Late Night Departure from Pittsburgh

[Gary Barbiaux]

My wife and I would like to take the 11:59PM train from Pittsburgh to Chicago. On checking arrival time of the train in Pittsburgh recently, we saw that there was a five hour delay. Is this a common occurrence? If so, what have other passengers done while waiting such a long time at the Pittsburgh Amtrak station? Safety concerns?

 

[PaTrainFan]

My wife and I would like to take the 11:59PM train from Pittsburgh to Chicago. On checking arrival time of the train in Pittsburgh recently, we saw that there was a five hour delay. Is this a common occurrence? If so, what have other passengers done while waiting such a long time at the Pittsburgh Amtrak station? Safety concerns?

Unfortunately this train's on time performance has suffered since it became 41 from Miami in November. In the last 30 days, it has been an hour or more late into Pittsburgh 13 times and on time only 10 times, so not a good performance. There have been several multi-hour delays.
If you would like more detail, use this link and enter your own parameters.

 

[Stevenz]

I have ridden that route twice, once thanksgiving week then again last week. It was on time both times. But one must be very flexible when using Amtrak (even being prepared for the train being on time.). Fortunately, you can use the tracking map to see the status. If it’s running very late you can take a nap before heading downtown. Might as well because nothing is open around the station at those hours.

 

[Gary Barbiaux]

Unfortunately this train's on time performance has suffered since it became 41 from Miami in November. In the last 30 days, it has been an hour or more late into Pittsburgh 13 times and on time only 10 times, so not a good performance. There have been several multi-hour delays.
If you would like more detail, use this link and enter your own parameters.

Thank you.

I have ridden that route twice, once thanksgiving week then again last week. It was on time both times. But one must be very flexible when using Amtrak (even being prepared for the train being on time.). Fortunately, you can use the tracking map to see the status. If it’s running very late you can take a nap before heading downtown. Might as well because nothing is open around the station at those hours.

Thank you.

 

[ParanoidAndroid]

My wife and I would like to take the 11:59PM train from Pittsburgh to Chicago. On checking arrival time of the train in Pittsburgh recently, we saw that there was a five hour delay. Is this a common occurrence? If so, what have other passengers done while waiting such a long time at the Pittsburgh Amtrak station? Safety concerns?

People just sit there. I've done that once, and I didn't feel unsafe. There will probably be other ticketed passengers around, and the Amtrak staff have a good view of the waiting room. But of course something could happen, theft is probably the most likely possibility.

I was there during the holiday season and I actually enjoyed the people-watching. I feel you get to see a representative slice of the population. Not like an airport where everything is secure and spiritless and orderly. Not like a bus terminal where only those who need to ride it are there. Train stations get a wide range of people, and it's fun imagining what everyone's life is like.

If you're up to riding the local bus to Primanti Bros for a sandwich that'd be a neat visit. Pretty good place.

 

[PaTrainFan]

People just sit there. I've done that once, and I didn't feel unsafe. There will probably be other ticketed passengers around, and the Amtrak staff have a good view of the waiting room. But of course something could happen, theft is probably the most likely possibility.

I was there during the holiday season and I actually enjoyed the people-watching. I feel you get to see a representative slice of the population. Not like an airport where everything is secure and spiritless and orderly. Not like a bus terminal where only those who need to ride it are there. Train stations get a wide range of people, and it's fun imagining what everyone's life is like.

If you're up to riding the local bus to Primanti Bros for a sandwich that'd be a neat visit. Pretty good place.

Agreed, have never felt unsafe there, late night or early morning.

 

[Stevenz]

No reason to worry about the waiting room at Pittsburgh.

If you’re concerned about what to do while you wait, though, Primanti’s is only open until midnight so that won’t help since you have a midnight departure, and if the train is late it won’t be an option. I thought about that too the last time I was there, being a big Primanti’s fan. Too bad. It used to be 24/7. In fact there is more or less nothing open in that part of town that late unless there is something in the hotel across the street.