Ok Lake Shore Limited..Boston/Ny cars....

[Breeze]

Ok when they add on cars for the Boston/Ny part of the train, ok everyone gets off the train or how does that work? Oh and how will they let us know what number train to get back on, so that we go to the right state?

 

[AlanB]

Breeze,

When you board in Chicago, they will send you to one of the coaches that go to Boston. Everyone sitting in your coach should be headed mainly to cities within Massachusetts. It's very unlikely that anyone heading for New York City will be in your coach. Normally there are two coaches for Boston and either two or three heading to NY.

When the train gets to Albany, NY it will be split in half. While you can go into the station and wander around for a bit, when they announce the train you will head right back to the same coach that you were in when you left Chicago.

Your half of the train is train #448, while the NY section is train #48.

They don't however add any cars in Albany, when the train gets split. This also means that you don't need to move your suitcase. You'll just leave it right where it's at when the train gets to Albany.

 

[Bill Haithcoat]

As Alan says, you CAN go into the station and wander about and many people do, but there is absolutely no NECESSARY reason to leave your seat. The cars are switched around for you.....wandering into the station and being careful to board the correct train when you get back on, are all at your discretion. Most people do like to stretch their legs at points like that. Those of us who are dyed--in-the-wool railfans also actually enjoy watching the various switching moves, etc.

 

[coachseats]

I can add that the Albany station is one of Amtrak's newest and nicest stations to visit during the middle of a trip. It has a nice coffee shop and bookstore if you are in need of snacks and reading material. Also nice clean regular sized bathrooms, which may be of intrest to you by this point in your trip. Usually you will have at least 15-20 minutes to get off the train and look around. Just remember that during the switching your particular train cars may be moved to a different boarding platform than they came in on, so be sure to listen to the announcements or just ask any Amtrak employee to make sure you get back to your train OK.