Recent content by MARC Rider

Uh, many, many WAS to NYP trains leave WAS from the lower level. No problem at all to make a cross platform transfer.

I would think that diesel fumes should be less of a problem in the future as Amtrak converts all its long-distance power to Tier IV Chargers. Maybe the horn noise could be dealt with by using better soundproofing in these new long-distance cars they now starting to procure.

NC is interested in having the Carolinian run beyond its state borders because I suspect the state wants to have the connectivity from NC to Virginia and Washington DC, at least, and, to a lesser extent, the rest of the NEC. For the same reasons, they **might** be interested in having some sort...

Why would Amtrak want to take a perfectly good corridor train that has enough timekeeping problems as it is and turn it into another long-distance train that would have even more opportunities to have even bigger timekeeping problems, which would severely reduce its utility for people traveling...

If we really want to do something about the climate crisis, we should be rebuilding neighborhoods around public transportation, walking and cycling instead of obsessing about "green" gadgetry like electric cars. This might mean starting with building a good local bus network at first, then when...

As I've written before, the most robust way to compare the modes of transportation would be to get recent figures on passenger miles traveled and fuel use, and then calculate fuel use for passenger mile. You then need to calculate the CO2 emissions per gallon of fuel or kWH (for electric...

Let's not forget "Thurgood Marhsall BWI Airport Station," "Moynihan Train Hall," "Ronald Reagon National Airport," and a slew of other airports around the world named for people.

Pictures won't help. They look like it's tasty food, but a lot of that depends how it's reheated. Hint: They're supposed to be reheated in a convection oven, but sometimes a microwave is used, with disappointing results.

You also have to go up stairs to get to the lounge in Boston. I think there's an elevator, but you need to have the redcap access it for you. Fortunately, the red caps are stationed right in front of the lounge entrance, and they will hold your bags securely if you don't want to haul them up...

If you really want to have seat on the Northeast Regional facing forward, all the business class seats in the 2x1 club-cafe business class seats face forward. These are found on the Vermonter, on the 65/66/67 overnight trains to Boston and on one of the Roanoke trains (151 southbound, not sure...

Amtrak already carries 75% of NY-WAS air+rail traffic, even with the current "slow" schedules. You'll never eliminate all NY-WAS air traffic, because some people are flying to make connecting flights, or maybe their final destination is near the airport. Where they need to speed up the service...

Sure, it's a possibility, but terrorists usually don't do things to "escape being noticed." Getting publicity for their cause is a more important objective. Even state actors who are doing such sabotage as legitimate acts of war, like the Ukrainians did with the Kerch Bridge, are quite open...

Actually, I find it hard to look out the windows when the bed is set up and I'm lying in it trying to sleep. The only exception is the roomette upper bunk in the Viewliners.

They're very handy if you're taking a discretionary trip and you can't use your 12-hour upgrade coupon or there are no decent seats left on the departure. You can cancel without penalty and try booking for another day. I also had a situation recently where I accidentally booked the wrong day...

I saw a trainst sitting in Ivy City on Wednesday.