What's up with the Night Owl?
Feb 28, 2023, 2:59 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Away offshore
Programs: UA Silver, HH Diamond, peasant elsewhere
Posts: 247
What's up with the Night Owl?
I'm looking to plan a weekend trip from BOS to WAS in April or May, and thought about taking the overnight sleeper service one way to burn some AGR points instead of paying for a hotel night. Amtrak.com shows southbound #66 as canceled and 100% full every day, but the reverse trip #67 isn't even shown as an option. The only news I can find about this route is from summer 2022 when the overnight sleeper resumed service post-pandemic. Anyone know if this is a temporary/seasonal suspension, or is the Night Owl done for good?
Feb 28, 2023, 3:18 pm
#2
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 311
The sleepers were done a while ago and from what I have seen it was a permanent change. It is currently suspended BOS/NYP for overnight construction related to the Metro-North Penn Access project. Not sure how long will that will last. It is still running between NYP/WAS.
Mar 3, 2023, 7:18 pm
#4
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Washington DC
Posts: 1,362
Also, an earlier related thread pointed out that while passengers were allowed to sleep in for another hour after arriving at WAS, the passengers are now unceremoniously kicked out upon arrival even if before 6 am.
Mar 5, 2023, 1:44 pm
#5
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Groveland, FL, USA
Programs: Starriot Platinum, DL PM, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 1,043
Is this the reason there appears to be no checked baggage service to Boston South Station or is that a more permanent change? I was planning a daytime trip in June but had hoped to send a checked bag ahead to pickup on arrival.
Last edited by rtpflyer; Mar 5, 2023 at 1:49 pm
Mar 6, 2023, 7:44 pm
#6
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Orcas Island, Washington
Programs: Amtrak Guest Rewards Select, Maika'i Card
Posts: 257
I don't know if I've got this quite right, but I think the southbound overnight train terminates in Roanoke and the northbound overnight train originates in Norfolk. They use a standard NEC train set, so the addition of a sleeper and baggage car would be problematic.