I am taking a trip from Orlando, visiting Chicago, Minneapolis and Lee's Summit (Kansas City MO area). I have taken the Orlando to Chicago route multiple times with the long layover in Washington which I like because I can fit in some sightseeing. The route in reverse doesn't allow for that much time. KC is my last visiting place before I head home so I looked for routes there. I get the SW Chief (daytime ride) then a route via Pennsylvania, which I've never taken. I can do coach from KC to Chicago and stay overnight if i have to. But I do not see the Penn route available when I look at Chicago to Orlando. Am I missing something??
I tried to post the snip from the reservations site, but it wouldn't attach.
I tried to post the snip from the reservations site, but it wouldn't attach.
The Pennsylvanian is really used as a day train from NYP-PIT, with Chicago passengers transfering to the Capitol Limited at PIT. Amtrak doesn't offer a ORL-PHL-PIT-CHI routing since you'd be taking the same train at PIT that you would transfer to at WAS.
I wouldn't go out of my way to take the Pennsylvanian from PHL-PIT, instead I would consider fitting in the Cardinal to your trip, which runs from WAS-CHI. The Cardinal takes a scenic routing through West Virginia and does have a sleeper available (wheras the Pennsylvanian does not). Taking the Cardinal wouldn't cost you that much time and should be an easy transfer from train 98 (provided he's less than 4 hours late). Train 98 arrives at 7 AM and train 51 departs at 11:00 AM and it is a published connection. The Cardinal only runs 3x a week
I wouldn't go out of my way to take the Pennsylvanian from PHL-PIT, instead I would consider fitting in the Cardinal to your trip, which runs from WAS-CHI. The Cardinal takes a scenic routing through West Virginia and does have a sleeper available (wheras the Pennsylvanian does not). Taking the Cardinal wouldn't cost you that much time and should be an easy transfer from train 98 (provided he's less than 4 hours late). Train 98 arrives at 7 AM and train 51 departs at 11:00 AM and it is a published connection. The Cardinal only runs 3x a week
In Memoriam
Quote:
ARROW, Amtrak's reservation system is a rather old system at this point in time. It once was state of the art, but not anymore. Someone at Amtrak must enter all the possible train combinations. Clearly someone did enter that combination from KCY to ORL; but they didn't enter it from CHI to ORL. So it doesn't show up when you enter Chicago to Orlando. It should also be noted that one can affect the choices seen by selecting a time range for departure.Originally Posted by Janet Belan Merkt
I get the SW Chief (daytime ride) then a route via Pennsylvania, which I've never taken. I can do coach from KC to Chicago and stay overnight if i have to. But I do not see the Penn route available when I look at Chicago to Orlando. Am I missing something??
If however you really have your heart set on riding the Pennsy, you can force it by using the multi-city option. You can build the trip yourself, the way you want it.
And while it is more round about, I will mention the Pennsy does go around the rather famous Horseshoe Curve. That said, the Cardinal is a more scenic ride, assuming that you can make its 3 day a week departure schedule work for you.