Lake Shore Limited questions (Spring - Summer 2022)

[Kramerica]

I did book the trip for mid-August. CHI-BOS in coach. BOS-NYP on a regional. NYP-CHI in roomettes. We have car 4911 rooms 5, 6, & 8. Can anyone tell me how likely it will be a Viewliner I or II? Or if the other sleeper is the opposite? What would be the reasons to call and try to switch rooms?

What kind of food service should we expect for each leg?

 

[Sidney]

I did book the trip for mid-August. CHI-BOS in coach. BOS-NYP on a regional. NYP-CHI in roomettes. We have car 4911 rooms 5, 6, & 8. Can anyone tell me how likely it will be a Viewliner I or II? Or if the other sleeper is the opposite? What would be the reasons to call and try to switch rooms?

What kind of food service should we expect for each leg?

As far as food goes,in Coach you'll only get to use the cafe car between Bos and Chi. In a sleeper you'll be getting flex meals. No big difference in the food quality

 

[NYP2NFL01]

I am booked on 49 (8/3) in car 4911, room 4. Does anyone know if this room will have the Hudson River view between NYP and ALB? From past experience, I’m thinking the odd-numbered rooms have the Hudson River view. Thanks!

 

[joelkfla]

I am booked on 49 (8/3) in car 4911, room 4. Does anyone know if this room will have the Hudson River view between NYP and ALB? From past experience, I’m thinking the odd-numbered rooms have the Hudson River view. Thanks!

If the cars are facing forward, Even-numbered Roomettes should be on the left, so you should get the view. But I'm not entirely sure that the cars face forward.

 

[daybeers]

This is real and not an excuse. And Amtrak is not alone; airlines are facing staffing shortages as well.

But I know from first and second-hand experience that Amtrak's HR is doing a terrible job of actually hiring people.

 

[Rambling Robert]

Coming from Boston’s north shore I have to go thru BON. There’s a huge Star Market underneath the Boston Station. Full service including a substantial hot bar. I plan to get lunch and dinner there. Of late my LSL food choices and huge lines are what I’d like to avoid.

Getting to BOS I’ll prolly go by taxi or Lyft. I’m hoping to get early info on track # because at 73 I’m half everybody else’s speed.

Once in CHI it has taken a long time to find a RedCap. I’ll definitely spring for the Metropolitan Lounge if available. Again I want any advance info on track# for the EB. The EB is sold out!

 

[zephyr17]

Coming from Boston’s north shore I have to go thru BON. There’s a huge Star Market underneath the Boston Station. Full service including a substantial hot bar. I plan to get lunch and dinner there. Of late my LSL food choices and huge lines are what I’d like to avoid.
⁷
Getting to BOS I’ll prolly go by taxi or Lyft. I’m hoping to get early info on track # because at 73 I’m half everybody else’s speed.

Once in CHI it has taken a long time to find a RedCap. I’ll definitely spring for the Metropolitan Lounge if available. Again I want any advance info on track# for the EB. The EB is sold out!

Well, the last is easy. The Builder almost always leaves on Track 19. It is the north side version of the only through track, and they have to bring it up from the Amtrak coach yards south of the station. The Builder and the Hiawathas are the only Amtrak trains using the north side tracks.

Last gate on the north side concourse.

I would say always, but there was one time I took the Builder and it loaded on Track 28, the south side version of the through track. I actually liked that better because it was a much shorter walk to the Seattle sleepers at the front of the train.

 

[zephyr17]

Also if you aren't in a sleeper on either the Lake Shore or the Builder, you can buy access to the Metropolitan Lounge there for $35(?). They always have Red Caps for Builder boarding there, they'll announce that passengers needing Red Caps to meet them by the entrance desk, those not needing Red Caps meet at "back door" by the restrooms/showers to be escorted to the platform (aka kindergarten walk).

I don't know about the wait for Red Caps on incoming trains. I don't typically use Red Caps except at NYP when I'm not in sleepers to get a jump on the crowd.

 

[Sidney]

Also if you aren't in a sleeper on either the Lake Shore or the Builder, you can buy access to the Metropolitan Lounge there for $35(?). They always have Red Caps for Builder boarding there, they'll announce that passengers needing Red Caps to meet them by the entrance desk, those not needing Red Caps meet at "back door" by the restrooms/showers to be escorted to the platform (aka kindergarten walk).

I don't know about the wait for Red Caps on incoming trains. I don't typically use Red Caps except at NYP when I'm not in sleepers to get a jump on the crowd.

Best deal ever was the $20 fee to the Chicago Legacy lounge,now discontinued. Snacks and free wine and beer up to four full glasses in the afternoon. There is alcohol for sale in the Metropolitan lounge,but no freebies.

 

[PaTrainFan]

Best deal ever was the $20 fee to the Chicago Legacy lounge,now discontinued. Snacks and free wine and beer up to four full glasses in the afternoon. There is alcohol for sale in the Metropolitan lounge,but no freebies.

Agree with this, plus in my limited experience the snacks were better.

 

[rs9]

With the cancellation of business class service, it looks like I'll be in coach for an upcoming CHI-ALB trip. I have a potentially stupid question to ask: is there any advantage to booking coach on 48 vs. 448? This trip will be Aug. 17, so I anticipate with the summer travel season the train will be sold out at least while departing Chicago.

However, given that I'll have another half-day on the train to Albany after the overnight portion, does anyone have a sense which train might be clearing out quicker? It seems like there's more traffic from western NY to NYP, after the CHI-western NY passengers depart. But, I could also just be making things up here.

 

[zephyr17]

1. Whichever is cheaper, if there's difference.
2. All doors open at Albany. With all doors open and Albany's wide platforms the departing passengers clear out pretty quickly. Maybe a bit of a line at the escalator.
3. You will be closer to the only coach food service in 448. It could be a hike from 48's last coach.
4. 448 leaves first and closes up first.

 

[Brian Battuello]

Also the Albany station has a decent eat-in and to go cafe. With convenient small bottles the moderators won't let me mention