Since this topic seems to have "hijacked" the Hoosier State, discussion, I have decided to start a new topic to discuss the current state of Amtrak's Chicago - East Coast service.
I travel several times a year between the Midwest and Hartford, CT. Westbound the LSL or the CL both provide decent departure times and (if the trains are close to being on-time) decent arrival times into Chicago. Eastbound is another story. What I normally do is take the CL to Washington, hope the train is not too late, and then the 3 PM regional up to Hartford. But if the train is late and I miss the 3 PM regional, I have to spend a night in DC. It is the same scenario with the LSL, a connection cannot be made at NY, and one is available at SPG, but if the Boston section is late, you are stuck in SPG.
Could I change to the Pennsylvanian in Pittsburgh, I could, but changing trains at 5 AM, and sitting for 2 hours in the Pittsburgh station is not very appealing to me.
Bottom line is that Amtrak needs to restore one-seat service between Chicago and New York via Philadelphia that could arrive into New York in mid-afternoon.
The proposal that came up several years ago regarding the through cars between the Pennsylvanian and the CL would be a nice start, but still you are not getting into New York until 5 PM, and WB you have to sit on the train for about 4 hours in Pittsburgh waiting for the CL.
Ideally a resurrection of the Three Rivers would be the best situation. With the new bi-levels coming on-line eventually, low-level coaches could be freed up to make this happen along with the additional V-II sleepers and if not a diner, a cafe car.
The other alternative would be, as has been discussed, a 2nd Pennsylvanian route frequency where the whole consist would combine with the CL in Pittsburgh as was done in the 1980's. In fact, looking at June/July 1983 Official Guide, the Broadway and Capitol were combined from Chicago to Pittsburgh, arriving Pittsburgh at 3:30 AM, with the Broadway arriving NYP at 1:22 PM and the Capitol arriving WAS at 11:45 AM. The combined train left Chicago at 4:50 PM. There was also a Pennsylvanian running at this time that left NYP at 8:30 AM and left PGH at 9:45 AM.
Eastbound the "2nd Pennsylvanian" would leave PGH around 5:30 AM and would arrive NYP around 3 PM. Westbound it would leave NYP around 4:30 PM to get into PGH around 11 PM to meet the CL.
There could be capacity issues at NYP, don't know that, but this service would offer the residents of NJ/PA better service to the Midwest, especially those that live between Harrisburg and Pittsburgh.
Bottom line is that given the success of the LSL, there appears to be a market for travel between the MW and NY/PA/NJ, etc. Let's hope something can come of this.
I travel several times a year between the Midwest and Hartford, CT. Westbound the LSL or the CL both provide decent departure times and (if the trains are close to being on-time) decent arrival times into Chicago. Eastbound is another story. What I normally do is take the CL to Washington, hope the train is not too late, and then the 3 PM regional up to Hartford. But if the train is late and I miss the 3 PM regional, I have to spend a night in DC. It is the same scenario with the LSL, a connection cannot be made at NY, and one is available at SPG, but if the Boston section is late, you are stuck in SPG.
Could I change to the Pennsylvanian in Pittsburgh, I could, but changing trains at 5 AM, and sitting for 2 hours in the Pittsburgh station is not very appealing to me.
Bottom line is that Amtrak needs to restore one-seat service between Chicago and New York via Philadelphia that could arrive into New York in mid-afternoon.
The proposal that came up several years ago regarding the through cars between the Pennsylvanian and the CL would be a nice start, but still you are not getting into New York until 5 PM, and WB you have to sit on the train for about 4 hours in Pittsburgh waiting for the CL.
Ideally a resurrection of the Three Rivers would be the best situation. With the new bi-levels coming on-line eventually, low-level coaches could be freed up to make this happen along with the additional V-II sleepers and if not a diner, a cafe car.
The other alternative would be, as has been discussed, a 2nd Pennsylvanian route frequency where the whole consist would combine with the CL in Pittsburgh as was done in the 1980's. In fact, looking at June/July 1983 Official Guide, the Broadway and Capitol were combined from Chicago to Pittsburgh, arriving Pittsburgh at 3:30 AM, with the Broadway arriving NYP at 1:22 PM and the Capitol arriving WAS at 11:45 AM. The combined train left Chicago at 4:50 PM. There was also a Pennsylvanian running at this time that left NYP at 8:30 AM and left PGH at 9:45 AM.
Eastbound the "2nd Pennsylvanian" would leave PGH around 5:30 AM and would arrive NYP around 3 PM. Westbound it would leave NYP around 4:30 PM to get into PGH around 11 PM to meet the CL.
There could be capacity issues at NYP, don't know that, but this service would offer the residents of NJ/PA better service to the Midwest, especially those that live between Harrisburg and Pittsburgh.
Bottom line is that given the success of the LSL, there appears to be a market for travel between the MW and NY/PA/NJ, etc. Let's hope something can come of this.