new yorkers, washington dc trip

hi we have a washington dc booked for easter sunday with amtrak, i was just wondering the seats i have just found out are unreserved, what are the trains like plezse new yorkers, are they likely to be full, just i have a bad back wont be able to stand all the way. thanks for your help

new yorkers, washington dc trip

If you%26#39;re concerned about getting a seat with an unreserved tickets then my suggestion is simply to get there early. I have never had trouble getting a seat on Amtrak for the NYC to D.C. trip but then I%26#39;ve never done it on a holiday weekend. Just get there 1/2 hour early. It depends on who you talk to, of course, but I have found the ticket agents/station agents pleasant and helpful.

new yorkers, washington dc trip

Agreed---Get to Penn Station early, stand near the big display board that tells what gate each train leaves from. Keep an eye on this board and as soon as you see a gate number posted for your train, move as quickly as you can to the correct gate. Once down the escalator and on the platform, walk towards the front of the train. People tend to get on the first car they come to when on the platform so it pays to walk as far down as you can.

For future reference---always try to book a seat on a reserved seating train. That way, you will be guaranteed a seat.

Book a train that originates in NY Penn. Check the schedules on the website. There%26#39;s bound to be more seats available on those trains, than a train coming from Boston. Same when you return from DC. Trains originating from DC vs coming from Virgina usually have plenty of seats.

All tickets booked with Amtrak are fully cancellable/refundable (unlike the airlines). Because you%26#39;re talking Easter Sunday, and the train probably originates in Boston (you can check on that), I%26#39;d cancel and re-book ';reserved'; seats on a ';reserved'; train. You don%26#39;t want to have to fight the crowd down the escalator, competing for seats. My experience is that getting there early doesn%26#39;t help too much. Often they don%26#39;t announce the track until the train comes in, and then it%26#39;s each man/woman for himself/herself.

thankyou all very much, unfortunately this was booked through a travel company and i thought it would be a reserved seat, but never mind thanks to your advise will get their very early and hope for the best otherwise i will have to sit on the floor, but i cant cancel am so lokking forward to going to washington