TPA-NYP

[Guest_tbay527]

Took a very full AMTRAK 98, the Silver Meteor yesterday and today from Orlando to New York and am currently awaiting departure of Acela 2166 onto Boston. Consist yesterday was three Viewliner Sleepers, diner, lounge and the usual four coaches. 98 arrived Orlando fifteen minutes late and left about five minutes late but got stuck north of Winter Park and again at Sanford for the southbound 91 and 97. Train was extremely well patronized with all three sleeping cars sold out and the coaches also pretty full. Full service diner with probably the next to the last steak served on diners in our region. 98/91 will switch to simplified dining next week. Great food and a very capable crew in the diner. Arrived Washington almost three hours late and NYP two hours and thirty down. Most of the time is lost between Charleston SC and Petersburg, VA. Would be a traged y if these Florida trains fall victim to the budget axe. By the way, announcement here at Penn Station has said the three and four p.m. Acela departures to Washington and Boston are sold out totally.

 

[jefffromark]

I just can't see a national rail system without NYP-MIA service - these trains are always near capacity even when the schedules themselves are so messed up. What ever happened to a morning and afternoon departure from MIA? Why not a direct train NYP-TPA? The trains of yesteryear were 18 cars plus and thats even under Amtrak - usually 2 diners and 2 lounge cars since the trains use to split for both coasts. O