In the NEC, the conductors rightly check to make sure you're on the reserved train you're ticketed for. Fare differences between individual trains can be substantial.
But reserved state-supported services in CA appear to have no bucket pricing. Therefore, the only reasons for having reserved space on Thruway buses and San Joaquin trains must be to provide occasional added space to meet demand, or cut off ticket sales if ultimate capacity is reached.
Since Amtrak is unlikely to oversell, there will almost always be no-shows and a few spare seats, it seems to me. In practice, trains and buses rarely come close to selling out, so there would appear to be little harm in traveling on a different service of the same type as ticketed, within the time validity of the ticket but certainly on the same day as ticketed.
Has anyone actually had a problem with a conductor or bus driver, outside the NEC, refusing to accept a ticket if it's for a different departure of the same type, between the same points, on the same day? Details please.
But reserved state-supported services in CA appear to have no bucket pricing. Therefore, the only reasons for having reserved space on Thruway buses and San Joaquin trains must be to provide occasional added space to meet demand, or cut off ticket sales if ultimate capacity is reached.
Since Amtrak is unlikely to oversell, there will almost always be no-shows and a few spare seats, it seems to me. In practice, trains and buses rarely come close to selling out, so there would appear to be little harm in traveling on a different service of the same type as ticketed, within the time validity of the ticket but certainly on the same day as ticketed.
Has anyone actually had a problem with a conductor or bus driver, outside the NEC, refusing to accept a ticket if it's for a different departure of the same type, between the same points, on the same day? Details please.