Penn Station

[Anonymous]

I haven't taken a train out of Penn in a while. Do you still have to stand upstairs and wait for the track to be announced and then everyone stampedes to the gate entrance?

[Anonymous]

I was there on Thursday. Totally. What a hot mess.

[Anonymous]

Yes. Every time I'm there I'm happy I no longer live in ny.

[Anonymous]

yes. It's awful and stressfull

[Anonymous]

Seriously, wth? Surely they must know ahead of time which gate it will be. Why do they wait until 10 minutes before the departure to announce the gate?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Seriously, wth? Surely they must know ahead of time which gate it will be. Why do they wait until 10 minutes before the departure to announce the gate?

because they don't want them boarding the train when they're taking the trash out of it

[Anonymous]

It's a stressful experience. And smelly too.

[Anonymous]

When I wast traveling with kids, we used a red cap assistant. Got to wait in the waiting area and pre boarded. Tipped generously.

[Anonymous]

Do yourself a favor. Get a red cap
Even if you have only one small bag.

They will load you on 20-30 min before everyone else.
Best tip $ you ever spent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do yourself a favor. Get a red cap
Even if you have only one small bag.

They will load you on 20-30 min before everyone else.
Best tip $ you ever spent.

That only helps if the train originates at Penn Station. Many of the Acelas are continuing from Boston so aren't sitting there 30 mins before.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was there on Thursday. Totally. What a hot mess.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do yourself a favor. Get a red cap
Even if you have only one small bag.

They will load you on 20-30 min before everyone else.
Best tip $ you ever spent.

That only helps if the train originates at Penn Station. Many of the Acelas are continuing from Boston so aren't sitting there 30 mins before.

The red cap still boards you early. Trust me I did the DC to NYC Commute 2-3 times a month for years. Red caps always get you on early.
Trains coming from or going to Boston still stop in NYC for at least 20 min.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do yourself a favor. Get a red cap
Even if you have only one small bag.

They will load you on 20-30 min before everyone else.
Best tip $ you ever spent.

Nope. It works no matter what.

[Anonymous]

Hate this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do yourself a favor. Get a red cap
Even if you have only one small bag.

They will load you on 20-30 min before everyone else.
Best tip $ you ever spent.

Nope. It works no matter what.

Whoops. Meant to quote/reply to the person who said it only works for trains originating in ny.