Rochester's train station (Buffalo, Albany, Brighton: safe, food, car)

[karen824]

Hi all,
We recently moved to Rochester (to be exact, Brighton) and now my parents are coming up to visit us from Westchester via train. I haven't been to the Amtrak station in Rochester yet and was wondering if anyone could tell me:

1) How is parking? Is there a safe lot near the station? They will probably have a fair amount of luggage, as they're staying for almost a week.

2) Can you get right down on the train platform to meet arriving trains, or does security prohibit that? I'm a little worried about them getting their luggage off the train--they're 77 and 75. My brother is helping them get ON the train at the start of the trip. Hopefully if we can't get on the train to help them when they arrive, there will be a conductor or porter nearby.

I also just realized that their train is theoretically arriving at 5:30 PM, right during rush hour, although that means Amtrak is only allowing 6 hours for the trip from Croton--the train leaves at 11:30. Can they possibly make it in only 6 hours? I know trains go faster than cars, but my experience with Amtrak over the years has featured more delays than on-times.

Thanks!

[Muggy]

Originally Posted by karen824

1) How is parking? Is there a safe lot near the station? They will probably have a fair amount of luggage, as they're staying for almost a week.

2) Can you get right down on the train platform to meet arriving trains, or does security prohibit that?

3) Can they possibly make it in only 6 hours?

1. Parking is right at the station. Don't get lost.

2. Last time I checked you could wait by the track.

3. Empire service is notoriously late... sometimes very, very late (2 am).

[BuffaloTransplant]

They are coming from Croton > Is that Croton-on-Hudson? If so, it is basically where the engines change from the train leaving NYC (electric) to the upstate engines ( diesel) and that takes time. Having ridden Amtrak out of Buffalo to Penn many times, I concur the trains are never on time, esp. between NY and Albany. From my experience: Your parents might want to check to bring along food and/or water to drink; I don't generally catch the Empire, I get the Lakeshore and there is only a snack car -- mostly expensive drinks/snacks. You need to check it out as to what you can bring now.. Last time I went, I took 4 water bottles and fruit. Bring a sweater if you get cold... you never can judge what the train will be like (I have come in midsummer w/no a/c) Let them know seats are assigned (and the conductor will tell them when the stop is coming). I would go to the station and talke to the ticketperson and explain what the situation is and that you want to meet the train; it may be simple.