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I am thinking about taking Amtrak from Philly to Montreal. I would be interested in any info on the trip. Does it run on time? Is it scenic? etc
Frank X.
Posts: 1 | From: Lansdale, PA, USA | Registered: Nov 2001
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There are two choices. NE Direct to New York and then transfer to the adirondack and Vermonter with a bus transgfer in St Albans
Posts: 17 | From: new york | Registered: Dec 2001
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Hi Frank, The trip is very scenic. The train passes through valleys, mountains, and along Lake Champlain. I'm not sure about on-time stats, but you can check the train status on Amtrak's website. Do this for several days to get an idea about how the train runs. Here is the Adirondack site, if you want to read more about it: http://northeast.amtrak.com/trains/adirondack.html
Hope this helps, Eric
Posts: 553 | From: Flagstaff, AZ USA | Registered: Apr 2001
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Both of the routes are very scenic. The Adirondack requires an early departure from Philadelphia to connect to Montreal. The train travels along the Hudson River all the way from New York City to Albany. You will be within a stones throw of the river most of the way. You will travel along the shore of Lake Champlain prior to crossing into Canada. The Vermonter departs from Wash. DC & does not require a change of trains in New York City. I would suggest traveling to Montreal on the Adirondack & returning to Philly on the Vermonter. It does require a very early departure from Montreal via bus connecting to the train in St. Albans Vermont. I believe the scenery through Vermont would negate the inconvenience of transferring from the bus & you could travel home without changing trains in NYC. Have a great trip & please let us all know how it goes. Yours, Reggie
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I rode both routes some years ago. The Adirondack is wonderfully scenic--I think some TV show or publication rated it one of the most scenic and North America, and, having been on quite a few lines around the country, I would rate it near the top.
------------------ Steve Dunham Literalman@aol.com http://www.stevedunham.50megs.com/
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I'm *hoping* to take a similar trip- starting in on the Adirondack in Albany to Montreal and taking the Vermonter to Hartford. I monitored the on-time stats a while ago when I was also planning on taking the Adirondack, but didn't due to a freight derailment. I wouldn't expect there to be more than an hour late on the NB Adirondack. This can be due to the customs inspection, or just slow orders, but I'd guess an average lateness would be 45 minutes.
The NB Vermonter seems to always be on time when I take it North to connect with the WB LakeShore. (Coincidentally, that's how I'll get back to Albany to complete the loop.) One time, due to an engine mal-function, it was an hour late, but it's usually on-time arriving into Hartford, and I can usually depend on this train being there if I want to see some action down at the station. How it does North of Springfield, I'm not sure.
Both routes are very scenic from what I've heard. I've been as north as Rutland on the Ethan Allen, and the scenery is great. I had to take a bus to Montreal instead of the Adirondack that one time, and even from the bus, the vistas were spectacular. On the Vermonter, I've only been as far north as Bellow's Falls, which is a nice trip, but once you really get into the green mountains, you're in for the best scenery, I'd imagine. I've only seen this territory from the highway too..
Yeah, so take the trip- you won't be disappointed.
Posts: 140 | From: Albany, NY | Registered: Mar 2001
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