Boarding Long Distance Trains

[ColdRain&Snow]

As we find many long distance trains at or near capacity during this busy summer season, it helps to have an inside scoop as to where best to position yourself prior to boarding your train. Starting with some of my observations, I wanted to invite others to share their best practices for boarding sleepers they frequent across the system. Not included in this list would be the use of Red Caps for pax requiring special assistance, which of course provides an advanced boarding capability in many cases.

Coast Starlight:

— Los Angeles: If one is not interested in the Traxx coffee bar service, you can proceed to Track #10 and hang a left up the ramp. You will see signs designating the various 14XX sleeping cars. There are a few benches in the area.

— Seattle: Sleeping car service boards from Door 2 inside of King Station.

Empire Builder:

— Chicago: Sleeper pax will be called up in the Metropolitan Lounge for boarding at the frosted sliding doors along the far wall.

— Portland: Boarding for the Portland sleeper takes place from the Metropolitan Lounge door that sits across from the check-in desk.

— Seattle: Door 2 (??) Can someone confirm?

California Zephyr:

— Emeryville: Train will pull along inside track nearest the station. The locos pull up well beyond the pedestrian bridge, so with the sleepers on the rear, boarding will take place close to the station.

— Chicago: Sleeper pax will be called up in the Metropolitan Lounge for boarding at the frosted sliding doors along the far wall.

Sunset Limited / Texas Eagle:

— New Orleans: Ticket agent will give you access code to enter the Magnolia Room. Conductor will come into MR and escort passengers out to the train.

— Los Angeles: Track #11 (??) Can someone confirm?

— Chicago: Sleeper pax will be called up in the Metropolitan Lounge for boarding at the frosted sliding doors along the far wall.

— San Antonio: (??)

Southwest Chief:

— Chicago: Sleeper pax will be called up in the Metropolitan Lounge for boarding at the frosted sliding doors along the far wall.

— Los Angeles: Track #12 (??) Can someone confirm?

CONO:

— New Orleans: Ticket agent will give you access code to enter the Magnolia Room. Conductor will come into MR and escort passengers out to the train.

— Chicago: Sleeper pax will be called up in the Metropolitan Lounge for boarding at the frosted sliding doors along the far wall.

Additional observations and insights would be helpful and much appreciated, especially for the eastern trains where I am a bit in the dark. Thanks!

 

[rrdude]

As we find many long distance trains at or near capacity during this busy summer season, it helps to have an inside scoop as to where best to position yourself prior to boarding your train. Starting with some of my observations, I wanted to invite others to share their best practices for boarding sleepers they frequent across the system. Not included in this list would be the use of Red Caps for pax requiring special assistance, which of course provides an advanced boarding capability in many cases.

Coast Starlight:

— Los Angeles: If one is not interested in the Traxx coffee bar service, you can proceed to Track #10 and hang a left up the ramp. You will see signs designating the various 14XX sleeping cars. There are a few benches in the area.

— Seattle: Sleeping car service boards from Door 2 inside of King Station.

Empire Builder:

— Chicago: Sleeper pax will be called up in the Metropolitan Lounge for boarding at the frosted sliding doors along the far wall.

— Portland: Boarding for the Portland sleeper takes place from the Metropolitan Lounge door that sits across from the check-in desk.

— Seattle: Door 2 (??) Can someone confirm?

California Zephyr:

— Emeryville: Train will pull along inside track nearest the station. The locos pull up well beyond the pedestrian bridge, so with the sleepers on the rear, boarding will take place close to the station.

— Chicago: Sleeper pax will be called up in the Metropolitan Lounge for boarding at the frosted sliding doors along the far wall.

Sunset Limited / Texas Eagle:

— New Orleans: Ticket agent will give you access code to enter the Magnolia Room. Conductor will come into MR and escort passengers out to the train.

— Los Angeles: Track #11 (??) Can someone confirm?

— Chicago: Sleeper pax will be called up in the Metropolitan Lounge for boarding at the frosted sliding doors along the far wall.

— San Antonio: (??)

Southwest Chief:

— Chicago: Sleeper pax will be called up in the Metropolitan Lounge for boarding at the frosted sliding doors along the far wall.

— Los Angeles: Track #12 (??) Can someone confirm?

CONO:

— New Orleans: Ticket agent will give you access code to enter the Magnolia Room. Conductor will come into MR and escort passengers out to the train.

— Chicago: Sleeper pax will be called up in the Metropolitan Lounge for boarding at the frosted sliding doors along the far wall.

Additional observations and insights would be helpful and much appreciated, especially for the eastern trains where I am a bit in the dark. Thanks!

List is great, but I'd disagree with your stated reason for Red Caps: "use of Red Caps for pax requiring special assistance...."
I don't think the use of Red Caps is limited to those pax "requiring special assistance". I think anyone who is willing to ask for Red Cap service, will be obliged, resources allowable.

From the Amtrak Web Page:

Red Cap - Free Baggage Handling Service

In addition to self-service handcarts in a number of Amtrak stations, you can count on uniformed Red Caps to provide free baggage-handling assistance at many major stations. We recommend that you accept assistance from only uniformed Red Cap agents. All baggage handled by Red Cap is protected by a claim check.

 

 

However, DON'T FORGET TO TIP THEM!

 

 

[ColdRain&Snow]

I don't think the use of Red Caps is limited to those pax "requiring special assistance". I think anyone who is willing to ask for Red Cap service, will be obliged, resources allowable.

No question they will be obliged. My hope would be that any able-bodied passenger who opts for a Red Cap would of course be sensitive to ensuring that those with special needs, such as our elders or the disabled, are completely accomodated first. I would think most Red Caps probably do this anyway.

 

[Devil's Advocate]

I don't think I've seen the tracks given actual names here in San Antonio. Only one train boards at a time anyway so it's not like you can really end up on the wrong train unless you really work at it. The Sunset Limited will be on the closest track. I guess we can call it "Track 1." The Texas Eagle will be on the track behind it which we can call "Track 2." The sleepers will be the first revenue cars in the consist (closest to the engine) except for the 421/422 sleeper which will be the last revenue car on the Sunset Limited. Sleeper pax can board pretty much whenever they want (within reason) but you'll need to make it clear you're a sleeper passenger to the staff outside or they might think you're an escaping coach passenger and try to herd you back into the rather depressing waiting room.

 

[tnrkitect]

If no one has chimed in by then, I can verify / give info on the following locations in a few weeks after we are done with our trip:

BHM northbound for the Crescent

WAS for the Capitol Limited

CHI for the Empire Builder

WGP for the Empire Builder*

PDX for the Coast Starlight*

LAX for the Sunset Limited

NOL for the Crescent

* these station / train combos are highly dependent upon no bustitutions / extreme lateness events taking place on the 3rd & 4th of July respectively (disclaimer needed due to recent OTP / cancellations for the EB across the northern plains)

 

[ColdRain&Snow]

If no one has chimed in by then, I can verify / give info on the following locations in a few weeks after we are done with our trip:

BHM northbound for the Crescent

WAS for the Capitol Limited

CHI for the Empire Builder

WGP for the Empire Builder*

PDX for the Coast Starlight*

LAX for the Sunset Limited

NOL for the Crescent

* these station / train combos are highly dependent upon no bustitutions / extreme lateness events taking place on the 3rd & 4th of July respectively (disclaimer needed due to recent OTP / cancellations for the EB across the northern plains)

For the Starlight in PDX, I think you will board from that same door that is across from the agent's desk in the Metropolitan Lounge. Either the lounge agent and/or conductor will walk you out to the train. What a nice trip you're undertaking!

 

[VentureForth]

Amtrak employees the Kindergarten Walk - Line up in the waiting area and follow the leader to the platform. This is very inefficient in my own humble opinion, but may be necessary to get some folks to wind up on the right train.

Track information and what car to board printed on the ticket would be great, along with LED signage on the platform identifying trains. This would be particularly helpful in high-volume, non-endpoint stations, like Dallas, Fort Worth, San Antonio, St. Louis, Albany, etc. etc. etc....

What other countries have the kindergarten walk? How many employees does Amtrak hire to walk people to their train?

 

[jmbgeg]

As we find many long distance trains at or near capacity during this busy summer season, it helps to have an inside scoop as to where best to position yourself prior to boarding your train. Starting with some of my observations, I wanted to invite others to share their best practices for boarding sleepers they frequent across the system. Not included in this list would be the use of Red Caps for pax requiring special assistance, which of course provides an advanced boarding capability in many cases.

Coast Starlight:

— Los Angeles: If one is not interested in the Traxx coffee bar service, you can proceed to Track #10 and hang a left up the ramp. You will see signs designating the various 14XX sleeping cars. There are a few benches in the area.

— Seattle: Sleeping car service boards from Door 2 inside of King Station.

Empire Builder:

— Chicago: Sleeper pax will be called up in the Metropolitan Lounge for boarding at the frosted sliding doors along the far wall.

— Portland: Boarding for the Portland sleeper takes place from the Metropolitan Lounge door that sits across from the check-in desk.

— Seattle: Door 2 (??) Can someone confirm?

California Zephyr:

— Emeryville: Train will pull along inside track nearest the station. The locos pull up well beyond the pedestrian bridge, so with the sleepers on the rear, boarding will take place close to the station.

— Chicago: Sleeper pax will be called up in the Metropolitan Lounge for boarding at the frosted sliding doors along the far wall.

Sunset Limited / Texas Eagle:

— New Orleans: Ticket agent will give you access code to enter the Magnolia Room. Conductor will come into MR and escort passengers out to the train.

— Los Angeles: Track #11 (??) Can someone confirm?

— Chicago: Sleeper pax will be called up in the Metropolitan Lounge for boarding at the frosted sliding doors along the far wall.

— San Antonio: (??)

Southwest Chief:

— Chicago: Sleeper pax will be called up in the Metropolitan Lounge for boarding at the frosted sliding doors along the far wall.

— Los Angeles: Track #12 (??) Can someone confirm?

CONO:

— New Orleans: Ticket agent will give you access code to enter the Magnolia Room. Conductor will come into MR and escort passengers out to the train.

— Chicago: Sleeper pax will be called up in the Metropolitan Lounge for boarding at the frosted sliding doors along the far wall.

Additional observations and insights would be helpful and much appreciated, especially for the eastern trains where I am a bit in the dark. Thanks!

List is great, but I'd disagree with your stated reason for Red Caps: "use of Red Caps for pax requiring special assistance...."
I don't think the use of Red Caps is limited to those pax "requiring special assistance". I think anyone who is willing to ask for Red Cap service, will be obliged, resources allowable.

From the Amtrak Web Page:

Red Cap - Free Baggage Handling Service

In addition to self-service handcarts in a number of Amtrak stations, you can count on uniformed Red Caps to provide free baggage-handling assistance at many major stations. We recommend that you accept assistance from only uniformed Red Cap agents. All baggage handled by Red Cap is protected by a claim check.

 

 

However, DON'T FORGET TO TIP THEM!

 

I totally agree. Baggage assistance from Redcaps can be a godsend.

 

[leemell]

Amtrak employees the Kindergarten Walk - Line up in the waiting area and follow the leader to the platform. This is very inefficient in my own humble opinion, but may be necessary to get some folks to wind up on the right train.

Track information and what car to board printed on the ticket would be great, along with LED signage on the platform identifying trains. This would be particularly helpful in high-volume, non-endpoint stations, like Dallas, Fort Worth, San Antonio, St. Louis, Albany, etc. etc. etc....

What other countries have the kindergarten walk? How many employees does Amtrak hire to walk people to their train?

We've been on the Deutsche Bundesbahn and have never seen train employees guiding passengers on any of the trains we took. On the other hand, we have seen a fair number of people scrambling to get on the right train/car in the those stations. I always thought it was a nice thing for Amtrak to do.

 

[ColdRain&Snow]

I always thought it was a nice thing for Amtrak to do.

Several months ago while boarding #5 from the Metro Lounge, we had to go through the sliding doors, hang a right, go back through the main hallway, and then make our way over to Track #6. Without an escort, I could see how some folks may end up feeling their way to the train if they did not know CUS well.

 

[Devil's Advocate]

I myself do not appreciate the kindergarten walk. Nor do I understand why my fellow travelers don't mind being treated like ignorant children. On the bright side at least I don't normally have to deal with a bass-ackward station underground mall like NYP. I'll never forget the huge mob of people being forced to wait until the last possible minute to find out which track their train will be on so they could all rush the escalator in a crushing mass of frazzled desperation. You'd think New Yorkers wouldn't put up with being dicked around like that, but I guess I don't know New York as well as I thought I did.

 

[Bob Dylan]

In the Metro Lounge in CHI the Person that "Escorts/Leads" Pax to their Train is a Regular Employee of the Lounge! Getting a Red-Cap will get you a Ride on a Cart right to the Train, not a Bad Way to Go when its -15 in the Winter or 100 in the Summer! I've also been led through the Station Corridors when there was Ice on the Platforms Outside the Back Door to the Lounge where Most Pax are Boarded from the Lounge! Don't mind in the Least as Compared to the Bull Pen Coach Waiting Rooms that sometimes have Lines Clear Out into the Hall to the Metra Trains Desk!

As to NOL, usually the Conductor leads Sleeping Car Pax to the Door where you are allowed to Board on your own by walking down the Platform while Coach Pax Line Up behind the Ropes. The Magnolia Room has No Magnolias! :lol:

LAX Union Station really needs a Lounge Badly (the TraxxLoungeis OK but too Small) as do Emeryville,San Antonio!! and Seattle and Denver (where the Stations are being Remodeled!) :help:

 

[PaulM]

I'll never forget the huge mob of people (at NYP) being forced to wait until the last possible minute to find out which track their train will be on so they could all rush the escalator in a crushing mass of frazzled desperation.

I agree that NYP would be one station where the European system should work. For those not familiar with it, when you arrive at the station, either on foot or a connecting train, you check the board for your departing platform number. You can then head for that platform at your leisure. In fact many large stations have more places to sit on the platform than in the station proper. Actually, I should say that you RECHECK your platform number for late changes, since you can find that information along with the departure time in the booking website.

Now if someone could suggest a way to position yourself, whether sleeper or coach passenger, at double tracked, unstaffed stations.

 

[ColdRain&Snow]

I've only boarded once in NYP from the Club Acela, and was feeling looped after a red eye from LA so I don't have a good recollection of that process. Is there any advantage to boarding from the CA, i.e. does the agent announce the platform within the club before it is announced to the general public? I seem to recall a mad dash rather than a calm, advanced boarding procedure. What's the best way to board from NYP?

 

[AlanB]

I've only boarded once in NYP from the Club Acela, and was feeling looped after a red eye from LA so I don't have a good recollection of that process. Is there any advantage to boarding from the CA, i.e. does the agent announce the platform within the club before it is announced to the general public? I seem to recall a mad dash rather than a calm, advanced boarding procedure. What's the best way to board from NYP?

The agents in the CA are supposed to announce the track before it goes up on the big board for the general public, giving those in the lounge a bit of advantage in terms of getting to the gate first. Unfortunately, they don't always make the announcement on time due to the very busy nature of the lounge. They sometimes get hung up on a ticketing/re-ticketing issue and announce things a minute or two late meaning that you lose the advantage.

The best way if you want to avoid the line is to get a redcap.

If you know NYP well, then there are other tricks you can pull to avoid the line.

 

[AlanB]

I'll never forget the huge mob of people (at NYP) being forced to wait until the last possible minute to find out which track their train will be on so they could all rush the escalator in a crushing mass of frazzled desperation.

I agree that NYP would be one station where the European system should work. For those not familiar with it, when you arrive at the station, either on foot or a connecting train, you check the board for your departing platform number. You can then head for that platform at your leisure. In fact many large stations have more places to sit on the platform than in the station proper. Actually, I should say that you RECHECK your platform number for late changes, since you can find that information along with the departure time in the booking website.

Now if someone could suggest a way to position yourself, whether sleeper or coach passenger, at double tracked, unstaffed stations.

It's simply not possible guys.

Yes, Amtrak has a master plan for each day showing where each train is supposed to go. But that plan is frequently upset by a stalled train or a stuck switch or a late arriving train. So the rule is 10 minutes, because prior to that, things could still change.

And in fact I once boarded an Acela with Chris D (aka diesteldorf). Chris had requested a redcap to help him to the train and I tagged along. Redcap's can find out the track number usually 20 to 30 minutes prior to departure. The Redcap came for Chris & I about 20 minutes prior to departure.

We weren't on the platform for more than a minute or two when word came over the radio that our train was being pushed to a different track. So three redcaps, including ours, with about 10 people in tow all had to schlep back up to the station level and then back down onto the new platform just as the train pulled in. Less than a minute later they unleashed the hounds from the station.

This is why they never announce the tracks at NYP until the 10 minute mark.

They do the same for NJT & the LIRR. And in fact, many regular commuters often know where there "regular" train is going to be and head down to the platform prior to the track being posted on the board. When there is a last minute change, you'll hear the announcer multiple times stating that "X train to Y at Z is on track #14. Please note that this is a track change from the normal." They do that because otherwise people will board the wrong train. And despite announcements like that, it is not uncommon every once in a while to have people ending up on the wrong train because they didn't listen and hear about the track change in their zeal to get a good seat. So instead of going to Ronkonkoma, they end up in Babylon.

There are simply too many trains coming in and out of NYP for them to ever think of publishing track numbers on tickets or increasing the lead time by more than 5 to 10 minutes. Some LD's they give 15, maybe even 20 minutes, but the norm is 10 minutes. And they've always managed to board people on time, in time, and without incident.

 

[user 3575]

Some call it the "Kindergarten Walk;" we call it "service." In San Jose -- certainly not a "major Amtrak station" so no Red Caps* -- if a volunteer Station Host is on duty, we usually wait for the 5-minutes-out call and then gather the Sleeping Car passengers from the waiting room/around the station and walk them out to the platform (#s11 and 14 almost always use Track 1, the closest to the station and the only track not served by/needing a tunnel for access); then we gather the Coach folks and walk them out and down the line to where the coaches will board. Because San Jose has utterly, absolutely dismal signage (hats off to Caltrain and their benign neglect!) that organized movement to the platform is definitely a service to most passengers, many who routinely thank me for helping them find where and how to board the Starlight.

Most on this forum are regular rain riders. Most of the passengers we serve are first-time or very infrequent Amtrak guests, and are used to airports and their boarding procedures. Moving the pax out to the platform (not in a line, more just as a group) not only makes it easier on the passengers, it speeds up the boarding process, too...or so say the OBS who thank us for the help.

* many older passengers ask me "where are the Red Caps?" I tell them they just went off duty...in 1957 or so. For the record, our volunteer Station Host caps are blue.

 

[VentureForth]

Let me say that I really dont oppose the kindergarten walk, per se. What I really oppose to is that it is about the only approved way to board a train in places like LAX, CHI, WAS.

People can easily board the wrong train especially if there is no destination board on the train itself or on the platform.

 

[Anderson]

I've only boarded once in NYP from the Club Acela, and was feeling looped after a red eye from LA so I don't have a good recollection of that process. Is there any advantage to boarding from the CA, i.e. does the agent announce the platform within the club before it is announced to the general public? I seem to recall a mad dash rather than a calm, advanced boarding procedure. What's the best way to board from NYP?

The agents in the CA are supposed to announce the track before it goes up on the big board for the general public, giving those in the lounge a bit of advantage in terms of getting to the gate first. Unfortunately, they don't always make the announcement on time due to the very busy nature of the lounge. They sometimes get hung up on a ticketing/re-ticketing issue and announce things a minute or two late meaning that you lose the advantage.

The best way if you want to avoid the line is to get a redcap.

If you know NYP well, then there are other tricks you can pull to avoid the line.

I've noticed this on a lot of (non-LD) trains out of NYP. It can be a pain in the rear to have a first class ticket but find out at the same time as (or right after) the hundred or so folks in the waiting area where your train is boarding, and find that a line has solidified for the train, and that you're at the back instead of the front.

 

[jdcnosse]

GRR is a small unstaffed train station, however there's only one train, and only once a day does it leave. lol CHI I found no problem with, and we didn't seem to have the kindergarten walk. Yes there was a huge line, but I just checked on the board for which gate, got there, and when they started boarding there were multiple people telling us which track to go to for the SWC, and the Pere Marquette (both times that one was fun, as it was the second train on the track, so they emphasized DONT get on the first train you see, walk ALL the way past it to the second one)

 

[AmtrakBlue]

At WIL (a small staffed station) we just go up to the platform when we want. There are signs in the lobby letting us know which track - tracks 2 & 3 share the same platform - and there are digital signs on the platform to remind us which side of the platform our train will be on. There are only 3 tracks and the 3rd one is usually only used for SEPTA, I believe.

 

[AmtrakBlue]

Both times I was in WAS on Sat (arriving and departing), I saw long lines but did not know for which trains.

Both times I told myself "make sure I get a Red Cap on my trip in November".

Looking at the schedules, looks like the morning line was for Crescent (#20) and the evening one was also for the Crescent (#19).

 

[VentureForth]

I believe the longest lines in DC (running by the Bakery) were for NE Regionals. I don't think they were MARC passengers when I was there because it was a Sunday, but I'm sure that place gets packed when MARC, VRE and Amtrak are all running.

 

[bkylnkenny]

Any tips for boarding the LSL coach seating from Chicago and from NY Penn?

 

[nferr]

I don't get all worked up when boarding a sleeper. The room is reserved so what's the huge rush? Relax.