Amtrak Guest Rewards - best way to handle this?

I have a two zone award in a roomette from TOL to LAX. I am buying a coach seat from WAS to TOL.

Since the train arrives in TOL about 5am in the morning, is it best to
deboard the train when it stops in TOL and then walk down to the sleeper car
and reboard or should I simply walk thru the diner into the right sleeper car
and find my room??

Should I alert the first conductor about this when I board in WAS?

I would talk with the car attendant; not the conductor out of NY. The conductor out NY won't even be on the train when you get to Toledo. In fact the NY conductor gets off in Albany and the conductors out of Albany will also change before you get to Toledo.

If you find yourself awake after Cleveland and you see a conductor walking by then you could talk with them.

Barring any input from the crew, I would get off in Toledo and walk down the platform to your sleeper. It would be easier IMHO and quieter for your fellow passengers who might well still be asleep.

I would talk with the car attendant; not the conductor out of NY. The conductor out NY won't even be on the train when you get to Toledo. In fact the NY conductor gets off in Albany and the conductors out of Albany will also change before you get to Toledo.


Isn't the OP taking the Capitol Limited from WAS through TOL?

Isn't the OP taking the Capitol Limited from WAS through TOL?

Yes, it would appear so. That said I'd imagine the advice would be the same. The conductor out of WAS will probably not be the conductor once the train is in Toledo. (Not sure where the change occurs, perhaps PIT?)

I've made the same change at TOL (coach -> sleeper). As AlanB recommends, it's much easier to walk up to the sleeper cars on the outside of the train.

If you want to talk to your sleeping car attendant before TOL, you can find your car number when boarding at WAS - a digital display is located on the the outside center of each car. There is also a small display at the end of each sleeping car.

I think the advice given sounds pretty reasonable, but I might mention the plan to the conductor that takes your first ticket.

As you can imagine, all of the conductors that work the train along its journey make an effort to help passengers detrain at their intended destination. By telling the conductor that takes your first ticket that you have another ticket for travel beyond Toledo on the same train, he can pass along a heads up to conductors that take over down the line to expect you to move up to your sleeper room at that stop rather than exit the train.

The more information the crew has, the better. This probably doesn't happen at Toledo (based on nerd's account), but at some stops the platform is not long enough to fit the entire train so they will stop once for sleeper passengers, and a second time for coach passengers (or vice versa). If they stop for sleeping car passengers looking for you when you're actually on the coaches further back, it could be needlessly confusing.

I don't think there's much of a downside about giving the first conductor a heads up about the Toledo plans, but I also agree with other posters that you could talk to the sleeping car attendant as well (and also the conductor working the train when you wake up approaching Toledo) to firm up the specifics when you get closer.

Sounds like a fun trip! ;-)

The more information the crew has, the better. This probably doesn't happen at Toledo (based on nerd's account), but at some stops the platform is not long enough to fit the entire train so they will stop once for sleeper passengers, and a second time for coach passengers (or vice versa). If they stop for sleeping car passengers looking for you when you're actually on the coaches further back, it could be needlessly confusing.IIRC (it was 6am, had not slept during the overnight in coach) there is no platform at TOL - you exit at ground level.

Just thinking - how would any station that handles Superliners have a platform, since the exit is in the center, at ground level?

IIRC (it was 6am, had not slept during the overnight in coach) there is no platform at TOL - you exit at ground level.

Just thinking - how would any station that handles Superliners have a platform, since the exit is in the center, at ground level?

I think this is a matter of semantics. I think a lot of people use "platform" to mean any boarding area for a train, not necessarily an elevated boarding area. That's why you sometimes see the phrase "high-level platform" which distinguishes it from a ground level, er, platform. But yes, you could not have a high-level platform with Superliner equipment.

But to be really pedantic, a Superliner exit is not at "ground level" since you still need to step up to get into the train. :p

I think this is a matter of semantics. I think a lot of people use "platform" to mean any boarding area for a train, not necessarily an elevated boarding area. That's why you sometimes see the phrase "high-level platform" which distinguishes it from a ground level, er, platform.

Here's a picture I found of the tracks at the Toledo station (http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3249/3147294416_ed11f38d5b_z.jpg) -- I'd say that's a definite platform, since it's elevated above the tracks (but, of course, nowhere near as much as a "high-level platform").

IIRC (it was 6am, had not slept during the overnight in coach) there is no platform at TOL - you exit at ground level.

I think this is a matter of semantics. I think a lot of people use "platform" to mean any boarding area for a train, not necessarily an elevated boarding area. That's why you sometimes see the phrase "high-level platform" which distinguishes it from a ground level, er, platform. But yes, you could not have a high-level platform with Superliner equipment.

Yes, I was thinking of "platform" in the sense that fairviewroad mentioned. It's a trackside structure designed to allow for boarding/exiting a train, and can either be high-level (in the Northeast and some Chicago lines) or low-level (throughout the rest of the country).

Of course, from the picture that trainman74 posted, I could easily see where you may say it was not a platform, since it's low-level and hasn't seen renovations bringing it the tactile edge or bright yellow stripe you'd see at newer platforms.

At some locations there's really no platform at all--the train stops at a road crossing and they use the highway pavement to safely board and exit passengers! ;-)

But yes, you could not have a high-level platform with Superliner equipment.

I could picture myself going down into the door of the Superliner, maybe with a cool slide or something. ^:cool:

Here's a picture I found of the tracks at the Toledo station (http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3249/3147294416_ed11f38d5b_z.jpg) -- I'd say that's a definite platform, since it's elevated above the tracks (but, of course, nowhere near as much as a "high-level platform").

Just about the only places "high level" platforms are found are on the east coast, the rest of the country uses "low level" platforms and the difference is you have to walk down a set of stairs and then put your foot on what's called a step box.

Of course, when you're getting on a train the process is reversed.

and remember, once upon a time that was how you always got on/off a plane -- then someone invented the jet bridge.

Bob H

Update-
I took the trip- alerted the car attendant about 3am and she went and spoke with conducter. She returned about an hour later and kindly helped escort me to my roomette, internally, about an hour ahead of when I truly would be due the room. Very easy and pleasant experience! Thanks amtrak!!

Update-
I took the trip- alerted the car attendant about 3am and she went and spoke with conducter. She returned about an hour later and kindly helped escort me to my roomette, internally, about an hour ahead of when I truly would be due the room. Very easy and pleasant experience! Thanks amtrak!!

cool...that was nice of her to do as well....hope you had a great trip!