Zoe Cormier
Published on Friday, Jan. 08, 2010 2:13PM EST Last updated on Monday, Jan. 11, 2010 3:38AM EST
Not since 9/11 has flying been so fraught with frustration. The Christmas Day terrorist incident on Northwest Airlines has made alternatives more appealing than ever – not because we fear terrorists, but because we dread long lineups at security and frustrating carry-on and luggage restrictions. Though driving or sailing to South America or Europe isn't much of an option, there are plenty of ways to travel a few hundred kilometres without stressing yourself or the atmosphere.
You can hit the road, get on a ferry (in some cases) or jump on a train to avoid the hassles that make a short flight seem interminably long. Short-haul flights of three hours or less are the easiest to replace – a good thing as they're one of the most wasteful sources of greenhouse gases, with a greater per-kilometre impact than long-haul flights (since the most fuel is burned during
takeoff and landing). Flying also has a bigger negative impact than driving – the warming effect of emissions in the clouds is about 2.7 times greater than on the ground.
But there are other bonuses to jumping on a train (besides the lighter footprint and price tag): more legroom, bigger bathrooms, Wi-Fi and a better view of the countryside. Though the train takes longer, you're spending more of your time sitting comfortably, reading, working or sleeping, instead of spending hours lining up to check in, going through security and passport control, and getting to and from airports on the outskirts of town as opposed to gliding into and out of the centre of the city.
VANCOUVER TO SEATTLE
By air: From $267.73 return with Air Canada
Duration: 3 hours, 50 minutes in the air, 2 hours pre-boarding
By train: From $70 return with Amtrak
Duration: 4 1/2 hours
VANCOUVER TO VICTORIA
By air: From $183 return with Air Canada
Duration: 11/2 hours: 25 minutes in the air; 1 hour pre-boarding
By ferry: $13.50 each way; $45 each way for a vehicle; $2 for a bicycle
Duration: 13/4 hours: 11/4 hours on water; 1/2 hour pre-boarding
TORONTO TO MONTREAL
By air: From $398.83 return with Air Canada
Duration: 2 1/4 hours: 1 hour 15 minutes in the air; 1 hour pre-boarding
By train: From $144.90 with Via Rail
Duration: 5 hours, give or take 20 minutes
(All fares leaving Friday, Jan. 15, and returning Sunday, Jan. 17.)
Special to The Globe and Mail
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