At first, I expected my train journey to offer a clear benefit compared to other methods of transportation, like cost or time.
However, the train ride — which made nine stops between Tampa and Miami — took longer than it would take me to drive or, obviously, fly between the same two points. In fact, my almost-six-hour train ride was an hour and a 1/2 longer than an average drive starting at the same time of day.
While the train reached a top speed of about 80 miles per hour, which would be a bit faster than driving on the highway, it also faced a fair amount of train traffic, and our average speed was closer to 45 miles per hour, which is slower than the speed limits on Florida highways, which usually have a minimum speed of 50 miles per hour.
Of course, I reaped some benefits by traveling by train rather than driving the route. I didn’t have to deal with road traffic, and I had the chance to sleep, eat, and relax on the journey.
I was also surprised that the ticket cost wasn’t much cheaper than driving or flying. An ultra-economy flight on a carrier like Spirit Airlines from Tampa to Miami can cost between $35 and $150, depending on when you book. Driving the trip would cost an average of $34.16, as calculated using The Zebra’s fuel cost calculator and AAA’s state average fuel prices.
I paid $60 for a single coach ticket (and $230 for the first-class ticket), so both driving and flying could’ve been faster and cheaper.
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