When we set off for a distant place, wisps of expectation curling around us, the end of the road is sometimes matched by the way we get there. The old adage, “It’s the journey, not the destination,” is perhaps truest aboard a train snaking its way overland. The quick flash of landscapes out the window, the calm of a train car; these things have contributed to the romance and mystery of train travel for decades. It remains a unique way of seeing certain parts of the world that might otherwise be passed over.

For our Twitter chat this week, we want not only to take your temperature on train travel itself, but to start a conversation about the Passport Express, our cross-country train experience with Amtrak beginning in a matter of days. We want to explore the nuances of traveling by train, and give you a chance to learn about how we’re going to use those nuances to their full capacity on the Passport Express.

This Thursday 9/3 at 2pm EST, join us and the mentors and guests aboard the Passport Express as we do something a little different on this week’s twitter chat: we’ll talk train travel at its broadest level, and then narrow our focus to the exciting experience the Passport Express is shaping up to be.

If you will be unavailable during the chat time but would still like to participate, please schedule your responses according to the schedule below:

PART 1: TRAIN TRAVEL

Q1 – 2:00pm EST
Welcome to our #PassionPassport Twitter chat on Train Travel! Where are you joining us from?

Q2 – 2:05pm EST
What has been your favorite American train journey to date? Any you’re hoping to embark on?

Q3 – 2:10pm EST
Trains hold all sorts of characters. Share a memorable encounter — even better if you have a photo!

Q4 – 2:15pm EST
Who would you most like to spend a train ride sitting opposite? Why?

Q5 – 2:20pm EST
What do you think are the benefits of long-distance train travel?

Q6 – 2:25pm EST
Inspire us: share a story or photo from your own American train travels, or from a traveler you admire!

PART 2: THE PASSPORT EXPRESS

Q7 – 2:30pm EST
Which stop on the Passport Express draws you in most? Why?

Q8 – 2:35pm EST
Seeing new places from the train window or stepping out into them: which aspect of the journey appeals to you more?

Q9 – 2:40pm EST
Give us the title for your dream seminar or talk on the Passport Express. What would it cover?

Q10 – 2:45pm EST
There will be nearly 40 individuals on the Passport Express. What do you want to ask them?

Q11 – 2:50pm EST
What might you ask our mentors in preparation for a journey like the Passport Express?

Q12 – 2:55pm EST
How do you think a train journey like the Passport Express might change your personal perspective?