A new wrinkle on possible new rail passengers is the new federal rules effective Apr 29. If passengers are kept more than 3 hrs on the tarmac without being able to get off airplane; a fine of as much as $27,500 per passenger. This is to prevent previous occurrences that have kept passenger on airplanes more than 12 hrs.(ex Rochester, Mn. last fall)
Airlines say they will cancel flights that are potential delays because of storms, etc to avoid fines. That is to aviod the long waits in line to take off or to get a gate.
Will the airlines cancel their short - haul flights? That will be a compllicated decision because the idea would be cancel the less profitable flights and not necessarily the shorter flights. Anyway the savy travelers will probably go to rail where possible.
The NEC with very frequent rail service is a good candidate. It will be especially easy for those passengers already at Newark airport that has their flight cancelled. Other airports not so easy.
According to Thursday's WSJ -- Feb had 35,588 flights cancelled nationwide.
So anyway if I was a traveler along the NEC and potential cancellations or might occurr/ or actual cancellations then I might go AMTRAK if possible. Any thoughts?"
BWI would be another spot to switch from air to rail. They have a free shuttle bus from the Amtrak/MARC station to the BWI terminals. We just took Amtrak 176 and 171 from Lynchburg to Boston/Route 128 and back. Only BWI and Newark Liberty seemed to have a direct air to rail interface possibilities. The train did go quite close to LaGuardia but there was no evident connection. We could also see a couple of planes taking off in the Washington area. They were possibly from Reagan National. Again no obvious offer of a way get change modes. But the ride on Amtrak was such a positive experience...who would want to fly anyway?
35,558 cancelled flights during the 'short month'? That's astounding!!! Anyhoo, a "savvy traveler" wouldn't book on a 'death tube' anyway. The politicos don't care. When was the last time you heard of a politician traveling home for the weekend, or on a "fact-finding" trip (i.e.: Junket) via commercial air or Amtrak? They haven't a clue. What next? "Welcome aboard Amtrak. Take your shoes off -- NOW!"?
Hays
bedell BWI would be another spot to switch from air to rail. They have a free shuttle bus from the Amtrak/MARC station to the BWI terminals. We just took Amtrak 176 and 171 from Lynchburg to Boston/Route 128 and back. Only BWI and Newark Liberty seemed to have a direct air to rail interface possibilities. The train did go quite close to LaGuardia but there was no evident connection. We could also see a couple of planes taking off in the Washington area. They were possibly from Reagan National. Again no obvious offer of a way get change modes. But the ride on Amtrak was such a positive experience...who would want to fly anyway?
Bedell: Thanks I completely forgot about BWI. I'll try to cover all the possibilities since I have some more time.
1. Wash National airport takes about 35 minutes from Metro station to Wash US.
2. BWI -- Free bus shuttle to BWI RR station. About 12 minutes however there are plans to build a new Amtrak/Marc station closer? to the airport.
3. PHL -- 35? minute trip to 30th st station every 30 minutes.
4. EWR - 10 minute trip on airtrain every 3 - 5 minutes. Not many Amtraks stop (about 10+ regionals only no Acelas) however many NJ transit stop with connections at NWK (Newark city). No Amtrak ticket agents.
5. LGA - no connection but maybe eventually a s bus connection stop nearby when MN starts NYP service?
7. PVD # -- There are plans to build a Walking ? station to be served by MBTA. Amtrak -- unknown.
8. BOS -- South station difficult to get to from airport has taken me an hour+ by surface. Bus to "T" 15 - 25 minutes to blue line, change to red line to SS can take 45 - 60 minutes.
BNSFwatcher 35,558 cancelled flights during the 'short month'? That's astounding!!! Anyhoo, a "savvy traveler" wouldn't book on a 'death tube' anyway. The politicos don't care. When was the last time you heard of a politician traveling home for the weekend, or on a "fact-finding" trip (i.e.: Junket) via commercial air or Amtrak? They haven't a clue. What next? "Welcome aboard Amtrak. Take your shoes off -- NOW!"? Hays
Members of Congress have a special ID card which TSA personnel are trained to recognize. That is intended to prevent the TSA from treating those august personages in the same manner as they treat the rest of us!
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