If drivers and airline passengers look for other modes of transportation, what choices do they have? I thought I'd take a look at Megabus and.... If drivers and airline passengers look for other modes of transportation, what choices do they have? I thought I'd take a look at Megabus and Amtrak on some random routes and see what I come up with. For both I chose a trip from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia on January 5. Amtrak had two trains available, one leaving at 7:20 a.m. and arriving at 2:50 p.m.- seven and a half hours. The second, leaving at 4:50 a.m., changing in Washington, and arriving at 4:57 p.m. has a required endurance of nearly ten hours. The 7:20 train has wireless, and the second leg of the 4:50 a.m. train has wireless. The cost is $52-$64 each way.

As for Megabus, there are three departures, 6:20 a.m., 11:05 a.m. and 4:35 p.m., each lasting six hours and 35 minutes. All have wireless and cost $43 each way.

Given everything is equal, I would prefer a train over a bus. The schedules, pricing and amenities rarely seem to be equal, however. Only in the case where you need overnight accommodations does it seem to make sense to choose the train.