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  1. V

    Amtrak App discussion

    Haha - I was a programmer in the 1980s before I worked on the railways. Yes, not testing every scenario is unforgiveable. It may explain the schedule defaulting to 'number of segments' rather than the logical departure order (maybe flagging trains which are overtaken). Also the madness of...
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    Amtrak App discussion

    Yes there are several options, definitely useful in certain situations but sorting by 'number of sectors' is an odd one to default to! It's just such a finnicky website even making allowances for the fact that we do things differently in Europe. I speculate (without evidence) that they've...
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    Booking online on Amtrak website

    I had similar nightmares trying to book from the UK - I'd jump through all the hoops and it failed right at the end. Just an awful backwards system (compared to say, thetrainline, Eurostar or SNCF). Incidentally am I the only one who is annoyed that when you look up the train schedule the...
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    A week in the UK on random rails

    Correct - it's not as straightforward as most routes in central London.
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    A week in the UK on random rails

    Rookie error! Yes it's a complete PITA, Paddington is a sprawling station - and even though I actually drove trains on the Hammersmith City & Circle lines (based at Baker St) I've also been caught out with this. Just a tip, if you can't get the through Elisabeth line service and are dumped...
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    A week in the UK on random rails

    Great photo, my wife works right by London Bridge station (just off Borough High St with Borough Market just over the road) to the left of the Shard near Guys Hospital. Nice view of Tower Bridge and HMS Belfast too. I worked in Brixton up until last year which would be to the left of this pic. :)
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    A week in the UK on random rails

    That's something I never considered. It was actually very difficult to find in the BR timetable because it never had a route timetable to itself. IIRC when I first went on it it was routed via Woodhead and the closed and derelict Sheffield Victoria then via Chesterfield Nottingham Sleaford...
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    A week in the UK on random rails

    There used to be a proper timetable leaflet you could pick up but it's all online now (tbh it's very easy to get real time train info and journey planning on iPhone but I still like to see the options available in full) I totally get the travelling for fun thing but not when you're trying to...
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    A week in the UK on random rails

    Blimey, I've commuted between MKC and London since 1986! A few minor inaccuracies - the Avanti trains take 29 minutes (unless stopping at Watford or if you take the timing for London-bound trains which will include recovery time). Unless it's late or early in the day the all-stations LNW...
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    Assigned seats on the train?

    Thanks - I'll look out for them. As an aside, we don't do tipping in the UK (not for stuff like this anyway) and we don't usually carry cash. Will they be expecting a tip and if so, how much? I've barely used cash in London in the last 5 years or so.
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    Fare Buckets - and when do they increase/decrease?

    UK visitor here... (I'm sorry if this observation has been made before, I haven't read every post). Is the price-structure for the long-distance named trains/routes skewed by the cruise market? People who are accustomed to up-market cruises can afford to pay more for a super-deluxe service...
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    Assigned seats on the train?

    Are there carriages reserved at Penn for passengers travelling through to Boston on NE Regional?
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    Assigned seats on the train?

    Yes, I've heard that sitting on the RHS is recommended - but presumably everyone else knows that too! I assume a 'red cap' is a station assistant.
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    Assigned seats on the train?

    "Albany is anintersting place, since a number of NYC bound trains originate there. In addition, some (but not all) of the trains originating further out do an engine swap at Albany to drop the P42(s) and pick up a DM. On those trains, you might get a red cap to "pre board" you, this opens up...
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    Assigned seats on the train?

    Hi - visitor from the UK here. It's seems strange to me that there's not a general seat reservation system in an advanced country like the US. Apart from on commuter trains obvs this is completely normal in Britain and Europe. Anyway, me saying that isn't going to change anything! I've...
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