Another in my continuing series of Thoughts From Afar comes this report on the highly-touted TGV high-speed rail line in France. I had the very best of intentions to give it a try this week. I wanted to get the experience of a "successful" high-speed ride that would be more current than my early '80s trip on the Japanese Shinkansen. I got on the website, located the outbound and return trains I wanted and then came some sticker shock. An hour trip (at somewhere around 200 mph peak speed) was going to cost 232 euro for two travelers. That's $150 per person. Not to mention the hassle of it all–getting the reservation, paying with their special approach, baggage check, security screening, etc. It is all just like an airline flight with all the time that involves.
The bottom line: a rental car that carries everyone and everything can be picked up much closer, dropped off right at the airport (unlike the TGV that would have a solid hour or more bus connection), driven locally at the destination which was a requirement anyway and costs less than half to rent. Add gas and any tolls, but adding the local use of a car and it's still half and way less time. Even in France, I ain't buying it.
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