Having packed the night nefore, we went to the lobby to discover that our car drive to the station had been cancelled. A taxi had been arranged although he was sad to discover that we were only going to the train station and not the airport.
NSW Trains employees read here.
Into the station we walked and approached the only employee at the ticketing window to ask about luggage check in. It was before 5am, the train departed at 550am and luggage check in was no less than 45 minutes before departure. All was ok. He told us to wait as he wasn't ready to do luggage yet.
I listened to the customers talking at the counter.
"Where do I check bags"?
"I forgot to print my ticket, can you print me one"?
"They told me on the phone that there would be plenty of bike boxes"
"$156? I can catch a bus for less than that"
I looked around the waiting area and you could seriously take these customers and drop them in Sydney and they would fit in.
Finally the roller door of the baggage department opened. We were second in line. First in line were missing a bag so forms needed to be filled out. Finally at 515am we presented tickets and bags to be told "it's a bit late" and that "luggage check in is 45 minutes before departure"
This was the same guy who told us to wait before.
We explained that we were here on time and he said "I didn't say you weren't here on time" begrudgingly he checked our bags and then for the next 15 minutes checked in everybody else with no problems, including "3 bike boxes girl".
Bikes cost $15 each.
The train was running late. No announcements. Deja vu.
I checked the luggage trolley and our bags were there. I wonder what destination they are going to?
The train arrived, we walked across the tracks to be met by a conductor who scanned our tickets and moved us to a carriage down the platform. Here an attendant asked if there were 2 people travelling together. He gave us seat numbers and onto the train we climbed.
I couldn't believe the seats. Big seats that recline. Heaps of leg room and a thing that comes out from below the seat like a reclining seat leg rest, so you can almost lie down. I wonder if there is first class?
Just heard that at Buffalo it is a designated smoke stop if you wish to get off the train.
Pizza for lunch from the buffet car which was a long way away. The long journey was really relaxing. It would have been nice to get some sleep and because I've travelled east through another time zone I'm actually in negative sleep.
The only delay on the way came through an intentional engine change which took around an hour. Still, it was really scheduled as we arrived on time. Unfortunately it took 45 minutes for our luggage, but at least it made it too.
15 minute taxi ride/rollercoaster/dodgem car to the hotel where we quickly found an Irish Pub nearby and actually ate food with vegetables.
Finally got a relatively early night before Annette starts to put her NY master plan together
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