Is 13 minutes enough to switch trains at Union Station?

[Anonymous]

In a few days I have a flight out of Newark airport, and I'd like to take Amtrak from Union Station. I live close to Manassas, and can take a train from Manassas to Union station, but it's only 13 minutes between trains. Is that pretty safe? There is another train to Newark about an hour later (and I'd still arrive in time for my flight) but I really don't want to hang around Union station for an hour.

Thanks for any insight.

[Anonymous]

No way I would cut it that close. That said, I would book the Amtrak as a refundable ticket (usually only a few dollars more) and change it to the later train if your VRE train is late.

[Anonymous]

Its enough time if train #1 is on time and you know where you are going...but with a flight involved I would not risk it. Assuming it is daytime you will be fine in Union Station. It is a busy place.

[Anonymous]

I would take my chances, if the worst case scenario is having to wait an extra hour at union station.

I think the main problem is delays. I recently switched from Amtrak to VRE and it was easy (had to go up a flight of stairs to change tracks).

[Anonymous]

No but if the consequence is just waiting an hour that seems fine.

[Anonymous]

Trains are almost always late there, so, not if you want to make the second train.

[Anonymous]

Sometimes there are long lines to board, and the trains don’t necessarily arrive much before their departure (ie so boarding times can be short)

I think you have not left enough time to exit the metro station, look up your Amtrak gate, and walk the station and platform length to board. (And God forbid you need to go the bathroom!)

Can you get a ride to the station, and leave yourself like a half hour or 25 minutes minimum?

[Anonymous]

VRE and Amtrak are not reliable enough for this.

I woulld just fly to Newark from IAD or Uber to union station/appropriate metro station to get me to union station.

[Anonymous]

No.

[Anonymous]

I would do it.

[Anonymous]

As someone to commutes through Union Station daily, I can tell you that 80% of the time the train is not going to arrive to US on time. It's enough time to jump from one train to the next if the train arrives on time, but it won't.

[Anonymous]

From Manassas, is it the VRE? The VRE is dependable time-wise, though I would choose an earlier train Manassas to Union Station, to be safe. There are choices. If it's ordinary Amtrak, Amtrak certainly can not be relied on to make this connection.

[Anonymous]

As long as your first train is on time, you should be fine.

[Anonymous]

that's too tight op