4 . Via Rail

Train Tickets from New York to Washington

Discount Policies

Seniors (above 60 years old) can benefit from a 20% discount offered by Via Rail, making it a cost-effective choice for their travel needs.

Luggage(行李) Allowance and Restriction

Via Rail allows passengers to bring up to four pieces of luggage. Carry-on items must not exceed (超过) 50 pounds and checked luggage must not weigh more than 50 pounds per item.

Passengers are allowed to bring bicycles and sports equipment on Via Rail trains.

Food and Drink Service

Via Rail provides food and drink service for purchase, offering a variety of dining options to passengers.

Payment

Via Rail accepts various payment methods, including credit cards, Interac Online, and pre-paid credit cards. It is advisable to check the website for the most up-to-date information on accept able payment methods.

Facilities for Passengers with Special Needs

Via Rail is committed to providing accessibility for all passengers. The trains are equipped with accessible restrooms, seating areas, and boarding assistance for passengers with mobility issues. Additionally, staff members are trained to assist passengers with disabilities to ensure a comfortable travel experience.

E-ticketing

Via Rail offers the option to use the e-ticketing system, allowing passengers to present their ticket on a mobile device without the need for printing.

7 . Here are some of the best new trains in Europe you’ll be able to take in 2024.

Links between two of Europe’s most visited capitals have traditionally been pretty poor, with no direct trains since the 1990s. However, that has just changed with the introduction of a direct overnight train operated by an Austrian company. Initially running three times a week via Strasbourg and Frankfurt, the “nightjet” connection will step up to nightly in the fall of 2024, providing a high-quality direct service for business travelers and tourists.

A year later than expected, Italy’s glorious new super-deluxe train Orient Express La Dolce Vita will welcome its first passengers some time in 2024. The hyper-luxurious 11-carriage train will feature a stylish “Bar Car” with live music and games, 12 deluxe wood-lined cabins and 18 master suites complete with double beds, a sofa, armchairs and private bathroom.

Belgian — Dutch cooperative European Sleeper hit the rails in 2023 and will extend its Brussels — Berlin train to Dresden and Prague in 2024, providing a much needed direct link between cities in western and central Europe. Linking four of the continent’s tourist hotspots, the train offers seats and berths (铺位) which are in high demand, especially during the peak summer months for backpackers.

The route provides convenience for 4 million people to visit the Roman city of Pompeii, famously destroyed by a volcanic eruption in 79 CE. Leaving Rome just before 9 am, the trip allows visitors to explore Pompeii and still be back in Rome by 9 pm for a late dinner. However, it only runs on Sundays and selected public holidays.

A freight train loaded with grain from Kazakhstan arrived in Zhangjiakou on Dec 13. It came after a journey     1     passed through the Horgos railway port in Northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.

It was the first freight train from overseas     2    (arrive) in Zhangjiakou since the launch of the China-Europe (Central Asia) route at the end of August, and took 10 days to travel more than 4,000 kilometers.

The government said the train’s arrival signified the     3    (office) opening of the Zhangjiakou section of the route in both directions, enabling two-way trade and establishing an important     4    (found) for the development of Zhangjiakou     5     a multimodal transportation. It also marked     6     significant step forward in constructing a comprehensive international trade corridor in Zhangjiakou, enhancing its level of openness     7     expanding the logistics network around Beijing.

The name of the trains, “Jingzhang”,     8    (combine) characters representing the cities of Beijing and Zhangjiakou. The train to depart from Zhangjiakou left the freight railway station in Xiahuayuan district on Aug 29, carrying 59 containers with 1,322 tons of goods.

As the train network continues to expand, more cities in Hebei, Shijiazhuang, Handan, Langfang and Zhangjiakou     9    (include), are joining the cross-border railway transportation system. Zhangjiakou is becoming part of a comprehensive international trade corridor     10    (follow) the opening of the railway route to Europe and Central Asia.

9 . People are flying more than ever. From short trips to traveling around the globe, many are on the move. But finding the way at the airports has never been easy in the US, due to crowding and a lot of tasks like checking in, taking care of baggage, screening and finding your gate. It is often difficult to get to where you are going. If you are in a wheelchair or visually (视觉地) challenged, it’s even harder.

The new terminal (航站楼) at the Kansas City International Airport is designed to fix many of these shortcomings. The new facility features indoor play areas, changing rooms, and a quiet room for people who cannot handle the noise or activity of a busy airport. There is even a pet relief area for people traveling with their fury family members. One innovation (创新) is the glass-walled jet bridge for people who are worried about getting on and off planes. And for people who are uncomfortable with the whole airport and flying process, there are simulators (模拟器) that allow travelers to go from boarding to taking off virtually.

Justin Meyer, with the Kansas City Aviation Department, said the new terminal sets a level of inclusivity that passengers will expect in other airports. “The goal isn’t that we’re forever at the head of the line,” Meyer said. “My goal was just to raise the bar, so if someone else wants to build the most accessible airport in the world, they’re going to have to start from where Kansas City stopped. In the end, passengers win.”

While making airports more accessible to people with different abilities may seem to be expensive or difficult, the benefits certainly outweigh the costs. Accessible airports mean that more people and their families will be able to travel and then the skies will be friendly to all.