NYP Mezzanine Boarding

[Jamie]

Gate A in Washington is much easier to guard than the area in NY. Chances are if you walk in there, someone will stop you. Same for Gate G, and then to the 'exit only' doors, which is how you would get on the Acela, tracks 17-20.

If you are boarding a train on the lower level, you can use gate G to get to the VRE waiting area. The only catch is that you have to walk down the stairs, since the escalator in that corridor will most likely be set to 'up' You can also do this through Gate L, if it is not blocked.

 

[Dakota 400]

Well, reading this thread has me thoroughly confused as to what to expect in boarding the train.

I will be leaving from NYP on the Crescent, am a Sleeping Car guest, and expect to be in Club Acela after checking luggage and waiting to board the Crescent.

What boarding procedures from Club Acela should I expect?

If there is one, hard to tell from this thread, is there an advantage to engaging the services of a Red Cap? And, if so, when and where would I do this?

 

[Silver Star rider]

Well, reading this thread has me thoroughly confused as to what to expect in boarding the train.

I will be leaving from NYP on the Crescent, am a Sleeping Car guest, and expect to be in Club Acela after checking luggage and waiting to board the Crescent.

What boarding procedures from Club Acela should I expect?

If there is one, hard to tell from this thread, is there an advantage to engaging the services of a Red Cap? And, if so, when and where would I do this?

You will need to check in and justify your use of the lounge. They will need to see your tickets that you are first class. At that point the attendant behind the desk will say something like she will notify you track number as soon as she hears it on the radio, that you will and other passengers will be escorted down to the train before other coach passengers.

Bruce-SSR

 

[pennyk]

I have not boarded the Crescent from NYP, but have boarded the Silvers and Lake Shore Limited.

If you need assistance with your luggage, then request a Red Cap. If you do not need assistance, then you will follow your escort down an escalator to the platform, after the CA announces that your train will be boarding.

 

[neroden]

If you need to use the elevator due to disability, you'll want to tell the Club attendant that too.

 

[railiner]

If you are in a sleeper, I don't see any need to 'rush' down to the train, as your space is reserved...only coach passenger's that are trying to obtain favored seating location need to be concerned with getting a 'jump' on the crowd....

 

[Silver Star rider]

If you are in a sleeper, I don't see any need to 'rush' down to the train, as your space is reserved...only coach passenger's that are trying to obtain favored seating location need to be concerned with getting a 'jump' on the crowd....

If you are in a sleeper, I don't see any need to 'rush' down to the train, as your space is reserved...only coach passenger's that are trying to obtain favored seating location need to be concerned with getting a 'jump' on the crowd....

Exactly, once being escorted down, the escort and I were both taken aback when a couple pushed and shoved a bit to get to the front of the escalator line. They had to be sleeper passengers to board with us.

Now this is my issue. When we had real tickets, I had mine ready to show at the top of the escalator. I always seem to get stuck behind someone who a) didn't think they needed to show their tickets to board the escalator down to the platform, and b) forgot which pocket had the tickets.

Bruce-SSR

 

[Anderson]

I'm not sure how long Amtrak has been checking tickets at the top of the escalator as a practice. Remember, it wasn't that long ago that Amtrak still sold space onboard trains on the NEC proper.

Edit: I've also been that dolt who couldn't find their tickets...though that's usually if I end up scrambling and/or juggling an awkward book or bag on the way to the train and have to stuff my tickets in a pocket unexpectedly.

 

[Dakota 400]

This is very informative. I was not aware that I needed my e-ticket easily available in order to show to whomever at the escalator. I will make sure that it can be quickly accessed when needed.

I wonder what else I am not aware of.

 

[William W.]

I just find it annoying that the NYP Club Acela doesn't have an agent board the lounge passengers directly. Every other lounge does this. I wish that they could at least have a first class line like they do in airports. If you pay a premium, you should get to avoid the wave of coach passengers and board first.

I will definitely use the Mezzanine Level to board whenever I can.

 

[Dakota 400]

I just find it annoying that the NYP Club Acela doesn't have an agent board the lounge passengers directly. Every other lounge does this. I wish that they could at least have a first class line like they do in airports. If you pay a premium, you should get to avoid the wave of coach passengers and board first.

I will definitely use the Mezzanine Level to board whenever I can.

My confusion continues. Previous posters have indicated that there is an escort for Sleeping Car guests from, I assume, Club Acela, to the escalator and then, down, to the concourse.

I guess I don't understand the difference between boarding from the Club Acela area and the Mezzanine Level.

Any help in making this more clear for me would be appreciated. Thank you.

 

[William W.]

I just find it annoying that the NYP Club Acela doesn't have an agent board the lounge passengers directly. Every other lounge does this. I wish that they could at least have a first class line like they do in airports. If you pay a premium, you should get to avoid the wave of coach passengers and board first.

I will definitely use the Mezzanine Level to board whenever I can.

My confusion continues. Previous posters have indicated that there is an escort for Sleeping Car guests from, I assume, Club Acela, to the escalator and then, down, to the concourse.

I guess I don't understand the difference between boarding from the Club Acela area and the Mezzanine Level.

Any help in making this more clear for me would be appreciated. Thank you.

When agents at other clubs board passengers, they take them out a non-public entrance, and onto the proper platform. This way, they bypass the boarding gates and the crowds of coach passengers. At NYP, as far as I know, if you are in Club Acela and they call your train, you are told to leave the lounge and board using the same escalator that everyone else uses. The agents in the lounge don't take you down early, or through a special entrance.

The NYP mezzanine level is below the main lobby with the escalators that most people use to go their their respective tracks. It consists of a long hallway with entrances to each track/platform. This is the area that LIRR, and NJT board from. Amtrak passengers can also use the entrances here, once their track number is called. The issue is that Amtrak has, as of late, occasionally posted ATP to stop people from doing this. Again, the main advantage of boarding here, as opposed to the upper level escalators is that you avoid the (unnecessary) long lines and crowds that Amtrak creates whenever they call a train. Instead of standing in line, you just board like you would at any other station in the world. It is quicker, and much more pleasant.

 

[Silver Star rider]

When boarding for the Star, they announce for coach to queue up for 13 west, for example, while the escort takes us down 13 east.

Bruce-SSR

 

[railiner]

I'm not sure how long Amtrak has been checking tickets at the top of the escalator as a practice. Remember, it wasn't that long ago that Amtrak still sold space onboard trains on the NEC proper.

Edit: I've also been that dolt who couldn't find their tickets...though that's usually if I end up scrambling and/or juggling an awkward book or bag on the way to the train and have to stuff my tickets in a pocket unexpectedly.

Originally, they only checked tickets for "all-reserved trains", which were long-distance and Metroliner's....they did not check tickets for regional trains...

 

[DooBdoo]

At NYP my experience has always been:

From the Acela Lounge you will be escorted to an "up" escalator.

The escort will turn a key to make it a "down" escalator.

You descend to the platform and wait until the last escorted

Passenger arrives, at which point the escalator is reversed to its original "up"

position.

This all happens before the train is announced to the public.

 

[jis]

At NYP my experience has always been:

From the Acela Lounge you will be escorted to an "up" escalator.

The escort will turn a key to make it a "down" escalator.

You descend to the platform and wait until the last escorted

Passenger arrives, at which point the escalator is reversed to its original "up"

position.

This all happens before the train is announced to the public.

That is my experience with LD departures from NYP too. For Regionals and Acelas I have not boarded from NYP to know. I usually board at Metropark or Newark.

 

[Ryan]

When agents at other clubs board passengers, they take them out a non-public entrance, and onto the proper platform. This way, they bypass the boarding gates and the crowds of coach passengers. At NYP, as far as I know, if you are in Club Acela and they call your train, you are told to leave the lounge and board using the same escalator that everyone else uses. The agents in the lounge don't take you down early, or through a special entrance.

Sample size one and all that, and maybe my memory is faulty, but the one time I've boarded (the LSL) from the CA at NYP we were escorted out of the lounge, down an escalator, and to the side of the train where we were "handed off" to the sleeping car attendant who directed us to our rooms.

 

[Bob Dylan]

At NYP my experience has always been:

From the Acela Lounge you will be escorted to an "up" escalator.

The escort will turn a key to make it a "down" escalator.

You descend to the platform and wait until the last escorted

Passenger arrives, at which point the escalator is reversed to its original "up"

position.

This all happens before the train is announced to the public.

Redcaps, with a head start, do the same and if you need to use the Elevator you usually will be one of the last passengers to arrive trainside!

 

[amamba]

At NYP my experience has always been:

From the Acela Lounge you will be escorted to an "up" escalator.

The escort will turn a key to make it a "down" escalator.

You descend to the platform and wait until the last escorted

Passenger arrives, at which point the escalator is reversed to its original "up"

position.

This all happens before the train is announced to the public.

That is my experience with LD departures from NYP too. For Regionals and Acelas I have not boarded from NYP to know. I usually board at Metropark or Newark.

The experience for LD trains is as noted above. However for acela and regionals they announce the gate and you stand in line at the escalator with everyone else on the Amtrak/club acela level. Your other option is to go to the mezzanine level or to secure a redcap. With a redcap I am often on the platform as the acela pulls into the station.

 

[jis]

Coming to think of it, the few times I have boarded an Acela from NYP I have done so from the LIRR/NJT east end concourse. I have never seen Amtrak staff or police set foot in that part of the station.