flag stop

[mark]

I will be getting on the train at the scheduled time of 3:56 am in Newburn tn. at a flag stop. what happens if the train is early, will they wait for the scheduled time be for the train departs.

thanks

 

[Ryan]

Yes.

Unless a stop is marked as such, the train cannot leave until the scheduled time.

 

[mark]

Thank you, new to Amtrak. I thought that was how it worked.

 

[OBS]

Also, assuming you have a reservation, they will be looking for/ expecting you.

 

[mark]

Yes I do have reservations, I will still get there 30 or 45 min early because its a 1 and half hour drive for me. thanks for every ones help.

mark

 

[Ryan]

Sounds like a good plan, have a great trip!

 

[lepearso]

I caught a train out of Newbern once that arrived ahead of schedule. They held the train until the exact departure time.

Hope you enjoy your trip.

 

[gregoryla]

My understanding is that if no one has a reservation to board the train at a flag stop (and assuming that no one is deboarding), the train will not stop at a flag stop -- that is the definition of a flag stop. However, if you have a reservation to board at a flag stop, the train will remain at the stop until the scheduled departure time (unless otherwise noted in the schedule).

 

[TML]

For flag stops, the train will be guaranteed to stop as long as at least one person has made a reservation involving that stop. Otherwise, it will slow down as it approaches the stop to see if anyone is at the station flagging it; if not, the train will then pass the station slowly. In your case, since you've made the reservation, you can rest assured that the train will stop at least until its scheduled departure time.

 

[Swadian Hardcore]

I caught a train out of Newbern once that arrived ahead of schedule. They held the train until the exact departure time.

Hope you enjoy your trip.

How early was the CONO?

 

[mark]

Thanks for all the info, I am riding coach to Memphis then I have a roomette to new Orleans where I will sail on the NCL star,cant wait! Coming back I have a roomette all the way back to newburn Tn. I am looking forward to the train trip more than the cruise !! Every one on this board has been so nice and helpful I just wont to say thanks again .

Mark

 

[Amtrak George]

Hi Mark--the first run of the CONO south of Memphis since Isaac is Sept. 11. I hope your trip is that date or later.

 

[Ryan]

Otherwise, it will slow down as it approaches the stop to see if anyone is at the station flagging it; if not, the train will then pass the station slowly.

Not if the train is early. Even without any reservations on the books, I don't think that it's allowed to depart before the scheduled time. If you look at the "D" notation on the timetable, it specifically states that the train may leave early. The note with the crossed flags doesn't have that language.

 

[ehbowen]

I was on a Sunset Limited that was 10 minutes early into Sanderson. The conductor got on the PA and said that, even though there were no passengers scheduled for/from that stop, he was not allowed to leave it until the scheduled time. He even had the attendants open the doors and allow passengers to take an unscheduled smoke break...although he was careful to emphasize, DON'T LEAVE THE PLATFORM!

Amtrak timetable times are not just for the information and convenience of passengers. The UP dispatcher was, I am sure, counting on the fact that no train would be in that block until the scheduled time. Leaving early can cause much more problematic consequences than inconvenience to a passenger's schedule.

 

[Devil's Advocate]

For flag stops, the train will be guaranteed to stop as long as at least one person has made a reservation involving that stop. Otherwise, it will slow down as it approaches the stop to see if anyone is at the station flagging it; if not, the train will then pass the station slowly.

Hold up. You can actually "flag" down a train that is passing through a flag stop without a reservation?! I'm intrigued. Almost intrigued enough to try it. How would you know how much the ticket would be?

I was on a Sunset Limited that was 10 minutes early into Sanderson. The conductor got on the PA and said that, even though there were no passengers scheduled for/from that stop, he was not allowed to leave it until the scheduled time. He even had the attendants open the doors and allow passengers to take an unscheduled smoke break...although he was careful to emphasize, DON'T LEAVE THE PLATFORM!

There's a platform in Sanderson?

 

[Trogdor]

The UP dispatcher was, I am sure, counting on the fact that no train would be in that block until the scheduled time. Leaving early can cause much more problematic consequences than inconvenience to a passenger's schedule.

If the dispatcher doesn't want a train in a particular block, then he won't give the train a signal (or, if it's not CTC territory, then he won't give the train track warrant authority beyond a certain location).

Other than that, once the lineup has been set or track warrant issued, the dispatcher really wouldn't care how quickly the train makes it to the next location (and most of them would probably say the quicker the better).

 

[ehbowen]

For flag stops, the train will be guaranteed to stop as long as at least one person has made a reservation involving that stop. Otherwise, it will slow down as it approaches the stop to see if anyone is at the station flagging it; if not, the train will then pass the station slowly.

Hold up. You can actually "flag" down a train that is passing through a flag stop without a reservation?! I'm intrigued. Almost intrigued enough to try it. How would you know how much the ticket would be?

I was on a Sunset Limited that was 10 minutes early into Sanderson. The conductor got on the PA and said that, even though there were no passengers scheduled for/from that stop, he was not allowed to leave it until the scheduled time. He even had the attendants open the doors and allow passengers to take an unscheduled smoke break...although he was careful to emphasize, DON'T LEAVE THE PLATFORM!

There's a platform in Sanderson?

Not much of one! It's pretty much grass and gravel.

 

[railiner]

Hi Mark--the first run of the CONO south of Memphis since Isaac is Sept. 11. I hope your trip is that date or later.

It will be much later....NCL Star doesn't start cruising out of New Orleans until 4 November....

 

[mark]

My ship will sail DEC. 2 2012, every thing will be good by then, I HOPE. I will be getting to new Orleans a day be for so i will be staying at a hotel sat night.

thanks every one,

mark