This week, the Peter Greenberg Worldwide Radio Show broadcasts from Amtrak’s Crescent line, which offers rail service from New York City to New Orleans. Traveling on the Crescent gives travelers a unique look at the beauty and heritage of the American South, as they journey through the Northeast cityscapes, historic Civil War battlefields, and the shimmering Louisiana swamp country. This week, Sean O’Neill, Travel Technology Editor at Skift, shares the convenience of using Google Translate when traveling abroad and why he considers it a great travel companion. He also reveals how the enormous Amtrak ridership to the Northeast Quarter serves as an incentive for investment in high speed Internet. Kevin Riley, Editor of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, describes the psychology of Americans regarding train travel and explains their reluctance to give up the wheel. Todd Stennis, Director of Government Affairs at Amtrak, discusses the impact Amtrak has made in small town communities by connecting them to major metropolitan areas. He also discloses Amtrak’s plans for expansion, including the return of daily service to locations east of New Orleans. There’s all of this and more as the Peter Greenberg Worldwide Radio Show broadcasts from Amtrak’s Crescent line.
Click here to listen to the show streaming live from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. ET on Saturday, July 1, 2017.
Have a travel question? Ask Peter. Email him at peter@petergreenberg.com, post on his Facebook page, or tweet your questions to @PeterSGreenberg.
Sean O’Neill, Travel Technology Editor at Skift, shares the convenience of using Google Translate when traveling abroad and why he considers it a great travel companion. He also reveals how the enormous Amtrak ridership to the Northeast Quarter serves as an incentive for investment in high speed Internet.
John Flynn, American Singer-Songwriter, performs an original song inspired by the sounds and rhythm of the train. He also recalls a childhood memory of getting his first toy train, and discusses the romance found while traveling by train.
Kevin Riley, Editor of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, describes the psychology of Americans regarding train travel and explains their reluctance to give up the wheel. He also expresses optimism about the future of Amtrak and its value as a more comfortable and relaxing travel alternative to driving or flying.
Arnie Weissmann, Editor-in-Chief of Travel Weekly, reveals that for passengers traveling on European carriers or flying out of Europe, a plane delayed for more than four hours may lead to over $600 in monetary compensation. He also reminisces about his own experiences traveling by train, specifically those involving a spontaneous karaoke session and an Elvis impersonator.
Betsy Abrams, Trails and Rails National Park Service Ranger, recommends visiting the fire station at the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site as a way to learn about the leader of the Civil Rights movement. She believes that trains are a great way to travel since they pass through so many different historic sites and national parks.
Jim Mathews, President and CEO of National Association of Railroad Passengers, examines the challenges that Amtrak has been facing as a result of legislative pressure from Congress. He also reveals that Amtrak has had issues with on-time performance since it operates on the same infrastructure as freight trains but does not receive priority dispatching.
Charles Frazier, Owner of Weidmann’s Restaurant in Meridian, Mississippi, introduces Peter to the restaurant’s famous black bottom pie—a graham cracker crust with dark chocolate ganache, topped with custard and bourbon-infused meringue. He gushes that many people stop by the station at Meridian Mississippi just to try this slice of scrumptiousness.
Todd Stennis, Director of Government Affairs at Amtrak, discusses the impact Amtrak has made in small town communities by connecting them to major metropolitan areas. He also discloses Amtrak’s plans for expansion, like the return of daily service to locations east of New Orleans.
Knox Ross, Secretary-Treasurer at Southern Rail Commission and Mayor of Pelahatchie, Mississippi, speaks about the importance of passenger train service and how Amtrak is receiving more bipartisan support from the Congress. He remarks that the economic development around the stations has revitalized the city of Mississippi.
By Keefe Liu and Mara Marski for PeterGreenberg.com
