<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by UA_Eagle:
I was wondering how likely the train would be delayed seriously (i.e. more than 30 mins?) if there is bad weather?</font>
Unfortunately, there is a fairly good potential for Amtrak trains to be delayed. I love Amtrak and use it constantly, but the train service seems to be something of a delicate flower, prone to delays and cancellations if it's snowing, raining too hard, icy, etc. At least we have never heard the "leaves on the track" excuse here! I'd leave a healthy chunk of time for train-plane transfer if I were you.
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Also, I plan to hire limo/car service to transfer me to JFK. How does that work at the NY train station (Penn, I believe)? Do they allow meet-and-greet service? And how long should I allow for the ride during rush hour?</font>
There's no meet-and-greet area at Penn Station. Nor is there parking for limo drivers. Frankly, taking a taxi from Penn will be just as good (not to mention cheaper) and you won't have to worry about finding your driver in the rush-hour madness there. If you're coming in from Amtrak, after coming up the stairs/escalator into the main waiting area, head for the 8th Ave. and 33rd St. exit. That's where the cab line is.
In rush hour traffic, this ride is likely to take at least 45 minutes. Probably more like an hour or more.