Route Timetable PDFs returning? (2021-2022)

[Brian Battuello]

I don't have time to type out all the disadvantages of point to point reservation information. You can't see that the previous or next day might have a much better schedule. You can't see what towns you might pass through. You can't see if there is a nearby town that might be a better pickup point. You can't see if an odd connection might get you home faster or closer.

Point to point reservations make more sense for airlines which almost never make enroute stops on the same equipment, just connections. In an attempt to look more modern, AMTRAK is denying a whole new generation of the chance to see what Amtrak really looks like and all the strange and interesting places it serves.

 

[20th Century Rider]

I don't have time to type out all the disadvantages of point to point reservation information. You can't see that the previous or next day might have a much better schedule. You can't see what towns you might pass through. You can't see if there is a nearby town that might be a better pickup point. You can't see if an odd connection might get you home faster or closer.

Point to point reservations make more sense for airlines which almost never make enroute stops on the same equipment, just connections. In an attempt to look more modern, AMTRAK is denying a whole new generation of the chance to see what Amtrak really looks like and all the strange and interesting places it serves.

Agreed! I wouldn't think of train travel without a complete time table... it lets you know if the train's on time and what towns you are stopping at... and for how long. I have been running off somewhat outdated timetables knowing the actual times are off... such a hassle to have to keep pulling up everything on the Amtrak ap... which isn't even available when out of signal range. There are some up to date timetables available for Amtrak Cascades, Maine service, and others. Miss the consistency and completeness before things started getting downgraded.

 

[freejak]

To me this has the same ring to it as when airlines stopped providing paper luggage tags. Some clueless beancounter suggested this could save zillions! No millions! No thousands! Well actually $584.19 a year, but still $500 is $500.

The price to create the printed schedule cards and system timetable couldn't have added up to more than a minuscule rounding error in the Amtrak budget.

I don't want to get all conspiracy theory here, but this reeks of just another way to cut ridership, cut customer enjoyment and clear the way for ending LD service as we know it.

 

[Paul CHI]

It's hard to print a schedule when the arrival times vary by 6 hours.

 

[20th Century Rider]

To me this has the same ring to it as when airlines stopped providing paper luggage tags. Some clueless beancounter suggested this could save zillions! No millions! No thousands! Well actually $584.19 a year, but still $500 is $500.

The price to create the printed schedule cards and system timetable couldn't have added up to more than a minuscule rounding error in the Amtrak budget.

I don't want to get all conspiracy theory here, but this reeks of just another way to cut ridership, cut customer enjoyment and clear the way for ending LD service as we know it.

Gosh! Remembering the Amtrak 'early days' when every sleeping car passenger received, in addition to the timetable, a packet of travel information on routing and scheduling, a toilet kit, a packet of snacks for along the way, and coupons for each meal. Unfortunately we now have smart phones where, except for physical amenities that have been discontinued... it's all there virtually... when there is cell service, and providing one knows how to navigate the every increasing complexity and 'menu options' to actually get information on that horrendous Amtrak app!

 

[joelkfla]

Agreed! I wouldn't think of train travel without a complete time table... it lets you know if the train's on time and what towns you are stopping at... and for how long.

You can generate a PDF schedule of all stops' scheduled arrival and departure time for an individual train on the website. Unfortunately, that's all the info it shows. So it's not of much use for planning, but it makes a nice travel companion on the train.

 

[dlagrua]

If you wish a timetable the NARP (RPA) has them on their website. Apparently someone there revised them and made them available.

 

[Willbridge]

Let's not get all nostalgic for printed timetables. PDFs or even nicely formatted HTML files are fine. I really hate the habit of forcing everyone onto airline style journey planners that lock you into one option. I don't know where the idea came from that everyone loves them.

PS. Someone about suggested DB doesn't produce line PDFs. They do, they are just a bit hard to find. Elektronisches Kursbuch der Deutschen Bahn

Here's a sample. My stop in 2010 was Augustfehn. The only information that I miss in this is the km distances.

 

[20th Century Rider]

If you wish a timetable the NARP (RPA) has them on their website. Apparently someone there revised them and made them available.

Yes! And here it is...

https://www.railpassengers.org/resources/amtrak-timetables/

 

[freejak]

Yes! And here it is...

https://www.railpassengers.org/resources/amtrak-timetables/

Wow! Thanks for providing the link.

 

[hello]

Thank you ... a great and useful resource!

 

[River Runner]

I am a new member here but I'd stumbled upon this thread a few months ago while trying to book some trips on Amtrak this summer...with difficulty because, as others have mentioned, there are no longer printed timetables.

As others may have also experienced, I noticed this summer that there were some stations and routes with printed timetables being distributed. The Texas Eagle (Chicago-San Antonio) had them onboard and a few different stations along the SW Chief and Missouri River Runner seemed to have them stocked at stations. After reading through all the posts and comments from the past year, I figured I should take some photos and post it here in the hopes that it might bring some good news. Photos attached from my trip on the Texas Eagle a few weeks ago (St. Louis station and a stack of them in the Texas Eagle "diner").

Cheers and thanks for letting me join this community.

 

[MARC Rider]

I am a new member here but I'd stumbled upon this thread a few months ago while trying to book some trips on Amtrak this summer...with difficulty because, as others have mentioned, there are no longer printed timetables.

As others may have also experienced, I noticed this summer that there were some stations and routes with printed timetables being distributed. The Texas Eagle (Chicago-San Antonio) had them onboard and a few different stations along the SW Chief and Missouri River Runner seemed to have them stocked at stations. After reading through all the posts and comments from the past year, I figured I should take some photos and post it here in the hopes that it might bring some good news. Photos attached from my trip on the Texas Eagle a few weeks ago (St. Louis station and a stack of them in the Texas Eagle "diner").

Cheers and thanks for letting me join this community.

The new schedules are also on the Amtrak website:

https://www.amtrak.com/content/dam/...les/Missouri-River-Runner-Schedule-071822.pdf
They seem to only have them for the Missouri River Runner, and not for anything else. Perhaps the Missouri River Runner timetable is the prototype for the new timetables, and the others will be appearing shortly.

 

[PaTrainFan]

The new schedules are also on the Amtrak website:

https://www.amtrak.com/content/dam/...les/Missouri-River-Runner-Schedule-071822.pdf
They seem to only have them for the Missouri River Runner, and not for anything else. Perhaps the Missouri River Runner timetable is the prototype for the new timetables, and the others will be appearing shortly.

Oh my goodness....say it ain't so!?

 

[Amtrak25]

I wonder if Missouri paid to have it published, or did it themselves.

Notice the 2nd page, which is route advertisements, the schedule is not on the same table as all Lincoln service as before, and there is no mention of connections to the SW Chief.

 

[Rasputin]

Perhaps the Missouri River Runner timetable is the prototype for the new timetables, and the others will be appearing shortly.

I wonder what year or decade?

 

[TinCan782]

The new schedules are also on the Amtrak website:

https://www.amtrak.com/content/dam/...les/Missouri-River-Runner-Schedule-071822.pdf
They seem to only have them for the Missouri River Runner, and not for anything else. Perhaps the Missouri River Runner timetable is the prototype for the new timetables, and the others will be appearing shortly.

Yesterday on the Facebook group Amtrak West somone posted a photo os a similiar timetable for the SWC.
He stated he got it at Flagstaff Station and more were available at Kansas City.

 

[joelkfla]

I think it was provided by Missouri. The only other PDF timetables on the site are the trains supported by California.

 

[Amtrak25]

Probably had Amtrak's blessing. There is no disclaimers such as on those produced by private indiviudals for the whole system and for Vermont.