I was so psyched when I booked my round trip Amtrak ticket (with AAA discount) home to Pennsylvania in less than 2 minutes and for less than $40!
The trip from Union Station to Cumberland, Maryland took slightly longer than anticipated, but I didn't mind because I loaded up with reading material. In D.C. the weather was chilly , but there wasn't any snow or rain. Upon exiting the train to meet my ride home, I was greeted with snow and even colder temperatures!
The drive from Maryland into Pennsylvania, usually a 30-40 minute drive turned into an unexpected adventure of fog and unplowed, snow-covered roads. We made it home safely and had hot chocolate to unwind!
The return trip was quite another adventure. Departing on Sunday before 10am, I was at the station ready to hop on board, read, and take a power nap.
The departure time came and went, but no train arrived. Seeing some angry faces, I called Amtrak and found that the train was roughly 4 1/2 hours late! Each time I called, the departure time got later and later.
Thankfully, my parents offered to drive me part of the way to the Shadygrove Metrorail stop- plus that way they could get in some out-town shopping much to my stepmother's delight. That seemed a much better option than waiting for an undetermined period and much safer than hitching a ride. My parents ended up dropping me off before Shadygrove and my friend graciously picked me up. I was back in DC before the train even arrived in Cumberland! Rather than brewing with frustration, my car-lite trip just needed some quick brainstorming to come up with some alternatives.
When trains or buses are late, how do you keep your cool? What are some of your re-routing tips?
Image Credit: Amtrak Historical Society
Carly,
Your car-lite trip was saved by--maybe a little ironically--cars. Not your own, but you had access to those of your family and friends. Without them, your last minute trip re-routing would have been a lot more difficult and/or riskier.
Sorry to hear Amtrak still su..., er, is still deficient.
A 4 1/2 hour delay almost makes the airlines look good. Almost...In the meantime, ¡viva el automóvil!
Posted by: Commuter182 | March 05, 2008 at 01:10 AM
As a regular rail rider (MARC Penn Line), I have had a similar experience, not quite the 4+ hour wait, but in the morning, 30 minutes can seem like an eternity. Once someone decides to walk away from the platform towards their car, several others ask the question..."Going to New Carrollton?". If Yes, is the answer, the car is quickly turned into an impromptu car pool and 3 out of the 4 of us can avoid paying the parking fee at New Carrollton. The short drive to New Carrollton is also a good time to get to know our fellow Penn Line riders.
Posted by: Jay Freschi | March 04, 2008 at 02:58 PM
Carly,
Well-done in keeping your cool. In this country we seem to get caught up in demanding immediate service that we forget that sometimes sh*t happens. I used to take the train to NY from D.C. once a month and learned to "pad" extra time during the winter months in case the train took longer to get back. Setting myself up for the worst and preparing, I was okay with being a few hrs late coming into the depot.
Posted by: vintage_3sp | March 04, 2008 at 08:19 AM