Proposed Silver Service Schedule

[battalion51]

I took a trip on the train yesterday, and found a very interesting piece of paper in one of the coaches. I found the complete proposed schedule for Silver Service effective November 1. I'll post it in three sections, one for each service.

Silver Meteor

NB

MIAMI DP 1020A

HOLLYWOOD DP 1046A

FT LAUDERDALE DP 1103A

DEERFIELD BCH DP 1122A

DELRAY BCH DP 1141A

WEST PALM BCH DP 1207P

SEBRING DP 138P

WINTER HAVEN DP 225P

KISSIMMEE DP 308P

ORLANDO AR 337P

ORLANDO DP 350P

WINTER PARK DP408P

SANFORD DP 432P

DELAND DP 452P

PALATKA DP 540P

JACKSONVILLE AR 714P

JACKSONVILLE DP 740P

JESUP DP 858P

SAVANNAH AR 952P

SAVANNAH DP 1000P

YEMASSEE DP 1048P

CHARLESTON DP 1144P

KINGSTREE DP 1232A

FLORENCE AR 129A

FLORENCE DP 134A

FAYETTEVILLE DP 255A

ROCKY MOUNT DP 421A

PETERSBURG DP 544A

RICHMOND AR 644A

RICHMOND DP 656A

WASHINGTON AR 915A

WASHINGTON DP 955A

BALTIMORE DP 1020A

WILMINGTON-NO DATA

PHILADELPHIA AR 1135A

PHILADELPHIA DP 1150A

TRENTON-NO DATA

NEWARK-NO DATA

NEW YORK AR 122P

SB

NEW YORK DP 215P

NEWARK-NO DATA

TRENTON-NO DATA

PHILADELPHIA AR 345P

PHILADELPHIA DP 350P

WILMINGTON-NO DATA

BALTIMORE DP 514P

WASHINGTON AR 555P

WASHINGTON DP 625P

RICHMOND AR 825P

RICHMOND DP 835P

PETERSBURG DP 908P

ROCKY MOUNT DP 1033P

FAYETTEVILLE DP 1159P

FLORENCE AR 155A

FLORENCE DP 200A

KINGSTREE DP 234A

CHARLESTON DP 329A

YEMASSEE DP 418A

SAVANNAH AR 505A

SAVANNAH DP 510A

JESUP DP 605A

JACKSONVILLE AR 750A

JACKSONVILLE DP 815A

PALATKA DP 922A

DELAND DP 1011A

SANFORD DP 1032A

WINTER PARK DP 1057A

ORLANDO AR 1120A

ORLANDO DP 1130A

KISSIMMEE DP 1150A

WINTER HAVEN DP 1237P

SEBRING DP 117P

WEST PALM BCH DP 313P

DELRAY BCH DP 334P

DEERFIELD BCH DP 346P

FT LAUDERDALE DP 408P

HOLLYWOOD DP 424P

MIAMI AR 510P

 

[battalion51]

SILVER STAR

NB

MIAMI DP 1220P

HOLLYWOOD DP 1245P

FT LAUDERDALE DP 100P

DEERFIELD BCH DP 122P

DELRAY BCH DP 136P

WEST PALM BCH DP 205P

OKEECHOBEE DP 300P

SEBRING DP 336P

WINTER HAVEN DP 415P

LAKELAND DP 436P (PASSENGERS STOP)

TAMPA AR 512P

TAMPA DP 520P

LAKELAND DP 610P (CREW STOP)

KISSIMMEE DP 653P

ORLANDO AR 725P

ORLANDO DP 735P

WINTER PARK DP 753P

SANFORD DP 817P

DELAND DP 837P

PALATKA DP 925P

JACKSONVILLE AR 1053P

JACKSONVILLE DP 1120P

SAVANNAH AR 129A

SAVANNAH DP 136A

DENMARK DP 254A

COLUMBIA DP 420A

CAMDEN DP 501A

HAMLET DP 627A (NEW CREW STOP)

SOUTHERN PINES DP 710A

RALEIGH AR 848A

RALEIGH DP 900A

ROCKY MOUNT DP 1011A

PETERSBURG DP 1133A

RICHMOND AR 1212P

RICHMOND DP 1230P

ALEXANDRIA DP 211P

WASHINGTON AR 245P

WASHINGTON DP 320P

BALTIMORE DP 356P

WILMINGTON-NO DATA

PHILADELPHIA AR 513P

PHILADELPHIA DP 523P

TRENTON-NO DATA

NEWARK-NO DATA

NEW YORK AR 702P

SB

NEW YORK DP 1001A

NEWARK-NO DATA

TRENTON-NO DATA

PHILADELPHIA AR 1130A

PHILADELPHIA DP 1135A

WILMINGTON-NO DATA

BALTIMORE DP 101P

WASHINGTON AR 140P

WASHINGTON DP 205P

ALEXANDRA DP 224P

RICHMOND AR 404P

RICHMOND DP 415P

PETERSBURG DP 448P

ROCKY MOUNT DP 614P

RALEIGH AR 735P

RALEIGH DP 743P

SOUTHERN PINES DP 903P

HAMLET DP 937P

CAMDEN DP 1101P

COLUMBIA DP 1156P

DENMARK DP 1251A

SAVANNAH AR 215P

SAVANNAH DP 220P

JACKSONVILLE AR 450A

JACKSONVILLE DP 510A

PALATKA DP 617A

DELAND DP 706A

SANFORD DP 728A

WINTER PARK DP 755A

ORLANDO AR 820A

ORLANDO DP 830A

KISSIMMEE DP 853A

LAKELAND DP 938A (CREW STOP)

TAMPA AR 1026A

TAMPA DP 1036A

LAKELAND DP 1108A (PASSENGERS STOP)

WINTER HAVEN DP 1133A

SEBRING DP 1213P

OKEECHOBEE DP 1247P

WEST PALM BCH DP 203P

DELRAY BCH DP 227P

DEERFIELD BCH DP 238P

FT LAUDERDALE DP 301P

HOLLYWOOD DP 314P

MIAMI AR 400P

WILL POST PALMETTO SCHEDULE LATER THIS EVENING.

 

[Amfleet]

I like the new Meteor's schedule. Good arrival and departure times from Richmond and Washington. Before, those cities would be hit early morning and late night. The Star's schedule doesn't allow connections to and from points north of New York, meaning no connection for those going Tampa.

 

[Joe]

The Star's schedule doesn't allow connections to and from points north of New York, meaning no connection for those going Tampa.

Not only from points North of New York, but also West of New York.

This new Star schedule will eliminate any connection with the Three Rivers or the Pennsylvanian or the new combined train. The Capitol Limited will be the only connecting train from the West.

Joe P.

 

[AlanB]

The Star's schedule doesn't allow connections to and from points north of New York, meaning no connection for those going Tampa.

Perhaps Amtrak will return to booking Star passengers from Boston on the first Acela Express out of Boston, much like they did with the Supertrain.

Plus there is still the former Federal option to DC.

Granted neither is a wonderful alternative, but it is still possible.

 

[battalion51]

PALMETTO

NB

SAVANNAH DP 700A

CHARLESTON DP 840A

KINGSTREE DP 938A

FLORENCE AR 1022A

FLORENCE DP 1030A

DILLON DP 1104A

FAYETTEVEILLE DP 1153A

SELMA DP 1238P

WILSON DP 110P

ROCKY MOUNT DP 128P

PETERSBURG DP 250P

RICHMOND AR 330P

RICHMOND DP 340P

ALEXANDRIA 520P

WASHINGTON AR 605P

WASHINGTON DP 645P

BALTIMORE DP 722P

WILMINGTON-NO DATA

PHILADELPHIA AR 840P

PHILADELPHIA DP 848P

TRENTON-NO DATA

NEWARK-NO DATA

NEW YORK AR 1015P

SB

NEW YORK DP 615A

NEWARK-NO DATA

TRENTON-NO DATA

PHILADELPHIA AR 731A

PHILADELPHIA DP 734A

WILMINGTON-NO DATA

BALTIMORE DP 845A

WASHINGTON AR 925A

WASHINGTON DP 955A

ALEXANDRIA DP 1012A

RICHMOND AR 1150A

RICHMOND DP 1200P

PETERSBURG DP 1230P

ROCKY MOUNT DP 157P

WILSON DP 215P

SELMA DP 242P

FAYETTEVILLE DP 328P

DILLON DP 415P

FLORENCE AR 507P

FLORENCE DP 512P

KINGSTREE DP 548P

CHARLESTON DP 647P

SAVANNAH AR 823P

 

[battalion51]

Things I've heard which are interesting regarding the new schedule

The Star is expected to have a minimum of 5 coaches and 3 sleepers. A 4th sleeper possibility is being examined, but it would require another Dining Car. It is likely that there will be a Conductor and 2 Assistant Conductors, similar to the Super Train.

The Star will change crews in Lakeland, but the Miami based crew will take the train to TPA, requiring an extra stop in Lakeland for crew change and for Miami crews to get qualified to Tampa. Look for the possibility of some JAX T&E personnel being transfered to MIA. The JAX crew will spend approximately 30 hours in Lakeland, meaning 8 hours of held away pay, and meaning it will be high seniority.

Meteor crews in JAX will recieve approximately 5 hours of held away pay with these layover times in Miami.

Lakeland will have three job assignments, as will Miami, with a relief job working a trip on each side.

Southern Pines will no longer be a crew change point, instead Hamlet will be.

 

[Viewliner]

Thanks for the info on the schedules, very interesting proposals that I like a lot, although I will sort of miss the night departure of 97. I think the new schedules will work out well though. I like the idea of the expanded Star consist, but I'm assuming that this mean no change with the Meteor's consist. I wonder why NWK, TRE, and WIL aren't showing any data, I'm sure its nothing, but its kind of strange.

 

[battalion51]

I'm hoping it doesn't mean that they aren't stops, because they aren't listed at all. Wilmington and Trenton could go by the wayside, but Newark is a HUGE stop. I personally will be kinda stuck down here for a while since I won't be able to do day trips, but I only have to last a few months until I move to Tallahassee.

 

[Viewliner]

Yeah, It'd be a pain for me if NWK was blanked from the schedule, I've got Trips on 97/98 booked for December and February, which would mean my family would have to leave a lot earlier and either take a taxi to NYP, or a taxi to Millburn, then NJT to NYP. While if it were up to me I would want to board in NYP for use of the Clubacela lounge, I'd rather this not be the scenario for that to happen. (I will get to use the Clubacela lounge when I finally travel FC on the Acela in November). Newark is #5 in the system and Trenton is #7, Wilmington is #13 so while a big chunk of the ridership may be corridor, they're still among the most important stations in the system.

 

[National Limited]

Well I'm heartbroken about the Meteor change. It was so good to depart Savannah in the early evening and arrive NYP mid morning. The evening departure of from NYP with a mid morning arrival in Savannah was perfect also. This really dissipoints me. Its current schedule works perfectly for me.

 

[AmtrakWPK]

Well, from a strictly selfish viewpoint, it gives us in the Orlando corridor (well, I guess all the way to Jax or so, if they want to get up really early) a day trip available to Tampa, arriving 10:26 am, departing Tampa at 5:20 pm. IF it's on time, that's enough time for a lot of things over there. Darn, and we didn't renew our Florida Railpasses this year! :angry:

 

[AlanB]

Yeah, It'd be a pain for me if NWK was blanked from the schedule, I've got Trips on 97/98 booked for December and February, which would mean my family would have to leave a lot earlier and either take a taxi to NYP, or a taxi to Millburn, then NJT to NYP. While if it were up to me I would want to board in NYP for use of the Clubacela lounge, I'd rather this not be the scenario for that to happen. (I will get to use the Clubacela lounge when I finally travel FC on the Acela in November). Newark is #5 in the system and Trenton is #7, Wilmington is #13 so while a big chunk of the ridership may be corridor, they're still among the most important stations in the system.

Trenton might be debateable, but I can't imagine Newark and Wilmington being cut as stops for the Silver service.

All those stops have far more passengers boarding than the stops just eliminated with the Palmetto's cut back and the 3R's elimination. There is major revenue to be had at those stops and it simply wouldn't be prudent to cut those stops out of the Silver Service.

 

[Amtrak OBS Employee]

Yeah, It'd be a pain for me if NWK was blanked from the schedule, I've got Trips on 97/98 booked for December and February, which would mean my family would have to leave a lot earlier and either take a taxi to NYP, or a taxi to Millburn, then NJT to NYP.  While if it were up to me I would want to board in NYP for use of the Clubacela lounge, I'd rather this not be the scenario for that to happen.  (I will get to use the Clubacela lounge when I finally travel FC on the Acela in November).  Newark is #5 in the system and Trenton is #7, Wilmington is #13 so while a big chunk of the ridership may be corridor, they're still among the most important stations in the system.

Trenton might be debateable, but I can't imagine Newark and Wilmington being cut as stops for the Silver service.

All those stops have far more passengers boarding than the stops just eliminated with the Palmetto's cut back and the 3R's elimination. There is major revenue to be had at those stops and it simply wouldn't be prudent to cut those stops out of the Silver Service.

TRE is a maybe (hopefully only for one train). The other two stations I doubt very seriously they will be axed as stops. The situation in regard to the "Palmetto" stops eliminated in FL is affected being there are no apparent plans to run a train down the S-line at the present time. However, my reasoning the Northern stops will remain being the train has to pass by each of those stops, anyway. So I really don't see that happening to WIL, TRE, and NWK. But again, this is Amtrak so we'll see what they "actually" do!!!

 

[Steve4031]

To me, the Palmetto's schedule would be improvement because it would make for a nice day time ride to and from Savanah. At somepoint, Im gonna focus on this area of the Amtrak map while including trips on the Carolinian and the Piedmont.

 

[jccollins]

...and found a very interesting piece of paper in one of the coaches. I found the complete proposed schedule for Silver Service effective November 1.

What kind of "piece of paper" was this actually? Was it something that looked official from Amtrak, something typed up, handwritten... If it was from Amtrak, does it have a department or office listed on the letterhead?

 

[battalion51]

It looks fairly official. It's typed up in the same exact format as the regular schedule. I also saw some OBS Employees with it on the other train I rode, so I know they're floating around.

Darn, and we didn't renew our Florida Railpasses this year!

There's still time. They're always selling the Rail Pass, but the $199 price is only good during the Summer.

 

[AmtrakWPK]

Just out of curiousity I tried to check prices and availability for WPK - Tampa for Nov 4th and got WPK-ORL (91) plus a bus from ORL-Tampa, so it's either not set in stone yet or it's just not in the computer yet. Wish I knew if it was actually for real.........

 

[AlanB]

Just out of curiousity I tried to check prices and availability for WPK - Tampa for Nov 4th and got WPK-ORL (91) plus a bus from ORL-Tampa, so it's either not set in stone yet or it's just not in the computer yet. Wish I knew if it was actually for real.........

It's for real.

Amtrak has officially announced it with press releases and all. My guess is that Arrow (the system that reservations runs on) hasn't yet been updated yet. The change is still more than a month off, so with the release of the new website, they just may not have had time to deal with that.

 

[battalion51]

Most likely since the schedule is still "proposed" at this point nothing has been put in ARROW, since it's not "official." Chances are though that this will be damn near close to the real schedule.

 

[railman]

The Silver Star will serve NWK and WIL. TRE will be skipped.

 

[Viewliner]

The Silver Star will serve NWK and WIL. TRE will be skipped.

How do you know this for a fact? What about the Silver Meteor and Palmetto serving TRE if what you're saying is true.

 

[engine999]

The Silver Star will serve NWK and WIL.  TRE will be skipped.

How do you know this for a fact? What about the Silver Meteor and Palmetto serving TRE if what you're saying is true.

Railman has said in a previous post that he is a manager at Amtrak.

 

[Viewliner]

Looks like they're starting to update the schedules on the website Reservation System. The Silver Star will still serve NWK, TRE, and WIL according to the Reservation system. Additionally, unless the Silver Meteor hasn't been updated yet, it appears its schedule will be nearly (if not) identical to its current times. The times for the Silver Star that Sean posted appear to be right on the ball, here are the times for the following:

Train 91

Newark, NJ 10:21 AM

Trenton, NJ 10:51 AM

Wilmington, DE 12:00 PM

Train 92

Wilmington, DE 4:29 PM

Trenton, NJ 6:08 PM

Newark, NJ 6:45 PM

I'll check the Palmetto in a little while, but I'm assuming its probably also as Sean showed at the beginning.

 

[railman]

I'd like to amend my last post: All six trains (89-90, 91-92, 97-98) will serve TRE. I mis-read my advance copy of the new timetable. Sorry.