Long Distance Trains Carrying Intra-NEC Passengers

[user 14106]

Starting this Sunday March 12, the northbound Silver Meteor train 98 will make some of the NEC station stops in order to add a Sunday morning frequency to the corridor. This will be done on Sundays only. Announcement below:

Silver Meteor Train 98 Northeast Corridor Schedule Changes​

Effective March 12, 2023


Due to ridership demand along the Northeast Corridor, Silver Meteor Train 98 will make full stops on Sundays between Washington, D.C., and New York, beginning March 12, as outlined below. The schedules listed on Amtrak.com have been updated to reflect this change.

Silver Meteor Train 98​

Train 98 will make full stops along the Northeast Corridor. Newark will remain a discharge only stop. Schedule shown below:

Station & NEC Sunday Stops

• Washington - S 7:50 am
• Baltimore - S 8:27 am and S 8:36 am
• Wilmington - S 9:25 am and S 9:29 am
• Phila. 30th St. - S 9:50 am and S 9:55 am
• Trenton - S 10:23 am and S 10:25 am
• Newark, NJ - D 11:00 am and D 11:02 am
• New York - 11:20 am

S = Standard Stop
D = Discharge Only

PSN 0323-27

 

[AmtrakBlue]

Starting this Sunday March 12, the northbound Silver Meteor train 98 will make some of the NEC station stops in order to add a Sunday morning frequency to the corridor. This will be done on Sundays only. Announcement below:

Silver Meteor Train 98 Northeast Corridor Schedule Changes​

Effective March 12, 2023


Due to ridership demand along the Northeast Corridor, Silver Meteor Train 98 will make full stops on Sundays between Washington, D.C., and New York, beginning March 12, as outlined below. The schedules listed on Amtrak.com have been updated to reflect this change.

Silver Meteor Train 98​

Train 98 will make full stops along the Northeast Corridor. Newark will remain a discharge only stop. Schedule shown below:

Station & NEC Sunday Stops

• Washington - S 7:50 am
• Baltimore - S 8:27 am and S 8:36 am
• Wilmington - S 9:25 am and S 9:29 am
• Phila. 30th St. - S 9:50 am and S 9:55 am
• Trenton - S 10:23 am and S 10:25 am
• Newark, NJ - D 11:00 am and D 11:02 am
• New York - 11:20 am

S = Standard Stop
D = Discharge Only

PSN 0323-27

I believe all of those are already SM stops. So not adding stops but extending the time at each stop they already make.

 

[railiner]

I hope nobody who has to be somewhere near those times will rely on that train….

 

[Ryan]

The facts don't support that assertion. Here's what 98 looks like in Philly this year and last:

 

[railiner]

The above record doesn’t cover all the dates, but even with the large padding the schedule benefitted from, there was a wide variation between arrival times north of Washington.

I would much rather take my chances with a regional train…

 

[jis]

The above record doesn’t cover all the dates, but even with the large padding the schedule benefitted from, there was a wide variation between arrival times north of Washington.

I would much rather take my chances with a regional train…

No reason to prevent others from choosing this train just because I won't

 

[user 14106]

Those looking for a last minute trip that want to depart at 7:50 May choose it - I suspect most of these will be last minute reservations. For those worrying that this could be a stealth attack on the train to suppress ridership from points south…they appear to be blocking it out for long term reservations. They have only opened it up for the remaining Sundays in March so far.

 

[AmtrakBlue]

Those looking for a last minute trip that want to depart at 7:50 May choose it - I suspect most of these will be last minute reservations. For those worrying that this could be a stealth attack on the train to suppress ridership from points south…they appear to be blocking it out for long term reservations. They have only opened it up for the remaining Sundays in March so far.

Or perhaps there's plans to add more regionals on Sundays starting in April or May? I know one class of engineers are graduating (or have recently) and there's another class behind that one that will begin certifications soon.

 

[Ryan]

The above record doesn’t cover all the dates, but even with the large padding the schedule benefitted from, there was a wide variation between arrival times north of Washington.

I would much rather take my chances with a regional train…

It covers every Sunday, which is the day in question, in Philly, which is north of Washington. Obviously the early times turn into on time when the train is forced to wait.

I’d book it with no more concern than I would a regional. Heck, look at 156: 15 times more than 30 minutes late as compared to 4 for 98 (same timeframe, Sunday only):

 

[jis]

Looks like that is Saturday

 

[Ryan]

Good catch - was thinking "same date" forgetting that I had to pull data on 98 originating Saturday to get Sunday AM performance.

Sunday isn't appreciably different (a bit better, still not as good as 98):

 

[Acela150]

Or perhaps there's plans to add more regionals on Sundays starting in April or May? I know one class of engineers are graduating (or have recently) and there's another class behind that one that will begin certifications soon.

There is. However remember that just because a class graduates from Wilmington it doesn't mean that relief is incoming right away. Student Engineers are exactly that for 2 years.

 

[MARC Rider]

No reason to prevent others from choosing this train just because I won't

Who knows what reasons have for wanting to ride a late train. Back in 1975, I was in Baltimore (this was before I moved there), and I went to the station to buy a ticket on one of the regional NEC trains to New York, which where unreserved at the time. However, the ticket agent mentioned that the Champion, up from Florida, was running late and would get me into New York before the regional train I was going to take, and the fare was the same. Did I want to get a reservation for it? I sure did, and had a very nice and fast ride up to New York in and incredibly roomy Heritage coach that was almost like lie-flat seating. So who knows, even if the train is late, someone might want to pay good $$$ for a more comfortable Amfleet 2 seat that might get them where they're going before the alternative trains.

 

[BlackDiamond]

I had a similar experience, way back probably late 70s, Amtrak was experimenting with originating one of the Florida trains from Boston, I had a nice ride in a former Seaboard chair car from Boston to Philadelphia.