North East Corridor (NEC) night train and sleeper journey

[joelkfla]

Have the volume controls been disabled for safety reasons?

If not, there's also no excuse for not repairing or replacing a simple rheostat.

 

[jis]

And there's really no excuse for not having the room clean at the point of origin.

It is Southampton Street! 'nugh said. They tried their level best for a long time to try to avoid having to deal with a Sleeper on the Boston Section of the LSL. And now *shudder* they have to deal with Sleepers on two trains. Probably throwing a passive-aggressive hissy-fit.

 

[Cal]

This is largely because 448/49 (but especially the Boston leg) can't compete with any other form of travel on that route (even intermediate cities), and it doesn't offer a service that would make it worth it. The train is late most of the time and has terrible service. It is already far too long a train ride, so a very small portion of passengers use the train to get from either end to the other.

I went to school in Oberlin close to the Elyria stop and would have gladly taken a train from South Station, but the whole Cleveland area has terrible stop times (in early morning around 3-4am), and it just wasn't worth the 16 hours aboard the train. A ticket in coach might be worth it if buses didn't provide faster and cheaper service to KCLE area.

I thought it was pretty popular, and I've seen many people on here say there should be a second frequency..

 

[Tlcooper44]

If you wanted to go past WAS would you just book two tickets: one sleeper to WAS and one coach to NPN — because if you try to book BOS to NPN it says the sleeper is sold out for all dates... certainly would want to get a sleeper for as much of the journey as possible. Also — if the sleeper stays on the train in WAS would they let you just stay in your room?

The sleeper is deadheaded to NPN, but one cant enter. There was a discussion about this not long ago, but I forget what the consensus was.
The sleeper attendant de trains at WAS.

 

[west point]

Thought that the sleeper was removed added at WASH. That is the reason it is at front connected to the ACS-64.

 

[Dakota 400]

Doesn't Amtrak have a moratorium on announcements after 9 p.m.?

I am remembering that I have heard an announcement that after 10:00 P. M. until 6:00 A. M. was "quiet time" on the train. I know I heard it on the Auto Train, but also on at least one or more of the Western LD trains.

 

[MARC Rider]

That's just lack of will. There is always a way to do it if you want to. I remember when the Houston section of the Texas Eagle. was still running. They didn't have a baggage car, either...but they offered checked baggage. They used the A/C equipment space at the end of the Superliner Cafe/Coach to hold the checked baggage. I realize that Amfleets and Viewliners don't have this same space, but an analogue could be found if they really wanted to. For example, they could place a VL roomette Out Of Service and use it to hold the checked bags. It's not like they need to offer checked bags to intermediate points; just having Albany and Boston (in that section) would suffice.

1) The Texas Eagle is a completely different story if it's using Superliner equipment, because they have some coaches with a baggage compartment. Thus, they can offer checked baggage without having a baggage car.
2) I've occasionally been able to look into the baggage cars on the trains (single level service) I've ridden that have them. Being the last car in the train, you can go to the rear sleeper or business class car and look through what used to be the "railfan window." There's a window on the access door the the V2 baggage cars, and so you can see right in. What I've seen is that the amount of checked baggage is miniscule. The vast majority of passengers, even on long-distance trains, just don't feel the need to check their bags. The carry-on allowance is pretty generous, and, although there are exceptions, if you're having trouble with handling your bags, the train staff will help you. The widespread adoption of roller bags has also made schlepping bags around less of a hassle. The only time I've ever checked baggage is when I'm bringing along skis and my winter gear bag, but really, I tend to take too much stuff on those trips. In other words, most passengers don't use checked baggage, so if the management feels they need to do something to save money, that seems like something they can afford to cut in order to keep the rest of the service going.

 

[MARC Rider]

I am remembering that I have heard an announcement that after 10:00 P. M. until 6:00 A. M. was "quiet time" on the train. I know I heard it on the Auto Train, but also on at least one or more of the Western LD trains.

Having ridden business class on 67 from Boston to Washington a number of times, I don't remember loud announcements, or any announcements at all, until, maybe Baltimore. The usually turn on the overhead lights somewhere between Baltimore and BWI. The train arrive in Baltimore some time around 6 AM. That's about 40 - 45 minutes before arrival in Washington.

 

[me_little_me]

All you really need to know is that 448 and 449 are the least respected trains in the Amtrak system. They get no respect. They used to offer good service but that has declined. I wouldn't be surprised if the sleeper will go next, followed by the cafe car. And then 448 and 449 will disappear but no one will notice.

So are they changing the name of that portion from LSL to RD (The Rodney Dangerfield)?

 

[west point]

IMO the need for full baggage cars has times of needs.
1. During the Christmas time extra packages to relatives might increase the need ?
2. If Amtrak gets enough equipment and passenger demand for the train lengths to be in the 12 -13 revenue cars there will be enough checked bags to fill a full bag car ?.

 

[NEPATrainTraveler]

I am remembering that I have heard an announcement that after 10:00 P. M. until 6:00 A. M. was "quiet time" on the train. I know I heard it on the Auto Train, but also on at least one or more of the Western LD trains.

That's how it was on the LSL too when I rode it in 2018.

 

[City of Miami]

Mostly money.

Additionally staff on board (one conductor per three cars.), staff at stations, weight of the car (fuel use, extra locomotive). Maintenance of equipment, both train and station. The cost of the equipment to provide the service.

A strong desire to make it harder to use the long distance trains. (Conspiracy theory)

Beyond the obvious lack of baggage car the rest is pure conjecture imho and may or may not be true.

 

[Seaboard92]

I believe as a northeast regional No. 65/66/67 are under a different set of rules. Someone else will have to confirm this but I'm pretty certain that is the case. National Network trains have quiet hours.

 

[Bob Dylan]

1) The Texas Eagle is a completely different story if it's using Superliner equipment, because they have some coaches with a baggage compartment. Thus, they can offer checked baggage without having a baggage car.
2) I've occasionally been able to look into the baggage cars on the trains (single level service) I've ridden that have them. Being the last car in the train, you can go to the rear sleeper or business class car and look through what used to be the "railfan window." There's a window on the access door the the V2 baggage cars, and so you can see right in. What I've seen is that the amount of checked baggage is miniscule. The vast majority of passengers, even on long-distance trains, just don't feel the need to check their bags. The carry-on allowance is pretty generous, and, although there are exceptions, if you're having trouble with handling your bags, the train staff will help you. The widespread adoption of roller bags has also made schlepping bags around less of a hassle. The only time I've ever checked baggage is when I'm bringing along skis and my winter gear bag, but really, I tend to take too much stuff on those trips. In other words, most passengers don't use checked baggage, so if the management feels they need to do something to save money, that seems like something they can afford to cut in order to keep the rest of the service going.

Why dont they put one of the New Bag Dorms on the Card and the LSL??

 

[Just-Thinking-51]

Why dont they put one of the New Bag Dorms on the Card and the LSL??

Only 10 Dormitory/Baggage cars available. Two for the Cardinal, Three for the Lake Shore Limited. With the limited staff with these (any single level) trains, it a big empty car with few bags, and one or two crew.

 

[ehbowen]

1) The Texas Eagle is a completely different story if it's using Superliner equipment, because they have some coaches with a baggage compartment. Thus, they can offer checked baggage without having a baggage car.

The Houston section of the Texas Eagle was two cars...a Superliner coach (with lower level seating for ADA), and a coach/café (with the café on the lower level). No baggage compartment. As I said, they made do; they tucked the checked bags into the A/C equipment space between Dallas and Houston. They could do something similar between Albany and Boston if they really wanted to.

 

[Just-Thinking-51]

Effort is required. Multiple departments and personnel from different crafts, working at different locations. A lot of effort needed. The video of the guy doing a short hop on the first run, had audio of him having trouble getting into the lounge in South Boston. The guy had to spell it out for the attendant. A new service and a front line employee did not even know when it was to start. Someone failed to educate and train him. Simple 15 min job brief and he would be ready for the new service level.

 

[niemi24s]

The Houston section of the Texas Eagle was two cars...a Superliner coach (with lower level seating for ADA), and a coach/café (with the café on the lower level). . . .They could do something similar between Albany and Boston if they really wanted to.

Could Superliner equipment get between ALB and BOS what with that one tunnel and the catenaries?

 

[ehbowen]

Could Superliner equipment get between ALB and BOS what with that one tunnel and the catenaries?

If you'll read back to where I originally commented, you'll see that I never suggested using Superliner equipment on the Boston section or anywhere on the LSL. I just brought that up to show that, if there's a will, there is a way. For this specific train, my suggestion was that they might put a roomette compartment out of service and use the space to store any checked bags. I still say that if they wanted to provide the service of checked baggage from Boston to Albany they could find a way to do it. But it appears that they don't.

 

[Tlcooper44]

Could Superliner equipment get between ALB and BOS what with that one tunnel and the catenaries?

I’ve always wondered whether superliners would clear the tunnels at BBY. If so, it would be really cool to see it. The equipment would be high unnecessary though.

 

[railiner]

I’ve always wondered weather superliners would clear the tunnels at BBY. If so, it would be really cool to see it. The equipment would be high unnecessary though.

That's a good question...to my knowledge, they haven't run any dome cars east of Albany. They used to deadhead them between Chicago and Albany for the Autumn service from Albany to Montreal on the Adirondack...

 

[niemi24s]

Didn't know there were tunnels at BBY. The tunnel I was thinking of is the short one at CSX MP 164.8, about 1 mile SE of Canaan Center, New York.

 

[Tlcooper44]

Didn't know there were tunnels at BBY. The tunnel I was thinking of is the short one at CSX MP 164.8, about 1 mile SE of Canaan Center, New York.
View attachment 21570

Good question. I had no idea that tunnel existed. I've never taken 449 out of Boston and the Worcerster Line doesn't get that far.
BBY is technically an underground station, with significant tunnels on the outbound ends of both lines.

 

[brianpmcdonnell17]

I think I remember reading somewhere on here a few years ago that Superliners could get from Albany to within Boston city limits, but wouldn't be able to get through Back Bay.

 

[jiml]

I think I remember reading somewhere on here a few years ago that Superliners could get from Albany to within Boston city limits, but wouldn't be able to get through Back Bay.

I've seen pics of those "squashed-looking" MBTA double-deckers in Back Bay, but they may be the limit height-wise. Even if not, the catenary might be a factor.