Where do participants of the LTRF event meet each day?
Wednesday, July 11
The official 10 days together begins as a "rolling meet", that is we're boarding the southbound Crescent in progress. I believe we have three boarding in New York, one in Philadelphia, and the largest number in Washington.
Friday, July 13
Our official day of streetcar riding in New Orleans should begin by meeting at the corner of Canal & Bourbon (in the Neutral Zone, aka the median where the Canal Streetcars run), where there is a machine that can vend our Day Passes. The location is in most cases a 2 or 3 block walk from the chosen hotels; in one case a few more blocks.
We will split for lunch around the same area, and then when we re-convene for the afternoon activities, we do so at Canal & Carondelet, which is right across the street from where we met in the morning, only served by the St. Charles Streetcar.
Saturday, July 14
A 9 AM Amtrak departure from New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal (NOUPT) should equate to getting there about an hour beforehand to allow for boarding procedures. Likely some will travel together from hotels to NOUPT by hired car, taxi, streetcar, or walking.
Sunday, July 15
Our light rail riding day in Houston. As mentioned elsewhere, based on the known hotels the boarding point was shifted one station south along Main Street. It should be a several block walk from the hotel where most are staying to this station, and we'll need to be on the southbound platform and likely purchase our Day Passes at the same time. So given we are departing at approximately 10:31 AM, I would suggest planning to get to this station by 10:15 to allow everyone to purchase their fares.
We break for lunch at Northline Commons. Surely we'll separate to different eateries (1-1/2 hours allotted for lunch break). With a planned 1:29 PM resumption of our travels we should meet at the platform where we had previously alighted by about 1:20 PM. Being the start/end of the line, the light rail vehicle should come in about 5 minutes before departure time.
Monday, July 16
If everything goes as planned on Sunday, then most of Monday is an open day, free for sightseeing or if you wish, re-tracing our travels on the previous day's light rail trips.
We have a 6:55 PM Amtrak departure, but if the train arrives on time it likely could be boarded well before that. Common sense should dictate getting to the station well before that, keeping in mind the need to take hired car or taxi.
Tuesday, July 17
A free day to sightsee or relax in one's hotel. No doubt folks will want to sleep later with the expected post-midnight arrival.
There are plans to meet for dinner at a steak restaurant on the Riverwalk that evening; the time can be discussed in person.
Wednesday, July 18
Our 7 AM Texas Eagle departure from San Antonio presents the toughest morning of the week. Obviously this means arising very early and ensuring transportation to the Amtrak station to be on board well before the scheduled departure time. For those not travelling together from their hotel to the station I suggest we just meet when we get to the Amtrak station, or even aboard the train if it is boarding already.
Once in Austin, as I posted here, I don't know yet what we're doing with our free time of 6 hours until we ride the commuter train. However, we obviously should meet at approximately 3:15 - 3:20 PM on the MetroRail platform so that we can ensure we have the proper fare media.
Thursday, July 19
Texas Eagle departs at 9:31 AM from the Austin Amtrak station. Naturally we should get there well in advance. We should meet at the station, unless some have already travelled there together from the hotels.
Edited by KevinKorell, 08 July 2018 - 10:14 PM.
Changed June to July, correct error
