Amtrak's ADIRONDACK

Perhaps its not NYS saying no. Metro North would have a say as would Operations for NYP. Dont think there is a slot in Penn or on MNRR for another train

Remember MNRR caused Amtrak to change its Albany train's schedules due to adding Hudson line trains.

#69 Northbound Adirondack NYP-SAR sold out for both Saturday and Sunday, 8/15, 8/16.
#68 Southbound Adirondack SAR-NYP sold out for both Sunday and Monday, 8/16, 8/17.

No other Adirondack's between NYP-SAR or SAR-NYP are showing sold out through the end of the month.
According to the Albany Review, the Saratoga Chamber of Commerce has held talks with Amtrak and
the CDTA to increase mass transit options. Maybe Amtrak added capacity to/from Saratoga starting
8/19. There are no races on Tuesday, 8/18. Maybe one of the "in the know" posters on this board
could check on that. TIA.

Amtrak is having a Andirondack "sale", if you book by August 31st, for travel between October 19, and November 19.

A good way to fill some seats for the period between the peak foliage season (which is over by 10/19), and the start of holiday travel.

http://www.amtrak.com/monthly-train-ticket-discount" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


Ken

Will the Great Dome operate on the Adirondack this Fall. If so, when?

I called Amtrak today and they said the dome was running, NB M TH Sat, SB Tu Fri Sun, between 9/24 and 11/2. If you search the site for Dome you will find a page on it.

Amtrak Adirondack getting the Dome this fall: ABC News

Amtrak Will Run Dome Car From Albany to Montreal This Fall

Amtrak is again running its "Great Dome" car between Albany and Montreal during leaf-peeping season.

The car features an upper level with windows on all sides to provide panoramic views of Lake Champlain and the eastern edge of the Adirondack Mountains. Amtrak says the car will run for six weeks beginning next Thursday, Sept. 24.

Amtrak is running the program in partnership with the state Department of Transportation and the National Park Service Trails and Rails program.

The dome car will run north from Albany on Thursdays, Saturdays and Mondays. It will run south from Montreal on Fridays, Sundays, and Tuesdays.

Times Union

The Adirondack, which connects New York City and Montreal through the Capital Region, saw ridership decline 1.1 percent to 132,345. Revenue also fell 1.1 percent to $7,453,664.

Montreal Central pre clearance inches forward...
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/ ... -1.3484339" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Justin Trudeau and President Barack Obama will announce an expansion of customs pre-clearance locations in Canada during their official meeting Thursday, CBC News has learned.

U.S.-bound passengers travelling through the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport and Quebec City's Jean Lesage Airport and those travelling from Montreal's central train station will soon be able to clear customs in Canada.

Saratoga Raceway Season opens July 22 this year. Closes on Labor Day. Tuesdays are "dark:, no racing.

Opening day 7/22 showing NYP/SAR sold out on both the Adirondack and Ethan Allen (as of 11PM 7/20).

I was trying to get a seat on the Adirondack around the 4th of July and it was sold out both ways between NYP and SAR for multiple days around the 4th, but WIDE OPEN from SAR to say Port Kent or Plattsburgh. The joy of "one a day" trains. If Saratoga is doing something special, Amtrak should consider doing something to ease the burden as I've seen the train run nearly empty from Saratoga on northward. Poor use of equipment and staff north of Saratoga. Amtrak would be better terminating the train at Saratoga on these days and calling it quits. Or put a shuttle train together between Albany and Saratoga.

This has gone on for years. Amtrak could care a less.

The Ethan Allen Express on Friday nights has a similar problem. It often runs nearly empty north of Albany to Vermont (once a day) because all the "weekenders" from NYC take the Ethan Allen to their weekend house in the Catskills. It has a great departure time at 5:45 pm. For years, I have suggested making the Ethan Allen a discharge or receive only to Albany or Schenectady.

The Adirondack is a state funded train, which is now considered Empire Service. To terminate the train at Saratoga on off hand days makes little to no sense. First issue you would be killing the ridership to Montreal second there is no place to turn the train for the trip back, Albany has just enough power to run the scheduled trains. I dont think CP would want a passenger train tying up a track for 5 hours or so.

Again you wish to kill ridership now with the Ethan Allen(293) with either discharge or receive. You stated the weekenders to the Catskills, most of those folks get off at Rhinecliffe but majority are monthly and 10 pass riders just trying to get home for the weekend. The 545pm departure is the same for train 239 which runs Monday through Thursday and is a zoo between NYP ans ALB. 10 rides and monthly some Gov't travel as well make it a receive only and that business goes to MNRR.

On Saratoga Opening Day tomorrow 7/22. as I noted, both the Northbound Adirondack
and Ethan Allen are sold out of NYP, Amtrak also suggested taking Empire Train #237
to Albany and boarding the Ethan Allen Express there, which would have some seats
that opened up by the time arriving in ALB. That scenario is also now showing sold out.

The Saturday Northbound Adirondack 7/23 is also showing sold out. NYP/SAR
The Sunday Southbound Adirondack 7/24 is also showing sold out SAR/NYP.

On a Saturday in May, the SB Ethan Allen had six cars at the beginning of this video.
I think that the EA usually has five cars, looking at other videos. Maybe, they
will have an extra coach, on at least some days during the SAR racing season.
Thanks to Railfanning 101 Vermont for the video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwg7HIX0kqU" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Normally on Friday the Ethan Allen has six cars, with track season upon us I dont see a reason for the consist to change.

A solution may be the Saratoga &North Creek (S&NC). There is an on going study for the feasibility of S&NC accessing the Rensselaer station after all the improvements are completed. Ed Ellis at a Warren County Public Works committee meeting stated they would need access to Rensselaer in order to make their ski trains work and that there was an ongoing study to see if access could be greanted. If it is feasible for S&NC to access Rensselaer, would that help the Saratoga Springs situation during track season or other times of high demand?