I am planning to go Amtrak from New York City to Rhode Island. I have never been on Amtrak.
Do you check your luggage like at an airport? How early do you need to get to Penn Station? Should I buy tickets ahead or when I get to the station? And is there a way to get Amtrak discount codes?

Any help is appreciated.

You carry your luggage on and either store it over your head or in the storage area at the end of your train car.

You don't need to buy tickets ahead, but it's a good idea, especially if you'll be travelling at a busy time.

Sorry, don't know about codes.

You will need to make a reservation as all trains are reserved. You can do this thru the web site www.amtrak.com or via telephone 1-800-usa-rail.
There are self serve ticketing machines in Penn Station for you to retrieve your ticket if you wish.
Trains generally depart hourly at around :40 minutes to the hour from between 6:40am-7:40pm.
Unlike airports, just show up about 30 minutes ahead of departure to claim your ticket and board when the train is announced.
There are two types of trains operating between NYC and Rhode Island. Regional and extra fare European style Acela Express. Each offers open coach seating (2+2) or business class in a separate car.
Some trains also have a "quiet car" where talking on cell or conversations are restricted.
The travel time from NYC to Providence on the regional train is approx 3.5 hours and on the Acela 3 hours.
Some trains also stop at Westerly and Kingston RI
You carry your own bags on board and place hem overhead or in the end of the car. The trains also offer snack service and beverages.
Sit on the right side of the coach if you want window views of coastal Connecticut.
All aboard!

THANKS for the information. What are the differences between Acela and regional? Is business class much better?

Acela is arguably a little faster, but much more expensive. Business class gives you more room on the regional trains, but the train is generally pretty roomy. I'm not sure it's worth the cost.

As a frequent traveller, I always use business class on the regional train whenevr it is available, you are in a separate car. More privacy to work on my computer.

I don't travel on the route you are taking but I do take the Vermonter from Vt to Ct fairly often.
If you buy tickets in advance (I think at least 3 days ahead) there is usually a lower price. the pricing system is quite complicated and is based on the day of travel and how early you buy your ticket.
AAA has a 10% discount price but you have to buy tickets 3 days in advance to get it.

The food on the train (the Vermonter) is not very good and quite expensive.

You don't need to show up very early. Those trains are almost always delayed anyway. And it's a free-for-all once the train arrives; they don't let you know which gate you'll need til quite late.

You have already gotten the great advice...I do this trip frequently for business. I don't use Acela because it's not much faster and I get off at Kingston. I like business class because it's quieter and there is a plug at your seat for laptop electricity.
I foyu have AAA, you can get a discount but you must purchase that ahead of time - I think it's 3 days.
It's easy to use the ticket kiosks at Penn Station and elsewhere to buy your tickets. I never buy ahead of time because of the business travel but if you are travelling at peak times, especially Friday afternoons, it would be wise.
As noted by another poster, boarding at Penn Station is a little crazy because your platform is not announced til the last minute. Stand near the big overhead board and watch for your trip.
Good luck and sit on the right side!

If memory serves, there are two levels on which you can observe the boards at Penn Station -- the main level and the one underneath. If you know which track you're going to board from, you're one level closer if you're downstairs and can beat some of the herd to trainside.

Anyone want to corroborate or correct?

Yes, there are long lines to ge on the train once it is announed at Penn Station and I do think you can wait on either level. But it doesn't really make sense to scare someone about this, since it is no worse than trying to get on an airplane these days.

They call your train and you need to ge in a line, then go single-file to get to your train. It is a hassle, but not a giant hassle. Everyone gets a seat, although sometimes you have to hunt. That is the advantage of business class, no hunting.

I disagree that trains are routinely late at Penn Station, but it is also true you probably don't need to be there 30 minutes ahead, although it probably isn't a bad thing to consider the first time since Penn Station is a busy place.

I corroborate with soccr. You can wait one level below the main floor near the steps where there are arrival and departure boards. If you know the train number of the train you are riding, it should be on your ticket, then the arrival board will indicate which track it is arriving on. This is the same train that will take you to RI. You can board from this level when the train is called to board. If you try to board early they will shoo you away until it is time to board. The benefit of the business class is that there are fewer seats in the car and if they sell you a business class seat then you will be usually guaranteed a seat, while in the regular coach if it is a FRiday or a Sunday afternoon you may have to hunt for a seat. Believe me its a lot less of a hassle to board even a crowded train at Penn station then to go thru security at an airport and wait for a late plane.

If you travel business class -- which I agree is worth the moderate extra money -- you don't have to battle the crowds for general seating. You get your own car or two -- usually at the far end of the train (on the OTHER side of the cafe car from the Steering Coaches), and if you ask at the station, they may even point you to a particular, dedicated stairway/entrance for business class (not sure NYP does this, but others do).

Well, every Amtrak I've taken from Penn Station to Providence, RI, has been at least 20 minutes late. But most of these trains were rush-hour after-work trains on Friday. So maybe it depends on when you're leaving.

I have not taken a train out of NYP in recent memory that was not delayed: I agree with the posters who say it's about 20 minutes late. M(iddle of the day can be at least as bad as rush hour for delays because that's when Amtrak does track work and the trains have to go much more slowly. Not to scare you, but I've been 1 1/2 hours late coming into Providence!) But that's not to say you shouldn't be at the train station early or on time! (I'm a firm believer in Murphy's Law.)

Penn Station can be a bit of a confusing place. If you're not familiar with it, I'd advise staying on the main (upper) Amtrak floor and follow everyone else to the gate. If you're able, you might even go to the station a few days ahead of time to scope it out and to get your ticket.

Here's a few tips about Penn:
- All the gates are identified by small signs above the entryways. Each is either E or W, for East or West side of the station. When your train is called they will identify your gate by letter + number, i.e., boarding at gate 10E. Lower numbers are closer to the Hudson News; higher are closer to the station bathrooms.
- There is a seating area for ticketed passengers, but it's at a disadvantage for being in line to board the train.
- Lines for the ticket *counter* are almost always really long. (They don't usually have very many people working behind the counter, so it takes a while.) Use the Quik-Trak machines to buy your ticket or pick up the one you purchase online - and note that at busy times, there are even lines for the ticket machines. Quik-Trak machines are located in the area behind gates 13-15W.
- For most trains, it is pretty much of a zoo to get onto the train. Trains rarely originate in NYC, so people want to be close to the front of the line to get a decent seat from those remaining onboard. (Trains are now all all-reserved, but if your ticket is Coach, that doesn't guarantee a seat at the most peak times.)
- By all means, look for red cap personnel and ask them for help. I'd bet that if you explain to them nicely that it's your first time on the train, they'll be helpful - and speaking from experience, you can even get them to tell you which track the train will arrive on. (I've also seen them blow off people who are too demanding - so niceness counts LOL.)
- Your train will say Boston as its destination. There may be a part of the train that will separate at New Haven to go up to Springfield, MA - if that's the case, the conductors will tell you. The Boston train often arrives on tracks 7-10, so stand closer to the Hudson News while you watch the departures board.
- Amtrak level has a Dunkin Donuts, Zaro's, and Krispy Kreme. There's also a decent bar/restaurant called Kabooz, with arrival/departure screens inside (though it's not right at the departure area). The lower (LIRR) level has a lot of food options such as pizza, Starbucks, McDs, salads, etc. The snacks onboard the train are varying degrees of edible, and of course more expensive than if you bring your own.

I take the train to Providence all the time, and don't bother with Acela either. To use the AAA discount on the Amtrak website, choose "AAA adult" from the dropdown list at the bottom of the page. (And as others have said, you need to book at least three days in advance to get this discount.)

At Providence, the main staircase is closed for renovation. There is an elevator, and a little-known staircase behind it. (It's one flight up to ground level.) In the station lobby, if you are facing the ticket counter, turn to the right to exit to taxis and anyone waiting in a car to pick you up.

Use the Amtrak website to see train schedules and fares. Station codes are NYP (New York), PVD (Providence) and KIN (Kingston, which is the best stop to use if you're headed to the Newport area).

"that doesn't guarantee a seat at the most peak times."

Incorrect. All-reserved means everyone gets a seat. They don't let more people on than they have seats. This is precisely why they eliminated the unreserved trains on the Northeast Corridor.

MikeT, that may be true in theory or in policy, but NOT in practice. True, it's no longer like the days of yore when people would be standing in all the aisles, leaning on the seat backs of the more fortunate. But I have been on plenty of trains where every seat was filled and people's "seats" are in the cafe car and on the floor in those spaces meant for baggage at the end of newer cars. Two weeks ago, I was on a "sold-out", "all reserved" southbound train where the conductor was still selling tickets to people who got on in western RI and eastern CT: I watched him make credit card transactions for tickets at least 3 separate times, in my car alone.

I take Amtrak between Boston/NYC about eight times a year as does my daughter separately from me - between the two of us we have been delayed once and for only 20 minutes, so I would be on time - in fact, the last time my daughter took Amtrak home, it actually left a few minutes early which was really ridiculous -

If you really want quiet, grab a seat in the Quiet Car instead of the other cars. If you don't go first class, which is the only car that serves you meals and drinks, and if you don't like train food, bring something with you so you can avoid the general dining car.

The Redcaps can tell you which line, but prefer to do that and escort those who have tipped them to the train when it arrives on the platform prior to it being announced upstairs. you can do this if you want to tip him and if you really want your choice of seat and to not have to watch any board at all. If you can't find one, they are often around the Acella lounge where they escort in and out many people to their train platforms via other elevators and escalators.

Once, four yrs ago, we had reserved first class Acella seats and they were one seat short and for awhile my son had to sit on the little seat by the phone/luggage area - but they have him another first class round trip for another time and he was 19 so he didn't care - other than that, we've always had our reserved seats available.

You shouold realize that Penn Station serves 3 different RR lines - that have separate waiting and ticketing areas: Amtrak, LIRR and NJT.

Be sure you're in the right section to pick up tickets, then wait for trains.

Since there are so many different lines/trains in and out they usually announce the track number only 10 to 15 minutes in advance. So- you need to be ready to move quickly as soon as it;s announced (for the commuter trains some people literally run - to get prime seats). (Trains are rarely in the station more than 15 minutes or so total.)

Make sure you can easily handle your luggage up and down several levels in only a few minutes. If this is going to be a problem consider getting a porter to help you with it.

How much do you tip the Redcaps? We used their service once at Penn Station and it was the best. I believe my husband tipped him about $10. It was well worth it - he brought us to the train before the hordes. That was a long time ago though. How much should the tip be?

Also, I found a helpful foruim about Amtrak, wich answered some concerns I had about standing in the aisles.

http://discuss.amtraktrains.com/inde...howtopic=18970