(The following report by Jim Carroll appeared at GoErie.com on October 31.)
ERIE, Pa. — Air travelers aren’t the only ones who might be scrambling for seats for Thanksgiving travel. Those who ride the rails to reach their turkey dinner will find plenty of company.
Amtrak officials say seats on the Lake Shore Limited from Erie are filling up quickly for prime Thanksgiving travel dates — the Wednesday before the holiday and the first Sunday after.
“Wednesday before Thanksgiving is by far our busiest day of the entire year,” said Amtrak spokeswoman Karina Romero.
She said the train is likely to be sold out for some days.
“For the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, the westbound train from Erie to Chicago is already three-quarters full. Eastbound to New York and Boston is about half-full for that day,” she said. “Our best advice is to book as soon as possible.”
There is better news for people who plan to travel for Christmas or Hanukkah celebrations. “When we look toward December, … there is plenty of availability. Not everyone tries to travel on the same days for Christmas or Hanukkah like they do for Thanksgiving.”