Amtrak Northeast Regional Extended to Roanoke
Sep 2, 2017, 11:40 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: New England
Programs: American Gold, Marriott Gold, Hilton Silver
Posts: 5,640
Amtrak Northeast Regional Extended to Roanoke
On Oct 31, the first train will depart from Roanoke (RNK) heading north.
https://media.amtrak.com/2017/06/amt...anoke-service/
I am booked on the inaugural. If anyone else is interested, book now. Amtrak will sell you a Thruway connection ticket now because the system hasn't been updated yet, but it will be reissued to a train ticket before departure. The Thruway connection partner will be ending service the day before, so you will be riding the train despite the Thruway ticket.
https://media.amtrak.com/2017/06/amt...anoke-service/
I am booked on the inaugural. If anyone else is interested, book now. Amtrak will sell you a Thruway connection ticket now because the system hasn't been updated yet, but it will be reissued to a train ticket before departure. The Thruway connection partner will be ending service the day before, so you will be riding the train despite the Thruway ticket.
Sep 7, 2017, 9:09 am
#2
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: DTW/FNT
Programs: Delta (nee NW), Hilton Diamond. IHG (PT)
Posts: 4,823
On Oct 31, the first train will depart from Roanoke (RNK) heading north.
https://media.amtrak.com/2017/06/amt...anoke-service/
I am booked on the inaugural. If anyone else is interested, book now. Amtrak will sell you a Thruway connection ticket now because the system hasn't been updated yet, but it will be reissued to a train ticket before departure. The Thruway connection partner will be ending service the day before, so you will be riding the train despite the Thruway ticket.
https://media.amtrak.com/2017/06/amt...anoke-service/
I am booked on the inaugural. If anyone else is interested, book now. Amtrak will sell you a Thruway connection ticket now because the system hasn't been updated yet, but it will be reissued to a train ticket before departure. The Thruway connection partner will be ending service the day before, so you will be riding the train despite the Thruway ticket.
Bob H
Sep 7, 2017, 9:21 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: New England
Programs: American Gold, Marriott Gold, Hilton Silver
Posts: 5,640
If anyone did what I did and booked the thruway segment expecting it to be converted to a train segment, check your reservations. Apparently ARROW can't combine segments automatically, so all it did was cancel the thruway leg. You can call amtrak to be rebooked on the train the entire way, and you'll receive a refund of the fare difference since the price went down without the thruway segment.
Sep 8, 2017, 9:10 am
#5
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Interesting. I got an e-ticket email from Amtrak a few minutes ago, and the email says my trip was modified this morning. I thought maybe they were fine-tuning something like adjusting the departure/arrival times or train numbers or something, but I can't see any difference at all between the ticket email I got this morning and the one I got last night after booking. Literally the only thing that changed (from what I can see) is the ticket number is different.
Sep 8, 2017, 10:35 am
#6
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OK, this is getting odd...I just got another one. Everything looks identical again, except for the ticket number...
Clearly, when things are not quite finalized in the system, ARROW has issues!
Clearly, when things are not quite finalized in the system, ARROW has issues!
Sep 9, 2017, 9:44 am
#8
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Departing Roanoke 6:19am on 10/31, arriving DC at 11:20am; departing DC at 4:50pm same day, arriving back to Roanoke 9:55pm.
I figured that the chances of me getting to take the last train on a given route are much, much higher than the chances of ever again getting to take the first train on a new route, so I decided to make a special trip for this.
I figured that the chances of me getting to take the last train on a given route are much, much higher than the chances of ever again getting to take the first train on a new route, so I decided to make a special trip for this.
Sep 12, 2017, 12:18 pm
#10
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ARROW's stupidity continues. Just received this today:
Of course, those times are the exact same times my original e-ticket shows when I booked last week...
Though I now suppose I have an out for a full refund if I can't make the trip! I'll just claim the new times don't work for me.
Our records indicate that your upcoming travel on reservation XXXXXX has been impacted by one or more schedule changes with the following details:
You will depart on Amtrak train number 0176 from Roanoke, Virginia on Tuesday October 31 at 6:19AM and arrive in Washington, District of Columbia on Tuesday October 31 at 11:20AM.
You will depart on Amtrak train number 0171 from Washington, District of Columbia on Tuesday October 31 at 4:50PM and arrive in Roanoke, Virginia on Tuesday October 31 at 9:55PM.
We apologize for any inconvenience. To speak to an Amtrak representative about alternate travel options call us at 877-231-9448 at your earliest convenience. Thank you for being a valued Amtrak customer.
Sincerely,
Amtrak
Join us on facebook.com/Amtrak, and follow us on twitter.com/Amtrak.
You will depart on Amtrak train number 0176 from Roanoke, Virginia on Tuesday October 31 at 6:19AM and arrive in Washington, District of Columbia on Tuesday October 31 at 11:20AM.
You will depart on Amtrak train number 0171 from Washington, District of Columbia on Tuesday October 31 at 4:50PM and arrive in Roanoke, Virginia on Tuesday October 31 at 9:55PM.
We apologize for any inconvenience. To speak to an Amtrak representative about alternate travel options call us at 877-231-9448 at your earliest convenience. Thank you for being a valued Amtrak customer.
Sincerely,
Amtrak
Join us on facebook.com/Amtrak, and follow us on twitter.com/Amtrak.
Though I now suppose I have an out for a full refund if I can't make the trip! I'll just claim the new times don't work for me.
Sep 12, 2017, 5:17 pm
#11
Join Date: Apr 2015
Programs: United Global Services, Amtrak Select Executive
Posts: 4,095
ARROW's stupidity continues. Just received this today:
Of course, those times are the exact same times my original e-ticket shows when I booked last week...
Though I now suppose I have an out for a full refund if I can't make the trip! I'll just claim the new times don't work for me.
Of course, those times are the exact same times my original e-ticket shows when I booked last week...
Though I now suppose I have an out for a full refund if I can't make the trip! I'll just claim the new times don't work for me.
Sep 12, 2017, 11:27 pm
#12
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Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: New England
Programs: American Gold, Marriott Gold, Hilton Silver
Posts: 5,640
I received the same email.
It's approximately 4 hours driving, or a 1 hour flight. 235 miles as the crow flies, 244 miles via highway. The train stops in Lynchburg, Charlottesville, Culpeper, Manassas, Burke Center, and Alexandra along the way. Assuming a 10-minute stop at each of them (It's probably longer at the more popular stops such as Lynchburg and Charlottesville, and shorter at stops like Culpeper) that ~50 mins, so the train is about on par with driving. You'd probably it traffic driving into Washington at the time that the train operates.
I'm flying into Roanoke the day before to ride the inaugural (Hooray for Saver awards, 10k miles for BOS-IAD-ROA yielded a rate of 4.6 cents per mile since the IAD-ROA leg is ridiculously expensive for some reason)
It's approximately 4 hours driving, or a 1 hour flight. 235 miles as the crow flies, 244 miles via highway. The train stops in Lynchburg, Charlottesville, Culpeper, Manassas, Burke Center, and Alexandra along the way. Assuming a 10-minute stop at each of them (It's probably longer at the more popular stops such as Lynchburg and Charlottesville, and shorter at stops like Culpeper) that ~50 mins, so the train is about on par with driving. You'd probably it traffic driving into Washington at the time that the train operates.
I'm flying into Roanoke the day before to ride the inaugural (Hooray for Saver awards, 10k miles for BOS-IAD-ROA yielded a rate of 4.6 cents per mile since the IAD-ROA leg is ridiculously expensive for some reason)
Last edited by diburning; Sep 12, 2017 at 11:35 pm
Sep 13, 2017, 12:41 pm
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SGF
Programs: AS, AA, UA, AGR S (former 75K, GLD, 1K, and S+, now an elite peon)
Posts: 23,194
I received the same email.
It's approximately 4 hours driving, or a 1 hour flight. 235 miles as the crow flies, 244 miles via highway. The train stops in Lynchburg, Charlottesville, Culpeper, Manassas, Burke Center, and Alexandra along the way. Assuming a 10-minute stop at each of them (It's probably longer at the more popular stops such as Lynchburg and Charlottesville, and shorter at stops like Culpeper) that ~50 mins, so the train is about on par with driving. You'd probably it traffic driving into Washington at the time that the train operates.
I'm flying into Roanoke the day before to ride the inaugural (Hooray for Saver awards, 10k miles for BOS-IAD-ROA yielded a rate of 4.6 cents per mile since the IAD-ROA leg is ridiculously expensive for some reason)
It's approximately 4 hours driving, or a 1 hour flight. 235 miles as the crow flies, 244 miles via highway. The train stops in Lynchburg, Charlottesville, Culpeper, Manassas, Burke Center, and Alexandra along the way. Assuming a 10-minute stop at each of them (It's probably longer at the more popular stops such as Lynchburg and Charlottesville, and shorter at stops like Culpeper) that ~50 mins, so the train is about on par with driving. You'd probably it traffic driving into Washington at the time that the train operates.
I'm flying into Roanoke the day before to ride the inaugural (Hooray for Saver awards, 10k miles for BOS-IAD-ROA yielded a rate of 4.6 cents per mile since the IAD-ROA leg is ridiculously expensive for some reason)
Most of the reason it takes 5 hours to do a 4-hour drive is because the train isn't spending most of its time going 79mph.
Oct 31, 2017, 4:14 am
#15
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: New England
Programs: American Gold, Marriott Gold, Hilton Silver
Posts: 5,640
I stumbled upon the media event yesterday (trip report and photos to come!).
Amtrak wasn't entirely honest with the media about how great their trains were. Yesterday, they ran a special from Lynchburg to Roanoke just for the media and elected officials. On the train was: Locomotive - Three Business Class Cars (with tables at the ends!) - Cafe Car (with tablecloths!) - Beech Grove (Amtrak's private office car). They also scrubbed the heck out of the Cafe car, because I've never seen one so clean!.
I'm currently seated in the Business Class car.
Amtrak wasn't entirely honest with the media about how great their trains were. Yesterday, they ran a special from Lynchburg to Roanoke just for the media and elected officials. On the train was: Locomotive - Three Business Class Cars (with tables at the ends!) - Cafe Car (with tablecloths!) - Beech Grove (Amtrak's private office car). They also scrubbed the heck out of the Cafe car, because I've never seen one so clean!.
I'm currently seated in the Business Class car.
Last edited by diburning; Oct 31, 2017 at 9:40 am