Connecticut names operator for Springfield-New Haven rail service

[Overmod]

BaltACD

Anderson's response sounds like - It is CT's fault because passengers want to use Amtrak, not Amtrak's fault because of lack of maintenance and lack of equipment.

I don't see that at all.  What he says is that he doesn't want to operate trains with standees.  Presumably he interprets the 'all-reservation' policy to assure this by ensuring there won't be more passengers than seats on any particular segment run by any particular train.  The immediate question that 'ought to' be of interest is whether an Amtrak passenger who has missed their train will be similarly denied boarding on a nominally-full train, or whether Amtrak tolerates standing-room-only passengers at any time on any run.

[MidlandMike]

I don't understand why Amtrak even agreed to honoring CT's tickets in the first place.  They don't honor CT's tickets on the NEC, and I would guess that they don't honor any other commuter line's tickets.  Why would ATK turn down a reservation because of no space, and then allow some one with a cheaper ticket on a sold out train?  The Springfield line is a short shuttle operation for Amtrak, that does not seem to be a critical part of the national system.  Perhaps they should just turn this whole operation over to CT.

[daveklepper]

Doesn't Amtrak honor MARC's tickets on specific Corridor trains between Washington and Baltimore, and SEPTA tickets on the one or two Amtrak trains that top at Newark, Delaware, as well any Amtrak ticket to and from Philadelphia between 30th Street and Broad Street, possibly even Market East?

[JPS1]

daveklepper

 Doesn't Amtrak honor MARC's tickets on specific Corridor trains between Washington and Baltimore, and SEPTA tickets on the one or two Amtrak trains that top at Newark, Delaware, as well any Amtrak ticket to and from Philadelphia between 30th Street and Broad Street, possibly even Market East? 

Leaping to the other side of the continent, Coaster ticket holders with a Day Pass or Monthly/30 Day Pass can use their ticket to ride any Amtrak train between Oceanside and San Diego or vice versa.  Certain holiday periods are excluded. 

[Deggesty]

I do not know if this still holds or not, but three months ago, Amtrak ticket were honored on the Connecticut trins, and Connecticut tickets were honored on Amtrak trains--with the payment of an extra fare. Apparently, Connecticut tickets cost less.

At least one Amtrak Springfield-New Haven train was replaced with a Connecticut train.