3 replies to this topic

[KevinKorell]

FINALLY!    NARP is announcing that effective May 1, 2017, there will be a Thruway connection between the Sunset Limited at Maricopa, and points closer to the Phoenix area.   The bus will connect with Train 1/421 from points east and to Train 2/422 towards points east.   For now there won't be a connection that would allow travel between California and the Phoenix area.

 

The bus will run Maricopa - Tempe - Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport - MetroCenter Mall. Note that it will NOT stop in downtown Phoenix.  However, the stop at the airport allows one to take the airport's SkyTrain to the Valley Metro light rail.  The stop in Tempe is at the former Amtrak station (from when the Sunset ran that way rather than via Maricopa), and is a block from Valley Metro's Mill/3rd light rail station in downtown Tempe.  The bus stop at the MetroCenter Mall is currently not near any rail transit, however by 2023 or 2026 when the existing light rail line is extended to the same mall, it will be.

 

The Thruway bus connection from Train 1/421 at Maricopa will be 8901.  The Thruway bus connection to Train 2/422 at Maricopa will be 8602.

 

The MetroCenter Mall and Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport Thruway stops are not new to Amtrak's map.   The Thruway connections between the Southwest Chief at Flagstaff and the Phoenix area use the same stops.

[CNJRoss]

Amtrak news release, 4/28:
 

New Amtrak Thruway Shuttle Service in Maricopa Maricopa Connecting Sunset Limited/Texas Eagle Passengers to Phoenix and Tempe

 

 

OAKLAND – Beginning Monday, May 1, Amtrak will begin operating a Thruway bus connecting service in Maricopa, Ariz. for passengers traveling on the Sunset Limited/Texas Eagle service wanting to travel to Tempe and Phoenix, Ariz. area. Stagecoach Express will operate the to/from shuttle service on the schedule days the Sunset Limited operates through Maricopa.

 

Thruway stops include:

• Macayo’s Depot Cantina, 300 South Ash Avenue, Tempe, Ariz.
• Phoenix (Metro Center Transit Station), 9617 North Metro Parkway West, Phoenix, Ariz.
• Phoenix Airport, 3400 East Sky Harbor Blvd., Terminal 2 – Outside Door 8 – Intercity Shuttle Island (shuttle staff available 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m.

Continue here for schedule.

 

[KevinKorell]

For now there won't be a connection that would allow travel between California and the Phoenix area.

 

---------

 

The Thruway bus connection from Train 1/421 at Maricopa will be 8901.  The Thruway bus connection to Train 2/422 at Maricopa will be 8602.

 

 

As the press release indicates, there are 4 Thruway trips, not 2 as I alluded to above.  I did not check various days of the week.  The Thruway trips will connect to both the eastbound and westbound Sunset Limited/Texas Eagle, and it will be possible to go from Los Angeles to & from Phoenix as well as points east to & from Phoenix.  So the numbers will be 8901 connecting from 1/421 and 8601 connecting to 1/421.  And then 8602 will connect to 2/422 while 8902 will connect from 2/422.

[KevinKorell]

With closure of the Metrocenter Mall earlier this year, the new "PXN" (Phoenix North) stop is at a Denny's restaurant and Park/Ride lot.  It is about 5 miles further north from downtown.