South Station layout query (Boston, Franklin: how much, buying, university)

[DrSunilChauhan]

Hello to all, I will be arriving at Boston's South Station by Amtrak from Philadelphia and then I will be catching the MBTA Franklin line train to Norwood.

Can somebody give me an idea about the layout of the South Station ?

Like how much I will have to walk to reach the MBTA station and whether the Amtrak terminal and the MBTA station are on the same level or different levels (like the LIRR and the Atrak station are on different levels on the 30th Street Station of NYC) ?

And also will I be able to purchase a MBTA ticket from a vending machine on the station or will I have to buy one at the ticket window ?

Thanks in advance to all those who answer my query .

[scarletfire]

The Amtrak train comes in on the same level as the MBTA trains. You can purchase a ticket on the train but I believe it costs a few dollars more than if you bought it at the ticket booth inside.

[wxjay]

You can buy an MBTA ticket from a Charlie machine or at the counter in South Station. I'm trying to remember where the Charlie machine is, but I can't recall. It might be right near the counter (on the far right side of South Station as you come in from the trains). I know for sure there is an Amtrak vending machine.

But, if you can't find the Charlie machine for a commuter line ticket (and it might be confusing anyways because you have to buy it by zones), just go into the ticket office and buy a ticket. The folks there will know what you want. And the lines are rarely long.

[lrfox]

Yes, this should be relatively easy to do. The Amtrak will arrive on the same level as the MBTA train. In fact, there are only about 12 platforms (maybe 13) at South Station so your walk will be minimal. There is ample room in the main room of the station (which is just through the doors at the end of the platform) where you can find books, seats, restaurants, and yes, ticket windows.

There is a large board in the center of the main waiting area with train schedules and they tend to announce which platform the trains will leave from within minutes of their departure so keep an eye or ear open. It would be a good idea to know the Franklin line schedule before you arrive just to have an idea of how long you must wait for your next train.

Ticket windows and automated ticket kiosks ("charlie ticket kiosks") are a bit cheaper than buying your ticket while on the train, but not too much. It's really up to you.

My question to you is, why take the train all the way into Boston then take it back out to Norwood? Amtrak trains (even the Acela) stop at the Route 128 Station which is either IN Norwood or just across the town line. It would be far easier to just catch a cab to wherever you need to go in Norwood from this station than it would be to go all the way into town then come back out. The Route 128 staion (served by amtrak) is only a few miles from the center of Norwood. It would save a ton of time and cab far wouldn't cost all that much more than a rail ticket from Boston to Norwood.

*Edit*
I love google maps:

Here is how to get from the Route 128 Station by car or cab directly to Norwood Center Station:
http://maps.google.com/maps?daddr=No...=UTF8&t=h&z=13

It's even less mileage if you take University Ave (the street the Amtrak station is on) directly over to Route 1 (South).