Submitted by Vegetable-Delay-3273 t3_zy382n in boston

Hello I’m from the uk and my girlfriend and I are getting the train from Boston to NYC as part of our holiday (vacation) and when I’ve looked at booking the tickets it’s asking if we have baggage to check in which we will do as we’re spending 3 nights in NY I was just wondering how this worked as I’m imagining it’s not like the trains here in the uk where you can rock up 5 mins before departure. Do you have to be at the station an hour or two beforehand ti check in luggage etc? Also do you have to pre-book checking in luggage like you do with airlines or can you just bring it with you? Thanks

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richp_ny t1_j23j7sx wrote

There isn’t really anywhere to check luggage’s. You carry it on and store it in a luggage rack just like a train in the UK. There is also overhead storage for smaller carry-on sized bags. I think Amtrak asks about checked bags because they charge you if you try to take more than 2 each.

It’s totally fine to show up 5 minutes before as long as you have your tickets already. The train usually waits at South Station in Boston for 15-20 mins before it gets going though, so if you want better seats you might want to be there a bit earlier than 5 mins. Nothing like an hour or two though.

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nattarbox t1_j23uii5 wrote

Acela is assigned seating since the pandemic which makes it a little easier too.

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sit_ascha t1_j23y5u9 wrote

I thought not for coach though? I may be confusing Acela with the Northeast Regional but the last few times I've gone, first and business have been assigned but coach was not.

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nattarbox t1_j2410sv wrote

No coach on Acela, business and first, all assigned.

Regional is still open seating afaik.

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purplepineapple21 t1_j241ats wrote

Acela does not have coach. It's the faster, more expensive train and the whole thing is considered business class, with assigned seating on the whole train.

Northeast Regional is the slower version of the same route, with more stops. The majority of that train is coach with unassigned seats and then 1 car of business class with assigned seats.

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[deleted] t1_j2452bn wrote

[deleted]

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purplepineapple21 t1_j2466gy wrote

No, it doesn't. You must have taken the Northeast Regional. Acela is business and first class only, no coach. I've ridden it and there is no coach car. If you go on Amtrak's website to buy Acela tickets, they all say "unavailable" in the coach column and only list prices for business and first.

"Coach Class seats are available on all trains except Acela." -Amtrak website

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pprabs t1_j23lcpv wrote

No one really cares or monitors what bags you bring onto the train, so I wouldn’t bother checking in bags or paying the extra bag fee. Just show up 15-20 mins before the train leaves (or 30 mins ahead of time if you’re the anxious kind) and walk on with your stuff when the train is open for boarding. For reference, I do the BOS - NYC - BOS trip on Amtrak every 6-8 weeks and have never seen anyone have an issue with luggage.

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MagicElephante t1_j23vos4 wrote

Train from Boston to NYC is basically the one decent train line in the whole country. Like others said you can just show up 5 min before in Boston.

Also I think if you book 3 weeks before, you can get a cheaper price. That’s my one issue with this trip. Sometime it’s under $100 round trip, sometime it’s $400. If it’s on the higher end, I’d look into flying or the bus.

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chudmcdudly t1_j23y6lu wrote

Flights can often be cheaper or the same price. It’s 36 minutes runway to runway.

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AboyNamedBort t1_j24ejic wrote

But then how many hours to get to one airport, go through security, board, taxi, fly, land, taxi, get off, get to ground transportation, take transportation into city?

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hermionieweasley t1_j2538xr wrote

The boarding + taxi time at BOS and JFK/LGA is easily thrice the flight time.

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ItsOkItOnlyHurts t1_j260h66 wrote

Never seen a plane ticket for $29 but I have seen a Boston-NYC train ticket

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chudmcdudly t1_j261iz2 wrote

The Fung Wah if it doesn’t catch fire is a good deal too

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nattarbox t1_j23oqjp wrote

You can rock up 5 minutes before.

There’s no check in, it’s just how they tell you not to bring more than four bags.

Departing Boston is super easy, if you're coming back from NYC its smart to get to Penn Station a little earlier because their boarding process is more of a pain in the ass.

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Maxpowr9 t1_j24117f wrote

Unless you have oversized/odd-shaped luggage or more than two "checked" sized luggage per person, Amtrak is very generous with its luggage policy. Just put your luggage in the racks. There is also carryon storage above the seats like an airplane too.

If you are doing Northeast regional, I strongly suggest booking business class. The free non-alcoholic drinks and assigned seats are worth the cost (left side is better for views going south). If doing Acela, it's a whatever there.

IMO, the Acela isn't worth it for Boston<->NYC. Time savings on the Acela is pretty negligible relative to the NER and cost. If you were doing Boston<->DC or Philly, the Acela is definitely worth it.

At least for South Station, I would arrive no later than 20 mins before departure. Gives you plenty of time to figure out where you need to go and get comfortable before the train departs.

For Moynihan Train Hall in NYC, I would say 45 mins before you leave. It's a much larger station and there are a lot more people hoping on/off, so boarding can take longer.

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markuus99 t1_j23osp6 wrote

Just bring it with you. You can’t check but there is a lot of room on overhead racks. The Amtrak from Boston to NYC is great especially if you take the Acela, which is a nicer, faster and doesn’t make as many local stops. Try to sit on the left hand side facing front of train if you can for best views of the New England coastline on your way down to NYC.

Just show up 15-30 mins early as others have said. If you leave from South Station you have to wait in the big departure hall until they assign a track and say you can board.

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Vegetable-Delay-3273 OP t1_j24qpm1 wrote

Thanks for all the helpful responses. Much appreciated 🙂

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-Odi-Et-Amo- t1_j23jdxl wrote

The carry on limits are very generous, are you sure you will need to check luggage?

If you don’t, you can roll up right before departure and walk on the train.

If you need to check a bag, I’d suggest arriving about an hour before.

Editing: doesn’t look like checked bag is available on those trains. Just an additional baggage fee if you have more than the allotted amount or luggage.

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acs12798 t1_j23r22p wrote

Some Amtrak stations/trips do have airline style checked luggage(mostly overnight trains), which is why it's mentioned on Amtraks website. For your specific trip you can ignore it as others have said, since Boston doesn't do luggage check and its not needed.

The overheard racks(and racks at the end of each train car) can fit standard airline checked luggage without issue.

If you're leaving out of south station or New York, I'd suggest getting in more like 10-15 min early just to try and get first dibs on a seat since the train often opens up well before it leaves. For other stations getting there 5 min before is fine(and even in NYP and BOS you'll still get on the train, just less choice of seats).

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TakenOverByBots t1_j242h5m wrote

Yes, 5 minutes before is okay. But with how unreliable the T is I would definitely not cut it that close. I always add at least an extra half hour.

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trimtab28 t1_j23ry0e wrote

You don't typically check luggage on trains unless you're on one of the overnight ones (which is NOT the train from Boston to NYC). Really the biggest concern actually is just getting a seat (unless you're on the Acela where you're assigned), which I've learned from making the trip several times a year for close to a decade at this point. Peak times on the NE Regional (holidays, weekends) are brutal.

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tmotytmoty t1_j24rzvm wrote

Hey OP! If you have down time, let us know how the trip compares to the trains in UK. Have a great trip!

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Vegetable-Delay-3273 OP t1_j259jbw wrote

I will do, I can already imagine it will be far superior as the trains in the UK are awful!

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tmotytmoty t1_j25p8oe wrote

I ride the Acela about 5 times per year and it only seems to have issues 20% of the time (lol). Good luck and I’m excited to read your take and perspective!

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b4llsworthy t1_j27h7xb wrote

It's cheaper to fly unless you book months in advance.

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WillDisappointYou t1_j23t10j wrote

You could consider taking a bus for about 20% the cost, and the trip is only like 30min longer.

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SweatyCockroach8212 t1_j23uj7y wrote

Maybe. Depends on traffic. Also depends on whether OP gets Acela vs. Regional. The bus ride from Boston to NYC can take 5-6 hours if Connecticut is a mess. Trains can slow down too, but they are more reliable.

Plus, the Amtrak through Connecticut has some great views. On the bus, you just see highway and cars.

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