Replying to Pennsylvanian/CL vs NER/CL

Yes, I know about the PGH light rail They used to have some of the biggest and best trolley systems around. Too bad it got cut back.

I suppose that the Cardinal is out of the question?

We have a light rail trolley/subway system that can be taken from 3 blocks from the station to station square.

The Pittsburgh station is now very simplistic - the original (big) station building is now an apartment building, while the current station occupies only a small portion of the bottom of the original building. The only food in the current station exists in the form of vending machines. If you're going to choose the Pittsburgh option, I recommend that you do your research on things to do in Pittsburgh that night, and time yourself very closely on your activities during the layover period.

Even though we drove, we had 4 hours to kill when we took the CL from PGH to CHI two years ago. We chose not to sit in the station and wait but went across the river to station square to the Monongahela incline. At the top, (a few blocks walk) there are restaurants, a coffee shop, ice cream shop and a liquor store. There are also observation decks where you can get a great view of Pittsburgh at night. At station square there is a restaurant and mall in the old P. & L.E. RR station and freight house. Station square is accessible via cab or by using a commuter line a couple of blocks from the station
station square

Commuter line? Pittsbugh has no commuter rail!

Though not a commuter line, Pittsburgh does have a pretty big light rail system. Perhaps he meant that?

Even though we drove, we had 4 hours to kill when we took the CL from PGH to CHI two years ago. We chose not to sit in the station and wait but went across the river to station square to the Monongahela incline. At the top, (a few blocks walk) there are restaurants, a coffee shop, ice cream shop and a liquor store. There are also observation decks where you can get a great view of Pittsburgh at night. At station square there is a restaurant and mall in the old P. & L.E. RR station and freight house. Station square is accessible via cab or by using a commuter line a couple of blocks from the station
station square

Commuter line? Pittsbugh has no commuter rail!

I just did the CL eastbound yesterday and I have to say I don't think I would enjoy a train trip nearly as much without the bigger windows, additional leg room, and SSL, that you only get on trains with Superliner consists (so not the Pennsylvanian).

But I'm still doing the Pennsy westbound on the 17th anyway because I want to see different scenery. I'm planning on just ordering a Domino's pizza for delivery to the Amtrak station at PGH and then selling off my left-over slices.

Better be careful, the homeless will fight over the leftovers!!! haha!

Our train station isnt bad, would be nice to have a lounge, but with only 2 routes there, probably useless to do that.

Even though we drove, we had 4 hours to kill when we took the CL from PGH to CHI two years ago. We chose not to sit in the station and wait but went across the river to station square to the Monongahela incline. At the top, (a few blocks walk) there are restaurants, a coffee shop, ice cream shop and a liquor store. There are also observation decks where you can get a great view of Pittsburgh at night. At station square there is a restaurant and mall in the old P. & L.E. RR station and freight house. Station square is accessible via cab or by using a commuter line a couple of blocks from the station
station square

I just did the CL eastbound yesterday and I have to say I don't think I would enjoy a train trip nearly as much without the bigger windows, additional leg room, and SSL, that you only get on trains with Superliner consists (so not the Pennsylvanian).

But I'm still doing the Pennsy westbound on the 17th anyway because I want to see different scenery. I'm planning on just ordering a Domino's pizza for delivery to the Amtrak station at PGH and then selling off my left-over slices.

How much do you plan to sell the left-over pizza pieces?
Do you give a discount if the pizza is cold?
I hope you have a good trip!!

I just did the CL eastbound yesterday and I have to say I don't think I would enjoy a train trip nearly as much without the bigger windows, additional leg room, and SSL, that you only get on trains with Superliner consists (so not the Pennsylvanian).

But I'm still doing the Pennsy westbound on the 17th anyway because I want to see different scenery. I'm planning on just ordering a Domino's pizza for delivery to the Amtrak station at PGH and then selling off my left-over slices.