Florida Thruway Question?

[Rail Freak]

I don't quite understand why, out of Pinellas County (Clearwater/ St Pete), you can only use the Thruway bus if you're coming from or going to the north???? :unsure:

 

[the_traveler]

Back years ago, the Silver trains used to go to Tampa, then up to Clearwater and back down to St. Pete. But in the early 90's (IIRC), they were terminated in Tampa. Back then, both split at Auburndale (sp?), with one section going to Lakeland and Tampa, and the other section heading to Miami. Now only one goes to Lakeland (twice!) and Tampa (doing a dogleg turn), while the other bypasses both. Thus, you need to take a bus to ORL (IIRC) to catch the train north!

 

[Rail Freak]

Back years ago, the Silver trains used to go to Tampa, then up to Clearwater and back down to St. Pete. But in the early 90's (IIRC), they were terminated in Tampa. Back then, both split at Auburndale (sp?), with one section going to Lakeland and Tampa, and the other section heading to Miami. Now only one goes to Lakeland (twice!) and Tampa (doing a dogleg turn), while the other bypasses both. Thus, you need to take a bus to ORL (IIRC) to catch the train north!

But, I was told I can't use the thruway bus from St Pete if I'm going South or coming from the South to St Pete???? :huh:

 

[Amtrak OBS Gone Freight]

Back years ago, the Silver trains used to go to Tampa, then up to Clearwater and back down to St. Pete. But in the early 90's (IIRC), they were terminated in Tampa. Back then, both split at Auburndale (sp?), with one section going to Lakeland and Tampa, and the other section heading to Miami. Now only one goes to Lakeland (twice!) and Tampa (doing a dogleg turn), while the other bypasses both. Thus, you need to take a bus to ORL (IIRC) to catch the train north!

Actually both the Northbound and Southbound "Silver Star" trains #91 and #92 go to and from TPA via LAK. This makes for four Amtrak trains to pass through LAK each day. Train #91 is usually the first train and makes an actual SB into TPA and heads back out NB in actual direction though still railroad SB to continue its trip to MIA. And then in the later afternoon train number #92 coming back from MIA does the same thing, thus four trains pass through LAK. So in other words there are two #91s and two #92s each day on the leg between Auburndale and Tampa. Train #98 and #97 (Silver Meteor) make the left turn at Auburndale and head straight to MIA from there bypassing LAK and TPA all together. When the Silver Star does that once in a while it is because there is either track work going on or the train is very late and while it is an inconvenience to the TPA and LAK passengers, it saves time by not going on the TPA leg in those cases.

I think the OP is mainly commenting on the fact the the throughway motor coach service to Clearwater and St Pete is not available to those who are traveling between TPA and MIA, but only to those passengers who are traveling between TPA and NYP.

OBS gone freight...

 

[Rail Freak]

Back years ago, the Silver trains used to go to Tampa, then up to Clearwater and back down to St. Pete. But in the early 90's (IIRC), they were terminated in Tampa. Back then, both split at Auburndale (sp?), with one section going to Lakeland and Tampa, and the other section heading to Miami. Now only one goes to Lakeland (twice!) and Tampa (doing a dogleg turn), while the other bypasses both. Thus, you need to take a bus to ORL (IIRC) to catch the train north!

Actually both the Northbound and Southbound "Silver Star" trains #91 and #92 go to and from TPA via LAK. This makes for four Amtrak trains to pass through LAK each day. Train #91 is usually the first train and makes an actual SB into TPA and heads back out NB in actual direction though still railroad SB to continue its trip to MIA. And then in the later afternoon train number #92 does the same thing, thus four trains pass through LAK. Train #98 and #97 (Silver Meteor) make the left turn at Auburndale and head straight to MIA from there bypassing LAK and TPA all together. When the Silver Star does that once in a while it is because there is either track work going on or the train is very late and while it is an inconvenience to the TPA and LAK passengers, it saves time by not going on the TPA leg in those cases.

I think the OP is mainly commenting on the fact the the throughway motor coach service to Clearwater and St Pete is not available to those who are traveling between TPA and MIA, but only to those passengers who are traveling between TPA and NYP.

OBS gone freight...

Thanx,

You Got It! :lol:

 

[AmtrakWPK]

Two possible solutions: If you are using a Florida Resident Annual Railpass, and are flexible as to when you actually take the trip, pick a day when 91 is running late enough, or 97 is running a couple of hours late, with 98 close to on-time, and take the thruway bus to ORL, and 98 to WPK, then take 97 or 91south from there. Simply tell the thruway bus driver that you are taking 98 at Orlando. Or take public transit to TUS and take 91 south. If you don't have that railpass (they don't sell them any more but if you bought one while they were stil on sale, they are still good for a year from date of sale), then wait for a day when the OTP is what it needs to be for this to work, check that there are seats available, then make two separate reservations, one from St. Pete on the thruway and 98 to WPK and then the second southbound on 91/97. But be SURE to make those reservations BEFORE the time the train is scheduled into WPK southbound, or the system will NOT sell you a ticket even if there is space available, because as far as the system is concerned, once the scheduled station time has passed, it can't sell you a ticket - the system doesn't know or care that the train hasn't actually arrived at that station yet. And don't try to put both legs on one purchase - it won't let you, I don't think.

 

[battalion51]

You should still be able to make that purchase at the station however. The agents can force reservations in there using overrides or something to that effect when the train is running late.