The most complicated change that could possibly be involved at New Yor

[don warner saklad]

Thank you folks!

a. Complicated changes at new york, boston to buffalo

What's the most complicated change that could possibly be involved at the new york station for passengers travelling west to buffalo from boston via new york?... where's the track for boarding in relation to the arrival track?... what's possibly the longest walk between tracks?... what's possibly the longest wait between connections?

b. Complicated changes at new york, buffalo to boston

What's the most complicated change that possibly could be involved at the new york station for passengers travelling east to boston from buffalo via new york?... where's the track for boarding in relation to the arrival track?... what's possibly the longest walk between tracks?... what's possibly the longest wait between connections?

c. Simple changes at new york, boston to buffalo and returning

What's the most simple of changes that could possibly happen at new york?... west from boston to buffalo? east from buffalo to boston?... what's possibly the shortest walk between tracks?... what's the shortest possible wait between connecting trains?... are the arrival and boarding tracks ever across the platform from one another?

d. Board. Telephone information. Web based information.

Do you have to go read the board?... or can you telephone or go on the web for the track numbers?...

 

[jefffromark]

WOW man take a chill pill - I think you should fly!

 

[AlanB]

This is way too complex of a question to really answer easily, and Penn is probably one of the most complex stations around. That said however, here's a few things to ponder.

Amtrak NEC trains can arrive/depart on any track between 5 and 16, but generally tend to stay more in the middle of that range. Empire Corridor trains can only arrive/depart on tracks 5 - 8, a short train could use track #9.

However to go from one track to another, you must come upstairs unless you're lucky enough that the connecting train is directly across the platform. And going upstairs is where things get tricky. Use the correct escalator and you land in the Amtrak area. Use the wrong escalator or stair case and you could be in the NJT waiting area or on the LIRR lower level.

Finally as a far as tracks go, the only way to get that info is to listen to announcements or watch the monitors. In most cases the track number is assigned to a train no more than 15 to 20 minutes before it gets to the station, and it is rare that the track number goes up on the board until 10 minutes before departure.

 

[had8ley]

Thank you folks!
a. Complicated changes at new york, boston to buffalo

What's the most complicated change that could possibly be involved at the new york station for passengers travelling west to buffalo from boston via new york?... where's the track for boarding in relation to the arrival track?... what's possibly the longest walk between tracks?... what's possibly the longest wait between connections?

b. Complicated changes at new york, buffalo to boston

What's the most complicated change that possibly could be involved at the new york station for passengers travelling east to boston from buffalo via new york?... where's the track for boarding in relation to the arrival track?... what's possibly the longest walk between tracks?... what's possibly the longest wait between connections?

c. Simple changes at new york, boston to buffalo and returning

What's the most simple of changes that could possibly happen at new york?... west from boston to buffalo? east from buffalo to boston?... what's possibly the shortest walk between tracks?... what's the shortest possible wait between connecting trains?... are the arrival and boarding tracks ever across the platform from one another?

d. Board. Telephone information. Web based information.

Do you have to go read the board?... or can you telephone or go on the web for the track numbers?...

I think you've complicated things dramatically. Unless you HAVE to go to New York why don't you take the Boston stub train to Albany via Springfield and Pittsfield? The section between Springfield and Pittsfield is one of my favorites~ especially in winter. Just a suggestion; get business class from Boston to Albany. Usually it's a cross platform transfer to the Lake Shore Limited in order to continue on to Buffalo out of Albany. It's not as difficult to manuever Albany-Rennsalier as it is NY Penn. Just follow the crowd from the Boston train. Besides. you can eat a meal in a heritage diner~ something that might be just a memory in the not too distant future. (This is my own thought and is NOT official.)