eco tip


dations with passenger amenities for day and night.


Advanced technology elec- tric locomotives began enhancing Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor runs in 2016. Designed for maximum energy efficiency with a regenerative brak- ing system that feeds back into the power grid, this innovation saves electricity and reduces greenhouse gas emissions.


Rail Trails Summer Vacations with a Fun Twist


This summer, consider the conve- nience and relaxation of watching the world go by outside a panoramic side window instead of focusing on driving the road ahead. Train travel is also more cost-effective, afford- able and eco-friendly than flying. SmarterTravel.com highlights rail- road discounts for children, seniors, students, AAA members, military personnel and other demograph- ics. Additional advantages include accessible central city terminals, a generous luggage policy and less time waiting until departures. If a station has an unattended parking lot, arrange to be dropped off. Amtrak (Amtrak.com) encom- passes 300 daily trains on more than 21,000 miles of track to more than 500 destinations. Particularly scenic routes include the California Zephyr that winds through the Rocky and Sierra Nevada mountains between San Francisco and Chicago; and the Adirondack train between New York City and Montreal, Canada, offering spectacular views of both its name- sake national park and the historic Hudson River Valley.


Amtrak’s 75 vacation packages


(AmtrakVacations.com) range from three days to two weeks. Sights include the Grand Canyon and Glacier, Yellowstone and Yosemite national parks. Most long-distance routes provide sleeping accommo-


June 2018 9


Amtrak’s partnership with CarbonFund.org allows passen- gers to offset the carbon emissions footprint from their rail travel. Custom contributions can be made via the Rail Calculator or short- or long-distance traveler or Amtrak Trainiac preset op- tions on Amtrak’s website.


Many travelers also enjoy narrow-gauge, short-rail junkets. Popular options include Colorado’s Durango & Silverton Railroad (DurangoTrain.com), a nostalgic trip back to the mining days of the Old West; the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad (CumbresToltec.com), a 45-mile ride along the New Mexico/ Colorado border; and the Conway Scenic Railroad (ConwayScenic.com) in New Hampshire, within two hours of both Portland, Maine, and Bos- ton, Massachusetts.


Neighboring Canada affords many scenic trains including trips connecting Toronto with Vancouver and Calgary. Visit RockyMountaineer.com and ViaRail.ca.


In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.


~John Muir


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