Amtrak to Lancaster

Try Enterprise rental

When in Lancaster be very specific about what you want to rent, may be a long ride to York

Enterprise is who I used.  I have taken Amtrak to both Lancaster and also Harrisburg. Harrisburg is the easiest as there were several cabs waiting outside right after the train arrived.  Lancaster not so much.  Both locations have Enterprise near them.  I have been through there several times and it might take longer, but makes it more fun via train than driving 11 hours.

Enterprise on Manheim?

rat

Yes, it is at 1470 MANHEIM PIKE.

Here is the link to the Amtrak Lancaster, Pa. Station.

There is a link on the page for car rental with several choices.

Enjoy your trip to Model Train Mecca!!

I don't think the train is a good idea. i have thought about it several times, but with all the luggage & if I buy any trains at York which I always do, How am I going to bring it all home. No, not UPS, bad idea.

Eddie, those of us who live in Maine and want to train it to Lancaster or Harrisburg, it is a little more complicated as we have to take a train or bus to Boston, which adds additional time and expense to this trip. So driving is a good option and we have room for our purchases.

But driving is not practical for everyone who go to this event. All the years I attended York while living in the Chicago area, my best option was to fly. In this case I used the UPS option at the Silver/Blue Halls for my purchases (if I couldn't take them on the aircraft as carry-on) and had absolutely no problems.

Dotty and I will be taking the train to Lancaster.  Enterprise serves Lancaster.  They pick you up at the station as the office is down the street a bit from the station.

Enterprise will bring the car to the Train Depot.

http://www.enterprise.com/car_rental/home.do 

Marty how much does your tickets cost if I might ask?  Just for ha ha, I check from Springfield, Ma to Lancaster one way was 109.00

Gary, from RT 128 round trip to Lancaster with all fees--$173.00.

Another option is to take the train to Philadelphia and drive from there.  There is a Hertz inside of 30th Street Station so no cabs are needed.  You walk downstairs to your car and drive to York; it's about 90-100 miles from Phila to the fairgrounds.

I started doing that because in the 1990s, the layover waiting for the Keystone out to H'Burg was often untenable, particularly going home.

There's a 3pm-ish train out of Philadelphia on Saturday afternoon that goes all the way to Boston.  If you leave York at noon on Saturday, you can make it comfortably.  If you get the earlier train at 1pm, you can almost make it home in time for dinner.

Taking the train is the only way to go!  Myself and Linda have gone to York many times by car and motor home but we'll take Amtrak every time now. We leave from South station in Boston and go straight to Philadelphia then change trains and go straight to Lancaster. Enterprise meets us at the station then we drive to York from the Enterprise office. We relax the whole way from Boston and let someone else do the driving and we feel rested and ready to go when get to York. The only draw back is if you have a lot of things to take home then you might want to ship them or if you know someone going that way who could take a couple of things back for you. You could stop by the local PO or a place like Staples and ship from there instead of the UP$ out side the silver hall.  

I'm a lot more selective these day's and I don't have to take home everything I see so taking the train isn't a problem for me.  

That's $346. for the both of you. Tooooooo much.

Why take the train to Harrisburg or Lancaster.  Baltimore would seem to be the better choice.  I83 goes right past the station and York is about an hour up the road.  You wouldn't need to change trains and rental prices and availability would be better.

Jan

I think you are correct. Probably about the same price, and faster/less hassle.

Those who think driving is cheap, IRS mileage rate is 56c, so 100 mile trip (both ways) costs $112 plus tolls and parking.  

600 mile trip would be $672.  We decided to take the train to Montreal as it was much cheaper and less hassle. 

I have rode  the Acela to Baltimore.  Not a fan of that ride to York.  Lancaster is only thirty miles of easy driving away.

I took the commuter train from Sylmar CA. to Lancaster CA. a town in the high desert. The tracks go through the mountains and is quite the scenic trip. I'll make a guess of 55 miles. I went to buy a certain car advertized that I thought I would buy and drive home but the car seemed junkey and I took the train home.

It's about 55 miles from Baltimore to York.

Let me think I'm going to take the train an hour south of where I need to go...so I can drive back up north for the destination that we already passed so at the end of the day I can drive an hour south out of my way so I can take the train back up north and pass my original destination again....Somewhere in here there is about 4 hours extra travel time.  I can drive to York and eat breakfast in 4 hours

rat

It does not matter how I go.  I am a get it done person.  I have used every transportation mode to get to York.  The bottom line is that I go.  This will be York number 69 for me.  The string of my York shows will end when I die.  If the cost of a ticket from anywhere keeps you from going to York, you do not need to go. 

If my good friend Chris Lonero likes the train to Lancaster, that is good enough for me to try it.  For the recent past years I have made a road trip out of it.  My health is not where I want to be to do a road trip.  Hopefully a road trip in April.

Chris, is the train you are taking the KEYSTONER? Taking the train from Newark I don't see anything about a train change in Philadelphia

thanks

rat

"It does not matter how I go.  I am a get it done person.  I have used every transportation mode to get to York.  The bottom line is that I go."

This says it all. Wise man, that Marty.

No, no mater what, you are about 45 minutes to York from the station you get off at. But going to Baltimore, you don't have to change trains in Philadelphia. This avoids waiting for the Lancaster (Pittsburgh) train, as well as avoiding missing the connection if your first train is running late (which, trust me, it will be about 20% of the time).

its 80 miles from Baltimore to York and 25 miles from Lancaster to York. I've been been on the Northeast corridor at least 100 times. Can someone fill in the blanks about the train change in Philadelphia?

thanks

rat

ratpak, your wrong about the distance from Baltimore to York, it's only 50 miles, one hour drive.

Thanks eddie I will send a note to mapquest

rat

Maybe if you're coming from south of Philadelphia there is a change of trains involved in a run up the Harrisburg line. As you've surmised, Keystone trains arriving from north of Philly simply reverse direction and head west.

---PCJ

As far as I know, you can get a direct train from NYC to Lancaster and beyond, but not from Boston or other points North of NYC. This discussion started with someone traveling from MA. In that case, they would have to change trains in NYC or Phila. to get to Lancaster or Harrisburg. A further point...there are far less trains to choose from on the Lancaster route.

Ratpak, Mapquest is wrong, or you read it wrong, it's only 50-55 miles from York to Baltimore.

Honestly Ratpak I'm not sure? But it definitely stops in Philadelphia. We only have to change once then we're on our way to Lancaster.

It's 75 miles from Baltimore to York according to Mapquest if you drive via Gettyburg, or 98 miles if you go through Lancaster on the way.