Train Trip through Philadelphia
Jan 23rd, 2007 | 08:44 AM
#1
Original Poster
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Train Trip through Philadelphia
My wife and I are taking our first train trip via Amtrak from Chicago to Orlando. My questions are what to do during stops in Pittsburgh, Saturday morning 5:30 to 7:20, and Philadelphia(30th Street Station), Saturday afternoon from 2:55 to 4:55. We are wondering what there is to see or do within walking distance of either station.
Jan 23rd, 2007 | 08:54 AM
#2
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,369
Likes: 0
In Philadelphia, you can take the local Septa train over to Market East (pretty much all the regional trains connect between 30th Street/Suburban/Market East - see www.Septa.org ), get out, and walk around Independence Mall. Your Amtrak ticket is your pass to use the Septa trains between those three stops. But, you may need to keep your luggage with you - don't know if there are lockers at 30th Street or not.
Two hours isn't much time - it will have to be a quick walk. But it's only about 15 minutes between 30th and Market East. If your inbound train is on time and the departing train to Orlando is late, that might give you some breathing room; if it's the other way around, I wouldn't do it.
Two hours isn't much time - it will have to be a quick walk. But it's only about 15 minutes between 30th and Market East. If your inbound train is on time and the departing train to Orlando is late, that might give you some breathing room; if it's the other way around, I wouldn't do it.
Jan 23rd, 2007 | 09:25 AM
#4
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 11,549
Likes: 7
In Philly, take a walk but in the opposite direction Andrew recommends. The Drexel University campus is next door to 30th St station and the University of Pennsylvania campus is just beyond. The area of Spruce and Locust are very pretty on the Penn campus.
Jan 24th, 2007 | 06:46 PM
#6
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
I'd call amtrak and inquire about changing your itinerary. the train that goes between Chicago and Pittsburgh continues through to Washington DC. You can catch the train to Orlando in DC, and don't have to deal with getting off the train at 5:30 am. Plus, DC Union Station is right downtown, in the middle of the action. You could have Amtrak re-book you aboard the 7: 20 departure that evening.
In order to avoid getting off in Pittsburgh in the future, what you can do is click on the "Multi-City" link on the Amtrak home page, then book your trip all the way from Chicago to DC, then depart from DC in the evening.
The funny thing was that prior to November last year, the cumputer would automatically write your itinerary CHI-WAS-Orlando. Now, it doesn't. I'm not certain exactly why. Look on your return tickets: Odds are that it shows Orlando-WAS-CHI. I'm not sure when this will change, but I hope that it will be with the timetable change that takes place each year around the same time as the switch to daylight savings time.
Should you decide to switch your itinerary, Amtrak will charge a nominal fee.
It is also important to keep things in perspective. As you have noted from other posters, the experience aboard the train can depend upon your attitudes. If you are looking for a luxury train experience, I would recommend Mid-America Railcar Leasing, or Northern Rail Car (they can both be found on the WWW ). If you are simply concerned with spending some quality time with the spouse, than the train is as good an opportunity as any. One train trip over a particular route does not represent the entire system or company, not by a long shot. I have encountered different groups of people aboard the same train who were having experiences completely opposite from one another because of their expectations. those who had expectations of a luxury experience were disappointed, while those who boarded with the expectations of spending time bonding with friends and family were having a better time.
You will also find that the freight railroad, who owns the tracks, can affect your experience. Between CHI, Pittsburgh, and Philidelphia, the landlord is a corporation named Norfolk Southern. They are indifferent to Amtrak's presence on their tracks. From Pittsburgh through DC to Florida, the landlord is CSX Corporation, and their haphazard track maintenance, traffic dispatching, and railroad operations can leave one wondering how they ever get anything anywhere.
Tip #1: Relax. both routes east of Pittsburgh traverse some scenic countryside. ON the way to DC, the train travels in a series of river valleys, where one can look at rapids, and observe scenic smaller towns such as Harper's Ferry, VA. On the route to Philadelphia, the train goes through the Appalachians, and around Horseshoe Curve. Both are picturesque trips.
In order to avoid getting off in Pittsburgh in the future, what you can do is click on the "Multi-City" link on the Amtrak home page, then book your trip all the way from Chicago to DC, then depart from DC in the evening.
The funny thing was that prior to November last year, the cumputer would automatically write your itinerary CHI-WAS-Orlando. Now, it doesn't. I'm not certain exactly why. Look on your return tickets: Odds are that it shows Orlando-WAS-CHI. I'm not sure when this will change, but I hope that it will be with the timetable change that takes place each year around the same time as the switch to daylight savings time.
Should you decide to switch your itinerary, Amtrak will charge a nominal fee.
It is also important to keep things in perspective. As you have noted from other posters, the experience aboard the train can depend upon your attitudes. If you are looking for a luxury train experience, I would recommend Mid-America Railcar Leasing, or Northern Rail Car (they can both be found on the WWW ). If you are simply concerned with spending some quality time with the spouse, than the train is as good an opportunity as any. One train trip over a particular route does not represent the entire system or company, not by a long shot. I have encountered different groups of people aboard the same train who were having experiences completely opposite from one another because of their expectations. those who had expectations of a luxury experience were disappointed, while those who boarded with the expectations of spending time bonding with friends and family were having a better time.
You will also find that the freight railroad, who owns the tracks, can affect your experience. Between CHI, Pittsburgh, and Philidelphia, the landlord is a corporation named Norfolk Southern. They are indifferent to Amtrak's presence on their tracks. From Pittsburgh through DC to Florida, the landlord is CSX Corporation, and their haphazard track maintenance, traffic dispatching, and railroad operations can leave one wondering how they ever get anything anywhere.
Tip #1: Relax. both routes east of Pittsburgh traverse some scenic countryside. ON the way to DC, the train travels in a series of river valleys, where one can look at rapids, and observe scenic smaller towns such as Harper's Ferry, VA. On the route to Philadelphia, the train goes through the Appalachians, and around Horseshoe Curve. Both are picturesque trips.
