If you’re going on vacation this week, remember that you’re not alone.
Philadelphia’s 30th Street Station and Philadelphia International Airport were both busy Sunday evening with people wanting to get home to their families.
“It’s busy and cold here on the East Coast, but we’re trying to stay warm,” Avin Ramratnam said.
“Sometimes it takes about three and a half hours to get home. Traveling by train via Amtrak is so quick and easy,” said Courtney Thomas.
But for Ramratnam it was far from easy. Their journey was postponed for hours after the overhead wires were downed forced Amtrak to suspend service temporarily between New York and Philadelphia Sunday morning.
“We’d probably be home by now,” Kiran Ramratnam said.
The station will remain busy in the coming days, but travelers heading to see friends and family say it will be worth braving the crowds.
“I’m actually traveling because I’m leaving JFK to see my sister who lives in Spain. I’m traveling through. I’m very excited to see her,” Thomas said.
Philadelphia International Airport will become even busier in the days leading up to Christmas. A spokesperson for the PHL said staff expect about 300,000 people to pass through the airport in the coming days.
“It was very busy,” said Richard Walczak.
Walczak flew all the way from Portland, Oregon, to visit his friends.
They will spend Christmas together for the first time.
“Incredibly excited to see them. I haven’t seen them in five years. Very excited,” Walczak said.
“This is the first time we’ve ever done this. We’re going to bake cookies. Wrap the presents. Watch the movie. Everything,” said Walczak’s friend Bonnie Brunner.
And there is no better Christmas gift than spending time with the ones you love.
