Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
For heaven's sake, give yourself plenty of time to drive to the
station. Any number of things could delay you, so allow for the
unexpected. You may end up sitting in the station for a while, but
at least you'll be waiting calmly. Don't begin your train trip with
anxiety and stress.
It's commonly assumed that times listed on railroad schedules
are arrival times. Not so. When only one time is listed for a spe-
cific station, that's when the train
departs
.
If the train is running
on time, it could actually arrive several minutes before that time.
Be aware, too, that in many stations the train won't be there very
long—sometimes just 60 seconds or less.
The point is, don't be casual about the business of getting
to the station and boarding your train. If you miss a train, get-
ting things straightened out is a minor inconvenience at best. At
worst, it will be a nightmare.
Things to Know About Boarding
In coach class, a ticket guarantees you a seat on the train, but
most of the time no specific
seat has your name on it. This is par-
ticularly important to remember if you're traveling with friends
or family, because you will undoubtedly want to sit together.
While there are no guarantees, there are a few things you can do
to make sure you board quickly and, hopefully, end up in the seat
or seats you want.
If you're boarding the train at its point of origin, you should
have no problem. Just make sure you all get to the station early
and check in right away with the Amtrak official at the gate. Even
if the train is sold out, he or she can arrange for families and
small groups to board ahead of the other passengers.
If you're boarding the train en route, however, the train could
be nearly full by the time it gets to your station. Here's what to do:
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