BackBay boarding
Jul 21, 2017, 6:06 am
#3
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Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: New York, NY
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Be sure to watch the departure board. A few weeks ago, I departed from BBY for the first time and the boards didn't display a track. There is NO Amtrak support at the station, so be sure to ask other passenger which track the train departs from. I may be track no.1
My train left me and several others as we didn't know what track the train boarded and departed from.
In addition, watch out for pigeons and their "air bombs"!
My train left me and several others as we didn't know what track the train boarded and departed from.
In addition, watch out for pigeons and their "air bombs"!
Jul 21, 2017, 10:23 am
#4
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: BOS
Programs: B6, Amtrak, DL, AA, Marriott, Hilton
Posts: 274
Unless you're looking for a specific car (First or Quiet Car), board towards the front of the train. Back usually much more crowded out of South Station as people don't walk up to the front.
Jul 22, 2017, 12:10 am
#5
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: New England
Programs: American Gold, Marriott Gold, Hilton Silver
Posts: 5,640
Be sure to watch the departure board. A few weeks ago, I departed from BBY for the first time and the boards didn't display a track. There is NO Amtrak support at the station, so be sure to ask other passenger which track the train departs from. I may be track no.1
My train left me and several others as we didn't know what track the train boarded and departed from.
In addition, watch out for pigeons and their "air bombs"!
My train left me and several others as we didn't know what track the train boarded and departed from.
In addition, watch out for pigeons and their "air bombs"!
The Acela and Northeast Regional always board from tracks 1, 2, or 3, as those are the tracks for the Northeast Corridor. (Tracks 5 and 7 are for the Boston and Albany main line, aka the MBTA Worcester Line, and the Lake Shore Limited)
Jul 22, 2017, 12:53 pm
#6
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The boards are supposed to display a track, so if they didn't, then there must have been a problem with them.
The Acela and Northeast Regional always board from tracks 1, 2, or 3, as those are the tracks for the Northeast Corridor. (Tracks 5 and 7 are for the Boston and Albany main line, aka the MBTA Worcester Line, and the Lake Shore Limited)
The Acela and Northeast Regional always board from tracks 1, 2, or 3, as those are the tracks for the Northeast Corridor. (Tracks 5 and 7 are for the Boston and Albany main line, aka the MBTA Worcester Line, and the Lake Shore Limited)
A passenger using this station for the first time, would not know where to go.
The departure board was of no use in this situation.
Jul 24, 2017, 12:45 pm
#7
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: PSC
Programs: Hilton Diamond/IHG Platinum/DL Plutononium
Posts: 1,728
I take 2175 frequently, it will be packed to the gills right out of South Station on Thursday and Friday nights, if you're traveling on a Monday-Tuesday you should have better luck, but it's generally one of the more popular Acela's with lots of business travelers leaving from the south station area.
If you want to guarantee yourself a good seat grab any commuter rail or amtrak train from BBY-BOS or hop on the orange line to Downtown Crossing (which is a 5 minute walk to South Station).
If you want to guarantee yourself a good seat grab any commuter rail or amtrak train from BBY-BOS or hop on the orange line to Downtown Crossing (which is a 5 minute walk to South Station).
Jul 24, 2017, 1:01 pm
#8
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Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 205
Yeah, leaving this Thursday.
Seems to me that Amtrak really needs to implement assigned seating in any class.
Can I board at South Station even if my ticket says "Back Bay"?
Seems to me that Amtrak really needs to implement assigned seating in any class.
Can I board at South Station even if my ticket says "Back Bay"?
Last edited by BOSTravels; Jul 24, 2017 at 4:01 pm
Jul 25, 2017, 1:13 pm
#10
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That is the good thing about Amtrak, flexibility. Say you and a buddy buy tickets from NY to DC and plan it out a month in advance. On a plane you pick your seat in advance, you and your buddy can sit next to one another. Say a third friend decided closer to the date of departure to come. they may not be able to fly on the same flight let alone sit next or near you. On Amtrak, that person could join you in the same train and you can sit together with no issues.
Jul 30, 2017, 10:19 am
#11
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: PHL
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Why? IMO there is nothing wrong with the way you board now.
That is the good thing about Amtrak, flexibility. Say you and a buddy buy tickets from NY to DC and plan it out a month in advance. On a plane you pick your seat in advance, you and your buddy can sit next to one another. Say a third friend decided closer to the date of departure to come. they may not be able to fly on the same flight let alone sit next or near you. On Amtrak, that person could join you in the same train and you can sit together with no issues.
That is the good thing about Amtrak, flexibility. Say you and a buddy buy tickets from NY to DC and plan it out a month in advance. On a plane you pick your seat in advance, you and your buddy can sit next to one another. Say a third friend decided closer to the date of departure to come. they may not be able to fly on the same flight let alone sit next or near you. On Amtrak, that person could join you in the same train and you can sit together with no issues.