Silly Question about NYP

[Jen G]

Ok, so I will have to admit right off the bat that I am almost downright ashamed to ask these questions....being a NY resident my entire life and passing through NYP more times than I can count.

I will be leaving on the Silver Star at 11AM

I will be escorting my little (she's not really little....18 but still my baby sister!) to her train, Empire Service 281 at 10:15AM.

The last time I took the silver service I was in a sleeper. Someone came into the lounge a few minutes before general boarding to take us to the track. Very nice! So I really don't have any idea on how general boarding is!

Now, here are the questions.

1 - Since I cannot get her into the lounge with me, where do you suggest we stay to make sure she hears the announced track for her train?

2 - Can I walk her to the platform? I would, if possible, like to try and find the conductor to let him/her know she's riding for the first time and is concerned about missing her stop! (I will try and do this on the sly, as to not embarrass her!)

3 - Any heads up on what track this particular train MIGHT be on? I know it's a long shot.

4 - Any other suggestions to make this as easy as possible?

I would like my sister to feel comfortable with Amtrak and confident the next time she rides. Although, I can't make her love it the way I do (she either will or she won't), I wan't to try and avoid as much chaos as possible. Good luck in Penn! Haha! Also, we will both be arriving on the LIRR into Penn from different lines and have plans to meet at the track sign for the LIRR. I know she's familiar with this so it seemed the best location.

Thanks in advance!

Jen G

 

[pennyk]

Will you be traveling in a Sleeper on the Silver Star? If so, you will have access to the Acela Lounge and you and bring your sister in with you as a guest. I have done it many times with my baby sister (who is 57 years old), in fact, I will be doing it on Monday.

My little sister likes traveling by train, but not nearly as much as I do. She sees it as transportation - I see it as the vacation.

I do not know the answer to the rest of your questions, but I am sure someone will. There are a lot of smart people in this forum and there are those that will answer your questions even if they do not know the answers. :lol:

 

[Jen G]

Will you be traveling in a Sleeper on the Silver Star? If so, you will have access to the Acela Lounge and you and bring your sister in with you as a guest. I have done it many times with my baby sister (who is 57 years old), in fact, I will be doing it on Monday.

My little sister likes traveling by train, but not nearly as much as I do. She sees it as transportation - I see it as the vacation.

I do not know the answer to the rest of your questions, but I am sure someone will. There are a lot of smart people in this forum and there are those that will answer your questions even if they do not know the answers. :lol:

I can bring her into the lounge? I thought only if I was select plus! That would be wonderful but opens up a whole new set of questions! If they will announce her train in the lounge....

Jen G

 

[Jen G]

Just found this....seems like I can bring her into the lounge!

ClubAcela Customer Rules & Privileges

• ClubAcela customers traveling in First Class or sleeping car accommodations, Single-Day Pass holders, and Select Plus members may bring immediate family members traveling together, or one, non-family guest. Unaccompanied guests are not permitted.

 

[MrFSS]

Will you be traveling in a Sleeper on the Silver Star? If so, you will have access to the Acela Lounge and you and bring your sister in with you as a guest. I have done it many times with my baby sister (who is 57 years old), in fact, I will be doing it on Monday.

My little sister likes traveling by train, but not nearly as much as I do. She sees it as transportation - I see it as the vacation.

I do not know the answer to the rest of your questions, but I am sure someone will. There are a lot of smart people in this forum and there are those that will answer your questions even if they do not know the answers. :lol:

I can bring her into the lounge? I thought only if I was select plus! That would be wonderful but opens up a whole new set of questions! If they will announce her train in the lounge....

Jen G

I don't know if I'm understanding what you are doing, but will you and your sister be on the same train, you in sleeper and her in coach?

If so, why not add her to your reservation and both of you be in the sleeper and she would get her meals, too.

 

[Jen G]

Will you be traveling in a Sleeper on the Silver Star? If so, you will have access to the Acela Lounge and you and bring your sister in with you as a guest. I have done it many times with my baby sister (who is 57 years old), in fact, I will be doing it on Monday.

My little sister likes traveling by train, but not nearly as much as I do. She sees it as transportation - I see it as the vacation.

I do not know the answer to the rest of your questions, but I am sure someone will. There are a lot of smart people in this forum and there are those that will answer your questions even if they do not know the answers. :lol:

I can bring her into the lounge? I thought only if I was select plus! That would be wonderful but opens up a whole new set of questions! If they will announce her train in the lounge....

Jen G

I don't know if I'm understanding what you are doing, but will you and your sister be on the same train, you in sleeper and her in coach?

If so, why not add her to your reservation and both of you be in the sleeper and she would get her meals, too.

My sister is going to Albany on the Empire Service at 10:15AM

I'm going to Florida on the Silver Star at 11:05AM

 

[Acela150]

I'd suggest what Penny has suggested. Arrive at the Lounge and explain your situation. The worst they can say is no. The best they can is ok we'll take of you.

 

[pennyk]

My sister lives near WAS and often when I have layovers, she will take the metro to Union Station and hang out with me while waiting for my next train. Even before I was Select Plus, I would bring her in the lounge with me to hang out (and use clean restrooms). None of the times she joined me in WAS was she traveling on a train with me. She and I look very much alike, so it was quite obvious that we were immediate family.

She has joined me in NYP once when she was taking a regional train and I was taking the Silver Meteor. We both waited in the lounge without a problem.

It is possible that middle-aged women get treated better than younger folks.

 

[SubwayNut]

Empire Service trains can only arrive on (approximately) tracks 5,6,7, or 8. There the only tracks that can use the Empire Connection up the Hudson. If you board the way Amtrak wants you to waiting in line with everyone else the gate usher probably won't let you onto the platform. You can through go down one level to the exit concurse and down the stairs to the platform to put her on the train.

 

[MARC Rider]

They don't announce non-acela non-LD departures in the Club Acela, so you'll have to keep an eagle eye on the departure monitor for the Empire Service. However, your sister could ask for a redcap to help her on the train. You'll have to tip him a couple of bucks, but I think it's more than worth it to skip the cattle line. I did this the last time I used the Club Acela in NYP and was traveling on a Regional. (I'm slect plus) The redcap will escort her to the train well ahead of when everybody else boards, and she'll get her pick of seats.

 

[R30A]

The NYP ClubAcela staff has always been professional in my experience. As you are entitled to access for both of you, I would generally not expect there to be any trouble. As long as you tell them what trains you are going on, they generally announce them ahead of time, although if you have not told them what you are traveling on, some of the attendants won't announce the corridor trains without first class.

 

[Acela150]

They don't announce non-acela non-LD departures in the Club Acela

I boarded 147 out of NYP CA on New Years Day and they made an announcement for it. I don't know why they wouldn't considering their are Customers of the lounge that have Select Plus cards or passes. PHL CA makes announcements for trains that they have records of passengers checking in for. So if someone checks in for say 162. They will make an announcement for it. It's based on check ins.

 

[Jen G]

Thanks All for the info. I'll let everyone know how it goes!

I do think I will be asking for a red cap for her.

She's bringing a large bag with her and is concerned she wont be able to lift it above her seat. She's a tiny little thing. lol!

What is customary to tip? Would $10.00 be ok?

 

[AmtrakBlue]

I'd say $10 is extremely generous. Maybe $3-5.

 

[AlanB]

They don't announce non-acela non-LD departures in the Club Acela, so you'll have to keep an eagle eye on the departure monitor for the Empire Service. However, your sister could ask for a redcap to help her on the train. You'll have to tip him a couple of bucks, but I think it's more than worth it to skip the cattle line. I did this the last time I used the Club Acela in NYP and was traveling on a Regional. (I'm slect plus) The redcap will escort her to the train well ahead of when everybody else boards, and she'll get her pick of seats.

That's not correct. As long as they know someone is boarding a non-Acela, they will announce it. If however you check in using a Select Plus card and don't tell them what train you're on, then there may be no announcement. But otherwise, there is always an announcement made.

 

[AlanB]

Thanks All for the info. I'll let everyone know how it goes!

I do think I will be asking for a red cap for her.

She's bringing a large bag with her and is concerned she wont be able to lift it above her seat. She's a tiny little thing. lol!

What is customary to tip? Would $10.00 be ok?

Don't know if my post comes too late or not Jen, but do NOT have the Redcap put her bag overhead if she's going to have trouble lifting it back out. She may or may not be able to get a conductor to help her get it down later. Much better to have the Redcap put the bag in the floor based shelving unit where she could drag the bag out on her own at her stop.

And yes, $10 is too much for 1 bag. I'd say maybe $5 max if the Redcap is really nice, or if you have more than one bag.

 

[Long Train Runnin']

I didn't see this posted, but I think it address one of your questions in the OP. Empire Service trains can only leave on Tracks 5,6,7, and 8. Trains to Albany are really the only ones that leave from NYP where you can narrow this down.

 

[Nathanael]

I'd ask what station she's getting off at. I assume she's getting off before Niagara Falls, because you *can't* miss that one. ;-)

It's actually fairly hard to miss your station on Empire Service unless you fall asleep; stations are a decent distance apart from each other, so if she notices the station before her station, she'll be ready in plenty of time.

I generally count the stations off, subway style. I'm most used to Syracuse.