steps to get onto the train

[cfsnowy]

I'm sure I could phrase this better, but I hope you'll know what I mean. Most of my Amtrak experience is the NEC between BWI and NYP. At both of those stations, I've been able to step directly from the train onto the platform.

However, I've seen videos of other stations/other routes where passengers must climb 4-5 steep steps to get on and off the train. I'm able to go up steps, but I have difficulty descending. Is there any way to determine which stations have steps and which don't? For all I know, it's a matter of the type of railcoach is in the consist, and has nothing at all to do with the station.

Specifically, I'm looking at the Pennsylvanian and the Carolinian. Thanks for any help.

 

[the_traveler]

All stations on the NEC between WAS and OSB, plus PVD and the 3 BOS stations have high level platforms. As far as I remember, none are west of PHL on the Pennsylvanian/Keystone route or south of WAS on Carolinian route.

Someone please correct me if I am wrong.

 

[George Harris]

What the traveler said is failrly well right, as is what you are syaing. If you are starting in the Northeast you will all but certainly be riding on a single level train, which means the same floor level as you see in New York, Philly, etc. You should be able to get help. Is it a how you can hold on issue? If you cannot find help, you might do better turning around and backing down as you could then more easily hold to the railing at a higher point.

Once you are on trains that do not go into the northeast, you will all but certainly be on bi-level equipment (the Superliners) where you have only a couple of steps up. The problem here is that you have to be on the upper level to pass between cars, so if you plan a meal on board, you will have to find some way to have it brought to you.

 

[BCL]

I'm still not sure what the original question was, but I do regularly take Capitol Corridor. At several stations the "platform" is almost at track level. They actually keep big 'ol metal step stools next to the doors to use at these stations. They use them regularly on the outside track at Berkeley, CA. They also double-stop there.

 

[PRR 60]

All stations on the NEC between WAS and OSB, plus PVD and the 3 BOS stations have high level platforms. As far as I remember, none are west of PHL on the Pennsylvanian/Keystone route or south of WAS on Carolinian route.
Someone please correct me if I am wrong.

Lancaster (PA), Elizabethtown and Harrisburg on the Keystone route have high-level platforms.

 

[Carolyn Jane]

Johnstown and Lewistown do not have high level platforms. I just rode the Palmetto last week, and in Fayetteville, with track level platform, the conductor used a lift, cranked it up to coach level so that a woman could get on it, cranked back down to ground level. It is the same lift that would be used for a wheelchair. I would think those would be available at stations that are manned. I saw one last night in Savannah. CJ

 

[Ashland Train Enthusiast]

All stations on the NEC between WAS and OSB, plus PVD and the 3 BOS stations have high level platforms. As far as I remember, none are west of PHL on the Pennsylvanian/Keystone route or south of WAS on Carolinian route.
Someone please correct me if I am wrong.

You are correct about the Carolinian, everything south of WAS is low level of some variety (either platforms or just asphalt aprons on the side of the track).

~ DCTE

 

[Alexandria Nick]

For all I know, it's a matter of the type of railcoach is in the consist, and has nothing at all to do with the station.

Well..both.

The Amfleet (the common single level coaches) cars have steps that fold down and out. Same train that served the high level platforms in NYP that you just walk on out transforms to have steps at low level platforms in WAS.

Honestly, I have no memory if Acela can handle low level platforms and I'm pretty sure Superliners can't do high level. But there's no Superliners east of Chicago, except for the Capitol Limited (well...the Auto Train too, but that train is different enough to not "count" in my mind).

 

[Acela150]

Acela does not have trap steps. AE can serve High Level only. When a Superliner pulls into a High Level the Door is 3/4 covered by the Platform. So it's low levels only.

 

[jmx53]

If you know what stations you will be using, this site may be of help:

http://www.trainweb.org/usarail/

It has photos of most if not all of the platforms and the stations so you will get an idea of what type of platform to expect to be boarding from.

 

[xyzzy]

The new stations at Raleigh and Charlotte will have high (48 inch) platforms. I have read that 48 inch platforms are being planned for Jacksonville, Tampa, Savannah, Richmond, and the new station in Atlanta. The two Auto-Train terminals will get 15-inch platforms.

 

[the_traveler]

The no steps on the Acela is one reason it can not stop at certain stations. The stations at Mystic and Westerly do not have a high level platform at all, so those stations are not even an option. In New London, they built a mini-high level platform (1 car long) on the southbound track. (The northbound track has, and had, a longer high level platform in place.) I believe there is 1 AE per day that stops in NLC.

KIN also had built a short high-level platform on each track. Although no Acelas are scheduled to stop at KIN, it can (and has been) used as an "emergency" stop. (An example is if a passenger on a southbound AE does not get off at PVD. The AE can stop at KIN and the passenger can take the next Regional back to PVD - within 30 minutes-2 hours.)

 

[benjibear]

If you know what stations you will be using, this site may be of help:http://www.trainweb.org/usarail/

It has photos of most if not all of the platforms and the stations so you will get an idea of what type of platform to expect to be boarding from.

Take that site with a grain of salt. For example, Elizabethtown PA has pictures from 2002 and that station was renovated with new high level platforms about two years ago. You can also tell the pictures are old because many have the old style Amtrak logo.

 

[cfsnowy]

High level platforms...that's the term I couldn't remember. Thanks for all the help, folks. Looks like I'll need to start practicing going down steps for future trips when I run into low level platforms.

 

[battalion51]

Snowy, if you feel it will be an issue for you to do the steps, please feel free to request a lift to de-train or board (whichever you may be doing). You do not necessarily have to be wheelchair bound in order to use a lift. If you do plan to request a lift, please specify as such when making your reservation, or call 800-USA-RAIL with your reservation number and let a live agent know, they can ensure it is put on the manifest so the Conductor is aware in advance. However, you do not necessarily have to request it ahead of time, it is a good courtesy to show though if you plan to utilize it.

 

[George Harris]

The new stations at Raleigh and Charlotte will have high (48 inch) platforms. I have read that 48 inch platforms are being planned for Jacksonville, Tampa, Savannah, Richmond, and the new station in Atlanta. The two Auto-Train terminals will get 15-inch platforms.

The 15 inch high for AutoTrain is because it runs with Superliner equipment which is bi-level with low floor entry. The 48 inch high platforms must be adjacent to non-mainline tracks fro lateral clearance reasons. Don't know what the plan is for Atlanta, but I am reasonably sure these others are adjacent tracks that are passenger train only.

 

[Alexandria Nick]

I'm a limber and agile 30 year old and even I have to think "careful, careful" going down those steps. They're not particularly easy steps to navigate. They're rather steep.

'Course I'm also in a hurry and beluggaged. And rarely even use the handrail because I'm a daredevil like that.

 

[afigg]

The new stations at Raleigh and Charlotte will have high (48 inch) platforms. I have read that 48 inch platforms are being planned for Jacksonville, Tampa, Savannah, Richmond, and the new station in Atlanta. The two Auto-Train terminals will get 15-inch platforms.

I have not read anything about Richmond - do you mean Staples Mill or Main Street? - getting high level platforms (HLP). If either station has platforms on pull-over tracks or tracks that will be used for passenger trains only, then they would be candidates for high level platforms. According to Amtrak's ADA compliance status letter to Congress, yes, Savannah, Jacksonville, Tampa will be getting HLPs. Rochester NY is also getting HLPs. If Charleston, SC ever lines up the funding to build the new intermodal station that has been in the planning stage for years, I think it would be on a pull-over track, so it would likely get a HLP.

On the NEC, Kingston will be getting HLPs and Newark DE will be getting a new station with HLPs by 2016. The plans are to upgrade all remaining Amtrak stops on the NEC to HLPs, but it could be some years before Aberdeen MD, Mystic CT, and several of the lower level through tracks/platforms at WAS are upgraded. By 2016/2017, all of the stations on the New Haven to Springfield corridor will get HLPs as part of the corridor upgrade for commuter service. The Keystone East stations are to get HLPs, but that is going to be a drawn out process dependent on the funding situation in PA. So the eastern corridors will eventually become predominantly HLPs on the NEC, the NEC connected corridors, and the busier stations south of DC that either have or could justify a pull-over track to maintain clearance for the freight traffic.

 

[the_traveler]

Going down the steps, I take my time - because I know my journey is over! Going up the steps, I'm in a hurry - because I know the adventure is about to begin!

Honestly, take your time on the steps. The conductor or (if there is one) attendant will be glad to help you with your luggage - either lowering it down ahead of you or lifting it up after you board, whichever is the case. Even other passengers may help you. I have yet to see this NOT done!

 

[Nathanael]

The new stations at Raleigh and Charlotte will have high (48 inch) platforms. I have read that 48 inch platforms are being planned for Jacksonville, Tampa, Savannah, Richmond, and the new station in Atlanta. The two Auto-Train terminals will get 15-inch platforms.

I have not read anything about Richmond - do you mean Staples Mill or Main Street? - getting high level platforms (HLP). If either station has platforms on pull-over tracks or tracks that will be used for passenger trains only, then they would be candidates for high level platforms.

Main Street. The plan is for high-level platforms on the path of the future route through Richmond Main Street to Ettrick (and onward further south). This is unfunded and involves a renovated river bridge, so it's anyone's guess when it will happen. It's also possible to get a high-level platform at Richmond Main Street on the Peninsula route but it would require reinstating one or more of the long-ago-ripped-out tracks. (There is ROW for four through tracks plus terminal tracks at Richmond Main St, mostly unused).

Staples Mill is supposed to close/relocate (though nobody has decided where or when) so it's unlikely to get HLPs.

 

[jmx53]

If you know what stations you will be using, this site may be of help:http://www.trainweb.org/usarail/

It has photos of most if not all of the platforms and the stations so you will get an idea of what type of platform to expect to be boarding from.

Take that site with a grain of salt. For example, Elizabethtown PA has pictures from 2002 and that station was renovated with new high level platforms about two years ago. You can also tell the pictures are old because many have the old style Amtrak logo.

This is true...the photos at a station may not be recent, thanks for pointing it out Benjibear.

Still it's a helpful resource though in the way that a 10-year old phone book would be for looking up a long-established business(phone #s and platform heights wouldn't change all that often) and also nice that the site does provide the date the photos were taken. I wonder if the site owner travels to all those stations and takes all the photos himself (Must take a bit of time and money to do that) or maybe he has others submitting content to him.

 

[PaulM]

I just rode the Palmetto last week, and in Fayetteville, with track level platform, the conductor used a lift, cranked it up to coach level so that a woman could get on it, cranked back down to ground level. It is the same lift that would be used for a wheelchair. I would think those would be available at stations that are manned. I saw one last night in Savannah. CJ

Many unstaffed stations have wheelchair lifts - Hermann, Mo comes to mind. If you go to Amtrak's station page, select your station, and then click the Accessibility tab, you can see if there is a lift.

Also, the schedules show wheelchair symbols. The one I'm looking at, CHI-QCY, has them at almost all the unstaffed stations, but doesn't explain all the symbols, including the wheelchair.

 

[SP&S]

If you know what stations you will be using, this site may be of help:http://www.trainweb.org/usarail/

It has photos of most if not all of the platforms and the stations so you will get an idea of what type of platform to expect to be boarding from.

Take that site with a grain of salt. For example, Elizabethtown PA has pictures from 2002 and that station was renovated with new high level platforms about two years ago. You can also tell the pictures are old because many have the old style Amtrak logo.

This is true...the photos at a station may not be recent, thanks for pointing it out Benjibear.

Still it's a helpful resource though in the way that a 10-year old phone book would be for looking up a long-established business(phone #s and platform heights wouldn't change all that often) and also nice that the site does provide the date the photos were taken. I wonder if the site owner travels to all those stations and takes all the photos himself (Must take a bit of time and money to do that) or maybe he has others submitting content to him.

I like that site and although some photos are old, they're being updated regularly. I've also noticed that our SubwayNut http://subwaynut.com/ has posted a number of pix a number of stations too.

 

[Swadian Hardcore]

I have no problem going up or down the steps. They can be quite fun. I don't have a problem with similar steps on high-floor buses either, so I actually prefer them for the higher view.

 

[SubwayNut]

Subwaynut.com is my site, at last count I've gotten to nearly 200 Amtrak stations. Amtrak is installing lifts like crazy. For example every little stop on the northern tier of the Adirondack has one now (except VIA operated St-Lambert).

I don't accept submissions. No time with all the commuter, heavy and light rail stations I'm trying to get on. All visited on Amtrak trips (less then 10 by only car). I'm a big user of multi-city tickets with less than 24 hour layovers and finding bus routes between the stations (I have every stop on the San Joaquin and Amtrak Cascades for example, all visited by train or public transit)