Posted By: BellaAmourCompanions
If one of the girls takes the Amtrak from Penn Station and needs to get to Waltham which stop would she get off at North, South, Route 128 or Back Bay?
If you don't know Boston, I'll explain a little more with analogies.
Like NYC, Boston has two major and SEPARATE stations: South Sta and North Sta.
Like NYC, Boston has interstate Amtrak and local Commuter Rail; Commuter Rail is like Metro-North and LIRR.
Boston-NYC Amtrak goes to South Station. (Other Amtrak lines go to North Station - ignore those.)
Some Boston Commuter Rail lines originate from North Sta; others from South Sta. She does NOT want the South Sta commuter rail lines. Those do not go to Waltham.
Waltham service is out of North Sta (Fitchburg Line), not South Sta.
After arriving at South Sta on Amtrak, she will have to get to North Sta. It's easy if you're a local yokel (South Sta / Red Line, change to Green Line at Park St, then Green Line - North Sta OR Red Line to Orange Line; Orange to North Sta). I suggest taking a cab or Uber from South Sta to North Sta instead.
From North Sta, Fitchburg Line to Waltham. Then, a cab to her final destination. OR, ask if her hotel has a shuttle bus to/from Waltham Station. (Phone from North Station and tell the hotel which train she will be on - assuming the schedule is accurate.) Some of the suburban hotels used to have shuttles to downtown and Logan Airport. Do they still?
I wonder if NYC - LaGuardia - Logan - Free Shuttle bus won't be easier?
You can PM me if you want to ask more Boston transportation Qs.
EDIT: There's an Express Bus! The schedule says the 553 stops at Kneeland x Surface Artery. That is right near the Chinatown Gate which is two blocks over from South Sta. It stops at Waltham Sta for the same continuation: cab, Uber or hotel shuttle bus.
Bon voyage!
-- Modified on 2/4/2016 1:39:49 AM
The long hallway with luggage and crowds is crazy. This is the play by play from South Station.
*arrive at South Station
*walk through the doors straight ahead to the escalators
*go down a purchase a Charlie card ($5 is worthless spend $10)
*go through the turnstile and go down to the right
*take the inbound Alewife train 2 stops to park street
*take a right off the train and keep walking until you see the sign for the D train and go up those pissy smelling stairs
*Any D train will stop at North station Lechemere, North station et cetera
* take the d train (green line) two stops to north station
* go out of the turnstiles and up the escalators straight out the door follow the crowd and you will be inside north station
There's all kinds of food and drinks at both stations. She can have a nice sit down meal or grab something and get on the train. Coming from Penn Station personally id grab dunks at North station and hit up uber. Unless it's rush hour between the commuter rail and the taxi it's comparable. Even if it's a couple extra bucks it's worth it.
"pissy" stairs, "grab a dunks"…. I love it. Winthrop right?
I don't live on the shore anymore lol I'm just in the bean all the time. Omw there now actually 😊 black dog hoodie, Sperry duck boots, Burberry specs....guess where I am departing from?
Of course, start by asking the hotel about the best directions and if they have a shuttle bus and how far it goes.
If you're going to use the MBTA at all, do get a Charlie Card as Erin said. (Enter South Sta, down the escalators and find the card machines straight ahead. If you head for the 553 bus, go back up to street level and head over to Chinatown.) Buses and subways take the Charlie Card; Commuter Rail has ticket windows in the station or pay on the train - there's an App for that!)
Erin: You sure know the T, but what about the 553? I'm now thinking that that's the best bet with the least and easiest walking and it runs more often than the Fitchburg line.
- exit Amtrak, follow crowd toward station
- even before entering the station, on the left there is a short staircase / ramp to the sidewalk
- you are now standing on Atlantic Ave (with all the cabs); to the right is Essex St and to the right is East St.
- take either one for a couple of short blocks (flat, level, no hills) to the big, wide Surface Artery and you should see the big Chinatown Gate. Cross over to the Gate side of the street.
- Kneeland St is to the left of the Gate but it's just a long stretch of sidewalk and bus stops. Look for the sign for the 553 along that stretch of sidewalk.
- The 553 stops right at Waltham Station which is another cab hangout (or hotel shuttle).
You'll see the Gate walking from South Sta; then turn left.
Not this chick! But it's definitely a viable option. If I was coming in from NYC id call you offer you a hummah to scoop me up on Atlantic Ave stop at dunks and do what we do at the hotel. But that's me and I'm not shy. Lol
Posted By: impposter
Of course, start by asking the hotel about the best directions and if they have a shuttle bus and how far it goes.
If you're going to use the MBTA at all, do get a Charlie Card as Erin said. (Enter South Sta, down the escalators and find the card machines straight ahead. If you head for the 553 bus, go back up to street level and head over to Chinatown.) Buses and subways take the Charlie Card; Commuter Rail has ticket windows in the station or pay on the train - there's an App for that!)
Erin: You sure know the T, but what about the 553? I'm now thinking that that's the best bet with the least and easiest walking and it runs more often than the Fitchburg line.
- exit Amtrak, follow crowd toward station
- even before entering the station, on the left there is a short staircase / ramp to the sidewalk
- you are now standing on Atlantic Ave (with all the cabs); to the right is Essex St and to the right is East St.
- take either one for a couple of short blocks (flat, level, no hills) to the big, wide Surface Artery and you should see the big Chinatown Gate. Cross over to the Gate side of the street.
- Kneeland St is to the left of the Gate but it's just a long stretch of sidewalk and bus stops. Look for the sign for the 553 along that stretch of sidewalk.
- The 553 stops right at Waltham Station which is another cab hangout (or hotel shuttle).
You'll see the Gate walking from South Sta; then turn left.
I'm envisioning quite the 'cab line' forming by Erin's... Hey lady, need a lift?! 
Posted By: Erin Keevy
... If I was coming in from NYC id call you offer you a hummah to scoop me up on Atlantic Ave stop at dunks and do what we do at the hotel. But that's me and I'm not shy. Lol
...
I'll put on my best Boston Proper ensemble and post up right off the pike like the panhandlers. "Will blow you for a ride to the Westin"(but I need a turbo ice first)
I'm thinking this way: South Sta to the 553 is 5-steps down to the sidewalk (or take the ramp); 2-3 blocks of level travel to the bus stop; kneeling buses make step-up easier; the buses that hit transportation points (Logan, South Sta, North Sta) often have big spaces for luggage in the front; exit at Waltham Sta.
In the underground, there are stairs getting DOWN to the Red Line; then stairs getting UP to the Green Line; and a BIG step to get up onto the Green Line; and a total wheeling / walking distance of 2 blocks anyway.
Taxi / Uber from South Sta to North Sta is zero steps.
Posted By: Erin Keevy
Not this chick! But it's definitely a viable option. If I was coming in from NYC id call you offer you a hummah to scoop me up on Atlantic Ave stop at dunks and do what we do at the hotel. But that's me and I'm not shy. Lol
I'd even let you ride in the front seat so we can get an early start! Don't be surprised if I take a few wrong turns to extend the ride. I just hope you don't complain or you'll get a reputation as an odometer watcher.
When I went to Arizona my suitcase weighed 72 lbs. Shoes dildos flameless candles speakers clothes makeup et cetera. Wheeling that is a real struggle down Boston's busted sidewalks. Add snow and wind to the mix. No effin way!
Posted By: impposter
I'm thinking this way: South Sta to the 553 is 5-steps down to the sidewalk (or take the ramp); 2-3 blocks of level travel to the bus stop; kneeling buses make step-up easier; the buses that hit transportation points (Logan, South Sta, North Sta) often have big spaces for luggage in the front; exit at Waltham Sta.
In the underground, there are stairs getting DOWN to the Red Line; then stairs getting UP to the Green Line; and a BIG step to get up onto the Green Line; and a total wheeling / walking distance of 2 blocks anyway.
Taxi / Uber from South Sta to North Sta is zero steps.
Posted By: Erin Keevy
Not this chick! But it's definitely a viable option. If I was coming in from NYC id call you offer you a hummah to scoop me up on Atlantic Ave stop at dunks and do what we do at the hotel. But that's me and I'm not shy. Lol
I'd even let you ride in the front seat so we can get an early start! Don't be surprised if I take a few wrong turns to extend the ride. I just hope you don't complain or you'll get a reputation as an odometer watcher.
Wouldn't it be much simpler to just get off at the Amtrak station in Westwood, and get a ride to Waltham? A little more expensive certainly, but much easier, and probably faster.
I've very rarely taken trains, but that just seems easier to me. Plus I know if I had just spent a few hours on a train, I'd probably just want to get to my room as quickly as possible, not have to get on another train (or two), or a bus.
I was thinking the same thing Jenna. Depending on the time of day, it might not take too long to to shoot up 128
Posted By: Jenna_Jordan
Wouldn't it be much simpler to just get off at the Amtrak station in Westwood, and get a ride to Waltham? A little more expensive certainly, but much easier, and probably faster.
I've very rarely taken trains, but that just seems easier to me. Plus I know if I had just spent a few hours on a train, I'd probably just want to get to my room as quickly as possible, not have to get on another train (or two), or a bus.
Posted By: Jenna_Jordan
Wouldn't it be much simpler to just get off at the Amtrak station in Westwood, and get a ride to Waltham? A little more expensive certainly, but much easier, and probably faster.
Great idea! I don't think the train normally stops at Westwood unless it's requested ahead of time (mention it to the conductor when checking your ticket). I haven't taken the NY-Bos Amtrak in many years, so I could be wrong about that.
But ask the hotels if they can provide shuttle service from / to Westwood Station.
I think Jenna is on to something here
Amtrak always stops at 128 station in Westwood, even the Acela.
Get off at the 128 station. It's a $70 taxi ride to Exit 27 of I95 (aka route 128) in Waltham and that's where all the hotels are located.
It would be cheaper to call an Uber driver.
Posted By: fjoseph775
Get off at the 128 station. It's a $70 taxi ride to Exit 27 of I95 (aka route 128) in Waltham and that's where all the hotels are located.
