Some Empire Service Switched to Grand Central Station
#19
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,614
This is incorrect. They have the combined business+cafe car, at least train #235 on Thursday did.
(1) Reserved Coaches
(2) Business Class, where non-alcoholic beverages are offered. Were you by chance travelling in business?
(3) Wi-Fi
#20
Join Date: Apr 2015
Programs: United Global Services, Amtrak Select Executive
Posts: 4,068
#21
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,614
Regardless of any of that, it is incorrect that these trains do not have Cafe Cars. Train #235 on Thursday had a cafe car that included the business section, and there was no cafe service in that cafe car.
#22
Join Date: Jan 2003
Programs: American Airlines Platinum, National Executive
Posts: 3,790
I noticed that Amtrak's "line up and wait for no purpose" boarding applies at Grand Central.
The platform (Track 38) is accessible from the north and the south.
The Amtrak train is the only train the entire station that is not Metro-North, and the only one in the entire station that has a color scheme and shape unlike Metro-North trains.
There was an Amtrak crew member near the south entrance to Track 38, directing people where to go.
The train had been serviced and looked ready.
So couldn't Amtrak just let people do as they normally do in Grand Central: just walk up and board?
Of course not. Passengers had to line up at the south end of Track 38 and wait before being allowed to board--even though to do so, for people coming from north of the station, required walking all the way to the south end of the platform just to stand there and wait.
Ridiculous.
The platform (Track 38) is accessible from the north and the south.
The Amtrak train is the only train the entire station that is not Metro-North, and the only one in the entire station that has a color scheme and shape unlike Metro-North trains.
There was an Amtrak crew member near the south entrance to Track 38, directing people where to go.
The train had been serviced and looked ready.
So couldn't Amtrak just let people do as they normally do in Grand Central: just walk up and board?
Of course not. Passengers had to line up at the south end of Track 38 and wait before being allowed to board--even though to do so, for people coming from north of the station, required walking all the way to the south end of the platform just to stand there and wait.
Ridiculous.
#24
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: n.y.c.
Posts: 13,983
#25
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,614
You can find more on this subject at the following website, where the Amtrak forum has an ongoing discussion on this subject:
railroad.net
#26
Join Date: Apr 2015
Programs: United Global Services, Amtrak Select Executive
Posts: 4,068
Are Amtrak trains utilizing GCT again this summer? I didn't hear anything about this...
#27
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: n.y.c.
Posts: 13,983
The booking website at least makes the switch more transparent this year - if you try to book out of NYP it will present itineraries out of NYG along with a message about the station switch. Last year it would just return no trains.
#28
Join Date: Apr 2015
Programs: United Global Services, Amtrak Select Executive
Posts: 4,068
It looks like an email didn't go out this year.
The booking website at least makes the switch more transparent this year - if you try to book out of NYP it will present itineraries out of NYG along with a message about the station switch. Last year it would just return no trains.
The booking website at least makes the switch more transparent this year - if you try to book out of NYP it will present itineraries out of NYG along with a message about the station switch. Last year it would just return no trains.
#29
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: JFK LGA PBI BOI
Posts: 909
Amtrak engines do not have the escape hatch on the nose for the engine. Clearances in the Park Ave tunnel would not allow the engineer to exit the cab in an emergency.
So Amtrak has leased cab cars to be added in Albany while they are modifying enough engines with the escape hatch.
Trains are looped at GCT and have the cab car leading both directions.
So Amtrak has leased cab cars to be added in Albany while they are modifying enough engines with the escape hatch.
Trains are looped at GCT and have the cab car leading both directions.