(The following article by Eric Anderson was posted on the Albany Times-Union website on September 21.)
RENSSELAER, N.Y. — The first day of reservations-only train travel went smoothly, Amtrak officials said, although not everyone faced the new requirement.
State employees and commuters with 10-ride or unlimited-ride monthly passes were not required to make reservations, Amtrak decided. Because of that decision, the railroad had to allow for extra seats that might be needed.
One regular commuter on the route to New York City said he worried conditions might get more crowded later this week, when passenger volumes typically increase.
The move to require reservations on all trains across New York state was intended to allow the passenger railroad to better match train capacities with passenger demand, Amtrak spokesman Cliff Black said. The requirement took effect Tuesday.
“We were looking to reduce some consists (the number of coaches on a train) to save in costs and wear and tear” on the equipment, said James Turngren, who manages Amtrak’s Empire Corridor service across New York.
But Turngren wants to make sure there are enough seats when demand is stronger. In those cases, coaches can be added to provide the extra capacity.
Commuters, who worried about losing the flexibility to take the most convenient train, said they’re glad to be spared the need to make reservations.
“It actually created no problem for me,” said Tim Coetzee, who has a monthly pass and takes the train between his home in the Capital Region and his office in New York City. Still, he said, “the proof of the pudding will be later this week,” as leisure travel picks up.
Meanwhile, Amtrak officials haven’t yet said when a planned fare increase will take effect. The higher fares were supposed to have taken effect Tuesday, but the move was postponed when elected officials and passenger advocacy groups criticized the move.
Amtrak said it delayed the increase while it holds additional briefings with officials and others.