Amtrak what time should i arrive

The trains leaving from Penn Station at prime travel time mornings and evenings are typically pretty full. There are plenty of reasons why taking the train is a better option. But you should definitely tip them. In Penn Station look for the Amtrak lounge. Follow her for more travel tips and advice. Discounts Insurance Featured Vendors.

Gallagher Select. Life Line Screening. Members Auto Rental Insurance. Business Services Featured Vendors. Constant Contact. Car Rentals Featured Vendors. In this circumstance, Amtrak will cordon off half the platform to facilitate pointless queueing while allowing free entry to the other half of the platform so the commuter trains can operate like normal trains. Simply stick to the left as if you plan to board the commuter train, and then dart quickly over to the intercity train.

The life-hack for avoiding the queue at 30th street station is using the elevator. You need the assistance of an amtrak employee to operate the elevator but I was commuting between NYC and Philadelphia 3 times a semester for my entire college career and they were always willing to take me down.

I used this technique at homecoming this year. The staircase opposite your gate is almost always open and leads to the same track. Go down that, and you beat the line. Sometimes they close it off, so it doesn't always work. But most of the time you are golden! It is certainly possible that Amtrak is going to ruin it for everyone by shutting down these entry points.

But there's another outcome: Amtrak could reconsider the boarding procedure across the board. The personnel currently employed doing pointless ticket checks could be reassigned to work at the ticket or information desks and improve service across the board. Better rail transportation in America is possible, but it will only become a reality if American rail operators adopt best practices.

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By choosing I Accept , you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. Reddit Pocket Flipboard Email. All aboard! Consider the curious case of boarding a train at Amtrak's most popular stations. This makes sense, since that's how one boards a train. Two helpful Philadelphia tips in my inbox, both from readers who prefer to remain anonymous: The life-hack for avoiding the queue at 30th street station is using the elevator.

And: The staircase opposite your gate is almost always open and leads to the same track. Great to know! The better way to board an airplane. Metra ticketing is located centrally on the Concourse level of the station. Tickets can also be purchased through the mobile Ventra app. A penalty applies when buying tickets from onboard personnel. More information can be found on the Metra page in the Travel section.

Greyhound ticketing is located in the South Concourse. More information can be found on the Greyhound page in the Travel section. Amtrak passengers can wait in the Great Hall where their train will be called and boarded 45 minutes prior to departure. They are also welcome to wait in the Amtrak lounges located in the concourse by the tracks.

It's the perfect place to recharge before, after, or in between train travel. Refer to the Station Map for these locations. Baggage Check is located on the Concourse level.

More information on bringing a bike aboard an Amtrak train can be found on the Amtrak website.