First time on Amtrak and first time using Penn/DC/Boston South Station: Acela Express
Feb 4, 2019, 7:52 am
#16
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 27,222
There are escalators from this level/area, directly down to the platforms, 2 levels below. This is where the "line of death" referred to above forms, and there usually is a ticket-checker at the top of the escalators, although it's an informal check (the real scan is on board).
But there is also a mezzanine level below the main level, and there are stairs/escalators down to the tracks from there. Most people "in the know" head to the track from there, it's easier to avoid the scrum, and there are no ticket checks at those entrances. This may be moot, however, if you use the Redcap service.
As far as Club Acela in Penn Station, it's a VERY dreary place with limited amenities. I would not want to spend much time there, but it's obviously calmer than the main waiting area. I would think they have tea (IIRC they have coffee and juice in the AM), but if you're the least bit picky, you might want to just bring your own teabags in your handbag (this is a general comment about the US
) ).
Feb 4, 2019, 2:05 pm
#17
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 43
Penn Station has two levels you can use to access the tracks. The main level (one level below the street) is where the Club Acela and Amtrak ticket windows are. When you enter Penn Station from 7th Avenue (and ~32nd St.), you go down escalators from the street, and then just keep walking straight, straight, straight, to the 8th Avenue side of the train station, which is where Amtrak is located.
There are escalators from this level/area, directly down to the platforms, 2 levels below. This is where the "line of death" referred to above forms, and there usually is a ticket-checker at the top of the escalators, although it's an informal check (the real scan is on board).
But there is also a mezzanine level below the main level, and there are stairs/escalators down to the tracks from there. Most people "in the know" head to the track from there, it's easier to avoid the scrum, and there are no ticket checks at those entrances. This may be moot, however, if you use the Redcap service.
As far as Club Acela in Penn Station, it's a VERY dreary place with limited amenities. I would not want to spend much time there, but it's obviously calmer than the main waiting area. I would think they have tea (IIRC they have coffee and juice in the AM), but if you're the least bit picky, you might want to just bring your own teabags in your handbag (this is a general comment about the US) ).
There are escalators from this level/area, directly down to the platforms, 2 levels below. This is where the "line of death" referred to above forms, and there usually is a ticket-checker at the top of the escalators, although it's an informal check (the real scan is on board).
But there is also a mezzanine level below the main level, and there are stairs/escalators down to the tracks from there. Most people "in the know" head to the track from there, it's easier to avoid the scrum, and there are no ticket checks at those entrances. This may be moot, however, if you use the Redcap service.
As far as Club Acela in Penn Station, it's a VERY dreary place with limited amenities. I would not want to spend much time there, but it's obviously calmer than the main waiting area. I would think they have tea (IIRC they have coffee and juice in the AM), but if you're the least bit picky, you might want to just bring your own teabags in your handbag (this is a general comment about the US
) ).This is brill round up, thank you.
Is it April yet?
Feb 8, 2019, 8:45 am
#18
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 43
I’ve just received a modified e-ticket for my Boston journey from Amtrak, which is worrying me because 1) I didn’t request any modifications (not at least since I changed seating assignments after initial purchase) and 2) it doesn’t look like anything has changed when I’m comparing my original to the new one. Same amount, times, seating arrangements, names, etc.
Has anyone experienced this before? As I’m in the U.K., calling Amtrak in the US can be prohibitively expensive, so I wanted to ask here incase it’s normal/there’s a reasonable explanation before I call.
ETA I have also sent an email to them in the mean time. How long does it usually take them to respond? Days, weeks?
Has anyone experienced this before? As I’m in the U.K., calling Amtrak in the US can be prohibitively expensive, so I wanted to ask here incase it’s normal/there’s a reasonable explanation before I call.
ETA I have also sent an email to them in the mean time. How long does it usually take them to respond? Days, weeks?
Last edited by Rachel1; Feb 8, 2019 at 8:56 am
Feb 8, 2019, 10:52 am
#19
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: BOS
Programs: B6, Amtrak, DL, AA, Marriott, Hilton
Posts: 274
Rachel1, the same thing happened to me this week. About 12-14 hours after the revised eTicket email, I got an email saying there had been a schedule change (pushing back arrival by about 12-13 minutes on the Boston-New York leg, then the same thing on the New York-Boston segment.
This is for an Acela trip in March - sounds like there must be a trackwork issue somewhere increasing the running time. The departures from BOS and NYP aren't changing.
This is for an Acela trip in March - sounds like there must be a trackwork issue somewhere increasing the running time. The departures from BOS and NYP aren't changing.
Feb 8, 2019, 11:14 am
#20
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 43
Rachel1, the same thing happened to me this week. About 12-14 hours after the revised eTicket email, I got an email saying there had been a schedule change (pushing back arrival by about 12-13 minutes on the Boston-New York leg, then the same thing on the New York-Boston segment.
This is for an Acela trip in March - sounds like there must be a trackwork issue somewhere increasing the running time. The departures from BOS and NYP aren't changing.
This is for an Acela trip in March - sounds like there must be a trackwork issue somewhere increasing the running time. The departures from BOS and NYP aren't changing.
Feb 10, 2019, 11:17 am
#21
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Platinum, AA Plat Pro, Bonvoy Lifetime Platinum, JetBlue Mosaic 3, Amtrak Select
Posts: 965
The redcaps will be your best friend. Whenever my mother travels on Amtrak to visit family upstate, I always give her a lounge coupon and a red cap arrives at the lounge to grab her stuff and take her to the train. Remember to bring 3-5 dollars to tip them as well - well worth it!
Feb 10, 2019, 4:37 pm
#22
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 43
The redcaps will be your best friend. Whenever my mother travels on Amtrak to visit family upstate, I always give her a lounge coupon and a red cap arrives at the lounge to grab her stuff and take her to the train. Remember to bring 3-5 dollars to tip them as well - well worth it!
Feb 15, 2019, 6:05 am
#23
Join Date: Jan 2003
Programs: American Airlines Platinum, National Executive
Posts: 3,790
I'm still suffering from PNYPALTSD (Post-NY Penn Acela Lounge Traumatic Stress Disorder) from my last Acela Express first class trip leaving from NY Penn Station. The Acela lounge is a dump and is, frankly, so derelict that it's scary.
If you're in the middle of the large hall in Penn Station (where the crowds wait to board Amtrak trains), there is a staircase, leading down, in the middle of the hall, right below the train departure board. If you go down that staircase, you'll be on a lower level, and you can board the train from that lower level as well. I'd do that. There isn't much of a crowd on the lower level and you don't have to deal with that frightening lounge.
If you're in the middle of the large hall in Penn Station (where the crowds wait to board Amtrak trains), there is a staircase, leading down, in the middle of the hall, right below the train departure board. If you go down that staircase, you'll be on a lower level, and you can board the train from that lower level as well. I'd do that. There isn't much of a crowd on the lower level and you don't have to deal with that frightening lounge.
Feb 15, 2019, 6:50 am
#24
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 43
I'm still suffering from PNYPALTSD (Post-NY Penn Acela Lounge Traumatic Stress Disorder) from my last Acela Express first class trip leaving from NY Penn Station. The Acela lounge is a dump and is, frankly, so derelict that it's scary.
If you're in the middle of the large hall in Penn Station (where the crowds wait to board Amtrak trains), there is a staircase, leading down, in the middle of the hall, right below the train departure board. If you go down that staircase, you'll be on a lower level, and you can board the train from that lower level as well. I'd do that. There isn't much of a crowd on the lower level and you don't have to deal with that frightening lounge.
If you're in the middle of the large hall in Penn Station (where the crowds wait to board Amtrak trains), there is a staircase, leading down, in the middle of the hall, right below the train departure board. If you go down that staircase, you'll be on a lower level, and you can board the train from that lower level as well. I'd do that. There isn't much of a crowd on the lower level and you don't have to deal with that frightening lounge.
On the lower level, I assume you still have arrival/departure screens or monitors down there to assist?
Feb 15, 2019, 6:09 pm
#25
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 311
Eh, I'm in there every week and it's not luxurious but it's fine and let's face it, when compared with the rest of Penn Station, it's a palace. Waiting in front of that screen can be a long stand (particularly if your train is late which it is a good deal of the time) and then a race down the stairs in a crowd. Achieving Select+ so I could trade from the lower level scrum to a seat and a bathroom was the best thing I ever did.
Feb 15, 2019, 10:12 pm
#26
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 43
Eh, I'm in there every week and it's not luxurious but it's fine and let's face it, when compared with the rest of Penn Station, it's a palace. Waiting in front of that screen can be a long stand (particularly if your train is late which it is a good deal of the time) and then a race down the stairs in a crowd. Achieving Select+ so I could trade from the lower level scrum to a seat and a bathroom was the best thing I ever did.
Feb 16, 2019, 4:39 am
#27
Join Date: Jan 2003
Programs: American Airlines Platinum, National Executive
Posts: 3,790
Ha! From reading through past posts on here, you’re definitely not the only one. For the first trip, we may get there earlier than absolutely necessary just to give us warm fuzzy feelings we’re not going to miss the train, but I’m definitely going to minimise the time in the lounge.
On the lower level, I assume you still have arrival/departure screens or monitors down there to assist?
In my experience, if you go downstairs to the lower/"mezzanine" level, head south just a bit from the staircase, and the Acela will likely board from one of those tracks (which are the tracks near where the Acela lounge on the upper/"main" level is).
I'd also try to get pre-assigned seats on the Acela if you can, to minimize hassle when boarding.
I'm taking a first-class trip on Amtrak today--I'm certainly not going to that lounge.
Feb 16, 2019, 6:12 am
#28
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 43
Yes, on the lower/"mezzanine" level there are a few 1970s-looking TV screens that show train departures (in 1970s-looking font on the screens).
In my experience, if you go downstairs to the lower/"mezzanine" level, head south just a bit from the staircase, and the Acela will likely board from one of those tracks (which are the tracks near where the Acela lounge on the upper/"main" level is).
I'd also try to get pre-assigned seats on the Acela if you can, to minimize hassle when boarding.
I'm taking a first-class trip on Amtrak today--I'm certainly not going to that lounge.
In my experience, if you go downstairs to the lower/"mezzanine" level, head south just a bit from the staircase, and the Acela will likely board from one of those tracks (which are the tracks near where the Acela lounge on the upper/"main" level is).
I'd also try to get pre-assigned seats on the Acela if you can, to minimize hassle when boarding.
I'm taking a first-class trip on Amtrak today--I'm certainly not going to that lounge.
Feb 16, 2019, 9:29 am
#29
Join Date: Jan 2003
Programs: American Airlines Platinum, National Executive
Posts: 3,790
Cheers! Because we upgraded, I’ve already selected our seats, so hopefully that won’t be an issue. It’s one of the main reasons I wanted to upgrade. I’ve chosen to sit on the waterside (side facing towards the Atlantic if that makes sense) for both journeys on each leg. I’ve heard the views are much better that way for both trips.
Also, please don't judge the US based on Penn Station.
