viaggiatrice23

Help! We are a family of 2 adults + 2 children and want to take Amtrak from Stamford CT to Boston on August 15, 2014. The problem: the trains do NOT seems to accept luggage (or at least not more than 2 little carry ons). Anyone have any ideas? The only other option seems to be taking the train out of Penn Station.

nytraveler

You can take whatever luggage you want onto the train. But it's your luggage and you have to carry it on and off and find a place to put it. I think you are confusing the fact that you can't check luggage with the fact that you have to deal with your own luggage (it's a train, not a plane).

(And for most trains the overhead bins take only carry-on luggage and you have to find a place for larger bags near the end of the car.)

emalloy

What nytraveler said and for better views, sit on the right side of the train.

tomfuller

How old are the children? Amtrak is cutting the age of a "child" (half price fare) from 15 back to 12 next month.
I can't really blame them since anyone over 2 has to pay adult fare on an airplane.
Each of you are allowed carry on up to 50 lb. If it won't fit in the overhead rack, you will have to find a spot for it near the end of the car which may be a problem if more than 10 people carried bags too big.

nytraveler

All of the newer trains I've been on have overhead bins - not racks. Bins means the size luggage you can put there is limited - as on a plane - or the door won't close. (With the old racks people used to try to put oversize luggage overhead - dangerous - but this is no longer possible.)

And no one will weigh your luggage - you just have to be able to deal with all the luggage for you and your kids - and recognize the train will probably be quite crowded (with people from Penn Station and further south) when it pulls in. You may well not be able to all sit together - and will have to search to find a place for large bags.

Ackislander

Or you can book seats on an Acela.

Everything written above is true, but on a weekday mid-morning or even mid-afternoon, it shouldn't be that crowded. Earlier or later, when business travelers are trying to get to meetings or home, especially on Sundays and Fridays, it can be crowded, and at holidays it can be like Milan-Venice with people standing or sitting on their bags.

nytraveler

I take Acela to Boston from Penn Station quite frequently - granted on business - but even getting on there it's fairly difficult to get more than 2 seats together. Can't comment on larger luggage - all I ever take is a carry-on for 1 or 2 nights.

We usually travel either on an early train or one after work. Perhaps less crowded in the middle of the day.