How's the Adirondack these days?

[MrJake]

Hey everyone-

I'm taking a trip up to Montreal next weekend on the Adirondack, after taking advantage of a ticket deal back in June. The Amtrak Delays site seems to have no discernible pattern of performance for this train, with times ranging from 15 minutes early to 300 minutes late (yikes). Anyone taken it recently and have a trip report? Also, since apparently the Amfleet II coaches don't have Wi-Fi (thanks for not telling me, Amtrak reservations), can you get it in the cafe car?

Thanks!

 

[John Bobinyec]

Hey everyone-

I'm taking a trip up to Montreal next weekend on the Adirondack, after taking advantage of a ticket deal back in June. The Amtrak Delays site seems to have no discernible pattern of performance for this train, with times ranging from 15 minutes early to 300 minutes late (yikes). Anyone taken it recently and have a trip report? Also, since apparently the Amfleet II coaches don't have Wi-Fi (thanks for not telling me, Amtrak reservations), can you get it in the cafe car?

Thanks!

Go to http://www.dixielandsoftware.com/Amtrak/status/StatusPages/ to look up the train's performance yourself.

Thanks,

jb

 

[NorthCoastHiawatha]

Hey everyone-

I'm taking a trip up to Montreal next weekend on the Adirondack, after taking advantage of a ticket deal back in June. The Amtrak Delays site seems to have no discernible pattern of performance for this train, with times ranging from 15 minutes early to 300 minutes late (yikes). Anyone taken it recently and have a trip report? Also, since apparently the Amfleet II coaches don't have Wi-Fi (thanks for not telling me, Amtrak reservations), can you get it in the cafe car?

Thanks!

I'm not sure about the cafe car having wi-fi but the train doesn't operate entirely with Amfleet IIs. Its a crap shoot on whether you will be placed in an Amfleet I or II.

 

[Anderson]

It's something of a coin flip as I understand it...half of the time early, half late, but with a "tail risk" for being very late.

 

[Just-Thinking-51]

Long haul passangers are normal put in the Amfleet II.

You can get Wifi in the US part of your trip, in the Amfleet I and the cafe car. The service levels are not great, due to lack of cell service.

The Amfleet II no wifi but leg space. The Amfleet I wifi, but high density seating.

Leave NYC you might be sold out, so this seat plan may become anywhere you can find a spot.

 

[Anderson]

Long haul passangers are normal put in the Amfleet II.

Except when they aren't. Travel to Montreal on the train is sufficiently popular that this gets reversed a lot. I got the joy of about 11 hours in what amounted to Regional coach...seating-wise, not high on my list of favorite Amtrak experiences.

 

[AlanB]

Yup, we were put in the Amfleet I's for our recent run to Montreal; not the AMF II's.

However, if you do land in the AMF II cars, there will indeed be WiFi in the cafe car. The Cafe car is an Amfleet I, and it's that car that carries the cell phone equipment that supplies the WiFi signal to all the Amfleet I cars.

And the Adirondack is one of the most unpredictable trains, since there is simply no way for anyone to predict just how fast customs will process the train.

 

[Swadian Hardcore]

How important is Wi-Fi to you? If you MUST have it then you are in trouble anyway because the service is on-and-off. If you just need it for entertainment or "catching up" then I would just relax in an Amfleet II. The scenery is really nice on this train, no need for internet entertainment. Catch up when you get to MTR.

 

[pennyk]

I am on the Adirondack right now on my way to Montreal. I believe I am in an Amfleet I car. I have wifi, albeit slow, and no foot rests, etc. No one is sitting next to me for now, so I am fairly comfortable. I am in the first of 3 cars going to Montreal. I used a redcap to board so I got my choice of seats.

Au revoir

 

[SubwayNut]

Yup you are in an Amfleet I, I took that train from SDY to Port Kent (going to Burlington, VT, made a photo stop in SDY) a few weeks ago and was sent to an Amfleet II for the short ride. The travelers going all the way to Montreal were in one of the three front Amfleet I cars. My car was vertically empty by the time I got off.

Enjoy your scenic ride up the Hudson and along Lake Champlian (try and switch to the other side of the train if your presently sitting on the left for the best view after Albany)

 

[pennyk]

Yup you are in an Amfleet I, I took that train from SDY to Port Kent (going to Burlington, VT, made a photo stop in SDY) a few weeks ago and was sent to an Amfleet II for the short ride. The travelers going all the way to Montreal were in one of the three front Amfleet I cars. My car was vertically empty by the time I got off.

Enjoy your scenic ride up the Hudson and along Lake Champlian (try and switch to the other side of the train if your presently sitting on the left for the best view after Albany)

It is too crowded to switch, so I chose a seat on the right. I am able to see the Hudson out the left now, when the trees are not in the way. :giggle:

I am all set for Lake Champlain on the right this afternoon. Thanks for the suggestion - Alan beat you to it.

 

[the_traveler]

Don't forget that if you want an Amfleet II, you can always move! Just take your seat check, nothing requires you to stay where you are! You don't even have to ask the coach attendant - because there are none!

I have moved to the II's all the time. The only station your "forced" into a certain car is when boarding at NYP. Every other station, you can choose whatever you want!

 

[pennyk]

Don't forget that if you want an Amfleet II, you can always move! Just take your seat check, nothing requires you to stay where you are! You don't even have to ask the coach attendant - because there are none!

I have moved to the II's all the time. The only station your "forced" into a certain car is when boarding at NYP. Every other station, you can choose whatever you want!

I did not know that. I will probably stay where I am. There are interesting people around me and I still have 2 seats for myself AND so far, the restrooms are clean!!!

 

[AlanB]

Don't forget that if you want an Amfleet II, you can always move! Just take your seat check, nothing requires you to stay where you are! You don't even have to ask the coach attendant - because there are none!

I have moved to the II's all the time. The only station your "forced" into a certain car is when boarding at NYP. Every other station, you can choose whatever you want!

No! Canadian customs wants everyone together, which is why when more people are going to Montreal than can fit in the two Amfleets II's, the crew puts everyone into the I's. So if your going over the border they will force you to move back to the AMF I's prior to the border.

 

[the_traveler]

I did not know that. I only went as far as Plattsburgh. With the Ocean View each way, so north, I was in the dome as soon as they unlocked it. (I was 1st in line!) headed south, I went right to the dome. When they kicked us out prior to SDY, I went right to the II's!

 

[AlanB]

My car was vertically empty by the time I got off.

Does that mean that everyone left in the car was lying down and therefore horizontal? :lol:

 

[Anderson]

Yup you are in an Amfleet I, I took that train from SDY to Port Kent (going to Burlington, VT, made a photo stop in SDY) a few weeks ago and was sent to an Amfleet II for the short ride. The travelers going all the way to Montreal were in one of the three front Amfleet I cars. My car was vertically empty by the time I got off.

Enjoy your scenic ride up the Hudson and along Lake Champlian (try and switch to the other side of the train if your presently sitting on the left for the best view after Albany)

It is too crowded to switch, so I chose a seat on the right. I am able to see the Hudson out the left now, when the trees are not in the way. :giggle:

I am all set for Lake Champlain on the right this afternoon. Thanks for the suggestion - Alan beat you to it.

Penny,

I think you /just/ passed me heading north (we got kicked to the siding just for you!). Enjoy the views of the lake.

 

[pennyk]

Yup you are in an Amfleet I, I took that train from SDY to Port Kent (going to Burlington, VT, made a photo stop in SDY) a few weeks ago and was sent to an Amfleet II for the short ride. The travelers going all the way to Montreal were in one of the three front Amfleet I cars. My car was vertically empty by the time I got off.

Enjoy your scenic ride up the Hudson and along Lake Champlian (try and switch to the other side of the train if your presently sitting on the left for the best view after Albany)

It is too crowded to switch, so I chose a seat on the right. I am able to see the Hudson out the left now, when the trees are not in the way. :giggle:

I am all set for Lake Champlain on the right this afternoon. Thanks for the suggestion - Alan beat you to it.

Penny,

I think you /just/ passed me heading north (we got kicked to the siding just for you!). Enjoy the views of the lake.

Thanks for giving us the right of way. If I had known you were there, I would have waved.

 

[AlanB]

Somebody always gets kicked to the siding there.

And it always comes down to who gets there first.

 

[afigg]

No! Canadian customs wants everyone together, which is why when more people are going to Montreal than can fit in the two Amfleets II's, the crew puts everyone into the I's. So if your going over the border they will force you to move back to the AMF I's prior to the border.

Presumably forcing everyone into the Am Is goes away with a Customs Inspection facility in Montreal. If they put all the passengers making the long journey from NYP or southern NY to MTR into the Am Is on busier days, that really defeats the reason for adding the Am IIs to the train. Oh well.

So, baring the customs facility in MTR, if one wants the more comfortable Am II seats, then take the Adirondack in January or February?

 

[pennyk]

We are at Canadian customs now. I have been cleared.

Several agents entered the train. I was asked very few questions. The french Canadians across the aisle were questioned for about 5 minutes in French. I recognized a few words, one of which was "things."

My mi-fi will not work in Canada, but is working now since we are at the border and the mi-fi does not know I am in Canada. :lol:

 

[Amtrak Cajun]

Be safe Penny, I hope you have a nice stay in Canada.

 

[pennyk]

Be safe Penny, I hope you have a nice stay in Canada.

Merci beaucoup

 

[Amtrak Cajun]

You are quite welcome

That border crossing isnt so bad by train is it?

 

[pennyk]

You are quite welcome

That border crossing isnt so bad by train is it?

Piece of cake. It was much easier on Adirondack than Maple Leaf. But the Maple Leaf was not bad.

Looks like we will be moving shortly and I will lose wifi.