Portland ME to Poplar Bluff, Mo

[marylibrarian]

My son is planning on traveling on Amtrak for this journey. We are confused on the 15 minute transfer times in Boston. Are these commuter trains? Any input is appreciated.

682 Downeaster

POR)

Arrives: 10:30 AM

Mon Jan 07 2013

Boston, MA - North Station Maine Service

2682 Self Transfer

Departs: 10:45 AM

Mon Jan 07 2013

Boston, MA - North Station Maine Service (BBY)

Duration: 0 hr, 10 min

1 Unreserved Coach Seat

449 Lake Shore Limited

Departs: 12:00 PM

Mon Jan 07 2013

Boston, MA - Back Bay (CHI)

Station News

Duration: 22 hr, 45 min

21 Texas Eagle

Departs: 1:45 PM

Tue Jan 08 2013

Chicago, IL - Union Station (PBF)

Duration: 9 hr, 57 min

 

[the_traveler]

The Downeaster is the only Amtrak train that arrives and departs from North Station. All other trains use South Station. (And also Back Bay Station.)

The easiest way to transfer between the 2 is via the "T" (subway). From NorthStation, walk to the "T" station next door. Board an Orange Line train towards Forest Park. In 6 or 7 stops (transit time 7 minutes), you arrive at Back Bay. Go up the escalator, turn left (inside the station) and walk less than 100 feet and you reach the tracks Amtrak uses.

if you have a lots of luggage, you may wish to transfer between North Station and South Station by cab!

 

[amamba]

You have to find your own way to get between North and South Station.

If i am reading that correctly, you do have 90 minutes between arrival in North Station and leaving from South Station.

South Station is a much bigger location than Back Bay, so personally in that situation I would rather depart from South Station. There is a much bigger waiting room, and you get to board the train a little early since its where the train starts, vs. standing on the platform and watiing for the train to come through.

To get to South Station on the "T" from North Station, take the orange line to downtown crossing and then switch to the red line and take the red line to South Station.

Or take the green line from North Station to Park St and switch to the red line and take the red line to South Station.

 

[Heading North]

If you don't want to figure out Boston transit for this trip, it's also an easy cab ride between the two--I think it runs about $10-12 and shouldn't take more than about 10 minutes.

 

[NETrainfan]

We are from Maine and always take the Concord Coach bus directly to South Station. Makes good sense if one is making a connection.

Concord leaves from the Amtrak/Bus station in Portland.

 

[afigg]

Amtrak needs to update the reservation software so it can provide proper instructions on how to connect from North Station to South Station or Back Bay instead of pretending there is a connecting imaginary #2682 train. It should say take the MBTA T Orange Line service from North Station to Back Bay or the Orange Line to the Red Line to South Station alternative. Does not have to be a long explanation, but enough to not confuse people into thinking there is a numbered train to tale. One would hope adding this capability is part of the plans for upgrading the Arrow reservation system.

For the MBTA T map and information on the T, goto http://www.mbta.com/...nd_maps/subway/. The Amtrak North Station, South Station, and Back Bay stops are also T stops.

 

[AlanB]

Putting in the pretend train was the only way that Amtrak could set things up to allow one to book trains that connect to/from the Downeaster. When they first started selling tickets for the Downeaster, you couldn't book one reservation to connect with the rest of the system. Amtrak had to put in the phantom train so as to allow for connecting trains.

Upon ticketing, you'd actually get a ticket with no value that described the self-transfer between BON & BOS/BBY.

I'm not sure what shows up now with eTickets.

 

[SubwayNut]

Why can't Amtrak give those tickets a $2 Value or what ever the price is of a Charlie tap for the Boston T. You give the ticket to the ex-token clerk at any of the 3 stations, he/she taps you in to the T no making out-of-towners miss with the TVMs. The T takes the tickets and submits them to Amtrak for reimbersment. You ride for free to make the connection.

Conversely have ticket offices have single ride CharlieTickets for the ride through Boston that you trade the ticket for.

Is that too complicated? Perhaps the ticket would also give you $2 off cab fare for those that prefer that.

 

[marylibrarian]

So.. Are Back Bay and South Station the same station? Also, can you please send me a link to the bus that he could take straight to Boston?

 

[marylibrarian]

Ok , so I found the Concord Coach Lines site. If he arrives at South Station at 11:25 am and Amtrak leaves at 11:55, will that give him enough time to get to the Lake Shore Ltd? Here is the new schedule:

449 Lake Shore Limited

Departs: 11:55 AM

Tue Jan 08 2013

Boston, MA - South Station (BOS)

Arrives: 9:45 AM

Wed Jan 09 2013

Chicago, IL - Union Station (CHI)

Station News

Duration: 22 hr, 50 min

Amenities

1 Reserved Coach Seat

21 Texas Eagle

Departs: 1:45 PM

Wed Jan 09 2013

Chicago, IL - Union Station (CHI)

Station News

Arrives: 11:42 PM

Wed Jan 09 2013

Poplar Bluff, MO (PBF)

Duration: 9 hr, 57 min

Amenities

No Checked Baggage

1 Reserved Coach Seat

1 Lower Level Coach Seat

 

[George Harris]

So.. Are Back Bay and South Station the same station? Also, can you please send me a link to the bus that he could take straight to Boston?

No. suggest you look at maps google and enter these locations to see where they are. Can also enter North Station and South Station to see them. The distance between North Stationa and South Station is about a mile, but I have no idea of what is in that mile. Mapquest gives you a driving route that is almost 3 miles. the distance between South Station and Back Bay on the railroad is 1.1 miles. Again, teh drive between tehse two place is considerably longer. A look at the map says North Station to Back Bay is 6 stops on the orange line. Again, I have no idea of what that is like.

 

[marylibrarian]

We are from Maine and always take the Concord Coach bus directly to South Station. Makes good sense if one is making a connection.

Concord leaves from the Amtrak/Bus station in Portland.

This sounds like the way to go. Is arriving att 11:25 and leaving at 11:55 sufficient time or should he arrive earlier?

 

[NorthCoastHiawatha]

Why can't Amtrak give those tickets a $2 Value or what ever the price is of a Charlie tap for the Boston T. You give the ticket to the ex-token clerk at any of the 3 stations, he/she taps you in to the T no making out-of-towners miss with the TVMs. The T takes the tickets and submits them to Amtrak for reimbersment. You ride for free to make the connection.

Conversely have ticket offices have single ride CharlieTickets for the ride through Boston that you trade the ticket for.

Is that too complicated? Perhaps the ticket would also give you $2 off cab fare for those that prefer that.

Oddly over the summer, I was transferring from Back Bay to North Station and one of the MBTA employees asked if I was connecting to Amtrak (I had some luggage) and tapped me through so I wouldn't have to pay.

 

[J-1 3235]

We are from Maine and always take the Concord Coach bus directly to South Station. Makes good sense if one is making a connection.

Concord leaves from the Amtrak/Bus station in Portland.

This sounds like the way to go. Is arriving att 11:25 and leaving at 11:55 sufficient time or should he arrive earlier?

I would consider the 8:30 departure from Portland, arriving at South Station at 10:25. A slight delay on Route 95, and he is missing the Lake Shore. Personally, I'd just use the Orange Line transfer from the Downeaster. But, I live here

I hope your son has an enjoyable trip.

Mike

 

[Guest]

We are from Maine and always take the Concord Coach bus directly to South Station. Makes good sense if one is making a connection.

Concord leaves from the Amtrak/Bus station in Portland.

How far in advance do you need to buy tickets for the Concord to make sure you have a seat? Also how far in advance for Boston to Chicago?

 

[NETrainfan]

We buy our Concord tickets at the bus station. Also usually take an earlier bus as someone mentioned.

Check out the Concord website or give Concord a call for specifics.

 

[TimePeace]

I agree the Concord Coach is a better option, unless you are familiar with the "T" locations - especially if you have a couple of pieces of luggage.

I usually take the earlier bus as well, even though it gives quite a bit of time to hang out in South Station. Every time I plan a trip, I consider taking the bus that only gives a few minutes: 1), the bus is always on time, and 2), it is a short - 5 min - walk to the train platforms from the bus area. But - I still end up playing it safe (taking the earlier bus) even though is means leaving my house at 5 am instead of 6!

BTW the Concord Coach buses are very new, clean, and as I said, on time. The drivers are usually courteous and friendly. There is a movie, Wifi (which, unlike Amtrak Wifi, almost always works), and it is non-stop.

At the station In Portland (Portland Transportation Center) there is longer term parking for $4/night. The Concord Coaches and the Downeaster both use that terminal.

 

[amamba]

Yeah I would take the earlier concord coach bus out of portland. If you run into any issues on the highway the bus will be late and you will miss the LSL.