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  1. Stremba

    Auto Train discussion 2023 Q4 - 2024

    How long was “a long time to get our car? On a busy train, it can take 1.5-2 hours to unload all of the auto carriers. If you are one of the unlucky people whose cars are unloaded last, wait times of 2 hours or so are perfectly normal. There is really no way to prevent this possibility other...
  2. Stremba

    Auto Train discussion 2023 Q4 - 2024

    Seems odd that the website won’t allow priority offloading for only one leg of the round trip (but Amtrak’s booking interface is not great and weird things do happen). I have done priority on one leg on past trips and have always booked it online. It may be a bit confusing, but did you...
  3. Stremba

    My first Amtrak trip questions

    If you do choose a roomette instead of coach, be aware that the berths in the roomette are bunk beds. Either you or hubby will have to climb into the top bunk to sleep. At 73 and 65, this might pose an issue. You can book two roomettes if available, but that would obviously add to the expense of...
  4. Stremba

    Layover in Moynihan Train Hall?

    I did some dummy PHL-BOS bookings and it appears that, depending on the day of travel, the last direct departure from PHL is between 5-7 PM. If OP wants a later departure then a layover in NYP is necessary. However, from OP’s description, it seems he /she is connecting to train 66 at NYP. This...
  5. Stremba

    Auto Train discussion 2023 Q4 - 2024

    Unless you have items that are external to the car (strapped to the roof, hanging out of an open trunk, etc.) Amtrak will not limit what you can pack in your car. Just be aware that you will have no access to your car during the trip, so make sure to carry on anything you expect to use while on...
  6. Stremba

    Hotels convenient to Amtrak

    If the only reason you are going to Orlando is to catch Brightline to Miami, then staying at the airport probably makes sense. Exiting the Star at Orlando will require some transit or and Uber/cab to get to the Brightline station at the airport, so it might make sense to just stay there. There...
  7. Stremba

    Auto Train discussion 2023 Q4 - 2024

    emw5108, I have never ridden in a family bedroom so I can’t answer your question. However there is another currently active thread on this forum called “Family Bedroom Discussion”. It seems that there are a lot of posters on that thread who are knowledgeable about the family bedroom on that...
  8. Stremba

    Sunset Limited trip report

    As for alcohol, the policy is supposed to be that you can consume your own alcoholic beverages only while in a private sleeping accommodation (roomette or bedroom). Alcohol purchased on board can be consumed in coach, but not alcohol you bring on board. Like most Amtrak policies, I’m pretty...
  9. Stremba

    Pennsylvanian (the train(s) and route) discussion

    https://triblive.com/local/regional/deal-will-bring-added-passenger-rail-service-between-pittsburgh-nyc/ Looks like it’s now official; there will be two Pennsylvanian departures each direction. Per the article departures from PGH would be at 7AM and 12:30 PM. Arrivals in PGH would be at 3PM and...
  10. Stremba

    Hotels convenient to Amtrak

    It was nothing fancy, but we have stayed at the Red Roof Inn near BWI airport. They have an airport shuttle there, and they had no problem dropping us off and picking us up at the BWI Amtrak station.
  11. Stremba

    Why and how often are trains run completely backward?

    On the Pennsylvanian and Keystones running backwards is unavoidable. NYP is north of Zoo Interlocking and PHL is south. A train from HAR stopping at PHL must proceed south on the NE Corridor to get to PHL then north to NYP. Since the stop at PHL is only about 25 minutes on the Pennsylvanian (for...
  12. Stremba

    Fare Buckets - and when do they increase/decrease?

    Also might be that there is only one room let in the fare bucket and the system can’t handle two rooms with two different fares
  13. Stremba

    Fare Buckets - and when do they increase/decrease?

    Just so you know, on the app, if you book a roomette two adults there is a selection labeled “room count”. It defaults to 1, but tapping the plus sign next to the 1 increases the room count to 2 and it will allow you to book two roomettes
  14. Stremba

    First time on long distance Amtrak roomette

    Amtrak provides towels and soap for the showers, but not shampoo. If you want shampoo you will need to pack it. Other than that, a normal overnight bag is all I typically take. Things like deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste, and a change of clothing. Meals will be included, including an adult...
  15. Stremba

    Pittsburgh Amtrak Station past, present and future

    As a solution for better parking and transit access, why couldn’t there be an infill station at Rosslyn Station on the East Busway? There is already a park and ride there and obviously the East Busway would serve such a station. I would assume that there are two big stumbling blocks - funding...
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