Amtrak running extra trains around Thanksgiving?

[rs9]

I saw this quote from Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner:

Travelers are hitting the rails again in record numbers this Thanksgiving season, as Amtrak reports ridership is up 15% over prepandemic levels.

So many riders are traveling by train that the railroad has added extra cars and scheduled extra trains, Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner said Tuesday from Union Station’s cavernous Great Hall.

“I think it’s because people enjoy taking the train. It’s convenient, it’s comfortable, flexible. And certainly it’s not easy to fly or drive these days,” Gardner said.

https://chicago.suntimes.com/2023/1...ship-thanksgiving-holiday-empire-builder-chip
No paywall, but you have to sign up with email to read the article.

Not to bash endlessly on Mr. Gardner, but is this claim actually true? Are there extra trains running? Presumably NEC if they are?

 

[AmtrakBlue]

I saw this quote from Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner:


https://chicago.suntimes.com/2023/1...ship-thanksgiving-holiday-empire-builder-chip
No paywall, but you have to sign up with email to read the article.

Not to bash endlessly on Mr. Gardner, but is this claim actually true? Are there extra trains running? Presumably NEC if they are?

I've heard Keystones have extras. I do not believe the NEC has extra, but they have been adding cars to the regular trains.

 

[PVD]

Adding extra cars to a good number of sets on the NEC is probably better for them in some ways, since it requires way less additional staffing. Just not sure how many cars they actually have around to do it. Less hassle with slotting as well.

 

[daybeers]

Miss the days of the massive NEC Thanksgiving schedules...

 

[trimetbusfan]

I think some of the LDs are also running some extra coaches. The starlight has 3 coaches and 2 full sleepers this week (instead of normal 2 coaches with 1 full sleeper + trasndorm).

 

[west point]

On Sunday Nov 26, my search of WAS / PHL - NYP showed no extra trains, Anyone find different? I can remember few years ago when PHL - NYP actually showed 51 trains. Only 38 trains for Sunday.
BOS - MYP only has 18 trains not the usual 19. But fares == Acela first $500., Acela business $359, Regional business $319, only 3 regional coach trains all near 100% == $258. somehow have to suspect that for the NEC some prevarication is happening as far as additional trains.

 

[joelkfla]

I saw somewhere (probably on Facebook) that one train had suspended checked baggage service, so that they could eliminate the baggage car to make room for an added coach. I don't remember which train.

 

[Willbridge]

Flix added an extra PDX<>SEA round-trip on Sunday. They usually rely on demand pricing rather than adding service. This time they did both and started the most popular trips at $131 one-way, almost exactly double Amtrak's top bucket fare. Amtrak, of course, is sold out on the comparable trips.

 

[railiner]

Miss the days of the massive NEC Thanksgiving schedules...

Me too…and going back to the PRR era, that road made a heroic effort to accommodate all who desired to travel, at standard fares, pressing into service any car that was fit to go, including commuter cars or recently retired equipment. True “mass transportation”.

 

[Willbridge]

Me too…and going back to the PRR era, that road made a heroic effort to accommodate all who desired to travel, at standard fares, pressing into service any car that was fit to go, including commuter cars or recently retired equipment. True “mass transportation”.

I wonder if contemporary Amtrak and VIA employees would even know what it meant if a train displayed green flags or green lights?

Flix has now added an extra trip from Portland to Eugene on this Sunday, one-way fare $86 for the 110-mile trip. Their four regular scheduled trips (including one GL) are sold out. The three Amtrak trains are sold out, and four of the five $25 fixed-price complementary Thruway trips are sold out. There's still space on the 7:00 a.m. trip!

In the weird category, for Sunday, Amtrak has one PDX>SEA train left with available coach seating, at $36, and it's the popular PDX>VAC train. Yesterday (22nd) it was shown as sold out. The comparable flix trip that leaves five minutes before it is selling at $131, with only two seats left. Perhaps Amtrak found an extra coach for the strangled Cascades?

 

[west point]

There has not been posted anywhere of any extra Amtrak trains/ Does anyone know of any?

 

[AmtrakBlue]

There has not been posted anywhere of any extra Amtrak trains/ Does anyone know of any?

Did you see my comment? I believe Keystones added extras. The NEC has added extra cars to the regularly scheduled trains.

 

[Acela150]

They did add a few trains for Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday on the corridor. But nothing earth shattering.

 

[PaTrainFan]

They did add a few trains for Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday on the corridor. But nothing earth shattering.

That Amtrak found the wherewithal to add any service for any length of time is earth shattering.

 

[AmtrakMaineiac]

I did see 95 going through South of PVD this morning with 10 cars if I counted right. I don't know its normal length but that seems long compared to the usual regional so maybe they added extra cars

 

[AmtrakBlue]

I heard they are adding extra cars today to some trains.

 

[Hans627]

I heard they are adding extra cars today to some trains.

Where do they get extra cars? I thought there was a shortage.

 

[McLeansvilleAppFan]

I heard they are adding extra cars today to some trains.

The Carolinian had an extra coach but dropped the baggage car. Not any space in Charlotte for more than 8 set train including the engine.

 

[AmtrakBlue]

There are 3 keystone sets running today on the NEC. Some 9 car trains will now have 10 cars and one will have 11 cars.

 

[Just-Thinking-51]

Where do they get extra cars? I thought there was a shortage.

Amtrak has a high maintenance reserve. 20% of the fleet in standby or maintenance activities. Easily push a few cars out for one weekend, when your staff is not working on them due to the holidays.

 

[Palmland]

going back to the PRR era, that road made a heroic effort to accommodate all who desired to travel, at standard fares, pressing into service any car that was fit to go

The Sunday after Thanksgiving was always the busiest day and when I returned to college. I well remember returning from Wilmington riding in a late afternoon train to Washington in a 12sec-DR Pullman being used as a coach. My lucky day!

 

[daybeers]

There are 3 keystone sets running today on the NEC. Some 9 car trains will now have 10 cars and one will have 11 cars.

FWIW this isn't all that uncommon anymore, especially north of NYP. Several run with 10 or 11 regularly. Of course, great for those on the NEC, but makes me feel guilty for those along the TE or CL.

 

[Acela150]

There are 3 keystone sets running today on the NEC. Some 9 car trains will now have 10 cars and one will have 11 cars.

One of which started out of Philly. Crew signed up at 525am.

 

[AmtrakBlue]

One of which started out of Philly. Crew signed up at 525am.

Yeah, and I did not go out in this cold to catch that one. I hope to catch it on its return. And maybe the other ones.
I did catch the 11 car 152 which stops at NRK.
Wish it was warmer out there.

 

[joelkfla]

FWIW this isn't all that uncommon anymore, especially north of NYP. Several run with 10 or 11 regularly. Of course, great for those on the NEC, but makes me feel guilty for those along the TE or CL.

Don't the Keystones run Amfleets, as opposed to Superliners on CL & TE? If so, pulling from different stocks.