（日本語は英語の下です）

Honestly saying, I do not know very much about railways in US and wish to know more.

My experiences so far are a trip from Seattle to Portland in 2011 after visiting my Japanese friend who worked there at that time. Regrettably I forgot the exact train name (“Cascade” ?)

Seattle is beautiful city facing the bay. We enjoyed nice shrimp together there. (Japanese prefer seafood because of our background surrounded by sea.)

The train and its seats were much larger and relaxed than Japanese and European ones. At least in that route, I remember I did not feel tension or danger because of a safety concern.  I enjoyed parlor car with large windows looking over bayside view. Notably from my viewpoint, there were almost no business passengers on that train. Meals on board is another important thing but I forgot how it was because 10 years has already passed since then.

Seattle and Portland are about 300 km and 4 hours by train. Average speed 75 kmph is not particularly negative but slower than cars about 30 to 60 minutes (just estimate). Currently, 4 services per day is operating according to Amtrak website.

In the theory of rail transportation, 300 km is desirable distance (Tokyo- Nagoya, Tokyo- Sendai…. In Europe, Paris- Brussels….) for rail to compete with car, bus or air and it is a good place for Amtrak to invest here and provide more frequent (every 2 hours intercity trains for example) and faster (maximum 160 kmph or so?) services. Easier ticketing or comprehensible connection with cars at station parking will also be effective.

アメリカの鉄道にはあまり詳しくありませんが、2011年には高校時代からの友人（転勤中）を訪ねてシアトルに行き、ポートランドまで列車の旅を4時間ほど楽しみました。鉄道はもう少し活性化できそうな区間ですが（余計なお世話ですが、上でそれを少し評論・提言してみました）、ゆったりしていて快適な列車だったと思います。

アメリカは、もっと深めたいです。思いつくままにキーワードを並べると、大陸横断などの長距離列車、インターアーバン（日本の私鉄などに影響したらしい）、シカゴの高架鉄道などでしょうか。