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The Silver Star (and Silver Meteor and the Auto-Train, which also run through NC although not Raleigh) are frequently hung up in Florida. Also, trains are frequently hung up between Richmond and Rocky Mount. The Piedmonts, the northbound Carolinian, and the northbound Palmetto are immune to those trouble spots in terms of timekeeping at NC stations.
Similarly the Crescent that runs between NY and New Orleans via Greensboro and Charlotte is often hung up between Meridian, Miss and Atlanta... meaning that the northbound Crescent is often late when calling on NC stations.
I encourage anyone in the Triangle departing for a destination north of Raleigh to ride the Carolinian, not the Silver Star. Your chances of being delayed on the northbound Carolinian are much less. It used to be that an argument for the Silver Star was its traditional dining car, compared to snack and light food service on the Carolinian. But the dining car was pulled from the Silver Star some time ago.
I took the Crescent a few times when I was at Clemson and I don't recall it ever being seriously delayed. Sure it was often 20-30 minutes late, most often in the northbound direction like you mentioned, but nothing like the magnitude of delays you see on the Silver Star/Silver Meteor.
If I recall correctly, the Silver Star does have more legroom in their long-distance coaches than the Northeast Regional equipment used by the Carolinian. That's a plus for any bigger folks. I'm not sure how the state-owned Piedmont equipment compares.
I dropped someone off at the old Raleigh station for a northbound Carolinian a few years back. It was a little late, but still running ahead of the Silver Star. They kept announcing "if your ticket is for train ##, the Silver Star, DO NOT GET ON THE NEXT TRAIN! IT IS NOT YOUR TRAIN!" That had to be frustrating....
If I recall correctly, the Silver Star does have more legroom in their long-distance coaches than the Northeast Regional equipment used by the Carolinian. That's a plus for any bigger folks. I'm not sure how the state-owned Piedmont equipment compares.
I dropped someone off at the old Raleigh station for a northbound Carolinian a few years back. It was a little late, but still running ahead of the Silver Star. They kept announcing "if your ticket is for train ##, the Silver Star, DO NOT GET ON THE NEXT TRAIN! IT IS NOT YOUR TRAIN!" That had to be frustrating....
I rode the Piedmont yesterday both ways and there was definitely ample legroom. It was crowded though so you couldn't avoid sitting next to someone else.
If I recall correctly, the Silver Star does have more legroom in their long-distance coaches than the Northeast Regional equipment used by the Carolinian. That's a plus for any bigger folks.
It's not that much of a difference. In the same length car shell, Amfleet I uses 72 seats and Amfleet II uses 60 (actually 59 because 1 seat is removed for wheelchair access). Seat width is identical.
I feel like the 611 was one of the best trips ever! I'm glad I got experience it
when I did. Short of a miracle I don't ever see it running again. Last I heard it was
in Roanoke, VA? There is a RUMOR that it may make a couple of trips to Pennsylvania
this fall, but without the cars. We shall see?
Someone mentioned tracking your train or something like that?
I use this a lot when I'm track side fanning. I have found that if
Amtrak is anywhere close, you won't be seeing the good trains for
a while...
I feel like the 611 was one of the best trips ever! I'm glad I got experience it
when I did. Short of a miracle I don't ever see it running again. Last I heard it was
in Roanoke, VA? There is a RUMOR that it may make a couple of trips to Pennsylvania
this fall, but without the cars. We shall see?
I encourage anyone in the Triangle departing for a destination north of Raleigh to ride the Carolinian, not the Silver Star. Your chances of being delayed on the northbound Carolinian are much less. It used to be that an argument for the Silver Star was its traditional dining car, compared to snack and light food service on the Carolinian. But the dining car was pulled from the Silver Star some time ago.
Thank you so much for this valuable piece of info. I'm planning to go to NY soon, so this discussion is quite timely!
Thank you so much for this valuable piece of info. I'm planning to go to NY soon, so this discussion is quite timely!
Sadly I couldn't rep you...
Yep! Definitely go with the Carolinian for a train trip to NY. If you want a slightly later option, you can go to Rocky Mount and take the Palmetto at 2:50 PM. Be careful though since some track work is cancelling some trips of the Palmetto this month.
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