Lake Shore Limited discussion 2023 Q4 - 2024

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I was on a very late train (can't remember if it was a LSL or an NER) that arrived at South Station at about 12:30, a week after the governor cancelled late night (until about 2AM) MBTA service. I just missed the last Red Line train, so went outside to take a taxi. This Uber driver told me he could take me home to Belmont, one block west of Cambridge. I had heard of Uber but never used it before. He charged me about $55 for an 8.8 mile, 17 minute trip. Never again. I'm pretty sure he pegged me as a newbie and and made up a fare out of whole cloth.
 
John Santos said:
I was on a very late train (can't remember if it was a LSL or an NER) that arrived at South Station at about 12:30, a week after the governor cancelled late night (until about 2AM) MBTA service. I just missed the last Red Line train, so went outside to take a taxi. This Uber driver told me he could take me home to Belmont, one block west of Cambridge. I had heard of Uber but never used it before. He charged me about $55 for an 8.8 mile, 17 minute trip. Never again. I'm pretty sure he pegged me as a newbie and and made up a fare out of whole cloth.
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Yep, Uber drivers are not allowed to solicit fares, so he was working a side hustle. You weren't riding on Uber.
 
In June I will be taking the lakeshore limited 49 NYP- CHI in coach. Which side of the train has the best views westbound?
 
Jackie C said:
In June I will be taking the lakeshore limited 49 NYP- CHI in coach. Which side of the train has the best views westbound?
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Sit on the left side if you can. You'll get views of the Hudson River to Albany, and if the weather allows, sunset views of the Mohawk River after departing Albany.

There's not much to see nature-wise in the morning before arrival into Chicago.
 
Rasputin said:
I see on another list there is a post indicating that 448/48 (27) had no Boston sleeper.

If correct, it will be interesting to see if today's train - 449 (29) - has a Boston sleeper since there is apparently no spare kept in Boston.
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I see a further report on another list that appears to indicate that 449 (28) had no Boston sleeper. Perhaps there has been a mistake in dates or perhaps the Boston sleeper has been discontinued without fanfare.
 
Hi all, reports are that the LSL has a Viewliner II diner in the consist. Does anyone know if sleeper passengers are allowed to sit there between meals?
 
caravanman said:
Sad to receive a new emailed ticket from Amtrak altering my September train ride from Boston to Chicago to a bus from Boston, and train from Albany.

Same thing in reverse 3 weeks later...

I wonder what the catering is like on the new bus segments? :D ;)
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Best to stock up with your own food Eddie,,I doubt if the Bus will stop for meals between Boston and Albany, and South Station isn't noted for its Cuisine!
 
Bob Dylan said:
Best to stock up with your own food Eddie,,I doubt if the Bus will stop for meals between Boston and Albany, and South Station isn't noted for its Cuisine!
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No worries Jim, I always carry some extra food, just in case...

Anyone know... given that my original ticket as purchased has been altered, am I entitled to reject the new alternative, and ask to cancel for a full refund? And what would be the best way to achieve that?
 
Call the Amtrak number and ask for an agent. I think you could get a full refund.

The all train alternative is to take a train to NYP and then connect to the New York section of the lake shore Limited. This could be accomplished in the same day.

Another alternative is to catch a 6:10 am regional to Washington and take the Capitol Limited to Chicago. There’s a pricier Acela at 7:15 am.
 
caravanman said:
Sad to receive a new emailed ticket from Amtrak altering my September train ride from Boston to Chicago to a bus from Boston, and train from Albany.

Same thing in reverse 3 weeks later...

I wonder what the catering is like on the new bus segments? :D ;)
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What are your travel dates? We are on the LSL on September 1st. We have not received any emails (yet) and I just checked on the website and our train still shows and has the QR code.
 
We were on an Albany-Boston bustitution in 2019. It was a scheduled and not a sudden event so there was ample time for planning. The detraining of Boston passengers from 48 at Albany and getting them to the bus was not well handled. The bus was jam-packed. Two blind passengers on the bus received far more assistance from other passengers than from the train crew on the bus. All passengers, sleeper and coach, received a small package of candy and peanuts and nothing more. Instead of having a direct Albany - Boston bus and a separate bus to serve intermediate points, there was only one bus which tediously left the interstate from time to time to travel on secondary roads to the intermediate stations. Not something I would care to experience again. If I was faced with this again, I would certainly try to re-schedule or fly.

Still as the Amtrak apologists like to say, Amtrak got us where we wanted to go and no one died in the process.
 
Bob Dylan said:
Best to stock up with your own food Eddie,,I doubt if the Bus will stop for meals between Boston and Albany, and South Station isn't noted for its Cuisine!
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If they run a nonstop bus, besides one or more to serve the intermediate stations between Boston and Albany, the bus will probably make a rest stop at one of the Mass Pike service plaza’s (fast food); or it will just get into Albany much earlier than the train’s scheduled arrival time, allowing ample time to grab something there…
 
Trucker72 said:
What are your travel dates? We are on the LSL on September 1st. We have not received any emails (yet) and I just checked on the website and our train still shows and has the QR code.
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It seems that the bus and train situation kicks in on Sept 3rd... So you are in luck to be traveling on 1st of September! I am on the bus/train from Boston on the 4th...

Thanks for the suggestions about alternative routes, I think I will probably stick with the Boston Bus connection, might be interesting to view an area of the country from the highway for a change... :cool:
 
caravanman said:
It seems that the bus and train situation kicks in on Sept 3rd... So you are in luck to be traveling on 1st of September! I am on the bus/train from Boston on the 4th...

Thanks for the suggestions about alternative routes, I think I will probably stick with the Boston Bus connection, might be interesting to view an area of the country from the highway for a change... :cool:
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It will run mostly on Mass Turnpike, and possibly stop at one of the rest stops on the way. It is a reasonably nice ride. I have ridden that route many moons back on a Greyhound Scenicruiser, when Greyhound was a real reputable bus line, many moons back. And yes, it will be way faster than the train, timewise.
 
railiner said:
If they run a nonstop bus, besides one or more to serve the intermediate stations between Boston and Albany, the bus will probably make a rest stop at one of the Mass Pike service plaza’s (fast food); or it will just get into Albany much earlier than the train’s scheduled arrival time, allowing ample time to grab something there…
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I hope we will get a report on what they are actually doing.
 
Rasputin said:
I hope we will get a report on what they are actually doing.
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Well, you can always rely on me to write up about my trips! ;) I will report back here also about the bus / reststops / food situation between Boston and Albany. (I think it must be track work of some sort, as the return journey is 3 weeks later, and that also involves the bus leg.)
 
caravanman said:
Well, you can always rely on me to write up about my trips! ;) I will report back here also about the bus / reststops / food situation between Boston and Albany. (I think it must be track work of some sort, as the return journey is 3 weeks later, and that also involves the bus leg.)
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Thanks very much. I will be interested to know if there are any meal stops on the 448 and 449 bustitutions now. There certainly was no such option on our 448 bustitution in 2019. With the amount of time it took for the bus to divert from the Mass pike to service the intermediate stops (some of which seem to be quite a distance from the pike), I think stopping at a rest stop for food would have put us into Boston quite late.
 
Rasputin said:
We were on an Albany-Boston bustitution in 2019. It was a scheduled and not a sudden event so there was ample time for planning. The detraining of Boston passengers from 48 at Albany and getting them to the bus was not well handled. The bus was jam-packed. Two blind passengers on the bus received far more assistance from other passengers than from the train crew on the bus. All passengers, sleeper and coach, received a small package of candy and peanuts and nothing more. Instead of having a direct Albany - Boston bus and a separate bus to serve intermediate points, there was only one bus which tediously left the interstate from time to time to travel on secondary roads to the intermediate stations. Not something I would care to experience again. If I was faced with this again, I would certainly try to re-schedule or fly.

Still as the Amtrak apologists like to say, Amtrak got us where we wanted to go and no one died in the process.
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What's going on? I thought buses were used only in event of breakdown. When I buy a train ticket I want to ride a train the entire jouney, barring emergencies. and not be bustituted. If lack of enough cars is an issue then add more cars. If the routing is a problem alter the route. If i have missed something here let me know. I can do an about-face.
 

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