Amtrak Timetables

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Northwestern

Lead Service Attendant
AU Supporting Member
Joined
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Messages
395
Location
Santa Rosa
Of all the questionable Amtrak decisions, in the past, I think that the most idiotic one has been Amtrak's inability to understand the value of timetables. I still have a 2015 hard copy of national Amtrak timetables and it has sort of become a bible. Of course, not up to date, but it still gives me some idea of Amtrak station stops with time information.

https://is.gd/Wg11c4
 
Northwestern said:
Of all the questionable Amtrak decisions, in the past, I think that the most idiotic one has been Amtrak's inability to understand the value of timetables. I still have a 2015 hard copy of national Amtrak timetables and it has sort of become a bible. Of course, not up to date, but it still gives me some idea of Amtrak station stops with time information.

https://is.gd/Wg11c4
Click to expand...
Computer-generated timetables based on schedule data publicly released by Amtrak are available here:
RPA timetables

In addition, a member of this site has an archive of the most recently released official Amtrak timetables:
Amtrak Timetable Archives - Home
 
Thanks for the information, joelkfla. I have been using the RPA timetables.

However, Amtrak timetables should be on the Amtrak website, in pdf form as it once was. The article mentions the influx of airline people on Amtrak's board of directors. They should realize that Amtrak is not a plane, it's a train. Train passengers and plane passengers are not the same.
 
I would urge caution using the timetables on the RPA website. Some are not current. For example, the RPA Northeast timetable is from last summer misses multiple schedule changes and added trains. Also, the posted California Zephyr timetable does not reflect the new schedule times. Virtually every station has new timing, including the eastbound departure from Emeryville that is 45 minutes earlier than shown on RPA (now leaves 8:25 AM, not 9:10 AM).

This not to denigrate the work done to prepare the RPA timetables. It was and is an amazing and, I believe, volunteer effort. It is something that Amtrak could and should do but doesn't. But heed the warning posted on the site and the timetables - check Amtrak.com to get the latest information.
 
PRR 60 said:
I would urge caution using the timetables on the RPA website. Some are not current. For example, the RPA Northeast timetable is from last summer misses multiple schedule changes and added trains. Also, the posted California Zephyr timetable does not reflect the new schedule times. Virtually every station has new timing, including the eastbound departure from Emeryville that is 45 minutes earlier than shown on RPA (now leaves 8:25 AM, not 9:10 AM).

This not to denigrate the work done to prepare the RPA timetables. It was and is an amazing and, I believe, volunteer effort. It is something that Amtrak could and should do but doesn't. But heed the warning posted on the site and the timetables - check Amtrak.com to get the latest information.
Click to expand...

On each timetable page look for the sentence that begins with: "Timetable generated on" in the information block. Look at the date on which it was generated which appears following those words and verify that it is reasonably recent.

I have brought to the attention of RPA that they need to update the NEC timetables. They do have the information that is needed to generate newer timetables.
 
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It is possible to generate schedules by date in PDF format on the Amtrak website on a computer. Searching by route name creates a schedule that shows only arrival times, and also lists all Thruway connections (one per page.) Alternatively, searching by origin and destination cities, and then selecting an individual train, creates a schedule that shows both arrival and departure time for each stop, but does not include Thruway connections.
 
Does Amtrak California, or any of the other state operations still distribute paper timetables?

(Besides the two mentioned)
 
railiner said:
Does Amtrak California, or any of the other state operations still distribute paper timetables?

(Besides the two mentioned)
Click to expand...
Amtrak California does. Starting at the following page click down to the Schedule for each of the three lines:

https://amtrakcalifornia.com/

Amtrak Cascades schedule can be found as PDF at:

https://www.amtrakcascades.com/sites/default/files/amtrak-cascades-schedule-12-6-23.pdf

Downeaster can be found at:

https://amtrakdowneaster.com/schedule/

etc.
 
Also Metro North, which quit printing paper timetables after the pandemic hit, now has printable versions on its website. There was an intermediate period where the timetables were only viewable online in the old format, which was impossible to fit onto letter-size paper to print. The new printable version is a lot easier to use, though the New Haven line on 8.5 by 11 winds up being quite a wad of paper.
 
There is something I find helpful regarding the hard copy booklet of Amtrak timetables. I have a hard copy (2015) with a fold out map of the entire national Amtrak routes. Along the routes are numbers encircled. The numbers refer to page numbers, in the timetable booklet, for Amtrak trains along the route. For example, on a route going west from Chicago, it might have "82" or "84" along the route line. The "82" would be the page number for the Southwest Chief. The "84" would be the page number for the Calif. Zephyr. If you were planning a excursion on multiple Amtrak trains, such information could be helpful in seeing how various trains intersect and in looking up their schedules. On the Amtrak website, I wonder if they could have something similar for their national map.
 
railiner said:
Does Amtrak California, or any of the other state operations still distribute paper timetables?

(Besides the two mentioned)
Click to expand...
The Michigan Rail Passengers Association publishes and distributes schedules for the Michigan Services trains at Michigan stations. So there are printed schedules available. But these are not printed/distributed by AMTRAK, if that's what you're asking.
 
railiner said:
Does Amtrak California, or any of the other state operations still distribute paper timetables?

(Besides the two mentioned)
Click to expand...
NC By Train prints palmcards and small foldables that expend to show the Carolinian and Piedmont trains. Crescent, Silver service, and Palmetto trains are not included.
 
railiner said:
Does Amtrak California, or any of the other state operations still distribute paper timetables?

(Besides the two mentioned)
Click to expand...
Pacific Surfliner has downloadable PDF timetables available on their website. Don't think printed (hard copy) ones are available.
Capitol Corridor (Calif.) has a PDF timetable available.
Amtrak San Joaquins have a PDF timetable available.
 
TinCan782 said:
Pacific Surfliner has downloadable PDF timetables available on their website. Don't think printed (hard copy) ones are available.
Click to expand...
Since Pacific Surfliners figure prominently in the beginnings and endings of our trips, we always download and print out a copy of the latest PSL timetable to have with us when we travel. It is particularly valuable when we’re preparing to arrive in Los Angeles on Southwest Chief No. 3. If our train is running late, and it looks like we’ll miss connecting with the next southbound PSL train to San Diego by a few minutes, we have the option to get off in Fullerton and catch it there.
 
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jis said:
I would draw your attention to this information thread in AU:

https://www.amtraktrains.com/threads/amtrak-timetables-and-train-information.80742/
Click to expand...
Nice collection of very useful links Thank You. It's sad Amtrak insists on making their website so user unfriendly. Their page with schedules is better than nothing. I just cannot comprehend why they would force customers to look under every rock to try and fine info. Even on this schedule link page the only way to view the complete schedule is to click the print tab. Who in the world does this on their website?
 
jis said:
On each timetable page look for the sentence that begins with: "Timetable generated on" in the information block. Look at the date on which it was generated which appears following those words and verify that it is reasonably recent.

I have brought to the attention of RPA that they need to update the NEC timetables. They do have the information that is needed to generate newer timetables.
Click to expand...
NEC timetables have been updated (with mileage) - RPA seems to be having an issue getting them posted but here is the latest. NEC is subject to frequent changes and tweaks.
 

Attachments

  • timetables_NE_Corridor2_Boston-Springfield_Washington_20240518_external.pdf
    1.7 MB
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DetroitTed said:
This obsession with printed timetables is eclipsed only by Detroit Tigers fans still posting and canonizing Mark Fidrych on Facebook and elsewhere. Get over both obsessions and I'll end with obligatory: GO BLUE!
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The "printed timetables" stuff is more about Amtrak making it quite hard to figure out anything about what your train has or does. Like, if I'm on an eight hour trip, there's a good chance that I might like a hot meal not from a microwave...
 
Timetables are a one page concise way of describing all train operations on that route, station services, amenities, connecting services, and the entire train's route. I for one do not want to ride a northbound train at DC coming from deep in Virginia, North Carolina, or Georgia, as they tend to be late. Trains are not airplanes. Most of the Intercity bus industry does not produce timetables and it is dying rapidly. Hipster and Smartphone focused Megabus is dead. Greyhound run NEON bus (NY - Toronto) is dead. Coach USA is dying.

As for times, it did not require having to initiate making a fake reservation to find it, nor deciphering multiple locations in a city and knowing station names, like Burlington, Vermont or deciphering Bloomington from Normal, IL and not be told no service exists.

The national timetable also had all station addresses, diagrams of sleepers, nationwide maps.

It now requires searches all over the website, which few non-railfans, including myself, have little patience for.
 
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Amtrak25 said:
Timetables are a one page concise way of describing all train operations on that route, station services, amenities, connecting services, and the entire train's route. I for one do not want to ride a northbound train at DC coming from deep in Virginia, North Carolina, or Georgia, as they tend to be late. Trains are not airplanes. Most of the Intercity bus industry does not produce timetables and it is dying rapidly. Hipster and Smartphone focused Megabus is dead.

As for times, it did not require having to initiate making a fake reservation to find it, nor deciphering multiple locations in a city and knowing station names, like Burlington, Vermont or deciphering Bloomington from Normal, IL and not be told no service exists.

The national timetable also had all station addresses, diagrams of sleepers, nationwide maps.

It now requires searches all over the website, which few non-railfans, including myself, have little patience for.
Click to expand...
There is also the annoyance of trying to figure out what days a triweekly train runs usually by trial and error, whereas with a timetable you just look at the top of the column where it tells you.
 
DetroitTed said:
This obsession with printed timetables is eclipsed only by Detroit Tigers fans still posting and canonizing Mark Fidrych on Facebook and elsewhere. Get over both obsessions and I'll end with obligatory: GO BLUE!
Click to expand...
You got me!

I'm obsessed with looking at a simple concise summary printed on paper that I can circle things, scribble notes on, and compare times at a glance. Maybe even hold two of them together to easily work out connection times and cross-reference other information.

Guilty as charged.
 

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