Name: Some Thanksgiving travelers opting for trains to avoid busy traffic
Uploaded: 2025-11-26T00:31:57.028Z
Duration: 2 min 37 s
Description: Amtrak is predicting a record number of Thanksgiving week passengers this year. CBS News reporter Kati Weis has more.

Amtrak is predicting a record number of Thanksgiving week passengers this year. CBS News reporter Kati Weis has more.

New Orleans

Airports and highways across the United States are experiencing a surge in travelers during the Thanksgiving holiday period, with the Federal Aviation Administration expecting over 52,000 flights in a single day and projecting the busiest Thanksgiving travel period in 15 years. Transportation analytics indicate that road travel will also be at its peak, with the worst traffic expected between 11 AM and 8 PM.

Amtrak reports a record number of passengers for Thanksgiving week, with 1.2 million people traveling by train last week and an 8.5% increase in train and bus travel projected compared to last year. Many travelers are opting for trains to avoid airport crowds and delays, citing a more comfortable and seamless experience. AAA expects trains, buses, and cruises to see the most growth among all transportation modes this holiday season.

Some Thanksgiving travelers opting for trains to avoid busy traffic

Despite rough weather in some areas, airports are feeling the rush. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, today is the peak travel day of this year's Thanksgiving period. The agency says it expects more than 52,000 flights nationwide by the end of the day and with 360,000 total flights scheduled between yesterday and December 2nd, the FAA predicts this Thanksgiving travel period will be the biggest in 15 years. For those driving today and tomorrow are expected to be the busiest on the road. That's according to transportation analytics from Enrix this afternoon, into tonight and tomorrow from 11 AM to 8 PM are expected to be the worst travel times for traffic. When it comes to travel by train, Amtrak is predicting a record number of Thanksgiving week passengers. Last week, Amtrak trains carried 1.2 million people for the holiday. Its busiest day was this Sunday after Thanksgiving. CBS News reporter Katie Weiss joins us now from a train station in New Orleans. Katie, how are things looking? Well, a train is actually boarding right now. Most folks have just gotten onto the train for the new Mardi Gras line that spans across the Gulf Coast from here in the Big Easy over to Alabama and Amtrak workers here in New Orleans tell me they've also seen an influx in customers over the last couple of months, especially during the federal shutdown. And then now this week, this busy travel week for the holidays, AAA actually projects that train and bus travel is expected to be the increase this week by 8.5% over this time last year. And really, I've been seeing a lot of folks coming in who have just told me that they're fed up with the airports with the flying experience, the hassle of taking multiple connections, and they wanted something more seamless with less lines. Take a listen. What about the train ride experience? Do you think beat out the flying experience or the idea that you can walk around on the train? You're not capped out on the seat and feel like you're climbing over somebody every time you want to go somewhere and sleeping was no problem so it was just kind of fun. It was a new experience for us and we enjoyed it. And that Tina Baker that you just heard there she just took a train all the way from Michigan down here to New Orleans. An 18 hour train ride and yet she still says that it's better than having to fly. She, like many others, are going to be utilizing trains, buses and cruises. More likely more throughout this week. In fact, the AAA expects that those modes of transportation will see the most growth over any other modes of transportation this holiday season. Lindsey Katie Weiss. Thank you.

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