Hello Reader, it's Kev!

Thanks for opening this week's newsletter! I've got one piece of news I'm genuinely excited about (more Pennsylvanian trains!) and another you'll want to know about if you're heading to or from Boston on the Lake Shore Limited this fall.

A Second Daily Pennsylvanian Is Coming

Good news for travelers across Pennsylvania! Starting November 18, 2026, Amtrak will offer two daily Pennsylvanian round trips between Pittsburgh and New York City, up from one.

Part of me wishes this was available for my last trip; I could have explored Pittsburgh for a few hours!

The expanded service adds another option in each direction, making it easier to plan trips between Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, Philadelphia, New York, and the communities along the route. Existing train schedules are also changing, so travelers should pay attention to departure times starting November 18.

I’ve updated my Pennsylvanian guide to include both the current schedule and the new November 18 schedule, so you can use whichever matches your travel date.

​Check out the updated Pennsylvanian schedule and guide.​

Lake Shore Limited: Temporary Bus Replacements This Fall

Taking the Lake Shore Limited to or from Massachusetts this fall? Infrastructure work will replace part of the Boston section of the train ride with a bus on select dates in October and November. Here’s what you need to know before you travel.

Heading toward Boston (Train 448):

If you leave Chicago on October 15–17 or November 5–7, your train will arrive at Albany-Rensselaer the following day. From there, a replacement bus will take you toward Boston South Station.

Those buses run October 16–18 and November 6–8, serving the usual stops except Framingham and Boston Back Bay stations.

Heading toward Chicago (Train 449):

On October 17–19 and November 7–9, a replacement bus will take you from Boston South Station to Albany-Rensselaer, where you’ll board the train to continue your trip. The bus will serve the usual stops, except Boston Back Bay and Framingham.

Using Framingham or Back Bay? Plan to depart from or arrive at Worcester Union Station or Boston South Station.

Allow extra travel time for the bus portion of your trip, especially if someone is picking you up or you have plans afterward.

​Read Amtrak’s full Lake Shore Limited service notice.​

What Is Kev Up To?

This week was much more low-key than the past two, and that is more than okay.

On Saturday, I took my niece, Mackenzie, to the Capitol Theatre in Madison, part of the Overture Center, for the Duck Soup Cinema series: live entertainment followed by a silent film accompanied by a live organ on the theatre’s original Barton Theatre Organ.

This time it was Charlie Chaplin’s masterpiece, The Circus (1928). She had a great time and was excited to meet the organist, my friend, R. Jelani Eddington, and to get a backstage peek. The Overture staff were amazing with us behind the scenes.

Other than that, it’s been a quiet week, and I’m enjoying a breather.

Thank You!

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Until Next Week!

Safe Travels & Happy Planning,
Kev Monteith