"What or where is PHI? Did you mean PHL = Philadelphia?"
Yes, Philadelphia
"There are plenty of different ways to travel approximately 1000 miles. But there has to be one or more reasons that one would take the train over flying, taking the bus, or driving.
In my case, I am kind of afraid of and/or dislike flying, I don't really want to drive that long a distance, and buses are just uncomfortable (and I have done overnight buses too). So with all four options available for a trip of around 1000 miles the train is by far my preferred version of transportation. I can complain all I want about the lack of a direct train from PHL to CHI but I'm not about to say I'm not taking the train and subject myself to one of the other three more undesirable options because of it. Something would drastically have to change for me to fly, drive, or take the bus to Chicago instead of taking the train."
That's YOUR story. Youth tends to believe that their story is everyone's story. It's not.
If you're going to say "well I can always fly", why aren't you flying now then? You can get somewhere in 2-3 hrs and you don't have a problem with doing so but instead you choose to take the 15-16 hrs option? Why? You can give me reasons but I would think you're crazy if you tell me the #1 reason (or one of the top five) you would rather take the train instead of fly are those wonderful Amtrak steaks. The scenery? Not going to go away because there's no diner car. The cost? Without the diner car, the cost to take the train in general will be cheaper. I can make similar arguments if you're going to say "well I can always drive" or "well I can always take the bus". Is the reason you're not now the Amtrak steaks?
We are now, actually, at least partially. Last year's second trip we flew one way and took the train the other, due to the decreasing value we see in taking the train. The value in taking the train for us is that it's a more relaxing,
CIVILIZED way to travel. When we started taking Amtrak, we told people that when we flew somewhere, we felt our trip really didn't start until we got there; when we took the train, we felt like it started when we stepped on board. And the time away to decompress again in a
CIVILIZED environment had a value to us in excess of the time cost difference in taking that mode.
However, this calculus is steadily changing, as train travel becomes increasingly more
UNCIVILIZED and Amtrak races to become more and more like the airlines, only at twice the cost and several times the time investment, and the airport environment becomes slightly (SLIGHTLY) better with the advent of Pre-Check.
So in a way, yes, the Steaks (as you so derisively put it, in your arrogance), or DECENT FOOD (not GOURMET, but REAL NON 7-11 FOOD), are a big part of what makes the train CIVILIZED. So was the cranberry juice for drinking and mixing, which have been axed. So was the morning paper, which has been axed. So was the all-day coffee, which has been axed. And it continues to degenerate.
If I were in charge of Amtrak and you came to my office and said to be give me a diner car or I'll fly/drive/take a bus instead, I would laugh in your face. I know the one thing you won't do and that is take some other train. I'm not saying it isn't wrong that Amtrak wants to remove diner cars and if you would rather take the SM over the SS because of the diner car I get it. But I highly doubt any of you will flat out change your mode of transportation because you can't get the Amtrak steaks anymore and the few of you who actually do Amtrak can find others willing to take your place.
You can complain, you can campaign, but no in Amtrak is holding their breath about you boycotting.
Well, thank God for everyone, you're nowhere near being old, educated or bright enough to worry about you being in charge of Amtrak anytime soon then. Because a business whose CEO has such contempt for its paying clients that they actually laugh in their face, leads a company that is doomed to the trash heap of history. You seem to be locked into the fact that Amtrak has a monopoly on train travel, and can just say "It's my way or the highway", without any realization that for the VAST MAJORITY of people, that kind of attitude will lead directly to a response of "Okay, the highway it is then... literally. Enjoy your bankrupcy!"