100 replies to this topic

[EdFindlay]

I am starting to warm to Option 2 as far as Deland. It looks like the best chance of getting in the most amout of rail riding without having to worry about connections.

[pennyk]

I am starting to warm to Option 2 as far as Deland. It looks like the best chance of getting in the most amout of rail riding without having to worry about connections.

Today (4/9), 97 was the latest that I have seen so far. Apparently "something" happened in the middle of the night to delay the train and it became even more late. The connection to 98 was missed not only in ORL and WPK, it was missed in DeLand. 98 left DeLand 7 minutes before 97 arrived. I have been tracking the trains for several weeks, and this was a first.

[KevinKorell]

So even Deland is a risk for the 97-to-98 option, and that would be normally 3 hours between 97 and 98 at DLD. Jacksonville is starting to look a lot better.........

[pennyk]

So even Deland is a risk for the 97-to-98 option, and that would be normally 3 hours between 97 and 98 at DLD. Jacksonville is starting to look a lot better.........

If one were to connect in DeLand and 97 were running very extremely late as it was today, de-training in JAX would be an option - and the layover would not be as long. 97 did not arrive in JAX until almost noon (scheduled arrival time is 9:23am).

[KevinKorell]

But if you bail in JAX and you've bought a ticket for 98, usage of that train is moot because now you're going to be waiting there for 92.

[steve4031]

The refund policy is liberal. In January I canceled the ticket got the bos pvd trip onboard the acela when I thought miss that connection. So one could easily cancel a ticket on 98. Now if one continues south and then gets off 97 at winter park rather than Orlando, for example, I don't know what would happen if your ticket wasn't scanned in Orlando and u get on in winter park. For a coach seat I think one is ok. A sleeper might be a problem.

Edited by steve4031, 10 April 2013 - 04:54 AM.

[pennyk]

FYI, Train 92 was 3 hours 9 minutes late into Cary this morning (arriving at 11:24am). Connecting train 75 left Cary at 11:57am, leaving a short layover, but likely not enough time to grab lunch. If one were attempting to connect in Raleigh today, the connection would have been missed. I have been tracking train 92 for several weeks and today was the latest arrival. On March 28th, it was 2:20 late and on April 12th, it was 1:20 late. Otherwise it has been less than an hour late (but not less than 5 minutes late).

[steve4031]

Thanks Penny. If its running that late we will be snacking in lounge car.

[pennyk]

Today, April 19th, 97 is running late. It arrived in WPK before 98 arrived (thus, that connection would have been made), however, it arrived in ORL 4 minutes after 98 left ORL (thus the connection in ORL would have been missed by a hair).

[steve4031]

That train was listed as having a service disruption yesterday. But it appeared to not be doing to bad when you saw it.