15 replies to this topic

[BillMagee]

Carl Fowler, a Vermont rail advocate, contacted Vermont DOT (VTRANS) about the project impact on the Vermonter. VTRANS told him this (from his Facebook post):

We have been in direct communication with CT on this. Yes there will be some bussing that cannot be avoided. We have worked with CT to reduce the impacts to the Vermonter.

[KevinKorell]

The press release published in the Hartford Courant for the time period involved only makes one mention of 55 having an altered schedule between Springfield and New Haven, nothing about 56.    Whether that can be believed or whether it will make us very late in either direction remains to be seen.  I've been reserved for a month or so in Business Class, so if I do hear the B word it's totally cancellable.  Not that I'm expecting perfection from Amtrak, but should that happen there should be a robo-call or e-mail or both to that effect.

 

https://www.courant....2bb4-story.html

[KevinKorell]

Hartford Line website states that something will be posted by July 1st regarding the substitute bussing schedule.   That is tomorrow.  We'll be watching.  Perhaps Amtrak will make some sort of announcement by then?

[KevinKorell]

So to catch up on the above...     The Vermonter, northbound Valley Flyers, and the 14X-series through Regionals will run through, while the 4xx-series Hartford Line and the southbound Valley Flyers south of Springfield will be bustituted.   So we should be OK.

 

We still have 2 people involved on the Crescent trip, and now 3 on the Vermonter trip (north of New Haven).    On the Crescent I have Car 1911 Room 4 TRE-BHM and Car 2010 Room 5 BHM-NWK.   On the Vermonter I'm occupying Business Class seat 5A for over 9 hours on Train 56 and over 10 hours on Train 55.  I hope it's comfortable.

[steve4031]

For those who have not ridden it, I strongly suggest a ride on the Vermonter. Its very scenic.

[KevinKorell]

This journey turned out to be a success.    I second the thought to try out the trip all the way to St. Albans if you haven't yet.   The train is popular in the Fall with foliage to see, but in the Summer you get maximum daylight.

 

I rode the Crescent (19) down to Birmingham, leaving Friday from Trenton and arriving close to schedule in BHM on Saturday afternoon.    I spent about 4-1/2 hours in town, walking around in the expected heat and humidity.   Meanwhile, Steve was aboard the northbound Crescent (20), which was a little delayed into Tuscaloosa, but with the magic of schedule padding showed up in Birmingham a few minutes early.   The rest of our trip north on (20) was great, with both of us going to Newark and different hotels in North Jersey.    I had good crews on both trains.

 

The Vermonter trip went very well also.  On Train 56 we were joined by Lou in New Haven.   The trip operated a few minutes late.   We were delayed a little in Springfield as we had to wait for an engineer who was arriving on 55.  Both trains shared the island platform once 55 arrived.    Arrival in St. Albans was about 40 minutes late.    The Hampton Inn that is close to the station is fairly new and modern.  No complaints about the service or the condition of the rooms, although the place is quite pricey being almost the only game in town.     

 

Our trip south on Train 55 started out nice as well.   We were  almost half an hour late into Springfield, mostly due to heat restrictions in Vermont.   Just like the day before, 56 was already there and waiting for 55.   We left only 8 minutes late and were also 8 minutes late into New Haven, where Lou left us to go home.   But then the trouble began.  We got a bad electric engine in New Haven, which lost power a few times between there and New York City.  We got to New York about 20 minutes late.   Steve left the train there, and I continued to Trenton.  The engine broke down one more time, unfortunately in the tunnel under the Hudson.  Luckily once rebooted it made the trip across New Jersey to Trenton with no further issues, and I got there about 48 minutes late.