Is there any trains (like a real choo choo ;) ) that can take me from Cols, OH to around houston, TX?

Question

I'm scarred to death to fly, and gas is way too much to drive... I'm trying to find stuff on it and cannot find it.. :(

THANK YOU!

Answer 1

nope

Answer 2

Contact Amtrak for routes and schedules.

Answer 3

yes, contact amtrak for best information, and also for reservations and fares.

1.800.usa.rail (1.800.872.7245), or www.amtrak.com.

however, columbus oh doesnt have amtrak service.  clevelan, elyria, sandusky, and toledo have multiple daily departures, cincinnati has 1 departure 3 days a week.  in any case, all those trains go to chicago, transfer trains for the once-a-day Texas Eagle train from chicago to longview tx, then amtrak bus will be waiting at station to take you to houston.

if you leave cle/tol in early am, you'll be in houston next evening - just 1 night on train.

as note, from columbus, greyhound buses run to cle, cin, and tol.  i think amtrak can still sell columbus-cleveland tickets for greyhound as part of your amtrak reservation (they used to when i worked there), but check with them, as interline agreements between carriers can change at any time.

here is an alternate itinerary that is more direct mileage and time wise, but takes more doing on your part.  use greyhound columbus oh - st louis mo, then amtrak st louis-longview-houston.  you,ll need to make bookings with each company individually, and verify st louis bus and train locations (they are moving to a new shared intermodal station, im not sure if they opened it yet or if each company is still in their old buildings, in which case you might need a short taxi ride).

you'll find the train seats will be most comfortable, and that generally people are very friendly and you'll have a lounge car to hang out in, and a dining car to eat in, and so on.