I was waiting for my Keystone to Philadelphia this morning. I saw #605 pull into Elizabethtown. It had the usual 5 coaches, but also had a cafe car on the rear plus an additional electric engine on the back. What’s this about? Are they thinking of adding food service on the Keystones? 605 terminates in Harrisburg.
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Just speculating, but maybe they were short of cab cars so added a second engine in the rear. As for the cafe, does the Keystone usually have wifi? If so maybe the cafe was to provide WiFi for the train?
Sounds about right. Same thing happened on 121/122 this past Sunday. Cab car, which normally provides the wifi was apparently not working, though it was in the consist, so it had engines on either end and a cafe car.
Acela150
Super Buff
Bingo... The cab cars are on their very last legs right now. We've been running at least 3 sets with double motors for a few weeks. When their are not cab cars available a cafe is put on the train for the wifi. Ironically this set has had the cafe for about 3 weeks and the wifi hasn't worked that entire time.
Aren't the cab cars unpowered Metroliner EMUs from 1969? No wonder they're on their last legs.
ashleyryan15
Train Attendant
I’ve noticed lately some Keystones are running with a cafe car (understandably without actual food service) - always on trains that don’t have a metroliner cab in the consist. What’s the point of this?
Possibly to provide WiFi since the cab cars are the usual source of WiFi I believe.
Same thing happens on the Hiawatha Milwaukee trains when a Cabbage-40 is unavailable, which also has the Wifi base unit.
Acela150
Super Buff
It's only to provide wifi to the train. The Cab Cars have been having issues due to their age.
Could they lease Sumitomo cab cars from MARC ?
Not sure if they are still available for lease, but even if they were, unless it was for a long enough term, and permission to add the wi-fi base equipt was secured, you would still need to haul the cafe. There have been stories circulating about modifying some HHP-8 to use as control cabs, but you do lose the seating that way.
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Acela150
Super Buff
On Black Friday, I was watching a couple Keystones at Lancaster, PA. One of the train sets has only 4 cars (including the cab car). Is there any reason for this? I’m assuming it’s equipment shortages.
On a side note, I like the “Charging Station” inside the station. A simple wall mounted power strip plugged into your basic power strip used at home. But, hey “it does the job!”
On a side note, I like the “Charging Station” inside the station. A simple wall mounted power strip plugged into your basic power strip used at home. But, hey “it does the job!”
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Hello, I am traveling from NYC TO PHIL on the Keystone 665 on a Sunday. Any ideas what track this train usually leaves from. I am quite anxious about this and I have not been to this new station. Any advice.
Acela150
Super Buff
You won't know until that day and usually about 10-15 minutes before departure.
Relax, stop by the passenger lounge and grab a seat. They will call your train number, and if needed get you assistance to your train.
Keystone can be any platform. Just get to the station 30 minutes early.
No need to be stressed. Many frequent trains between those points.
Keystone can be any platform. Just get to the station 30 minutes early.
No need to be stressed. Many frequent trains between those points.
Thank you! I just thought maybe they would always go from the same track. Is the new station in NYC as crazy as Penn Station? I just recall it was always a mad rush. Is this more organized? We will be there probably an hour before our departure. So, I need to just relax. LOL
Do you have any other suggestions about the new station?
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If your getting there a hour early, be sure to walk around and check the stations food court out. The CVS is a bad joke. But the food shops are interesting to check out.
One more question. I can’t get a straight answer from Amtrak. Train 665 shows 100 percent full from NY to Harrisburg. When I just put in Philadelphia it shows 10 percent. It’s the same train. If I put in Phila to Harrisburg it shows 10 percent. How can it be 100 percent when it’s the same train. All these people cant be getting off in Philadelphia when that leg says 10 percent. So how full is the train. Thanks
Seat management thing.
Without know your dates of travel.
At a certain point they will open up all available seat for any segment. However 11 months out they will open certain seats for certain cities. They are trying to keep balance the seats and revenue they get.
In this case your train really should have capacity open to the furthest point, while limited the short haul passenger. However you did mention Sunday and Amtrak is trying to develop capacity on the NEC. So maybe this is why.
Ticket management is art form. Or just a wild guess. Idk
It’s March 19. Check it out. It makes no sense to me. train 665. It says 100 percent for the whole leg. But 10 percent or less to Phila. same train. I don’t get it.Seat management thing.
Without know your dates of travel.
At a certain point they will open up all available seat for any segment. However 11 months out they will open certain seats for certain cities. They are trying to keep balance the seats and revenue they get.
In this case your train really should have capacity open to the furthest point, while limited the short haul passenger. However you did mention Sunday and Amtrak is trying to develop capacity on the NEC. So maybe this is why.
Ticket management is art form. Or just a wild guess. Idk
