Amtrak holiday "extras"
Nov 9, 2017, 5:24 am
#1
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Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: DCA/IAD
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Amtrak holiday "extras"
Booking trip to visit friends for Thanksgiving on the NEC. Booked one of last remaining seats out of DC. Phew.
Noticed a four-digit train number which I thought was odd. Then saw an Amtrak press release which noted that Amtrak is adding holiday period "extra" segments on the NEC - using some rolling stock borrowed/leased from MARC and NJ transit.
How miserable is a 6 hour train ride going to be on one of these extras and what should I do in advance to minimize the pain?
Noticed a four-digit train number which I thought was odd. Then saw an Amtrak press release which noted that Amtrak is adding holiday period "extra" segments on the NEC - using some rolling stock borrowed/leased from MARC and NJ transit.
How miserable is a 6 hour train ride going to be on one of these extras and what should I do in advance to minimize the pain?
Nov 9, 2017, 7:11 am
#3
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: JFK LGA PBI BOI
Posts: 910
I've done NYC-Philly on NJT/SEPTA thru Trenton (Change point) and it is no fun whatsoever and that is without holiday crowds but if you have to travel you have to travel.
Nov 9, 2017, 7:18 am
#4
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 468
- Use the bathroom before getting on
- Pack a snack if you need one
- Get one of the seats on the side with 2 people not 3
- Know that you will have no wifi. You MAY have a shared power outlet
- Use an airline sized carry-on or duffel. If you need more luggage, bring 2 instead of 1 giant bag. Luggage space is only in the overhead rack. You'll see the aisle littered with big bags and the only upside is it can become your seat
Nov 9, 2017, 12:53 pm
#5
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Nov 9, 2017, 1:52 pm
#6
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: BOS
Programs: B6, Amtrak, DL, AA, Marriott, Hilton
Posts: 274
Not all holiday extras are commuter equipment. IIRC usually those have 10XX series train numbers.
There are usually some 11xx series extras, which run with Amtrak equipment. They're just extra trains not usually scheduled.
Where are you booked to/from? The commuter equipment usually only operates NYP-WAS, not up to Boston. You said 6 hours, that should mean you're going past NYC and you should be OK.
Edit info - Looks like the holiday timetable lists the commuter train extras as "Holiday Extra" and they only run NYC-WAS. There are many "Northeast Regional Extras" which will be normal Amtrak equipment.
There are usually some 11xx series extras, which run with Amtrak equipment. They're just extra trains not usually scheduled.
Where are you booked to/from? The commuter equipment usually only operates NYP-WAS, not up to Boston. You said 6 hours, that should mean you're going past NYC and you should be OK.
Edit info - Looks like the holiday timetable lists the commuter train extras as "Holiday Extra" and they only run NYC-WAS. There are many "Northeast Regional Extras" which will be normal Amtrak equipment.
Last edited by octr202; Nov 9, 2017 at 1:57 pm Reason: Additional info
Nov 10, 2017, 4:55 am
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: DCA/IAD
Programs: AA EXP; 1W Emerald; HHonors Diamond; Marriott Gold; UA dirt
Posts: 7,811
Not all holiday extras are commuter equipment. IIRC usually those have 10XX series train numbers.
There are usually some 11xx series extras, which run with Amtrak equipment. They're just extra trains not usually scheduled.
Where are you booked to/from? The commuter equipment usually only operates NYP-WAS, not up to Boston. You said 6 hours, that should mean you're going past NYC and you should be OK.
Edit info - Looks like the holiday timetable lists the commuter train extras as "Holiday Extra" and they only run NYC-WAS. There are many "Northeast Regional Extras" which will be normal Amtrak equipment.
There are usually some 11xx series extras, which run with Amtrak equipment. They're just extra trains not usually scheduled.
Where are you booked to/from? The commuter equipment usually only operates NYP-WAS, not up to Boston. You said 6 hours, that should mean you're going past NYC and you should be OK.
Edit info - Looks like the holiday timetable lists the commuter train extras as "Holiday Extra" and they only run NYC-WAS. There are many "Northeast Regional Extras" which will be normal Amtrak equipment.
Nov 10, 2017, 7:20 am
#9
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 468
Not all holiday extras are commuter equipment. IIRC usually those have 10XX series train numbers.
There are usually some 11xx series extras, which run with Amtrak equipment. They're just extra trains not usually scheduled.
Where are you booked to/from? The commuter equipment usually only operates NYP-WAS, not up to Boston. You said 6 hours, that should mean you're going past NYC and you should be OK.
Edit info - Looks like the holiday timetable lists the commuter train extras as "Holiday Extra" and they only run NYC-WAS. There are many "Northeast Regional Extras" which will be normal Amtrak equipment.
There are usually some 11xx series extras, which run with Amtrak equipment. They're just extra trains not usually scheduled.
Where are you booked to/from? The commuter equipment usually only operates NYP-WAS, not up to Boston. You said 6 hours, that should mean you're going past NYC and you should be OK.
Edit info - Looks like the holiday timetable lists the commuter train extras as "Holiday Extra" and they only run NYC-WAS. There are many "Northeast Regional Extras" which will be normal Amtrak equipment.
NJT and MARC equipment was running up to New Haven last year or the year before (can't remember which) where the catenary ends for Metro North.
Nov 10, 2017, 7:53 am
#10
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: JFK LGA PBI BOI
Posts: 910
Nov 10, 2017, 10:35 am
#12
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: New England
Programs: American Gold, Marriott Gold, Hilton Silver
Posts: 5,638
If you look at the holiday timetable, the extras that will operate with commuter equipment will ONLY operate on Sunday after Thanksgiving, have a brown header, and will be missing the symbols for cafe car, quiet car, Business class, and Wifi.
Your train, 1136, will operate with regular Amtrak equipment.
Your train, 1136, will operate with regular Amtrak equipment.
Nov 13, 2017, 10:43 am
#14
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: BOS
Programs: B6, Amtrak, DL, AA, Marriott, Hilton
Posts: 274
A) Have not been officially clearance checked (especially the multi-level coaches)
B) Would be an excessively long ride on commuter cars, and,
C) Would likely take the equipment too far afield for Amtrak to easily get it back in place with the commuter roads for Monday morning.
Nov 13, 2017, 2:36 pm
#15
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: New England
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Thankfully, clearance isn't an issue. The multilevels are actually shorter in height (14'6") than the MBTA's bilevels (15'8"). (Fun Fact: The MBTA's bilevels are too tall to fit in the tunnels into Penn Station. The multilevels were designed with this clearance in mind) Multilevels are cleared into New Haven, and everything east of New Haven has a higher clearance than that.
Your other two points are probably the reasons why.
Your other two points are probably the reasons why.