Taking the Train to the Gathering

Traveling by train is one of the most fuel-efficient forms of transportation – and it’s relaxing, too. Add to that travelling with a bunch of your very own F/friends -- well, it just can't get much better than that!

Which Train are Friends taking?

Friends will be arriving at Johnstown on Friday June 27 and Saturday June 28 from both the east and the west on the “Pennsylvanian” which travels between New York City and Pittsburgh. Trains are scheduled to arrive from the east at 6 PM and from the west at 8:54 AM.

How do I get from the Train Station to UPJ?

No matter what day you arrive or depart from the Gathering, there is a FREE Johnstown shuttle service available if requested in advance.

If my train arrives Friday, where can I stay Friday Night?

The standard FGC registration fee DOES NOT include Friday night. BUT you can sign up for early arrival when you register. The extra night will cost $25 per bed. (Certain key volunteers will have this fee waived, but not their family members.) Prior to Saturday dinner, you can purchase meals for cash on the UPJ campus. And importantly, high schoolers MUST arrive with a parent or sponsor over 25 in order to stay on campus that Friday evening – and they will be housed with that parent/sponsor on Friday night.

How do I get an Amtrak reservation?

Each person/party traveling will make their own reservation directly with Amtrak.

There are two ways to get a reservation/buy a ticket with slightly different pluses and minuses:

PHONE: Amtrak offers a 10% discount off the lowest available rail fare to Johnstown, PA between June 24, 2008 and July 8, 2008. To book your reservation call Amtrak at (800) 872-7245 or contact your local travel agent.

Conventions cannot be booked via Internet. Please be sure to refer to Convention Fare Code X28S-934 (note that the fourth character is the letter S, not the number 5) when making your reservation. This offer is not valid on the Auto Train. Fare is valid on Amtrak Regional and Acela service for all departures seven days a week, except for holiday blackouts. Offer valid with Sleepers, Business Class or First Class seats with payment of the full applicable accommodation charges.

OR YOU CAN GO ONLINE at www.amtrak.com -- where the 'convention' discount does not work, and you can use a senior discount (62 or older) or AAA or Student Advantage. Also, there isn't the three day before and after restriction.

FYI: Ticket prices will start to go up as the train starts to fill (which normally seems to be about 3 months from date of travel). So if price is a key issue, make a reservation sooner than later. It looks like ticket prices are more stable on the mid-Atlantic/eastern seaboard, but we are no experts on this.