Did they not just refurbish all of them?
Probably the best you can do at this point is hope for a Sightseer observation car as a sub, as opposed to the CCC/Diner Lite we were stuck with on the Tehachapi detour. At any rate, I do hope you have a fine trip, and give us a report.Just got a call from Amtrak notifying us that our train tomorrow will not be traveling with a PPC. I thought they were all back in service? She didn't mention anything about a substitution either. Figures. First time in a sleeper on the CS and they pull the PPC.
I'd settle for either, but I have a feeling there won't be a substitution at all. That's happened to us before when we've had no lounge at all on the whole train. Just a makeshift Coach/Cafe. And that was on the Sunset.Probably the best you can do at this point is hope for a Sightseer observation car as a sub, as opposed to the CCC/Diner Lite we were stuck with on the Tehachapi detour. At any rate, I do hope you have a fine trip, and give us a report.Just got a call from Amtrak notifying us that our train tomorrow will not be traveling with a PPC. I thought they were all back in service? She didn't mention anything about a substitution either. Figures. First time in a sleeper on the CS and they pull the PPC.
You still gloating? :huh:
)
All the more reason for a trip report!
Yes, still gloating, and will continue to gloat about that ride until I'm history. Depending on developments, I might gloat longer than that!
Yep, I just called and there will be no first class lounge at all. Meaning absolutely no perks at all.
This royally bites!I wouldn't trust some reservation agent to know if they are or aren't going to substitute a replacement car for the PPC. Most agents don't even know how to look up a trains consist, not to mention that it won't be finalized until tomorrow morning about two or three hours before departure. It will be up to the yard to see what, if anything they can do to put in a replacement for the PPC.Yep, I just called and there will be no first class lounge at all. Meaning absolutely no perks at all.
Thanks Alan. Hopefully your right and they'll be some kind of substitute after all. I just hate being confined to my room (except for meals) because the same coach pax camp out in the lounge.I wouldn't trust some reservation agent to know if they are or aren't going to substitute a replacement car for the PPC. Most agents don't even know how to look up a trains consist, not to mention that it won't be finalized until tomorrow morning about two or three hours before departure. It will be up to the yard to see what, if anything they can do to put in a replacement for the PPC.Yep, I just called and there will be no first class lounge at all. Meaning absolutely no perks at all.
Be assertive. Politely. The "campers" have assigned seats, and there's nothing in the fine print that entitles them to occupy the observation car for the duration. They rely on the timidity of other passengers to maintain their hoggish positions. Can't really tell you how to go about it, but I'm not timid. Something along the lines of, "Dude, you've been here for hours. Give somebody else a shot. Go back to your seat for awhile."
I'm onboard and there is no first class lounge. No PPC, no Sightseer, no CCC, not even a second diner. They did the wine tasting in the main diner.
I'm onboard and there is no first class lounge. No PPC, no Sightseer, no CCC, not even a second diner. They did the wine tasting in the main diner.
As I mentioned to Jamie in an earlier post, the agent/CS rep might know if the PPC is actually going to run or not for a specific train a few days out. But they won't know if there will be a subsitution until early that morning.
To those that denigrate Amtrak's email customer support, my personal (and somewhat extensive) experience has been more consistent with bookie's. I usually receive personal (not canned) replies within a couple of hours (and usually less--once I had a reply back in about 45 minutes).
That's fantastic! And now we can extrapolate which trains on which dates will run without PPCs and which with, as long as the current consists keep running. Someone (not me, I'm busy today) wanna volunteer for this?
We could hope Amtrak's shops are efficient enough that this won't continue long. How hard can fixing an air conditioning system really be, and should it really take more than a few days?
