24 lucky writers will take part in the first Amtrak “residency”
Amtrak just revealed who will participate in its first writers’ “residency”—the program that sparked a burst of literary wanderlust when its plan was first hatched last year.
The 24 writers will receive a free round-trip ride on one of Amtrak’s long-distance rail lines that might inspire peripatetic prose. Some of those routes, like the California Zephyr, cross vast stretches of the United States over multiple days in beautiful sleeper cabins and glass-topped observation cars. For many, it’s the perfect place to write.
That notion—and perhaps the prospect of a free ride—inspired 16,000 applications to the inaugural residency, according to Amtrak, which receives federal funding but mostly subsists on fare revenue. Though romanticized by many, long-distance train travel in America has suffered from a lack of investment in the kind of high-speed rail systems found in much of Europe and Asia. Amtrak’s own reputation for reliability is spotty, especially in the northeast US.
“Our long distance trains don’t just connect small towns to big cities, they connect families, friends and loved ones,” Amtrak wrote in a blog post, obviously trying to capitalize on enthusiasm for the residency program. “They offer a chance to connect with other travelers, experience the American countryside without the stress of driving, and to unplug and take in the inspirational experience.”
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http://qz.com/270938/24-lucky-writers-will-take-part-in-the-first-amtrak-residency/
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Taking a cross country train trip from Los Angeles to Washington DC and back? That would be amazing. 
