Business class on NER 66, 67

[MARC Rider]

When they restored the overnight WAS - BOS service, they worked it out so that the northbound train 66 runs from Roanoke to Boston, whereas the southbound 67 runs from Boston to Newport News. I thought that might be the end of the 2x1 business class on those trains because they serve two different end points on the southern end, but when I rode 67 over the past 2 week, it seems that bisoness class still has the 2x1 seating. This suggest that the 66 train set turns at Boston and becomes 67. That means the 67 train set will have to go north, providing another 2x1 business class, and then it turns and goes south to Roanoke to provide the trainset for 66. That means that there are now three Northeast regional round trips (if one counts the Vermonter) with 2x1 business class.

I was able to discover which train provides the Roanoke-bound set with the 2x1 business class - it's 151, which is the next southbound train after 67, and is a NYP - Roanoke service. That means that there must be a Newport News to New York service that brings the 66/67 trainset up to New York so it can become 151 and return to Roanoke. Unfortunately, because the lack of decent up-to-date timetables for the NEC Virginia service, I don't know the schedule of that train. I suppose it would be some sort of morning departure to allow an afternoon arrival in New York and time enough to turn it and get it ready to become 151, which leaves New York at 4:30 - 5:00 in the morning. I'd like to know which train this is, as it would give me another chance at 2x1 seating up to New York at business class (as opposed to Acela First) prices.

 

[AmtrakBlue]

Two trains run from Newport News to NYP. #174 arriving at 1:35 pm and 186 arriving at 11:58 pm

Easily found using the Schedules link in the menu bar on Amtrak's website.

 

[Thirdrail7]

That means that there must be a Newport News to New York service that brings the 66/67 trainset up to New York so it can become 151 and return to Roanoke. Unfortunately, because the lack of decent up-to-date timetables for the NEC Virginia service, I don't know the schedule of that train. I suppose it would be some sort of morning departure to allow an afternoon arrival in New York and time enough to turn it and get it ready to become 151, which leaves New York at 4:30 - 5:00 in the morning. I'd like to know which train this is, as it would give me another chance at 2x1 seating up to New York at business class (as opposed to Acela First) prices.

Long time, no see MARC Rider. How is I-EMTS working out for you?

AS you mentioned, 151 turns in ROA for 66, which turns in BOS for 67.

67 turns in NPN for 186 on weekdays and 158 on weekends.

As you previously mentioned, this would result in a short turn to ND151 in SSY.

So....

151 turns off PD 244 from Albany with an engine change in SSY. 233 turns off PD 186/158 at SSY with an engine change at SSY.

See you in a few years, when I make my next post!

 

[pennyk]

Long time, no see MARC Rider. How is I-EMTS working out for you?

AS you mentioned, 151 turns in ROA for 66, which turns in BOS for 67.

67 turns in NPN for 186 on weekdays and 158 on weekends.

As you previously mentioned, this would result in a short turn to ND151 in SSY.

So....

151 turns off PD 244 from Albany with an engine change in SSY. 233 turns off PD 186/158 at SSY with an engine change at SSY.

See you in a few years, when I make my next post!

Great to see you. Thanks for your input.

 

[AmtrakBlue]

See you in a few years, when I make my next post!

Oh, no you don't. You've gotta hang around. Some of us have missed you.

 

[Ryan]

There’s a name I’ve not heard in a while. Stick around a while or we will ineffectually complain on the internet.

 

[Bob Dylan]

Long time, no see MARC Rider. How is I-EMTS working out for you?

AS you mentioned, 151 turns in ROA for 66, which turns in BOS for 67.

67 turns in NPN for 186 on weekdays and 158 on weekends.

As you previously mentioned, this would result in a short turn to ND151 in SSY.

So....

151 turns off PD 244 from Albany with an engine change in SSY. 233 turns off PD 186/158 at SSY with an engine change at SSY.

See you in a few years, when I make my next post!

Great to know you're still there even if you're not posting like in the good Ole days!

 

[acelafan]

When they restored the overnight WAS - BOS service, they worked it out so that the northbound train 66 runs from Roanoke to Boston, whereas the southbound 67 runs from Boston to Newport News. I thought that might be the end of the 2x1 business class on those trains because they serve two different end points on the southern end, but when I rode 67 over the past 2 week, it seems that bisoness class still has the 2x1 seating. This suggest that the 66 train set turns at Boston and becomes 67. That means the 67 train set will have to go north, providing another 2x1 business class, and then it turns and goes south to Roanoke to provide the trainset for 66. That means that there are now three Northeast regional round trips (if one counts the Vermonter) with 2x1 business class.

I was able to discover which train provides the Roanoke-bound set with the 2x1 business class - it's 151, which is the next southbound train after 67, and is a NYP - Roanoke service. That means that there must be a Newport News to New York service that brings the 66/67 trainset up to New York so it can become 151 and return to Roanoke. Unfortunately, because the lack of decent up-to-date timetables for the NEC Virginia service, I don't know the schedule of that train. I suppose it would be some sort of morning departure to allow an afternoon arrival in New York and time enough to turn it and get it ready to become 151, which leaves New York at 4:30 - 5:00 in the morning. I'd like to know which train this is, as it would give me another chance at 2x1 seating up to New York at business class (as opposed to Acela First) prices.

Brand new, shiny NEC timetables are at Amtrak + VIA Rail Timetables | Rail Passengers Association | Washington, DC

It is worth checking them out. We are continously asking Amtrak to release an updated dataset to keep the TTs accurate, too. No small feat getting the latest data.

 

[Bonser]

Sorry if this has been recently covered but is there any idea about restoring sleeper cars to the night run?

 

[Amtrak709]

I got interested in this thread primarily due to the discussion of the 2x1 seating in the business class car. Reminds me of the old heritage "parlor" cars which I dearly loved. I don't suppose there is an easy way these days to determine which of the many business class service are using these cars? Just a point of curiosity on my part. If, for example, a 2x1 was in use--say--Savannah to WAS or NYP on the Palmetto, it might be worth the business class fare. Most business class (except for Acela) is a unattractive upgrade from coach.

 

[AmtrakBlue]

I got interested in this thread primarily due to the discussion of the 2x1 seating in the business class car. Reminds me of the old heritage "parlor" cars which I dearly loved. I don't suppose there is an easy way these days to determine which of the many business class service are using these cars? Just a point of curiosity on my part. If, for example, a 2x1 was in use--say--Savannah to WAS or NYP on the Palmetto, it might be worth the business class fare. Most business class (except for Acela) is an unattractive upgrade from coach.

The Vermonter has 2x1 seating in its BC car. It is 1/2 BC and 1/2 cafe car.

 

[PVD]

Empire Service trains and the Maple Leaf out of NYP all use those cars. I think the Downeaster trains and Ethan Allen as well. There is a Horizon equivalent that runs on some Midwest trains, I don't know which ones. Not sure if there are others.

 

[Bob Dylan]

I got interested in this thread primarily due to the discussion of the 2x1 seating in the business class car. Reminds me of the old heritage "parlor" cars which I dearly loved. I don't suppose there is an easy way these days to determine which of the many business class service are using these cars? Just a point of curiosity on my part. If, for example, a 2x1 was in use--say--Savannah to WAS or NYP on the Palmetto, it might be worth the business class fare. Most business class (except for Acela) is a unattractive upgrade from coach.

Slight correction, Acela BC is like Coach on the NEC and Acela FC is the Upgrade.

 

[Maglev]

Sorry if this has been recently covered but is there any idea about restoring sleeper cars to the night run?

I didn't get the impression that it was a rip-roaring success the last time they tried, and also now that 67 no longer turns to become 66 on on end, there is a major logistical barrier to a sleeper.

 

[City of Miami]

I didn't get the impression that it was a rip-roaring success the last time they tried, and also now that 67 no longer turns to become 66 on on end, there is a major logistical barrier to a sleeper.

Just run the sleeper from WAS.

 

[Mystic River Dragon]

I didn't get the impression that it was a rip-roaring success the last time they tried, and also now that 67 no longer turns to become 66 on on end, there is a major logistical barrier to a sleeper.

Simply Railway and Jeb Brooks both reviewed the sleeper version a while back.

Simply Railway said he liked getting into Boston early. But he also said he didn’t get any sleep because the tracks were so rough. First video of his that I’ve seen where he isn’t asleep the minute his head hits the pillow.

Jeb Brooks, who seems like one of the most pleasant passengers anyone could run into, made the mistake of walking to the cafe car to check it out and being yelled at by the cafe attendant because she wasn’t open yet. He had a shocked/startled expression on his face as he (who rarely complains about anything) recorded “Epic fail, Amtrak!”

So I think it was a good idea in theory but not practical in the end, mostly because of the tracks (there could have just as easily been a pleasant cafe attendant so can’t go by just that). The tracks are just as rough during the day, but that’s easier to take when you’re not trying to sleep.

 

[BlackDiamond]

Looking at the latest schedule, there doesn't seem to be a true overnight train from Boston to Washington anymore. The last through train leaves Boston at 6:40 pm arriving Washington at 2:32 am

 

[jis]

Looking at the latest schedule, there doesn't seem to be a true overnight train from Boston to Washington anymore. The last through train leaves Boston at 6:40 pm arriving Washington at 2:32 am

I have no idea what schedule you are looking at. The BOS-WAS schedule at amtrak.com shows that 67/65 is running every day departing Boston at 9:30pm arriving Washington DC at 7am

 

[acelafan]

Looking at the latest schedule, there doesn't seem to be a true overnight train from Boston to Washington anymore. The last through train leaves Boston at 6:40 pm arriving Washington at 2:32 am

Look at the Virginia schedule:
https://www.railpassengers.org/site/assets/files/20928/virginia-services_1_17_23.pdf
I see we need to add the overnight run on the DC/Boston page, so that is an oversight on our part (who make the schedules). Did I mention Amtrak does not make it easy to create these PDF timetables, given their scarce and incorrect data? We do the best we can.

 

[jis]

Look at the Virginia schedule:
https://www.railpassengers.org/site/assets/files/20928/virginia-services_1_17_23.pdf
I see we need to add the overnight run on the DC/Boston page, so that is an oversight on our part (who make the schedules). Did I mention Amtrak does not make it easy to create these PDF timetables, given their scarce and incorrect data? We do the best we can.

After posting my message it occurred to me that he might have been talking about the generated schedules, but I figured you'll step in and clarify if that is the case, as you did. Thanks for your work on this. I tend to verify the latest by doing a quick look at amtrak.com after I look up stuff in the generated schedules. Afterall, Amtrak does not do a real time drop for every change as far as I can tell.

 

[BlackDiamond]

Thanks for the correction. I didn't realize the BOS - WAS portion of the Virginia trains are not shown on the BOS - WAS schedule.