Gold's Bus vs Train Experience

Gold's Bus vs Train Experience

While deciding which mode of transport to choose, one of those things I take into consideration is 

cost. I would have make prepare myself beforehand, in tends of the price of the transport fare of whichever mode I choose to go with ( flights, the train, and the bus), before booking a ticket. In order to stay within budget. 

Secondly, which depends on personal preference. I do consider the time of departure and arrival.  Just like me most travellers don't want to arrive in an unfamiliar city late night. Also, depends on what I going there to do and how urgent.

Although my preferred mode of travel is the Train. Due to the suitable comfort services I derive. 

Thirdly, which is most important to me is comfort.  If the flight is cheaper, I will fly. But if the bus can meet to some of my taste and what is most available at that moment, I will take the bus instead. 

From my experience, below are some merits and demerits I observe between a Bus and Train:

BUS

MERITS

Cheaper: The bus is almost always the cheapest transport option available. Tickets are often significantly cheaper than rail or air equivalents.

More destinations: Buses travel almost everywhere. You can take the bus to even the tiniest of villages. Anywhere that there is a road, a bus can go. For example, I traveled by bus through the Omo Valley of Ethiopia to villages that couldn’t be accessed by train or air.

Smoother ride: Buses offer the same or better ride quality than most cars. Older trains tend to shake and sway on the tracks. Of course, new buses and trains are both incredibly smooth.

More departure and arrival times: For popular bus routes between cities, there is often a bus leaving every hour. Sometimes even more frequently. In this case, if you can’t leave the city until the afternoon, for example, you won’t have to wait around too long. Trains, on the other hand, only offer a couple of departures per day at most. You might have to wait all night until the next departure.

Quiet: Road noise is rarely a problem. Buses also don’t suffer from the metal on metal sound that train wheels have against the tracks. Of course, if a loud passenger sits near you, you’re in for a noisy ride. Once, while traveling to Seattle on the Greyhound bus, a particularly annoying woman kept yelling at the driver to stop so she could smoke. Eventually, the driver stopped at a truck stop and kicked her off the bus. Everyone clapped for our hero of a driver.

Buses can access mountainous regions: Anywhere there is a road, a bus can go, for the most part. Trains generally can’t access mountainous regions. Of course, there are some exceptions to this.

Buses can be faster: For some routes, bus travel times are shorter than trains. If you’re in a hurry, do your research before booking tickets.

Bus tickets don’t usually sell out as quickly: Unless on festive period, you can just show up at the station and buy your ticket hours before travel. If you want to take a train, you often have to buy your ticket well in advance. Of course, bus tickets do sell out. It’s a good idea to book at least a day in advance if possible.

DEMERITS

Finding the bus station is sometimes a challenge: Due to the numbers of bus stations and when one is in an unfamiliar city, especially a large one, finding the right location can take time. But when it comes to Train, most cities only have one main train station. This makes finding your way to the station much easier.

Fewer amenities: Bus services are pretty basic. There is no food service or bar. The seats don’t lay flat. Most buses don’t have outlets or wifi. Of course, there are exceptions. Some few buses offer a surprising amount of amenities including entertainment systems, and comfortable seating. I remember a bus I board from Lagos to Kaduna, with its few amenities, it was actually comfortable. The experience is almost like taking a flight.

Buses are slower: Generally, buses have longer transit times. Since they have to deal with traffic, they can’t travel the same speeds.

You can’t move around: While riding the bus, you pretty much have to wait for a bathroom or meal break to get up and move around. There is just nowhere to go while the bus is moving. On a couple of occasions, I’ve been on buses where the driver kept driving for over 6 hours without stopping, especially travelling to a long distance area. During that time, everyone was stowed up in their seats without any way to move.

You can’t lay down flat: Some bus seats are better than others, but none really lay completely flat. This makes getting a good night of sleep nearly impossible for some people. Trains generally offer beds. Here, you can get a good night of sleep and arrive at your destination well-rested.

Bus travel is less healthy: This mostly has to do with the amount of time that you must spend seated while riding the bus. If you spend enough hours seated in the same position, your blood can begin to clot. Usually in your leg. The clot of blood can break loose and make its way to your lungs. Here, it can cause serious problems. This condition is called deep vein thrombosis (DVT). The solution is to get up and walk around every 2-3 hours. You just can’t do this while riding a bus. But you can, if you take a train.

Less scenic: Buses travel on the fastest road available between destinations. That’s usually the highway. These usually aren’t too scenic. Highways are flat and surrounded by human development. Trains, on the other hand, pass through untouched, beautiful land that you otherwise wouldn’t get to see.

Less environmentally friendly: Buses burn more fuel per passenger than trains. These days, many people are choosing to travel less for the benefit of the environment. Trains are pretty energy efficient.

Less reliable: Buses must put up with city traffic. Traffic can be unpredictable and besides an unexpected accident can cause an hour of delay. Trains don’t have to put up with traffic so they can keep a more reliable schedule. Of course, there are exceptions. Trains often run just as late due to mechanical issues or incompetence.

You can’t carry as much luggage: Most bus stations have a similar luggage policy to airlines. That is one carry-on bag and one checked bag. The checked bag should fit either under the seat in front of you or in the luggage storage above the seats, for those long luxurious buses. You are charge more when you carry extra luggage. Trains usually have much less strict luggage policies. Some don’t even measure or weigh your luggage if it’s within reason.

TRAIN

MERITS

Train stations are comfortable: Train stations are usually large, with plenty of seating, restaurants, shops, and more.

Trains offer more amenities: Long-distance trains often offer dining, a full bar, and completely flat beds. Shorter distance trains often offer power outlets, wifi, and reclining seats. These amenities often aren’t available on buses.

Trains are faster: For some routes, you’ll reach your destination faster if you travel by train. This is particularly true with bullet trains which can reach speeds exceeding 300 km/h. No bus goes that fast. Of course, for some routes, the bus is the faster option. Be sure to do your research before booking your ticket if you’re in a hurry.

Train travel is healthier: While traveling long distance, no matter which mode of transport you choose, you’ll spend hours sitting in the same position. This puts you at risk of a dangerous condition called deep vein thrombosis (DVT). The best way to prevent this condition from developing is to get up and walk around every 2-3 hours, which is possible on a train.

Train stations are more comfortable than bus stations: This is a generalization but usually, train stations are larger and offer more seating and amenities than bus stations. The reason is that in many countries, each bus company has its own station which is usually just a ticketing office with a few seats. Train stations are usually much larger.

You can lay down flat: If you book a bed on a sleeper train, you can lay down completely flat and stretch out. You’re not stuck in a seated position all night. This allows you to get a solid night of sleep and wake up rested. But on a bus, you can’t lay down completely flat.

More scenic: Trains don’t follow road. You’ll travel through scenic and rural parts of the countryside that you otherwise wouldn’t get to see. You’ll travel through places that haven’t been spoiled by infrastructure and human activity. The scenery you see on from the train is much more beautiful than a motorway.

Schedules are more reliable: Because they don’t have to deal with traffic, trains usually run on time. This means you won’t experience as many unexpected delays or late arrivals as you do when taking the bus.

You can carry more luggage on a train: Luggage chargers are usually less and not strict on trains. In fact, oftentimes your luggage isn’t even weighed before you board. Many long-distance trains even have a car for luggage and cargo. There’s really no limit to the amount of stuff you can bring with you. That’s not really an option on the bus.

Finding the train station usually easier: Most cities only have one train station. Particularly large metropolises may have two. This makes finding the station a breeze. Everyone knows where it’s at. A big city could have dozens of different bus terminals. Finding the right one can be a challenge if you don’t know your way around.

Trains are romantic: Something about riding a train reminds us of times gone by. Our ancestors traveled by long-distance train over one hundred years ago. It’s a historic and sophisticated mode of travel.

Trains are cool: Some people are just fascinated by trains. From the road interviews, I had with some people, the way and manner at which they express their love for trains is actually making fall in love with it. Is so clear that such people whenever they have the choice between a bus and train, they will choose the train.

DEMERITS

More expensive: The biggest drawback of taking the train is the cost. Train tickets are usually significantly more expensive than bus tickets. Sometimes up to twice the price.

Fewer destinations: Train lines are limited. Most countries only have one or two. A significant number of countries don’t have any trains at all. This means that you can usually only access larger cities by train. Buses, on the other hand, go almost everywhere on earth. You can access even the smallest villages by bus. For example, in Africa there are very few train lines. Check out my guide to bus travel in Africa for more info.

Trains offer fewer departure and arrival times: For most popular routes, there are only one or two trains operating per day. You have to leave at those times. Buses often operate on a much more regular schedule. For example, between two big cities, there may be a bus leaving every half hour.

The ride can be rough: Some older or poorly maintained train lines are incredibly bumpy and shaky. This makes getting comfortable or falling asleep nearly impossible. Of course, modern trains are incredibly smooth. So much so that sometimes you can’t even tell that you’re moving. Buses can be bumpy as well if the road conditions are poor or the bus is old.

Trains are loud: The metal on metal sound of the train wheels rolling against the track makes a lot of noise. Some people have trouble sleeping because of the noise. Of course, modern trains are designed to be very quiet inside.

Slightly more dangerous and can’t easily access mountainous regions: Trains can’t climb as easily as buses. For this reason, you’ll rarely find train lines running through mountainous regions. In mountainous countries, you’ll usually have to take the bus. 

Well, this is my personal experience. If you want to take the train, you usually have to book further in advance than if you’re taking the bus. Seats sell out more quickly. I have experienced this in countries, like India. And in some routes, there are fewer train seats than bus seats available.

Which ever one you prefer, you know why? Let’s hear from you. Which do you prefer? A Bus or A Train while travelling?

Share your experience in the comment box below👇👇