National Limited
Service Attendant
I recently took a trip on train 69--The Adirondack from Penn Station in New York. I've ridden some Empire Service trains from Penn Station before so was familiar with the boarding procedure but for a first timer it can be a little confusing (and for someone with limited experience it can be quite frustrating). So I thought I'd post a pictorial directory of the boarding procedure to help any new travelers.
All Empire Service trains board from the lower number tracks (usually 5 or 6 East). Unlike other trains in Penn Station, passengers queue in advance of the announcement of the train in the corridor south of the main central waiting area. This photo is taken looking west immediately south and west of the Penn Station "rotunda." The main waiting area is to the right in this photo.
Here is another photo of the area of the queue. This photo is looking west. The main central waiting area is to the right out of the photo.
The front of the queue terminates at the escalator leading down to tracks 7 & 8 East. For trains crossing the boarder into Canada "international" passengers will queue to the right of the stanchion in this photo (to the south), domestic passengers will queue on the left of the stanchion (to the north)--immediately adjacent to the escalator leading town to tracks 7 & 8 East. For international trains there will be signs at the front of the queue indicating which side of the line is for international and domestic travel.
When the trains board, passengers will usually proceed (NB: when directed by Amtrak personnel--learned that the hard way!) to tracks 5 or 6 East. Trains that cross the boarder will load international passengers first followed by domestic travelers. Please note there is a check in procedure for all international passengers. The booth for international check in is usually immediately adjacent to the entrance to tracks 5 & 6 behind the sign in the photo below and at the south end of the stanchion. I did not observe this procedure but I assumed that the international check in must be completed BEFORE passengers enter the queue. Someone else could probably confirm or correct this. The photo below is taken from the same position as the photo immediately above but simply looking south rather than east.
Hope this is helpful. There is really no signage other than the one in the photo above helping passengers finding their way. Once you've done it all makes sense but the first time is usually quite confusing and, frankly, a little terrifying!
All Empire Service trains board from the lower number tracks (usually 5 or 6 East). Unlike other trains in Penn Station, passengers queue in advance of the announcement of the train in the corridor south of the main central waiting area. This photo is taken looking west immediately south and west of the Penn Station "rotunda." The main waiting area is to the right in this photo.
Here is another photo of the area of the queue. This photo is looking west. The main central waiting area is to the right out of the photo.
The front of the queue terminates at the escalator leading down to tracks 7 & 8 East. For trains crossing the boarder into Canada "international" passengers will queue to the right of the stanchion in this photo (to the south), domestic passengers will queue on the left of the stanchion (to the north)--immediately adjacent to the escalator leading town to tracks 7 & 8 East. For international trains there will be signs at the front of the queue indicating which side of the line is for international and domestic travel.
When the trains board, passengers will usually proceed (NB: when directed by Amtrak personnel--learned that the hard way!) to tracks 5 or 6 East. Trains that cross the boarder will load international passengers first followed by domestic travelers. Please note there is a check in procedure for all international passengers. The booth for international check in is usually immediately adjacent to the entrance to tracks 5 & 6 behind the sign in the photo below and at the south end of the stanchion. I did not observe this procedure but I assumed that the international check in must be completed BEFORE passengers enter the queue. Someone else could probably confirm or correct this. The photo below is taken from the same position as the photo immediately above but simply looking south rather than east.
Hope this is helpful. There is really no signage other than the one in the photo above helping passengers finding their way. Once you've done it all makes sense but the first time is usually quite confusing and, frankly, a little terrifying!