Bus service Tampa AMTRAK station to Sarasota

[NYC_Writer]

I have scheduled a trip on the 91 Silver Service from New York to Tampa, Florida in late February. I am planning on taking the bus that the AMTRAK schedule says runs from Tampa to Sarasota a couple of hours after the train is slated to arrive. I can't find any information on that service, other than the small time table that is printed in the AMTRAK schedule.

Before I call AMTRAK for information, I thought I would get experience reports from anyone here who has used the bus service (either to Sarasota or another destination on that route). My questions are:

1) If the train is late getting into Tampa, do they hold the bus? Or are you out of luck?

2) Do you buy a ticket for the bus in advance or just wait until you get aboard?

Many thanks.

 

[Rail Freak]

Book to SRA (Sarasota), TPA-SRA will be a seperate ticket.. The bus will not leave without you as that's the sole reason it is there, to pick you up. I'm from the Tampa Bay Area . THE BUS LEAVES TAMPA, then goes to St Pete (STP, my stop)), then Bradenton & then Sarasota!

Have Fun

 

[the_traveler]

As said, the bus is for Amtrak passengers only. Thus is the train is 10 minutes late (or 45 minutes late or 4 hours late), the bus will leave late! There is no reason for it to leave before the train arrives, and be empty!

As said, be sure to book your ticket from NYP to SRA. This way, the connection is guaranteed - and they know that there is a passenger for that bus!

 

[NYC_Writer]

Book to SRA (Sarasota), TPA-SRA will be a seperate ticket.. The bus will not leave without you as that's the sole reason it is there, to pick you up. I'm from the Tampa Bay Area . THE BUS LEAVES TAMPA, then goes to St Pete (STP, my stop)), then Bradenton & then Sarasota!

Have Fun

You are great! I had mistakenly booked New York to Tampa, figuring the bus would be a separate transaction. Thanks to your quick response I was able to go back online, make new reservations through to Sarasota (and back) and then cancel the previous reservations.

Thanks very much. This board is a great resource.

 

[Rail Freak]

It Aint Easy Bein Us!!!

Have Fun

 

[Joanne]

I am looking to do a similar trip except from Sarasota to Orlando via Tampa. What proof will I have of my reservation without collecting the tickets from the amtrak station before hand? As as far as I know you cannot get tickets delivered to the UK (where I am from) and cant get them fomr bus stations onnly the amtrak rail station.. So how do I have proof that I am allowed on this bus?

Thanks for your help,

Joanne

 

[fairviewroad]

I am looking to do a similar trip except from Sarasota to Orlando via Tampa. What proof will I have of my reservation without collecting the tickets from the amtrak station before hand? As as far as I know you cannot get tickets delivered to the UK (where I am from) and cant get them fomr bus stations onnly the amtrak rail station.. So how do I have proof that I am allowed on this bus?

Thanks for your help,

Joanne

Couple of thoughts: First, I would contact Amtrak and ask what they'd advise in this situation:

http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?c=Page&pagename=am%2FLayout&cid=1237608364155

That said, when you make your reservation online you can (and should) print out the itinerary. While not a ticket,

this can at the very least serve to show the bus driver that you are ticketed...and you just tell them (truthfully) that

you will print out your tickets when you arrive in Tampa to connect.

Alternatively, Amtrak will mail tickets (for free) to addresses in the US (if you purchase far enough in advance).

So, is there a hotel or guesthouse where you will be staying in Sarasota? If so, you could have Amtrak mail the

tickets there, and alert the receiving party that you will be picking up the tickets when you get there.

Thirdly, if--after you arrive in the US-you are passing nearby any staffed Amtrak station, you can pick up your

tickets then.

 

[George Harris]

Don't know wheter it works for that one, but for the San Francisco to Emeryville buses, if you tell the bus driver that you have a reservation, they will hold your drivers license und walk up to the ticket counter in Emeryville with it. At least, that was my experience once about 3 years ago, when I did nto gt o the Ferry Building station in time to pay for and get my ticket.

 

[user 683]

Just to add to what others have stated....Book your reservation through to Sarasota (SRA). You'll have to claim your checked bags in Tampa and transfer to the bus. At least, that is what I had to do a couple years ago.

I'll presume you are doing the return trip. Perhaps an obvious thought, but I'll mention anyway. Keep in mind that the bus to Tampa will operate according to the published bus schedule even if the train into Tampa is running late.