Amtrak codes?

[Teacher03]

I'm hoping someone can help me. Does anyone know of a code I can use to take amtrak from Alliance, OH, to Washington DC? I am planning on going in August. Thank you.

 

[pepe of ohio]

As far as I know, there are no codes out. We're headed to WDW the end of September and booked our travel already, longer out you book the cheaper the cost, they tier book, and we just use AAA, 10% off coach. We also leave out of Alliance to DC and then DC to Kissimmee. If you never have taken the train out of Alliance, be wary that it's an unmanned station, you wait in a small clear cubicle about 100 yards from the parking lot and we board at 3:15 am, if it's on time. No baggage service at this stop, you haul in on and off yourself. We always call Julie, automated service on Amtrak's 800 number to see how the train is running, no use waiting outside for a bunch of hours but they do say that trains can make up time so be careful. Last trip we were coming back and running late and when the train stopped at Alliance, conductor said there were supposed to pick up 4 people but no one was out at the cubicle. As we were walking to our car, it's around 2am, here comes 4 people strolling along thinking the train is going to wait but it pulls out and goes and they still have about 50 yards to walk to get to the pick up point. They missed their train and would probably have to race to the next stop to board or wait until the next night to try it all over again. Be at the pick up cubicle waiting on the train, don't expect the train to wait on you.

 

[Teacher03]

Thanks Pepe, even though it's not the news I wanted to hear! We have boarded at Alliance before so we always call to see if it is late, etc. Do you leave your car parked there? If so, have you ever had any problems? I know it is not the best part of town. It's always the middle of the night when we come back, you never know if the train is running late, so it's hard to get someone to pick us up. I would love to just park my car.

 

[pepe of ohio]

Thanks Pepe, even though it's not the news I wanted to hear! We have boarded at Alliance before so we always call to see if it is late, etc. Do you leave your car parked there? If so, have you ever had any problems? I know it is not the best part of town. It's always the middle of the night when we come back, you never know if the train is running late, so it's hard to get someone to pick us up. I would love to just park my car.

It was so nice for us when the Youngstown station was open, it's 7 miles from our house but the area is really bad so we had a couple down the street pick our car up from there and then bring it back on the night of our return. Alliance is a good hour drive for us and we've left out of there over 15 times and always leave our car in the lot. We leave our 2008 Saturn Ion, no problem, we call the Alliance police station, give our license number and contact info and when we're coming and returning and they say it's fine. Never been a problem yet, we've done some winter trips and dragging your suitcase thru the snow from the cubicle back to your car is the pits after being in Florida for 2 weeks, had the car snow plowed in once but we came prepared and had a snow shovel in the trunk. We have the same problem, too far out for someone to take us plus the late departure and return times and with the train mostly running late to have someone pick us up is not a good idea for them. We always leave home at 1 am, make the drive and usually sit in the car the extra waiting for the late train, as they say, the train can make up time so you never know when its going to come in but you have to be there and ready to board.

We used to have codes years ago for good fares but that's been a thing of the past, we book as early as we can, use AAA discount and for the second leg of our trip, DC to Kissimmee, we sometimes get a roomette, but we never pre-book it, too expensive. When we board in DC, we'll ask the conductor around Alexandria is any are available and if so, we get one for half price, now that's affordable but you play the odds of not getting one too but we're ok in coach the whole trip but the sleeper is nice, very small but a real treat to sleep lying down and all meals are included. We board in Dc in the late evening and arrive in Kissimmee the next afternoon so the sleeper works great for that run.

Good to talk to someone local that uses the Alliance station, good luck and if I can help with anything else, feel free to ask.