koryn

Hi - My first trip on Amtrak is coming up. On the leg from Charleston to Penn Station, I have a sleeper car so my luggage will be with me. I then take a train from Penn Station north to Albany. Is there overhead storage for luggage on this train? Or is there a designated area in each car for luggage? Also, this is a little off the "luggage" topic but I see that there are no assigned seats on this train, although the tickets say "reserved" seat. Is it just kind of "first come first served" and you take any seat you want? Thanks for the help!

MLTimes

Reserved just means that you are supposed to be guaranteed a seat on the train. Sit anywhere that isn't business class, including the dining car.

With regard to luggage, I'm not sure if Penn Station (presumably you mean in NY and not Newark, Baltimore, etc.) to Albany is considered NE Corridor, but if so, there are baggage restrictions including no golf clubs or bikes. There is overhead storage and in some cars additional space by the doors for things too big or too heavy to lift.

rb_travelerxATyahoo

There is ONE train from NYP to ALB that you can put checked luggage on: the Lakeshore Limited (48/49).

From recent discussions I had for friends going TO NY from Albany, I was told that as long as one was traveling (already ticketed) on a ALB/NYP train, even other than Lakeshore, they could still send it on the Lakeshore.

There will be overhead racks on all trains. Many trains also have a storage area near the doors - sort of like a narrow closet but with no door. Both that area (if provided) and your seat are first-come first serve.

Note that only trains continuing past Albany will have foodservice.

Where are you going to from Albany? In many cases if u are visiting the greater Albany area, it may be better to continue to Schenectady.

The "Albany" station is actually
across the Hudson River, in Rensselaer.

doug_stallings

I take the Albany train periodically upstate, and it can be a zoo trying to find a seat, especially on weekends. It bugs me to no end that they will not give out seat assignments, which would solve all the problems. On busy weekends, I have seen people stand in the aisles for a stop or two before finding a car with a seat.

There are overhead luggage racks, though I don't think one would accommodate a 24-inch bag. I hope you are traveling light. It's what I would strongly recommend. I wouldn't trust my suitcase at the end of the car, but there are spots to leave oversized luggage there.

koryn

Thanks for the replies - my destination is on the Rensselaer side of the Hudson - so that's a good stop for me. For Doug - you said it can be a zoo trying to find a seat. Is there a better car to try for than another or what do you recommend for finding a seat? I'm travelling on a weekday, on the way up to Albany I'm on the 1:20PM train and back to NYC I'm on the 10:00 AM. I will be travelling with a duffel bag and a laptop - so I'm assuming I can fit the duffel bag in the overhead area?

ellenem

There's not really a better car. Just be alert and quick to move. There's just one escalator down to the tracks. Some of the craziness depends on time of day and day of week.