Boston
Penn - South - North - Waltham
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
Related Link: MBTA Boston
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.
- 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?! 
... 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
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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. 
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
péineas
posted
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