• by Max Kalehoff , March 4, 2014

My work these days takes me from New York to Washington, D.C. every month. I always take Amtrak’s Acela high-speed train because it is a little more civilized, faster and has better WiFi. It is a far better experience than flying, and is comparable in speed when you factor in ground travel to and from airports.

My New York-DC train trip has become my most cherished time for thinking and writing. A lot of things come together just right to create the perfect thinking environment: the romanticism of trains; a smooth, rocking motion that calms; comfy recliner seats; pretty countryside; ambient noise from the wheels and wind; minimal talking and no phones  (in the quiet car); and three uninterrupted hours of all this.

I wish Amtrak would offer trips to nowhere!

Well, it just did that, sort of, by answering the request from professional writers with a brilliant free writing residency program. Amtrak can benefit from good will and some occasional publicity from people who naturally spread the word.

Amtrak now needs to extend the program -- or something similar -- to business professionals. Perhaps Amtrak could sell unused inventory at an attractive price to people who don’t care where they travel to, as long as they can return within a specific time window. For example, Amtrak could sell four-, eight-, 12- and 24-hour trips to nowhere.

Not only would this be a great service for professionals, but it could lure new riders and grow affinity with existing ones.