west point
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The Star - Capitol combining may now be scheduled at Nov 11th and later as that is day star is showing sold out north of WAS???
Possible new train (Floridian) from MIA to CHI (rumor)
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So, I'll no longer be able to go from RMT to NYP on the Star? Basically I'll need to go RMT to WAS and then once I arrive book WAS to NYP since the arrival time in WAS is rarely on time.
They are still working on a fix. Normally you could just let the computer pick your connection train and have it a guaranteed connection. This change is a bit of an unknown. So it might be something you want to talk to Amtrak about. Or just give yourself a 2 hour window. Not really sure what I would do, as the Star is not practical for me from where I live.
We are just not sure on the what, why, and how long this is going to happen. So have fun reading the tea leafs. They might have a better solution then this community.
I'll definitely keep following the posts here. Used to live in Baltimore, so was spoiled for choices to NY. Moved to NC recently and have now taken the Roomette option enough that we recognize the SCA on the return trip. Hate to see that go, though on our trip last Thursday we got bounced to Coach due to an equipment failure with our particular Roomette.
Well, as you point out, the Star is often delayed. So, regardless of changes to its schedule, I would think the Carolinian would be your train of choice (unless you’re splurging on a roomette)? It’s only 90 minutes or so behind the Star and also has business class if you want to avoid crowded coaches and get an assigned seat.
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PaulM
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Will there still be no "legal" connection at DC between the NB Silver Star and WB Capitol Limited?
That remains to be seen, as Amtrak has not yet updated the schedules, they've just blocked sales.
Evidently the rumors of Superliners' demise on the Capitol Limited are yet to materialize. I am making plans for two trips west this fall, in Sept. and Oct. from Pittsburgh. All dates I have looked at show Superliner equipment available. While I am a Superliner fan, I was hoping for a second opportunity on a VII, which I enjoyed tremendously during my first time earlier this spring on the Silver Meteor.
As of now, based on lower level seating availability, it's been pushed back to 11/10/24.
MikefromCrete
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Replacement of Superliner equipment on the Cap has been talked about for years here on AU. So far, no change.
The assumption is based on the unavailability of lower level seats or Family Bedrooms after 11/10 (it had previously been from the first week of October.)
Is this service restructuring an indicator of closing down one of the East River tunnel lines for 18 months of rebuilding ?
jis
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It certainly will help the cause. It also drastically improves equipment utilization and releases Superliners for use where they are more appropriate.
PaulM
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When do you think this thru-routing will be available to book. I entered TPA (Tampa) to CHI and came up with
Bus TPA to Orlando, Silver Meteor to WAS, and Cap Ltd to CHI
and
Bus TPA to Orlando, Silver Meteor to NYP, and Lake Shore Ltd to CHI.
No mention of the Silver Star. A thru-routed Silver Star would be a one-seat-ride. Also, The routing involving the Capitol Limited offers lower level coach seating. So this has to be a superliner.
Oops! when I tried to book a lower level seat, button was disabled. So it does look like it's not a superliner. I guess it was cheaper to disable the upper vs. lower radio buttons than to delete them.
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jis
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As usual; we will not know about it reliably until it actually happens
What is known today:
1. The Silver Star, 92, is bookable TPA-NYP through 11/8/2024.
2. All classes on the Silver Star, 92, are "Sold Out" TPA-NYP, indicating a block on sales, starting 11/9/2024.
3. The Silver Star, 92, is bookable TPA-WAS on all dates, including on and after 11/9/2024.
4. Bedroom inventory drops from 10 to 4 and Family Rooms show as sold out on the Capitol Limited, 29, WAS-CHI from the 11/10/2024 departure onwards. This strongly, though not conclusively, indicates a replacement of Superliner sleepers by Viewliner sleepers effective 11/10/2024.
All this points toward a major change in the operations of the Silver Star and Capitol Limited effective 11/9-10 that is in the process of being implemented in the reservations system. Whether it involves a one seat "Capitol Star" ride through Washington is unknown and speculation. Or whether a connection between 92 and 29 will be permitted, same consist or no.
Finally, sales blocks can be lifted and inventory changed back in the reservations system much more easily than schlepping a bunch of 85 foot hunks of steel around. As long as it remains in the digital domain, it can be fairly easily undone. And it is also clear that reservations system modifications are not yet in their final form. A sales block is an interim measure.
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jis
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Then again, we have been around this block once before and came up with nada.
For the several dates in November and December on the Cap I was playing with, Family Rooms are sold out, yet regular Bedrooms are not. Terrible coincidence ? I figure they do not want to commit to Superliners as it would be a PITA for them to rebook up to 4 people including 2 kids into Viewliners.
It has to do when East River tunnel work begins, supposedly later this year. We don't know if all the repairs to the recent, repeated catenary droopings and snaggings, usually by NJT trains, will delay this.
Tunnel lines 1 & 2 are in very bad shape, likely worse than the Hudson River tunnels. One person said on a NYC area rail Reddit group that Sandy flood waters pushed down one of the tubes until it hit a bedrock ridge, or else it could have snapped in two. I was on a LIRR train Saturday off track 15 because they were using Line 2 rather than 4. It did not go over 40MPH, if that, on what should be a 60MPH railroad. NJT trains go faster than that through the Hudson River tunnels.
It has to do when East River tunnel work begins, supposedly later this year. We don't know if all the repairs to the recent, repeated catenary droopings and snaggings, usually by NJT trains, will delay this.
Tunnel lines 1 & 2 are in very bad shape, likely worse than the Hudson River tunnels. One person said on a NYC area rail Reddit group that Sandy flood waters pushed down one of the tubes until it hit a bedrock ridge, or else it could have snapped in two. I was on a LIRR train Saturday off track 15 because they were using Line 2 rather than 4. It did not go over 40MPH, if that, on what should be a 60MPH railroad. NJT trains go faster than that through the Hudson River tunnels.
I guess once the Silver Service no longer goes past Washington, a Roomette will no longer get you access to the lounge in NY. We routinely book a roomette from RMT to NYP and back because we like the privacy and the convenience of the lounge at Moynihan. Will we now have to book Business class on the NYP to WAS leg back?
1. Only the Silver Star appears to be being cut back to WAS in November, the Meteor appears to be running through to New York on all dates. It isn't a wholesale 'Silver Service" change.
2. Same day sleeper accommodations entitles you to Metropolitan Lounge access, even if the sleeper is not from that station. For example, a Regional NYP to WAS then a sleeper on the Capitol from WAS grants access to the Metropolitan Lounge at NYP even though a Regional ticket by itself wouldn't. I've done that.
3. Business Class alone does not get you access to NYP's Metropolitan Lounge. Only Acela First or Sleeper does that (or a lounge pass or Select Plus/Executive status).
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Past practice has been "same day sleeper" that included when you were waiting to board a connecting train to or from I don't think that ha changed...
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This is only the Star from what it appears. The Meteor will continue to go to NYP.
So the original time for the cutback of the Star was September, if I recall correctly. Now it's November. In the meantime, Amtrak still shows the schedule for 91/92 all the way to NYP, but with the availability as "sold out" north of WAS.
Why would Amtrak continue to do it that way instead of just formally cutting the trains back to WAS?
JB
Why would Amtrak continue to do it that way instead of just formally cutting the trains back to WAS?
JB
I think the sales block is probably a temporary measure to prevent bookings on a service they intend to cease until permanent changes are fully worked out operationally and entered in the system. It is almost certainly a lot easier to impose, and potentially lift, sales blocks to a set of stations than to change the underlying definition of the train in the system. Until the changes are set in stone, it is a relatively easily reversible temporary measure. It also gives them breathing room to reaccommodate displaced passengers booked before the block went into effect while still preventing additional passengers from booking a service they are thinking they won't be running.
I imagine that once it is fully defined in all aspects, not just the reservations system, and set in stone, they'll redefine the train as WAS-MIA and it won't show up any more.
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Perhaps because the effective date for the change is still not cast in stone.
