I recieved my new System Timetable yesterday in the mail and Im pretty much impressed by it. I like how it tells you things like which host railroad the train is being operated over each portion of the journey and the Chicago quick reference table, thats handy for realistic model railroad operation in my opinion (if you run them off the real schedules like I do 
), also for the first timers it also has better instructions on how to use the schedules and there is just generally more information throughout! Way to go Amtrak.
There are a few glitches here and there throughout the timetable I noticed, like the thruway motocoach connections shown as "connecting rail" services and the addition of BWI and New Carrolton in the new extended Cardinal timetable where the train doesnt even stop there to name a few glitches off the top of my head, I remember seeing a couple more nothing major.
I notice when they do mention the Cardinal they still mostly mention it as a WAS-CHI train, I guess they figure its not too appealing to most North of Washington passengers.
Most of the schedules in the timetable are hardly changed, just a little tweaking here and there.
I like the sample fare section, thats a nice feature as well as the more detailed descriptions of Car types, including the specific mentioning of Amfleet II as the long distance eastern coach . . . its good to hear them call the cars by their names, not to much mention of Amfleet in the recent years at Amtrak.
The symbols for the station services on the timetable itself have changed, which can be confusing. The black dot which used to indicate that tickets werent sold at this station for years has now changed to mean the opposite, that tickets ARE sold at that location. The station services index has been squished together more because of the addition of Northeast Corridor services so the columns that used to tell if the stations had enclosed waiting areas, resturants, bathroom, and payphone are gone. It just tells you if the station sells tickets, has checked baggage, and help with luggage as well as the local transit authority. Poor Pittsfield went from having two dots to none at all
Despite these bugs and other little peeves Im pretty satisfied with the new timetable.
Oh and if they got rid of those CORNY fake computer placed images of Amtrak trains on the cover and through out the timetable, I mean they look so cheesy. Its pretty easy to get decent REAL picture of Amtrak trains throughout the country, why cant they do that?! But hey what can ya do?!
Oh ya one more thing, In the small picture advertising the Downeaster instead of showing a brand new Capstone coach they showed passengers riding in an old rather cramped unrefurbished car, I just thought that was a bit intresting :lol:
), also for the first timers it also has better instructions on how to use the schedules and there is just generally more information throughout! Way to go Amtrak.There are a few glitches here and there throughout the timetable I noticed, like the thruway motocoach connections shown as "connecting rail" services and the addition of BWI and New Carrolton in the new extended Cardinal timetable where the train doesnt even stop there to name a few glitches off the top of my head, I remember seeing a couple more nothing major.
I notice when they do mention the Cardinal they still mostly mention it as a WAS-CHI train, I guess they figure its not too appealing to most North of Washington passengers.
Most of the schedules in the timetable are hardly changed, just a little tweaking here and there.
I like the sample fare section, thats a nice feature as well as the more detailed descriptions of Car types, including the specific mentioning of Amfleet II as the long distance eastern coach . . . its good to hear them call the cars by their names, not to much mention of Amfleet in the recent years at Amtrak.
The symbols for the station services on the timetable itself have changed, which can be confusing. The black dot which used to indicate that tickets werent sold at this station for years has now changed to mean the opposite, that tickets ARE sold at that location. The station services index has been squished together more because of the addition of Northeast Corridor services so the columns that used to tell if the stations had enclosed waiting areas, resturants, bathroom, and payphone are gone. It just tells you if the station sells tickets, has checked baggage, and help with luggage as well as the local transit authority. Poor Pittsfield went from having two dots to none at all
Despite these bugs and other little peeves Im pretty satisfied with the new timetable.
Oh and if they got rid of those CORNY fake computer placed images of Amtrak trains on the cover and through out the timetable, I mean they look so cheesy. Its pretty easy to get decent REAL picture of Amtrak trains throughout the country, why cant they do that?! But hey what can ya do?!
Oh ya one more thing, In the small picture advertising the Downeaster instead of showing a brand new Capstone coach they showed passengers riding in an old rather cramped unrefurbished car, I just thought that was a bit intresting :lol:
