network in the Europe is also too good. However I preferred driving in the US than in Europe. I also liked driving in Australia and New Zealand too.
ReplyDeleteWe agree 100%
DeleteGreat road tripping advice, especially in North America. Agree with Bill, why drive when you can enjoy the luxury of train travel. Have fun on your European rail adventures.
ReplyDeleteThanks lots!
DeleteThis is great information to have, I know different modes are transportation are easier to use depending on where you are, Thanks for these tips to use different transportation systems! xo - Kam
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome!
DeleteI needed to thank you for this great read!! I certainly enjoyed
ReplyDeleteevery bit of it. I have got you saved as a favorite to
look at new stuff you post…
Many many thanks.
DeleteGreat roads and transport are a boon for travellers. One of the things we found most challenging about doing road trips in South America was the prevalence of dirt roads. Hubby and I love road trips and have done quite a few in the U.S.A on various different visits. We have a road trip through Texas planned for next year.
ReplyDeleteSame here. We do at least one road trip a year. This year we have done 4!
DeleteWe have done numerous Canadian and US road trips, and I could not agree more that we are so privileged to have such fantastic road systems. And after driving in foreign countries, Canada also enjoys relatively low traffic on them as well! I also love the European rail system, which we lack here in Canada, and appreciate how efficient and unique it is for us when we visit.
ReplyDeleteSo true! We are dependent on a good road infrastructure. I try to travel by train in my own country as it is so much cheaper and sustainable. Where road network is absent I rely of car. Luckily where I stay in India, the road infrastructure is good.
ReplyDeleteRoad or rail...as long as it is good.
DeleteIt's true, reliable transportation is so helpful and makes exploring much easier! Have done many US roadtrips and European train trips.
ReplyDeleteYes, we agree!
DeleteWe've definitely relied on good transportation infrastructure when we travel. It's such a pain when there aren't good ways to get from one city to another.
ReplyDeleteTrue!
DeleteLoved your post that transportation facility makes traveling very easy. I love the places with great transportation facilities. I loved the European railway network as all places are very well connected and have good trains running all day connecting other end of Europe.
ReplyDeleteSame here!
DeleteThese are truly fantastic ideas in about blogging. You have touched some pleasant
ReplyDeletethings here. Any way keep up wrinting.
I will. Thanks!
DeleteI shared this to my Travel Tips Pinterest board. I had my first experience with the Interstate Highway System in 1968 when we drove back and forth across the country in a '63 Chevy (that broke down every 300 miles or so). We used Interestate 80 which was still under construction, so we were back and forth between highway and 2 lane roads through little towns. It provided my first understanding of the vastness and varied terrain of the US. We've also ridden the rails in Europe which I agree is maybe the best way to travel there if you're interested in city to city travel. If you want to see the scenic byways, hiring (renting) a car is still probably the way to go although I am all about leaving the driving to someone else.
ReplyDeleteOh Europe's rail system takes you to a lot of scenery, too!
DeleteTransportation systems really do make all the difference when visiting someplace! Living in Europe I can also say the Europen railway system is the best.
ReplyDeleteYes, I am so impressed by the European railway system.
DeleteSince we focus on North America, that is the extent of our experience with transportation avenues. It’s easy to begin taking the highway system for granted, since it is a well designed layout.
ReplyDeleteOur 8 years of RVing and our current years if road trips exposed us to it's vastness
Deletek
ReplyDeleteTy
DeleteIt's true! I've never really thought about the how dependent I've been on great transportation infrastructure. Although when trying to do long-distance train travel in the US, I have remembered fondly how comprehensive the system was in Europe. And I'd love to do a road trip like the one you detailed!! That sounds amazing.
ReplyDeleteI hope you get to take that road trip.
DeleteI completely agree about that amazing railway network in Europe. It is a shame the UKs trains are so expensive, but they are fantastic for getting around. I guess now you mention it the roads in Canada and the US are also incredible. I always just wish there was a bit more public transport available on this side of the pond.
ReplyDeleteHave you ever experienced rail travel in Japan? That is the peak of efficiency. It is sooo easy and fun to travel on trains in Japan. They have fantastic food available on the trains too. :D
Another person commented that the Japan railsl system is the best!
DeleteWe may have potholes that swallow buses (as seen in Pittsburgh a few days ago), but generally, our roads are adequate and they make it super easy to get from point A to point B. Driving in the US is a lot of fun. I still dream of crossing the US by car from New York City to LA.
ReplyDeleteWe have done it twice!
DeleteI'm a road trip person and have always marveled at our road and back roads. I grew up riding Amtrak on a regular basis and wish it was used as it could be. So many people toiled over making it and it is way under used.
ReplyDeletePricing is too high for Amtrak
DeleteI love train travels, esp in Europe, where one can utilise rail passes based countries and regions. I've had the pleasure of using them in 14/15 countries in the top 2 tiers above and would totally recommend them despite the advent of low cost flights these days. There's just something nice about the whole experience. How I wish the railway system in SE Asia is more widely available and more efficient like those in Europe.
ReplyDeleteWe prefer ground travel unless it is impossible to reach it by land or there are time constraints. Seeing scenery is do much better.
DeleteI sometimes wish we had a better train system in Canada, more akin to what they have in Europe. The road system is good, as you point out, but the distances are long, so I find train travel to be a more relaxing way to do.
ReplyDeleteAnd that's the reason why train travel won't be as prevalent in North America...vast distances.
DeleteSince I'm not driving, I'm really an expert on public transportation. US is the most difficult, of course, however there is more public transportation than most people think.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, lately, bus travel is becoming very popular in Europe, too - and it is often more reliable than trains.
Bus-train-tram conplementation is tops!
DeleteI cannot agree more! I have done many road trips in the US and I loved every single one. I used transportation in Europe so many times and it’s great.
ReplyDeleteExactly!
DeleteGosh you are so right. Not just travellers, but modern civilisation in general is so heavily reliant on transport infrastructure. As a full-time RVer in Australia, we're particularly dependent on the main highways. The country is too vast for a good railway system (and most of the old ones are no longer in use), so it's all highways for us.
ReplyDeleteWe found Australia the same as North America.
DeleteAmerica could learn a lot from the rail and bus systems operated in Europe -- they are so user-friendly here and a joy to use. We have taken our road system in the US for granted, that's for sure.
ReplyDeleteYeah I still like the roads in the US!
DeletePublic transport is practical when touring, stress free, but sometimes too busy in big cities, carrying luggage, and no seats, etc.. Car travel gives you more freedom to stop where you want and more room for family and luggage.
ReplyDeleteLove road trips but the best not practical in Europe so we travel light and base ourselves a week at a time.
Deletepublic transport is fun but it is not convenient sometimes. But for me, as a backpacker- I enjoy public transport because it let you feel the real ambiance and culture of the place. By the way, thank you for sharing maam! :)
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome!
DeleteI am a huge fan of public transport and I love traveling by trains in Europe. Great to know that you love it and planning to explore Europe through trains only in your next trip. It isn't as great in US as in other countries. THerefore I love roadtrips more in the US.
ReplyDeleteExactly why I wrote this.
DeleteYou are so right we all travelers hugely depend on great transportation infrastructure. We usually go for road-trips but still whenever travelling far away, uses trains too. In Europe no doubt trains are best.
ReplyDeleteExactly the way I feel!
DeleteI do agree North America has great road systems that effectively get you where you need to go. It is fun to take road trips across the United States and stop along the road side attractions, especially when you happen along a historic Route 66 attraction. I do wish sometimes we has more public transportation similar to Europe or the UK.
ReplyDeleteIt is too vast...but regional, yes.
DeleteI enjoy train travel, but I am not so good nor comfortable with it yet! I enjoyed reading the post of someone who is more experienced!
ReplyDeleteLove it!
DeleteYes, our interstate highway system here in the US is quite a marvel. And, it is the brainchild of a Kansas farm boy who grew up to mastermind D-Day and become president, Dwight D. Eisenhower!
ReplyDeleteMy husband is f t om Kansas, too@
DeleteWhile getting from city to city in the US is often easier by plane, I have also enjoyed Amtrak where it runs efficiently -- though no where near as good as train travel in Europe. And once in a city in the U.S. ... at least the major cities ... I am able to get around by public transportation very easily.
ReplyDeleteTrue! Nit road teips???
DeleteIt's so true! Having a transportation system that you can rely on is so important when travelling. It can really enhance the experience of being on vacation!
ReplyDeleteYup!
DeleteSuch wonderful travels you've experienced - I always enjoy reading about your adventures. Travel by rail is something I must try soon. Stephanie
ReplyDeleteOh yes, you must!
DeleteI've never really put much thought into travel infrastructure before. I always took it for granted.
ReplyDeleteTraveling for more than 2 decades now...huge!
DeleteI never thought of it before, but if it weren't for the infrastructure in the world, we'd all be walking down dirt paths!
ReplyDeleteOh yeah!
DeleteIt can be quite the adventure to take the train! My kids haven't been on one yet so we are going to plan a trip soon.
ReplyDeleteThat woukd be fun!
DeleteI wish the US had more public transportation like national trains, but our interstat system does make for some nice road-tripping opportunities for sure.
ReplyDeleteNot national. Regional yes.
DeleteDifferent transportation systems worldwide offer travelers plenty of options, like enhancing mobility and efficiency. I wish we have something like this in the Philippines which could reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality.
ReplyDeleteMy wush too!
DeleteManila's jeepneys seem small compared to the transportation systems in America or Europe. I hope the government works on improving Manila's traffic situation soon."
ReplyDeleteHope so!
DeleteOh...this is truly nice. I'd love to be driven, for a change, as I enjoy the scenery around me.
ReplyDeleteMy husband absolutely loves train travel!
DeleteI live in North America and we have a very good transportation system for sure but I love how well connected Europe is and a lot cheaper.
ReplyDeleteI've done a lot of traveling, and I've certainly noticed how much this depended on our transportation system/ My favorite trip was driving the full length of route 66.
ReplyDeleteNice...I've done only bits and pieces.
DeleteThe scenic views and the convenience of not having to worry about driving make train travel a relaxing and enjoyable experience. It's also wonderful that you found comfort food for your upset tummy during one of the train rides. Thank you for sharing your wonderful travel experiences!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome!
DeleteAbsolutely true! Transportation is such a huge part of human existence, how can we commute without it? Funny though, I have never been on a train ever. Hopefully soon.
ReplyDeleteOh you should!
DeleteThanks for giving us a glimpse into the vast American road network and the seamless connectivity of the European rail system. As travelers, we now have more options for choosing our mode of transportation.
ReplyDeleteYup. Lucky us!
DeleteReading your post made me nostalgic. I love train journeys. India also has great railway network that connects some of the highest points on earth and that is magical.
ReplyDelete