I keep reading to avoid Grand Central Station at rush hour. I guess I'll heed the advice. Our family of 5 (plus luggage) needs to get from NYC to Boston on a Thursday. At what time in the morning does the commuter traffic taper off in NYC?

AMTRAK to Boston uses Penn Station in NYC, not Grand Central. You'll still face commuters arriving from New Jersey at Penn, but I will just take whatever train you want to Boston based on the best time and not worry about crowds.

See, that's why I love this board. Thanks so much for the info!

Things settle down after 9am and REALLY settle down after 10am.

For a family of five, you'll want a later train so you can at least all sit down, if not sit together.

Be sure to check for family or AAA discount when your purchase your tickets.

And yes, your tickets may be on an 'all-reserved' train, but that does not mean you have assigned seats. You will have to look for open seats when you board.

Are you on an Acela or Regional?
As stated the Amtrak trains leave from Penn Station. There is a "big board" that tells which track. This does not get posted until 15-20 min before departure. There is a madhouse of people waiting for the posting and then a "rush" to the train. The seating is a first come basis.
If you are on the Acela, there is an Acela waiting area. Go there and ask for a "red cap" to assist you (ostensibly with luggage). They will take you to the train. They know which track before the posting so you get to the train first, thereby insuring your pick of the seats. The seats are laid out in pairs with some areas of 2 facing each other with a table between.

If you have substantial luggage doing the red cap/luggage thing makes sense. The trains are oly anounced a few minute sinn t advance and the platforms are down two sets of stairs from the waiting room - not easay to negotiate in a hurry witha lot of luggage.

I saw some tourists going to the Hamptons try to maneuver their luggage a couple of weeks ago - and it was a disaster (one woman coudn't carry her bag, tried to pull it down the steps and lost hold of it - and it just bounced all the way down - luckily not hitting anyone And the others had a very hard tine carrying the large bags down.

MIssypie, also remember Acela has different cars; first/business class, 'quiet' car, general car -
assuming with 5 and children, you won't want the quiet car - so be sure to choose the right one - if it's a Regional you are on, you will have to decide if it's worth the tip to the red cap to get you down there early, whcih does allow you to avoid the crowd, sit together, and have your luggage in the same train as you instead of 2 or 3 away - (but with the regional, many commuters tend to be jumping off on the first two or three stops and you can play musical seats and end up together after a bit -

you can grab a red cap anywhere as soon as you see them, or buzz for them from the stands near the street if you are really having trouble negotiating luggage - otherwise they are around between that central waiting area and the Acela lounge -

If you use one, even if you are or aren't on the Acela, he will tell you where to wait for him and that he will be back. Wait where he tells you - do not let your teens go here or there for a donut or coffee or whatever - my friend did this and just as her kid left the red cap returned and when they are ready to go, they are ready to go, they are often bringing 2-3 families or people down at the same time, - so I say this only so you will keep your group together

and remember to let everyone know at which Boston stop you are getting off !! I've seen families going nuts at the last minute figuring out if they want Back Bay or South Station or Route 128, etc, etc...

To reach Amtrak trains you will not be bouncing suitcases down stairs--there are escalators to all Amtrak tracks. (Hamptons is on the LIRR--same station, different tracks)

Well, I looked at fares, and the Acela would cost twice as much as the regional-no children's discounts on weekday fares, for one thing. I think I'd rather deal with the last minute platform issue, and save the extra $207 for a nice meal (or two).

There are also specials on the Northeast Line and you can get 50% off a second ticket, so you might try googling for Amtrack discount tickets and specials.

The discount code V733 will give you a 50% off companion ticket.

Also try V688

V 383 is another promotion code that works on regional trains. If you belong to AAA, that's another option but you can't combine it with a promo code. I think you can get a reserved seat so go whenever the fare is best for you.

I just booked an 11 am regional train with the AAA discount. I think we can handle not knowing the platform number until the last minute. This happened in Rome, also (didn't know until 5 minutes before the train was set to depart). If we can keep our cool when all the announcements are in Italian, I think we'll do fine at Penn Station.

Thanks everyone for your help!

At Penn Station they will announce your departure track. All tracks are one level down and there are usually two entrances to the track but they may board you at only one. They will announce 'departing from gate 8E' (for east) and there will be a mad rush to that gate, which really is a gate to an escalator that goes directly to the track.

While you're waiting, familiarize yourself with the locations of the E versus W gates--they're all in the same giant room to one side or the other--to make this process easier.

I think the better view for this trip are on the right side of the train as you're facing forward. At times you'll be riding along the shore of Long Island Sound.

Yes - but if you have substantial luggage you're better off with a red cap and an elevator than trying to deal with it all on an escalator in a few minutes.

missypie, all have given advice I would give you! [And I seem to be following you around this board LOL!]

- For East and West gates and numbers, look for the identification up towards the ceiling above each track entrance. These are directional for where you are in the station, not the direction your train will be heading.
- Boston is often track 10 or 11, but this is never consistently so. And it can be nervewracking waiting around for the track to be called, anxious about getting a seat! (The trains usually come through from farther south and will have passengers on board already.)
- That said, 11am should be a relatively quiet time of day to take the train, neither departing nor arriving at rush hour.
- There have been delays on the Regional service the last three times I've taken it (all since March 07). Don't schedule your Boston itinerary to an exact arrival time.
- Where in Boston will you be going? As escargot mentioned, there are multiple stops in Boston, and Back Bay might be closer to your hotel than South Station (for example). Escargot is a great resource as she travels back and forth regularly.
- If you're thinking of taking the subway to Penn Station, it's pretty easy from the Embassy Suites: Take the A,C, or E train uptown to 34th Street and follow the signs for Amtrak/Penn Station. (You'll be right in Penn Station when you get off the subway.) If I remember correctly, it's best if you're in the back of the uptown subway train: exit through the turnstile there, down the stairs (HSBC on your left?), then the next stairs up on your right will take you to the Amtrak level right near the departure board. Look for the QuickTix machines to print your tickets using the cc you booked with.
- Penn Station has three major train lines (LIRR and NJ Transit commuter, plus Amtrak) and the A,C,E,1,2,3 subways. LIRR ticketing is on the "lower" level where you will find a wide range of food options: pizza, make your own salads, delis, McD's. There's also food available on the upper (NJ Transit and Amtrak) level, but not as much variety. You will find both Dunkin Donuts and Krispy Kreme there, tho!
- Since you will be travelling through lunchtime, I highly suggest bringing food with you (either from near your hotel or purchase in the station) rather than eat the overpriced cardboard on the train!