I can't figure out how to travel by train?

Question

I live in Woodstock, Ct. I want to travel to Rochester, Ny. I've been looking online for a while trying to figure out what train I can get on near here that will take me there, and it's really frustrating. I'm inexperienced with trains. Can anyone help me with my route?

Answer 1

yah call a train station they can tell you

Answer 2

You'll have to get to Worchester, MA. Train 449, the Lake Shore Limited is scheduled to leave Worchester at 1:03 PM and arrive in Rochester NY at 11PM.

There are other ways, but they would involve changing trains, going thru NYC, etc. Nothing directly out of Woodstock on Amtrak.

Answer 3

yes, a staffed amtrak station or the 1.800.usa.rail numbers are great ways to get info about amtrak travel.  the amtrak web site is also a great tool - www.amtrak.com.

i have worked as both ticket clerk and 800 clerk, so ill tell you how we try to help.  and this applies to any trip, whether by plane, bus, train, or boat.

of course, we need to know origin and destination.  the exact cities are best, because any travel computer such as our computer will tell us that your origin doesnt have a station (airport, bus, or whatever), but that there are about 10 locations that come up within 40 miles (this is on the amtrak web site too).  

now, we have to consider the destination...rochester is an amtrak city, so ok.  so to try to get best schedule and fare, we want to try to find an origin station, of the 10 nearest stations to you, that are on the same route that rochester is, if possible, or the one with the least connections.

if you know your geography a bit, such looking at amtrak map, or interstate highway map, or national map, you can probably figure this on your own.  if you are geographically impaired, then this is probably where the staffed ticket office is best if you can get to one, but the 800# is pretty good (although there are 2 centers, 1 in philly, 1 in los angeles), so you may be talking to a human agent that is not familiar with connecticut, but should at least know their train routes, usually.

in this case,  worcester would be your best bet, as it is your closest station (23 miles) AND on a direct train route to rochester ny.  worcester is also a staffed station, and i think they are still full service with baggage (but recheck on that if you are taking much baggage).

however, for myriad reasons, you may prefer to use springfield ma or framingham ma, so these are alternatives for direct service to roc.  spg is staffed, fra is not.

if for other reasons (visiting friends, business, "trip-chaining", etc) you want to use other stations like hartford, then you'll have to transfer trains along the way.

**results from amtrak.com - nearest station to woodstock ct**

We found the following results within a 40-mile radius of the location you provided. To view the station detail page, click on the station in the list below, or on a red marker on the map.

1. Worcester, MA (WOR) - 23.6 miles[Directions][Detailed Map]

2. Providence, RI (PVD) - 29.9 miles[Directions][Detailed Map]

3. Foxwoods Casino, CT (FOX) - 32.9 miles[Directions][Detailed Map]

4. Windsor Locks, CT (WNL) - 33.6 miles[Directions][Detailed Map]

5. Springfield, MA (SPG) - 33.6 miles[Directions][Detailed Map]

6. Windsor, CT (WND) - 35.0 miles[Directions][Detailed Map]

7. Framingham, MA (FRA) - 36.4 miles[Directions][Detailed Map]

8. Kingston, RI (KIN) - 38.4 miles[Directions][Detailed Map]

9. Hartford, CT (HFD) - 38.4 miles[Directions][Detailed Map]

10. Westerly, RI (WLY) - 39.7 miles[Directions][Detailed Map]

i would also recommend amtrak's "Lake Shore Limited" between Worcester and Rochester.  It will be a comfortable ride, and I hope you will have a pleasant journey on it.

Answer 4

1-800-USA-RAIL.

There, if you are willing to listen to Muzak for a very few minutes, you'll actually speak with a real, live Amtrak agent and they will be happy to help you out.

Have a good trip !