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Ah! That makes sense. Maybe I never noticed before as it seems like less bother than lining up at NYP and receiving your vital luggage tags!

Just saw it here: Given they've made new signage it seems like an official Amtrak initiative, with what seems like zero purpose. I'll see for myself in a few weeks, though as I'm doing NYP-Utica and next day Utica- Toronto I'll presumably avoid these checks.

I see from tweets that they are still persisting with the check-in desk nonsense at New York. Always seems bizarre that if you get on in New York and care Canada bound you have to check in and be given a luggage tag no one looks at, while this doesn't happen at any other stops enroute.

I have walked across the other way round, into Canada, with zero probelms. That said, Canadian border people are a lot friendlier than the US ones. I am planning to do this trip the other way round in July and am planning on taking the Greyhound from Buffalo to Toronto (train from NYC to Buffalo).

I used to take the Maple Leaf a few times a year when I lived in Toronto. The difference between Amtrak and VIA crews on the same train was always like night and day. Amtrak crews seemed to regard passengers as an annoyance, and spent most of the journey taking up the majority of the cafe car...

I've given up on The Maple Leaf resuming for my July Utica-Toronto trip now! I think instead I'll take the train as far as Buffalo and get the Greyhound from there - which seems to be significantly faster Buffalo -Toronto than the old train schedule!

The checks at New York Penn have always seemed pointless including the instance on having a special luggage tag, when no one else who gets on the train en route gets checked in the same way (at least on the Maple Leaf).

Am hoping to take Maple Leaf in July...not getting my hopes up!

Or conversely, bump into your shoulder.

Anyone else think it odd that in Business Class they put the single seat not next to the window but against the aisle? I'd rather have the side table between me and the aisle.

As I understand it beds parallel to direction of travel are not allowed in the U.K., because in the event of an accident it is highly likely everyone would break their necks.

Update from today's Maple Leaf. Only two out of six tables occupied by crew, so I guess that's an improvement on three! One of the two is empty but is 'occupied' by a sign saying 'reserved for crew use'.

Maple Leaf Niagara Falls, ON (Northbound) Niagara Falls, NY (Southbound)

We'll all be boarding at the same place, either NYP or Croton. And yes, done the trip before so know all about the customs procedure - though don't understand why it can't be done on the train like the Adirondack!

In a few weeks I'm taking the Maple Leaf from NYC to Toronto, traveling in Business Class. An option has sprung up for the three of us to join the train at Croton-Harmon, but I am concerned that by this point there might not be 3 seats together (either 2 plus one across the aisle or 2 with one...

It would seem bizarre to replace the LRCs but not the HEPs. Any chance that the new stock will work the LRC routes and the LRCs will then displace the HEPs?

To be honest, I found the crew to be so unfriendly, even slightly aggressive, I didn't really want to ask them. Nor the cafe attendant, who was monosyllabic. As suggested I have contacted Amtrak with a complaint (also about the incredibly dirty windows, half the reason of taking the train).

None of them were actually sitting there but they had 'claimed' three tables by leaving their belongings and papers on them in such a way that you'd have to clear something if you wanted to sit down.

Don't worry Neroden. If assigned seating makes it, crew members and any other non revenue rider will have to ride on the roof of the equipment. After all, they don't want them in the non revenue riders taking up revenue seats. They don't want the non revenue riders in the non revenue seats...

I'll admit I haven't read all of this thread in detail, but I am always struck (as someone not from the US) on Amtrak by the number of staff involved in its operations. On today's Maple Leaf there were three crew, plus the cafe car attendant. I don't know how many people are up front - two? And...