Looks like my trip South is all set but I have been getting concerned about my return trip North.
Currently the 92 Silver Star has been getting into WAS sooooooooo late - it is beyond anything heading North for the NHV connection to SPG (the last shuttle or Vermonter going to SPG leaves WAS @3:05PM - (S/B fine except those days the 92 has been arring in WAS after 4:00PM).
Now I know "Amtrak has to look out for me" but a bus from Washington to Springfield? I am wondering what I should 'warn' the people who are supposed to pick me up in Springfield on Thursday evening.
Best ideas anyone???
Erik
Posted by train lady (Member # 3920) on :
Maybe the easiest thing on your nervous system would be to make plans to stay overnight in Washington and leave for Springfield the next morning.
Posted by the_maitre (Member # 2632) on :
Well yes that would be ‘mind settling’ – but… I have a meeting at work on Friday morning. The individual picking me up in SPG has already taken a day off to be available on Thursday. And now ‘may’ have to take another day off to retrieve me on Friday? The prospect of taking the first regional to Springfield on Friday morning (the 190/490) is inconvenient (leaving WAS at 3:15 in the morning, arriving in SPG at 10:00AM – still after my meeting).
No I can not leave on an earlier date – the conference in Florida ends on June 6th. I have taken several other Amtrak trains (Autotrain, Lake Shore Limited, Southwest Chief) and none have had timekeeping as poor as what I have seen in the past three weeks for the Silver Star. Had I known that my return trip has the potential of becoming a ‘saga’ I would have made alternative plans utilizing a mode of transportation with better destination to destination scheduling accuracy.
Erik
Posted by Ocala Mike (Member # 4657) on :
The Silver Meteor, #98, keeps better time generally. I will be going up on it this Sat., 5/19 (PAK - NYP), and will be going on to ALB on Empire Service. Fortunately, I have lots of trains to choose from for the last leg.
Is there any way you can take the Meteor instead of the Star? I know it leaves MIA a little earlier.
Posted by the_maitre (Member # 2632) on :
Mike,
I thought about that too. I could ditch out early on the 6th to cath the 98 Meteor in KIS around 12:00N. However...the fares have gone up considerabley. I am already paying out of my own pocket for the roomette - I didn't want to add yet another $100 to change to the 98 instead of the 92. If it was the same price (or close) I'd take it in a heartbeat.
Erik
Posted by the_maitre (Member # 2632) on :
...and of course... The Silver Star 92 posted an arrival in WAS today 05/14/07 of only 15 minutes late.