My wife has been taking care of her sick mother in Huntington, Wv. She needed me to come up there this evening and drive her back. After checking all my options (bus 17 hrs 2 changes thru Va mountains $159 non refundable; Airline 10-1/2 hrs 1 or 2 changes $650. Amtrak $210 25 hrs 1 change in Charlottesville.
Tried to book on Amtrak and somehow the web site would not allow me to book. Tried for Thursday and web site would not let me book. Called an agent and no seats available for today( had been when at web site) so booked for Thursday but no sleeper space. No problem coach but could not get explanation why could not book by internet.
Rechecked today and it was then sold out on Crescent (coach and sleeper). It really puzzles me as to why Amtrak cannot get enough seats on this train. It is amazing even with the additional Lynchburg service that this train is still selling out.
The website is showing a roomette from Atlanta to Charlottesville for tonight. The cost is $355. The Cardinal is showing coach seats for tomorrow, Wednesday, April 5th. Sometimes the site will not all a booking that requires a change of trains, but will allow a segment by segment booking. Cost may be higher, but it is one way to work the system.
When was the last time Congress gave Amtrak money to buy cars?
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Sam1 The website is showing a roomette from Atlanta to Charlottesville for tonight. The cost is $355. The Cardinal is showing coach seats for tomorrow, Wednesday, April 5th. Sometimes the site will not all a booking that requires a change of trains, but will allow a segment by segment booking. Cost may be higher, but it is one way to work the system.
Thanks---Just called again and it was again full. I'll try the individual route method and also the multi-tide method?? Now too late to go tonight.
What I want to know is why Amtrak does not keep a spare coach in CLT?? Or maybe could rotate one coach south on Carolinian to night time Crescent and send one on Southbound Crescent and rotate it to northbound morning Carolinian?. Right now is open ATL - CLT. Amtrak certainly had more cars on Crescent last Thanksgiving.
Every time I ride the Crescent it's pretty full.
Dave
Lackawanna Route of the Phoebe Snow
Phoebe Vet Every time I ride the Crescent it's pretty full.
Phoebee: Are you amazed that even after the Lynchburg train was instituted and for the most part a passenger cannot book on Crescent from stations Lynchburg - WASH the Crescent may fill up between CLT - Danville? Makes a person wonder what the demand can really be ATL - WASH - NYP? and maybe south of ATL as well. This is the 3rd or 4th time that myself and/or my wife has tried to take this trip and been unable to book when desired and had to drive instead. Find the drive always costs us more in the end !
For all your information the hint about split booking led me to try the multi-ride button after finding the desired trip. So now select multi-ride and then the web site will let you book. However there is no indication on the web site that this procedure is necessary. Wonder how many bookings have been lost by Amtrak because of this oversight ?
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