This was my second experience utilizing Amtrak. My first experience was last year taking the train from Baltimore to Philadelphia for work. This trip was a scenic ride from Jacksonville to Orlando for a day trip. I have to say that this experience was very nice and peaceful. I took my mom who had a great time. It was so nice not have to hassle through with luggage or go through a ton of security to ride the train. It is super convenient to be able to take your luggage on the train. I also have to mention that the price for a round trip ticket was fantastic. I will say the Jacksonville train station does look a little outdated, but I would happily use this place again to avoid traffic down to Orlando. read more

Terrible decision taking the Amtrak. There's no direct flights to Tampa from Jax but there is Amtrak. It was scheduled to leave at 7am and didn't arrive until 9:45am and left at 10am. I wasn't even notified the delay until I got there. I didn't get into Tampa until 3:30pm when it was rush hour traffic. The building was filthy. Bathrooms were not the dirtiest but not clean either. It was manageable. The bathrooms on the train was disgusting though. The only reason I gave this place 2 stars instead of 1 is because of the prices. It only cost me $19 to get a coach seat. Also beware: wifi didn't work at all on the ride. read more

There were four of us on this journey and it was unpleasant. We had three sleeper rooms. First issue was the train was a double decker and zero handicap features. My mom was confined to her room for two days becasue she could not get upstairs to the dining car. She could not get ustairs to the observation car. She had to sit in her room the entire time. Meals were the next issue. We were supposed to have three course meals. I never got one. The first meal I was not in the mood for chicken. There was no steak. I can't eat red sauce and I do not like fish so there was only the chicken. I asked for a hot dog off the kids menu. They had no kids menu items which was nuts because there were a bunch of children on board. So I ended up going to the snack car and paid 9 dollars for a microwaved burger. The next mornign there were no quesadillas which of course is what I wanted. Then it started going downhill. Lunch was pizza no choice. Pepperoni or cheese pizza no other choices even though we wre supposed to have a full menu. Again not being able to eat tomato sauces I was back at the snack bar paying for microwaved food when meals were supposed to be included. Dinner was the same situation beef stew or nothing. No choices again. So the food was lousy, the accessibility for anyone with a mobility issue was nonexistent. read more

The building needs to be updated, it didn't appear very clean maybe simply because it is old. The location was fine and did not feel unsafe during the day, for my 7pm departure. They have 3 vending machines with snacks and drinks but no other food so come prepared! The bathrooms were large and clean. The workers were nice ! read more

One of the worst experiences of my life time. These people delayed us until 12 am to get us on a train to take us to Orlando! The worse thing about that is that we broke down and wouldn't let us out for more than 4 hours with no air! No water! No electricity! No help. These people wouldn't let us off the train so we decided to push our way off! People were passsing out and having heat strokes left and right. Never use Amtrak they don't care if you're dying. BEWARE read more

Jacksonville FL. Amtrak station is a bit out of the way, but very easy to get to by car, taxi or ride share service. The passenger waiting area is very clean as are the restrooms. There is an ATM in the terminal area, and vending for light refreshments, like water or soda. There are water fountains available. Service is courteous and staff friendly, but if you have never ridden the train before, departure times can vary depending on the train traffic on the rails. (Service tracks are shared with freight trains which can potentially slow things down a bit. However, rail is a safe, affordable and generally reliable form of transportation. Most importantly, you can sit back in your seat, relax, and watch the scenery roll by! read more

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San Diego to Los Angeles Two beautiful train stations from a bye gone era, still strong and vibrant today. Convenient, scenic alternative to sitting on the 405/5 staring at bumpers and trying to get over... read more

This is a small station, which surprised me considering Jacksonville is such a large city. The main room/waiting area smelled awful. It was like a public restroom. Even though it was the end of May, we chose to sit outside to avoid the smell. The tracks were not clearly posted as Track 1 or Track 2. There also should have been more signs indicating which track was northbound and which was southbound. There was a vending machine available. The Amtrak app notified us that the train was delayed, but the station did not announce this at all and the delay wasn't posted on the electronic sign until after I had received 3 delay notifications as the train became more and more delayed. The boarding process was like nothing I'd ever seen. The riders were lined up in three groups. First class passengers and those with rooms lined up in one place. (This made sense since they would be using a different car than coach passengers.) Passengers riding alone were lined up in another line. Those passengers in groups of 2 or more were in another area. When the train arrived, an Amtrak employee got off and spoke to each person/group individually. She then used a piece of paper and a tiny pencil (the kind libraries used to have) to assign seats. We were given our seat assignment and turned to the right on the train, following the people who boarded ahead of us. The seats we had been assigned were occupied, so we had to backtrack to the employee. She then told us we were supposed to go left, not right. The seats were comfortable, with a foot rest, and an outlet under the window. Each seat was able to recline quite far and there was a separate handle that would elevate your feet. There was a curtain on the window. When the conductor came to check our tickets, he took a small scrap of paper and hand wrote our destination to post above our seats. I was amazed at how inefficient the boarding process was and how outdated their seating system is. In 2023, passengers should have been given their seat assignments via the app, or the Amtrak employee should have an app showing available seats. In other cities, we boarded the train on a first come, first served basis and found our own seat. Since there isn't another Amtrak station nearby, I would be forced to get on at this station in the future, but I highly recommend waiting outside and having the Amtrak app on your smartphone or tablet, read more

Amtrak - View of the tracks from outside the station. - Train Stations Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

My family and I had our first Amtrak ride in Coach. Personnel on the train were very helpful and friendly. I would advise getting a bedroom or roomette for overnights, especially if you have back issues. Otherwise, coach was quite acceptable at the price point. Lots of legroom and spacious comfy seats. Very easy checkin and access to train. read more

Amtrak Silver Meteor from West Palm Beach to DC is exactly what I want from a slower paced travel experience - end to end relaxation, decent food, good views and attentive service. No TSA, no X-rays just flash your ticket and board. At WPB the train equivalent of skycaps check bags, can drive you in a golf cart to the train if you are tired or have mobility challenges. WPB station can get a little iffy at night so if you need a restroom they will buzz you in if you ask at the station. You can also easily wait in your car in the parking area near the boarding platform but there is always friendly staff asking after you, I personally felt safe. If you have a first class bedroom, roomette, accessible room or family room you will get an attendant that can bring your meals to your room if you don't want to hit the dining car and turn down your bed at night or make it up in the morning. Staff in the dining room were very sweet and attentive too. You can get breakfast, lunch and dinner and 1 included alcoholic dinner drink besides regular coffee. Tee, soft drink offerings. Lunch and dinner both come with dessert. Lunch was brownie or the infamous butter cake. Dinner service has real silverware, cloth tables, fresh roses and great views. My room was clean and I was pleased that although I am tall I fit comfortably. If no one requiring the accessible room books it and you are booking last minute travel, this is the best room. Wide open shower, in room toilet, sink, plenty of leg room and an upper bunk. If you are claustrophobic this is the best room and in the silver meteor comes with two layers of windows. Attentive service, clean rooms, decent food, great views and no complaints. DC lounge for those with bedrooms booked was just refreshed and quite pleasant. Snacks, drinks, TV and concierge are on hand as is a room you can store your luggage and hit the museums if you have a long layover. Only reason not 5 stars is if you get an older blue vs pink roomette. Seats are smaller and in room toilet is just gross. Pink roomettes have a communal toilet and shower room instead which is much nicer. Blue rooms are in need of a refresh which I hear is planned. read more

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Tammy at station was very accommodating she answered all my questions with professionalism thanks again Amtrak for having such a wonderful team member read more

Amtrak - Train from Jax to NY - Train Stations Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

Police called on disabled veteran I was waiting for my ride for no more than five minutes. Corporate notified but refused to apologize for gross racial discrimination. Silly me, I thought as a select PLUS rewards member, I might actually be treated as a valued customer. I remain a customer, however, I thought it important to warn those who may not have a ride waiting for them immediately, upon arrival. Amtrak considers passengers on late trains as emergency pest requiring immediate police intervention. If it hadn't have been for the police slow response time I'm sure I'd spent the night in jail because Amtrak's train #92 was late/ *Travelers beware* again keep in mind I was a passenger registered as"disabled veteran" read more

Amtrak - Train Stations Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

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This review is slightly different from my Amtrak's Auto Train review. I have flown NUMEROUS times to D.C. and finally drove for the first time two weeks ago, now I decided to try another mode of transportation...... Amtrak's Passenger Train from Jacksonville, Florida to Washington, D.C.'s Union Station. As I stated before, the Auto Train only goes from Sanford, Fl to Lorton, Va and back. This time I didn't have to drive the hour and forty minutes to Sanford, Fl because I was able to leave directly out of Jacksonville going to D.C. I ordered my ticket online which was fairly easy and the check in process inside Amtrak Station was just as easy. They offered an upgrade from coach seats to a small roomette for $200 extra dollars. Definitely not worth it. Got there with no lines to wait in. The train was due to depart at 5:07pm but was approximately 6 minutes late (impressed!) though we must've had to stop at another Amtrak station longer than expected because we arrived in Washington D.C. almost 50 minutes late. Still not too bad. The noise level was not bad at all especially seeing the amount of children waiting with their families. The seats were just as roomy and comfy as the Auto Train seats, however, the bathrooms weren't as nearly as roomy or as clean. The only problem I had was the dining car. I bought pizza about an hour into our departure. When I returned about an hour later for coffee, I saw the server taping "Sold Out" signs over 90% of the items! The man in front of me was really upset because ALL the beer was already sold out and the trip literally just began. I was thinking maybe they will restock at the next station but no! That was all the food and beer on the train for the entire trip! I guess we better pack our own food next time. Lol Anywho, on this trip the free WiFi was sketchy and when it was time for most to fall asleep they kept the bright ceiling lights on which made it hard to fall asleep. Not the case on the Auto Train. At night, they dimmed the lights so you could atleast sleep. Still I would definitely take this ride again. I just know my next trip I will pack my own food and bring my eye mask. read more

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Train travel isn't as well regarded in the United States as it is in other parts of the world and it shows in how we've maintained our own rail system. Despite the red-headed stepchild nature of Amtrak, I found my long-haul trip with them up the East Coast to not only be incredibly fun, but packed with tons of folks enjoying this classic form of mass transit. The station in Jacksonville has seen better days. It feels like it's stuck in amber representing an era of travel that was painfully analogue. Thankfully, that particular era had fantastic customer service and I saw that in every Amtrak employee I encountered throughout my journey. From the ticket counter to the staff helping you board the train to the people riding the railway with you, they were all top-notch in their customer service. I saw countless examples of them going out of their way to make sure people were having an excellent experience. I made sure to get comment cards so that I could write about the service to Amtrak's management. It was that good. Tech-wise, the little touches on the train were nice. The wi-fi was decent enough for emails, texts, and social media. The plugs by the seats were a godsend for those with crappy battery life. The seats themselves stretched out for comfort though they lacked instructions on their basic functions. I only discovered a couple of tricks at the very end of the trip. The dining car, nowhere near anything you might have seen in Murder on the Orient Express, was decent in its selection. Think airline options. Also, think airline prices. Overall, I'd jump on Amtrak again. Yes, it was a bit worn along the edges, but the camaraderie I felt with most of my fellow passengers transformed my trip into a very memorable experience. read more

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As far as Amtrak stations go, this one is pretty nice. On going to see Melissa O. and Robert O. down in Gainesville, this station was my stop before the Thruway service took me on to G'ville. Definitely one of the nicer stops I have seen, I like it. It is fairly modern, not too dated. It has a bit of Floridian flair to it (so it appears in the dark) from the train side as you walk up after leaving the train, it's nice to come in to and feels welcoming. Inside, a good amount of individual seating (most stations have bench or pew type seats, this one is different) and a good amount of space between them. In fact it is a bit like a mini air terminal with specific spaces for ticket purchase, checking in luggage, snack area, etc. You can tell they handle a bit of traffic around here. The scheduling at this station went well. No complaints on train or Thruway bus service on this trip, all was smooth. The personnel and service were good, no stand out items to report. Small but important point, clean big bathrooms also. All in all, a good experience. Bottom line: Nice train station for the Amtrak service. Well maintained and adequately staffed. Ample room and seating. Thumbs up. read more

Amtrak - Train Stations Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

Such a great experience! I was traveling with three small children and they made sure to accommodate and prioritize us as much as possible. The trains were clean, on time, and staff was very kind and helpful. We will be traveling with them again soon read more

Amtrak - Train Stations Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

So far this has been a disappointing trip. First the train is an hour and 15 minutes late secondly there's a strange walk to get onto the train and stepping up into the train but the Porter's are very helpful with bags and seating. The ride itself is smooth and so far my section is nice and quiet. Hopefully, I will not have a seatmate and I can enjoy my journey in peace. I must compliment the fact that I was able to bring my bags, three of them all portable to fit the overhead compartments( with food to cook for New Year's Day) and a computer to try to squeeze some work in, and my personal items without the harassment of the Airport TSA . The fair is moderate and better than the headache of driving 3 and 1/2 hours in holiday traffic.I will give Amtrak another try in the near future since I realized a tip from other passengers that sometimes it is better to pay for two seats to have more leg room and privacy! read more

Amtrak - First Train trip in 50 years - Train Stations Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

Conductors and staff were great, in control and professional. Seating and leg room comfortable and clean. I'll probably never drive to Orlando again and the price was very affordable. Sit back and enjoy the ride!!! read more

I took the train from Jacksonville to Charleston. Very organized getting on. Basically you are in a train car with folks getting on and off near your stop. The train was clean. The seats are comfortable. Foot rest. Back rest. Wifi didn't work as expected. But you can charge your phone from your seat. There is a dining car. You can get surf and turf if you're want. My only issue is the train arrives late and leaves too early returning to Jacksonville. 4:50am. Good if you're going to work. I took the 2:30pm Greyhound back to Jacksonville. I'll post about that experience:-) read more

Amtrak - Train Stations Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

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Had the most ridiculous experience on the Silver Meteor 97 from Jacksonville to Orlando: 1. On boarding I was on the phone and not ready to board. The train attendant came up to me twice and told me to board, even though there was 15 minutes till we were leaving. It was clear I was on the phone, but she apparently had other priorities. 2. The same attendant told me to go to the right as I boarded. I'm used to unassigned coaches in the northeast corridor, where you can sit anywhere in any of the coach cars. Apparently, on this train you are grouped in cars by destination? I had no clue, and the car was fairly full but the other car across the way had less people and more open seats. I crossed over with the intent to sit there and this same attendant saw me and told me to go back to the right. As I tried to ask questions on the rationale, she kept cutting me off without explanation and began to yell. After several attempts to have my question answered to he repeated yelling interruptions, one of the conductors came by and told me the grouping by destination rule and I went and found a seat. 3. After the next stop, there were people who left and seats that freed up. Again, I am used to the northeast where you could sit anywhere in any of the cars, so I chose to move back to an open seat further back in the car as the one I was in was cramped with the bags of the passenger sitting next to me. Almost as soon as I moved my bag to overhead storage and sat down, the same attendant came up and again started yelling at me to return to my seat. When I attempted to ask a question, again she kept cutting me off and yelling at me to return to my seat. I got up, asked her to please move so I could grab my bag, and walked back to my seat. On the way back there was another conductor whom I asked to clarify why I couldn't move seats? He said this was reserved coach and the seats were assigned, though mine wasn't? I sat back down and went about my business, confused but just wanting to finish the trip without any more trouble... 3. Shortly before the second to last stop before Orlando, the conductor came by and asked for my ticket, than proceeded to scan it again. I thought this was weird, but just complied and then he walked away. As we arrived at the station, the local police came onboard and escorted me off the train! I was shocked, not only had this woman been rude to me, yelling and ignoring my questions, she had called ahead and had the police arrive to remove me because I asked for clarification rather than follow her directions blindly. I ended up filing a complaint with the Amtrak complaint department, but it didn't go anywhere. Apparently, because the conductor has scanned my ticket again, the system had processed the ticket and it could not be refunded. I regularly use Amtrak services in the Northeast to and from NYC. It has always been such a great experience and I would recommend those train crews to anyone. The crew on the 9:49 AM Jacksonville to Orlando train is a very different matter. Very unprofessional and predatory behavior. If you are forced to use this train, just keep your head down and don't ask any questions. read more

The service is bad. Employees seem to have negative attitude. Went to the bar car to relax the mask natzi kept coming by and telling us to pull our masks up while we were having wine. You can only pull it down to take a sip then must be pulled back up. The car is empty except for the 2 of us. We can go to any bar or restaurant and not be treated so bad. Never Again!! read more

This is a pretty cool Amtrak station since it's so close to my house and you can leave your car in the parking lot for free while you are gone. The trains can run a little late sometimes, but that is the nature of train riding. While you are there, you can get some snacks in the vending machine. And if you want to smoke, you can go outside in the concourse to do so in their benches while you watch the trains. We've always had a good experience and if you're afraid to fly, this is a great option conveniently located with not a lot of hassle and if you're NOT in a rush. Like I said, trains can run pretty late. FYI: Baggage limit is 50 lbs. and they are pretty strict about it so keep that in mind before you pack, but you can check in two bags. For a 3rd, it's an extra cost on $20. Not bad. 5 STARS! read more

Silver Star train had the connecting door broken the entire 22 hour ride from Raleigh to Miami. Completely open letting in cold air for the entire ride. Staff told us you have to keep closing the door. Very disappointing. Not helpful. It's our First train ride and we are not happy. read more

Amtrak - Silver Star train broken connecting door. Stuck open. - Train Stations Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

First ride for us on train. Palatka , Florida station to Miami , Florida. Experience was very good. We had coach seats together and they were Huge compared to airline seats. Wide, reclined, leg room. Very nice. Very easy going off and on. No luggage checks, no restrictions, no "rules". You had assigned seats once u were on. Snack bar is expensive but not outrageous. Sandwiches were ok. Kind of like vending machine food. Dinning Car food was some better. Service was good. Charging station at your seats. WiFi is sketchy. Verizon worked very well. Laid back easy going place. We did not know the lay out or how it all ran until we got on the train and asked questions. Train schedules are flexible so don't get on a train with a tight sched sometimes they r late late arriving. Take a pillow and headphones. There is a sign that everyone should wear headphones if they're using a device but we found out that is not always the fact. some people enjoy FaceTime Inc. on their phones and making sure everyone on the train hears their conversations. for hours.!!wth? But take earplugs or headphones. It helps . My boyfriend and I shall definitely Amtrak again. Good experience if u have the travel time. read more

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Most uncomfortable seats ever made. I don't know how people sleep on this train I'd rather sleep on rocks, would be more comfortable. I tried every possible position had two seats still couldn't get to sleep because of how it's laid out. Had a hotdog and wine both were terrible worse than gas station food. The staff is seemingly nice. Temperature fluctuates last time I rode the train was super cold this time was hot and cold periodically. Can't wait to get off gonna look for a rest stop so I can sleep in my car once I get it back. read more

So being that I have not written the Amtrak probably in about 15 years I can say that this was one of my best experience is traveling. My mother always takes the Amtrak to head back to the country so I decided it was a good movie as well. Initially getting on the train is kind of hectic and to me very on organize but I won't blame the actual train for that. Maybe the staffing somewhat. Most of the attendants are very nice and helpful as they should be. It was very relaxing more relaxing than first class on the airplane and it was much cheaper. I had more room than I made it and everyone on the train or respectful and kind of stay to themselves. I will definitely ride the Amtrak again... read more

Amtrak - Sorry blurry picture. Its a picture of the café on the Amtrak - Train Stations Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

I really like Amtrack I have taken it for the last 12 years from South Florida to North FL. (And back) The most I ever paid for a ticket was 63.00. Sometimes they do run behind (I have arrived home an hour late before) . It's actually fun, especially if you have someone with you the last few times I went I went by myself my husband stayed home because he had other commitments. Regardless, it's always been dependable ride where I feel safe and take a nap right in my chair. I think everyone should try it at least once. Employees are usually really friendly and helpful. read more

My first experience with Amtrak and train travel. This station is straight forward and orderly. Ticket counter was easy to find as well as baggage check-in. There is plenty of waiting room. Staff was friendly and helpful, putting up with my inexperience and some other very chatty customers. read more

Amtrak - Station platform - Train Stations Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

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03/23/19, we are stuck on auto train. Crew can't seem to figure how to finish up the final hour into Sanford. They got delayed overnight following freight train. It's now 10:30 am. We should have been into Sanford no later than 9 am. They keep giving us no committal updates. It's abundantly clear why Amtrak loses money every year and requires billions of dollars in subsidies We took they train to avoid airline delays. Didn't work. 10:40 am update. We are parked on the tracks because the engineers game timed out a 12 hour shift. Waiting for a new crew to drive out and find the auto train in the middle of no where. Hell of a way to run a railroad. read more

Small station in remote location. The only services are a couple of vending machines. Amtrak employees here are friendly and helpful. read more

Would leave zero if possible departure from Jax at 1700 After numerous 30-40 min delays now delayed to 0030 due to "service disruption" Folks are friendly yet remain incompetent or uninformed. Unreliable travel, cancelled my ticket, Uber to the bus station. 1800 customer service number could not provide me with information on why the train was delayed where it is or when it might arrive due to rain interfering with the gps. Interesting concept I'm glad the trains are on tracks because anyone associated with this coming would not possess the mental acuity to navigate anywhere on their own read more

Such a very nice group of employees. Cassie, Tiffany and Damon have made my Mom's first train ride very easy. Thank you all!

Tough choice, next time if I must....Greyhound or Amtrak??? Lots of room to walk around, but that's about the only good thing I can say about Amtrak nowadays. The service is just not there, meaning if I could give ZERO stars, I would. I was treated rudely from the time of check in ('hurry up you'll miss the train' and 'I won't take your bags out for you' just to take out 1 pound of overage in my bags) up to arrival in NYC. Food was terrible , overpriced, and looked at funny when I did not tip. Even though NYC knew we would miss the connection there for a full 12 hours, they did not start to make accommodations until we got to the station. Then we had to wait 2-3 hours for that process. Just plainly, passengers are treated rudely and with no trust. Not like it used to be. read more

Very friendly individuals working for Amtrak they were very helpful the train was very old the dining car was new and the food was very good again the waiter and chefs were very nice and the dining car was very smooth but the passenger cars need to be upgraded bathrooms were very clean plenty of legroom power plugs at every seat Wi-Fi was very slow but worked read more

The trains here are friendly behind schedule. The parking lot is very confusing. The waiting area is very basic. I hope they decide to more this station to the new transportation hub downtown so that incoming guests have more connecting transportation options besides taking a taxi and waiting for me too get off work. read more

Took the auto train from Lorton to Sanford fl. Ck in a station was seamless n desk staff very friendly. Staff were wonderful train was clean. Food was Ok. I would like to have the staff explain how to use the chairs and that beside the foot rest in seat in front of you if you reach under your chair you have a foot rest you have to pull up. Difficult to do for most but it's there. WiFi is free works good for basics but not steaming more out then in. Bring your movies on a flash drive. Bring water train gets hot n dry quick. Would definitely take again and will see about getting a sleeping cabin next time to see what it's like. read more

The customer service at this station is very good nothing but good things to say about staff here, they take good care of us customers. the Amtrak crew is top notch, train is sometimes late but that is not their fault, great prices. The facilities are clean. read more

Pretty basic Amtrak station. Unfortunately, it's way out on the northwest side of town and not really close to anything.

I feel like they are understaffed, especially the baggage claim employees. Though everyone who was working at the time was extremely pleasant and helpful. It is unfortunate the station is 5 miles outside of downtown. read more

The station here is small but modern, but lacks one of the normal advantages of other Amtrak stations - location. When comparing planes to trains, one of the typical selling points of the train is that their stations are located in the heart of the city (or town) and make getting where you want to go that much easier. In this case, the station was nowhere near the downtown area which I think is a huge negative. Of course, this may not be an issue for some, but it makes it less compelling to take the train instead of flying if JAX is your destination. read more