I have a conference in Portland, Maine in March, so I'm looking into taking the train from Philadelphia. From the Amtrak web site as well as a previous post on the Forum, I get the impression I will have to switch from the North Station to the South Station (or visa versa) in Boston. If this is accurate, how much time would it normally take to get from one station to the other? Most of the timetables I've looked at don't seem to give you much time - 30 minues or less. Googlemaps indicates the two stations aren't terribly far apart, but if you follow the route it looks as if it could be a nightmare based on the time of day, for instance.

Thanks!

From the Amtrak site, it looks like you only arrive and depart at North Station.

The Northeast Regional train from Philadelphia arrives at North Station and then the Downeaster to Portland also departs from North Station.

I don't find a Philadelphia to Portland route that requires a change from one station to another.

I'm pretty sure coming from Philadelphia, you'd arrive into SOUTH station. And the train to Portland departs from NORTH station.

You will need more than 30 minutes to do this. To get from SOUTH station to NORTH station, you take the RED line train from South Station to Park Street (1 stop), then change for the GREEN line to North Station. The thing is, not all trains go to North Station (many terminate at Gov't Center). So, even though it's a short-ish ride, 30 minutes is not enough (when you add in the time to walk along the platforms, buying tickets from machines, waiting for trains to arrive). And what if your first train ride runs late?

I'd give at least 45 minutes for this transfer.

Indeed, you'll arrive in Boston at South Station, and you'll have to leave from North Station. yk, don't you think it would be faster to take a taxi between the two stations, rather than the two T trains?

I'm not an experienced T rider, but mightn't it be better to get off the train at Back Bay instead of south station, and then take the orange line directly to North Station? All the northeast corridor amtrak trains stop at Back Bay before they stop at South Station. And at least that way you wouldn't have to change subway lines.

Or take a cab. it would definitely be faster than the t in this circumstance.

I am 100% positive that trains from Philadephia end at South Station (DH takes this route frequently). You have 2 mass transit options to get to North Stations. Follow route on MBTA website (Red Line to Orange Line) or get off at Back Bay Station as Chinacat suggests and then just take Orange Line to North Station.

It should take, as you suggest, far less than 30 minutes - not all that far but not a comfortable walk. You should factor into your schedule delays arriving on Amtrak from Phila. - those trains are often late, and it does not much matter whether it is Accela or regular train.

Other issue is luggage - don't remember which of those MBTA stations have escalators and on which level you arrive/depart.

And, yes, it would make a lot more sense if trains left from only 1 of those stations or if there was a shuttle or direct link between North and South Stations.

Chinacat, what a brilliant suggestion!

Thanks for the replies. Sounds fun.... ;(

I like China_Cat's suggestion too - get off at Back Bay station and change for the Orange Line to North Station. I'm pretty sure there are escalators at both stations. With this transfer, you should definitely make it in 30 minutes IF your incoming train is on time.

Even if you get off at South Station and take the red line to the green line, it won't take 30 min. Maybe 20 min. But, I agree, getting off at Back Bay Station and taking the orange line to North Station will be easier.

Depending on what time you arrive at South Station, there is a bus that goes between South to North Stations. It is the #4, but does not run outside of rush hour. I've taken it in inclement weather, because South Station is closer to work than any subway stop.

Other than that, I'd cab it from South Station (NOT from Back Bay, which can be hellacious traffic) or get off at Back Bay for the Orange Line subway to North Station. You want to avoid the Green Line at all costs, which usually does not make it to North Station, or only every fifth subway actually does!

I don't take the T frequently, and I had forgotten that the Orange Line runs from Back Bay Station to North Station. It is six stops, but I still think that would be a great option. I would also consider a taxi from South Station to North Station if it's a low-traffic time.

I take the T from South Station to Back Bay Station for work. The best suggestion is to get off at Back Bay Station and get on the Orange Line. No changing trains, it runs frequently and beats the Green Line every time. You will need to go upstairs from the platform and to the right to get a T ticket. Might as well buy two rides if you are returning the same way.

That #4 bus amyb is referring to may not exist anymore. I may be wrong, but it might have been a victim of bus route cutbacks not long ago. A visit to the MBTA website will tell you for sure.

I feel so hopelessly useless.

The taxi ride from So Station to No Station is a piece of cake, even at rush hour: you just pop up onto the Central Artery at Congress St, get in the center lane to avoid the traffic taking the Callahan Tunnel off-ramp, then inch over to the right lane and take the down ramp to No Station. Even at rush hour, not more than 12-15 mins.

But that was a dozen years ago, then they put everything underground, and I don't know the best route to No Station any more. (Atl Ave/Comm St all the way? O'Neill to Leverett Circle and double back to No Station? Via P.O. Square and Haymarket?) This is very depressing.

bach, if it's been cut, it's been since last week's snow. That was the last time I took it.

Rizzuto, I feel your pain. When amyb said it's better to cab from South Station to North Station than from Back Bay Station to North Station, my first thought was that, if I'm the one driving, I'd rather do the drive from Back Bay Station, even though it's a much longer distance. That's because I drive around Back Bay and Beacon Hill all the time, and I know where to go and how to avoid the traffic. But I virtually never drive around downtown and the waterfront, and every time I try it, I have a really bad experience.

I think that, when it comes to driving in Boston, being familiar with your route and all the tricks it entails is often far more important than distance or traffic conditions.

Here are the timetables per Amtrak's website: Arrive Back Bay Station, 8:07 a.m., depart Boston North 8:15 a.m.; or arrive 3:45 p.m. BBY, depart North 3:57 p.m.; or arrive 5:20 BBY, depart 5:30 p.m. NONE of them seem doable....

BTW - the only option that doesn't involve transferring between stations is the one that involves taking an Amtrak bus to Portland, which is about a 2 1/2 hour ride. That alone wouldn't bother me other than the fact that I'll be traveling in March. I didn't really want to fly (my husband may be going with me, and he's not keen on flying), but that's starting to look better.

The 3:45 arrival at Back Bay and 5:30 departure is a good choice. The train into Back Bay will be late - in my experience about 30 minutes. So that cuts the time between trains down to about 1.5 hours. Allowing 30 minutes to get from one station to another (way longer than it will likely take), time to grab a snack, board - which will be perhaps 30 minutes prior to departure - should work fine.

I would not cut the connection time any closer than an hour or so anyway.