Lake Shore Limited Issues/Questions

[bigblue2007]

This is my first post...

My wife and I are taking the Lake Shore Limited in April from Boston's South Station to Chicago's Union Station round trip. I am a regular user of the Northeast Regional, but have never taken the Lake Shore Limited.

We are scheduled to take the 449/49 and 48/448. We booked for a roomette both ways the whole way. We were just informed by Amtrak that the sleeping car roomette accommodations are not available from Boston to Albany (trip to Chicago) and Albany to Boston (return trip to Boston) due to track work in Albany. Amtrak had to modify our trip. We have been downgraded to Coach for the Boston/Albany segments both ways. We received a whole $23 refund each way!

Anyway...

I have a few questions...

1. Will we still have access to the Acela Club at South Station?

2. Will we still receive the 448/449 menu meal option included because we have sleeping car accommodations at some point in the journey? Will we be responsible for our own lunch.

3. Why didn't Amtrak know a month ago about the track work in Albany last month when I booked the trip? After a little research it seems it was a known project.

4. Why does the track work in Albany prohibit a sleeping car from Boston. Is there an issue with the length of the platform, etc.

I figured you guys would have better answers than Amtrak. I asked Amtrak and have received several answers to the questions above.

Thanks.

 

[tommylicious]

On last night's 49, the Boston people boarded at like 7:15 and most went straight to dinner. Dinner was great!

 

[bigblue2007]

On last night's 49, the Boston people boarded at like 7:15 and most went straight to dinner. Dinner was great!

That is good to hear.

 

[StriderGDM]

The track work in Albany has been ongoing since last year. So it's not a matter of not knowing, but more of schedules changing.

And the simple reason is that with the current track work, it's really not practical to switch the 448/449 on and off of 48/49 without really tying up other trains at the station.

Can't comment on the rest.

 

[AmtrakBlue]

You will have access to Acela Club because you'll have same day sleeper tickets.

In Albany you'll do a cross platform transfer. I've heard the track work is done, but not the platform work.

As stated above, they don't want to merge the trains during this time because of the switching that has to take place.

The diner has always been on the 48/49 train, so pax on the 449 train did not get dinner till they trains were connected to each other in Albany. They try to encourace the 49 pax to have their meals before arriving at Albany.

 

[bigblue2007]

On the website there is a 448/449 limited menu for sleeping car passengers. I guess they don't honor it at this time.

https://www.amtrak.com/ccurl/756/638/Lake-Shore-Limited-448-Dining-Car-Menu-0515.pdf

https://www.amtrak.com/ccurl/531/211/Lake-Shore-Limited-449-Dining-Car-Menu-0515.pdf

 

[Acela150]

This is my first post...

My wife and I are taking the Lake Shore Limited in April from Boston's South Station to Chicago's Union Station round trip. I am a regular user of the Northeast Regional, but have never taken the Lake Shore Limited.

We are scheduled to take the 449/49 and 48/448. We booked for a roomette both ways the whole way. We were just informed by Amtrak that the sleeping car roomette accommodations are not available from Boston to Albany (trip to Chicago) and Albany to Boston (return trip to Boston) due to track work in Albany. Amtrak had to modify our trip. We have been downgraded to Coach for the Boston/Albany segments both ways. We received a whole $23 refund each way!

Anyway...

I have a few questions...

1. Will we still have access to the Acela Club at South Station?

2. Will we still receive the 448/449 menu meal option included because we have sleeping car accommodations at some point in the journey? Will we be responsible for our own lunch.

3. Why didn't Amtrak know a month ago about the track work in Albany last month when I booked the trip? After a little research it seems it was a known project.

4. Why does the track work in Albany prohibit a sleeping car from Boston. Is there an issue with the length of the platform, etc.

I figured you guys would have better answers than Amtrak. I asked Amtrak and have received several answers to the questions above.

Thanks.

NO!!! Call Amtrak ASAP! You should be rebooked in to Business Class!! NOT Coach!! This yet again reiterates my point that Amtrak's 1-800 agents are doing a half assed job now a days. If the agent doesn't upgrade you, or says it's not an option, demand a supervisor. Their have been times where I've called to upgrade from Coach to BC or BC to FC and ask for a supervisor and the call taker says "ok" and 2 minutes later says "I talked to my supervisor".. That's not how it should be. I asked to talk to the supervisor. I didn't ask you to talk to your supervisor.

1. Yes, you will be able to use the lounge in Boston. It's my personal favorite lounge.

2. Can't say for sure.

3. The project was scheduled to be over. But it also seems that Amtrak is debating to stop the "through" section to Boston, for the umpteenth time. Even though it was and is very popular.

4. It has to do with the interlocking configurations of how the LSL can access the line to Boston.

The cross platform transfer doesn't occur anymore. The stub section arrives and you'll go upstairs to the waiting room. At least this is what happened when I was on the NY section a few weeks back.

The one thing I can say for sure is prepared to be delayed. The LSL isn't like the Regional trains. Regional trains along with Acela trains run on tracks owned and dispatched by Amtrak, except the portion of trackage between New Haven and New Rochelle. The Lake Shore runs on tracks owned by CSX and NS. CSX from just outside Back Bay till just after Erie. The rest of the way you're on the good ole' NS. I've been on a Lake Shore that was 2 hours late, and a Lake Shore that was 45 minutes late. Anything is possible, so just be prepared.

But for sure get that Coach/BC non sense straightened out quickly!!

 

[bigblue2007]

Acela150... The LSL from Boston only has coach class. Thanks for the other information. You have been very helpful.

 

[Acela150]

They did offer BC recently on it. Welcome to Amtrak.

 

[Thirdrail7]

Acela150... The LSL from Boston only has coach class. Thanks for the other information. You have been very helpful.

They did offer BC recently on it. Welcome to Amtrak.

Acela 150 is referring to the split club car that is being used on the shuttle. Typically, that car operates as a cafe/business class car. On the shuttle, the business class section is being used to accommodate the displaced sleeping car passengers.

If you still have your sleeping car reservation from ALB-CHI, you should be accommodated in this section.

 

[PVD]

The fourth track is now open, platform work and some work on switches is not. Cross platform vs waiting room might be dependent on whether a section is there waiting for the other, I've seen it both ways. Baggage transfers and loading/unloading have to take place, it's not exactly scoop and run. Engine change also.

 

[Pooh2]

This happened to us last summer, traveling from Emeryville to Boston. We lost our sleeper car in Albany on LSL, walked across the platform to the business car from Albany to Boston. The seats were comfy, like recliners and we were the only passengers in the car. We were given a meal from the cafe car without charge (sandwhich, chips, soda, candy bar). We were told to call Amtrak Rewards (traveled on points) after the trip was complete to discuss compensation. We were each given a $150 voucher to be used within one year. We used that to cover our trip on Amtrak Cascades this summer. Worked out well for us!

Enjoy your trip!

 

[Acela150]

Acela150... The LSL from Boston only has coach class. Thanks for the other information. You have been very helpful.

They did offer BC recently on it. Welcome to Amtrak.

Acela 150 is referring to the split club car that is being used on the shuttle. Typically, that car operates as a cafe/business class car. On the shuttle, the business class section is being used to accommodate the displaced sleeping car passengers.

If you still have your sleeping car reservation from ALB-CHI, you should be accommodated in this section.

TR I did some looking and they don't offer it. I'm baffled by this.

 

[J-1 3235]

I've been downgraded to coach or bus more times than I want to remember. I have had more success with a refund when I spoke with Customer Relations about transfer to coach/bus.

Regarding the coach vs business class; I have been fortunate to have BC seating available to me during this track and platform construction period. I've found that most of the OBS and conductors are silent about it when arriving in ALB. I imagine this is because they're not sure whether the BC car is in the consist until we arrive in ALB.....so to avoid disappointment amongst the sleeper passengers, they say very little.

If the BC car is in the consist, just head right in, stating you're in sleeper, if you're asked.

 

[Thirdrail7]

Acela150... The LSL from Boston only has coach class. Thanks for the other information. You have been very helpful.

They did offer BC recently on it. Welcome to Amtrak.

Acela 150 is referring to the split club car that is being used on the shuttle. Typically, that car operates as a cafe/business class car. On the shuttle, the business class section is being used to accommodate the displaced sleeping car passengers.

If you still have your sleeping car reservation from ALB-CHI, you should be accommodated in this section.

TR I did some looking and they don't offer it. I'm baffled by this.

Acela150,

There is a split club on the train. The club portion (aka the business class section) is used for the sleeping car passengers. It is not an advertised amenity on the Lake Shore. This is specifically for the sleeping car passengers only.

The original poster should proceed as advised by J-1 3235:

If the BC car is in the consist, just head right in, stating you're in sleeper, if you're asked.

 

[PVD]

I've been through Albany a few times in the last year, including a roundtrip on the LSL. The Boston section had the split club every time. It is possible that on one particular day it was set out or not available for some reason.

 

[Palmetto]

Can a person who is going from Worcester to Albany purchase a seat in the Business Class car? If not, why not? Lost revenue there.

 

[PVD]

LSL has not offered BC service for sale. The BC car is only there to serve displaced Boston leg sleeper passengers. There has been recent talk of BC becoming an offering on the LSL as it has also been added to other LD trains. The question I do not have an answer for is whether that would be a full BC car, a split club like they are using now, and whether or not that car would come up from NYP or originate in BOS. There is BC service offered on the Empire Service Trains that run NYP to Albany (some further), it seems to sell. fairly well. There are some very clued in folks on this board who I am sure will be able to expand on this.

 

[willem]

We are scheduled to take the 449/49 and 48/448. We booked for a roomette both ways the whole way. We were just informed by Amtrak that the sleeping car roomette accommodations are not available from Boston to Albany (trip to Chicago) and Albany to Boston (return trip to Boston) due to track work in Albany. Amtrak had to modify our trip. We have been downgraded to Coach for the Boston/Albany segments both ways. We received a whole $23 refund each way!

2. Will we still receive the 448/449 menu meal option included because we have sleeping car accommodations at some point in the journey? Will we be responsible for our own lunch.

Does the Service Standards Manual address the issue of passengers being involuntarily downgraded from sleeping car? Would this not apply because Amtrak notified the passenger in advance of the trip?

My understanding is that a passenger who who paid for a sleeping car accommodation and is then removed from that accommodation is entitled to a refund of the accommodation charge and to meals at no extra charge. Can anyone with access to a Service Standards Manual confirm or refute this?

 

[Ryan]

You are correct, sir.

 

[willem]

Thank, Ryan.

But that says en route Sleeping Car passengers, so would it apply in this case, where the passengers were downgraded before departure? I could see Amtrak going either way, but probably taking the path of least resistance (in other words, bigblue2007 and his wife are on their own).

 

[CCC1007]

Considering that there is no dining car on the train from Albany to Boston at any time, I would not be expecting lunch to be provided onboard. Since the New York section arrives at Albany during dinner, I would be expecting to have dinner provided, and would complain if it was not provided.

 

[oregon pioneer]

When I was on the LSL in December, I was able to change my departure from NHV to be on the New York section instead of going (back) to Boston and leaving from there. When the Boston folks boarded, they said they had been re-booked pre-trip, in regular coach for that section with no meal at all, and given a refund ("the path of least resistance"). The split Business class car was on the train, but they were not offered accommodation in it and didn't know enough to demand it.

It used to be routine to reassign sleeper pax to the split Business Class car, and to provide the same meal as if they had been in sleeper. I am sure they didn't have to give as big a refund, either. I don't remember the refund part, but I know it happened to me exactly that way, in the past.

Anyway, if it was me this time, I'd eat or buy light a takeout meal before leaving Boston. Late brunch and some snacks for the train, maybe? Then if you can board the split car and get a complimentary meal, it's a bonus.

 

[PVD]

Passengers boarding at Albany are usually sent straight to the diner as soon as they settle in. I usually board at NYP but had a meeting in Lake Placid that I drove to, came down to Albany to board the LSL and leave my car until my return. Boston was in early, and the pasengers were upstairs in the waiting room, we all went down when the train pulled in from NYP.

 

[PVD]

Others can confirm, but I believe that the displaced sleepers in the BC split were given some type of box lunch from the cafe. They wouldn't have gotten much more at any point since the diner comes up from NY anyway even when the trains join.