Empire Service business class

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Kbyrdleroydogg

Train Attendant
Joined
May 27, 2017
Messages
99
Location
Chicago, IL
I'll be on the empire service train from Albany to NYC. I took a seat in the business class assuming it would be assigned seating.
But I see it is not because there is no number on my ticket. Will I have to run and fight for a seat? Is it usually crowded?
 
If the reservation system did not issue a specific seat number, you simply grab one of the 15 empty seats.

Since Amtrak is too lazy and incompetent to publish public timetables, it is difficult for the lay person to know that west of Albany operation is what determines whether there is cafe food service (and free beverage for BC) or even if one's train to Albany goes west of there.

(280-series and double-digit trains go west of Albany).
 
Amtrak25 said:
If the reservation system did not issue a specific seat number, you simply grab one of the 15 empty seats.

Since Amtrak is too lazy and incompetent to publish public timetables, it is difficult for the lay person to know that west of Albany operation is what determines whether there is cafe food service (and free beverage for BC) or even if one's train to Albany goes west of there.
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While Amtrak is too lazy, PDF timetables that are quite upto date are nonetheless available at

https://www.railpassengers.org/resources/amtrak-timetables/
Thanks to Nathaniel Nerode for providing the infrastructure for generating these from Amtrak supplied GTFS and for the RPA to host them.

You can also find this link in the pinned post under Amtrak Information at:

https://www.amtraktrains.com/threads/amtrak-timetables-and-train-information.80742/
 
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Regretably, the Empire Service BC seats are not specifically reserved as they are on other NEC trains, including the Vermonter.

About 2 months ago, even though 'pre announced' in the Metropolitan lounge at NYP and being at the front of the boarding line in the new Moynihan station, it turned out that those 'in the know' boarded from the old Penn station entrance(s) and had all the river side single seats taken by the time I walked the length of the train + several car lengths before reaching the train as it was spotted at the far east end of the platform. Amtrak 'customer service' excellence at its finest!
 
Any train headed west from NYP, except maybe Acela (I don't know) has business class and sleepers at the east end of the train. So unless one needs any Amtrak amenity that are only in the Moynihan Concourse (tickets, baggage, 1st class lounge, Ontario passport check), and the majority of passengers do not, there is no point in schlepping there. Few LIRR passengers go there either.

Just board in legacy Penn Station as one always did. The ticketed waiting area is very nice and not far from any of the the train gates, where the Kindergarten lines are now shorter since the sheeple went to Moynihan.
 
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In my opinion, Amtrak treats business class like a premium service they could do without. It makes no sense.

For the OP, my experience has been that if you know when the boarding call will come (and you can ask staff for that), get in the priority line maybe 15 minutes early and you'll be guaranteed to get a seat of your choice. Though maybe not in NYP...
 
I am doing the NYP-ALB round trip on Saturday for the first time. Probably wasting my money on BC, but oh well. North on the Maple Leaf and returning on the Empire Service following a two hour layover in lovely ALB. It sounds like the best idea is to board from Penn as that will be closer to the BC car, though I do have a Metropolitan Lounge pass that I wouldn't mind using.
 
PaTrainFan said:
I am doing the NYP-ALB round trip on Saturday for the first time. Probably wasting my money on BC, but oh well. North on the Maple Leaf and returning on the Empire Service following a two hour layover in lovely ALB. It sounds like the best idea is to board from Penn as that will be closer to the BC car, though I do have a Metropolitan Lounge pass that I wouldn't mind using.
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You definitely should use the Lounge! ( great Snacks and Drinks)and Biz Class will ensure you get a good seat on the Left ,the Hudson River side.

You will get advance notice of where your Train will board in the Lounge, then you can go down the escalator in Moynihan to the Platforms and walk over to the Grungy,under construction Penn Station, it's not that far a walk.
 
Bob Dylan said:
You definitely should use the Lounge! ( great Snacks and Drinks)and Biz Class will ensure you get a good seat on the Left ,the Hudson River side.

You will get advance notice of where your Train will board in the Lounge, then you can go down the escalator in Moynihan to the Platforms and walk over to the Grungy,under construction Penn Station, it's not that far a walk.
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So, you do get a boarding advantage from the lounge? I seem to recall having read otherwise. But if so, this is most helpful. Thank you.
 
PaTrainFan said:
So, you do get a boarding advantage from the lounge? I seem to recall having read otherwise. But if so, this is most helpful. Thank you.
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Not per se,, the Screens in the Lounge show the same Arrival/Departure Info just like rest of Moynihan and Penn Station, but the Agent @ the Desk will usually announce what track your Train will arrive @ before it arrives, and to ensure you get Early boarding ( Gate Dragons do make you Line up @ the Escelators to the Platforms) I suggest you have a Red Cap( order through the Desk Agent when you enter the Lounge) take you to your Train..( a $5 Tip even without any Luggage is Worth it!)
 
On an upcoming trip I booked several segments on the NEC... on trains where BUS requires a preassigned seat number you don't get to move around... but in coach class where seat numbers are not assigned you have the option of the quiet car and / or other cars so you can distance yourself from loud phone users etc. On some trains there is quite a difference in pricing but the seat is exactly the same. Only exception is Acela in which bus class is the lowest class; and Vermonter / etc. where BUS class has 1-2 seating and as a single I can get a preassigned seat on the single side.
 

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