Amtrak recommends passengers arrive 30 minutes before their trains are scheduled to depart. I am nothing if not a rule follower, so I got to Moynihan Train Hall at Penn Station for my 7:15 a.m. train at 6:37.
I grabbed a coffee before the Amtrak-recommended waiting period began, and by 6:50, I was waiting in the train hall for my ride with caffeine in hand, feeling proud of myself for being ready with 25 minutes to spare. Soon, though, I realized my track wasn’t even listed yet.
I idled in the waiting area, the minutes ticking by without any news on my train. It ended up getting delayed over an hour for maintenance, and the track listing didn’t become available until about 10 minutes before it left.
When my return trip rolled around, I realized the 40 minutes I had given myself would have felt too long whether the train was delayed or not. My train from Rochester to Manhattan was supposed to depart at 1:27, and I made it to the station by 1 p.m. My fellow passengers and I weren’t even allowed to move toward the train until 1:20, which left me feeling antsy while I waited.
I’d rather be early than late when it comes to travel, but next time I take Amtrak, I’ll probably arrive 20 minutes before my train is scheduled instead of 30. Lollygag at your own risk.
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