I don't know about the experience of others but the over all attitude of Amtrak employees has gone from bad to worse. The problem exists both on train and at various stations.
That is not to say there are not some wonderful helpful and pleasant employees out there but for the most part it is a not so pleasant experience when dealing with Amtrak employees.
One of the areas where they really seem to get upset is when you break one of their rules. Most notably, seating in the dining car.
On my recent trip on the EB, I dutifully waited at the door to be seated. I was waved through with a group. I don't know if she miscounted or what but when I got to the table, there was no room for me. I moved to the far end of the car was meet by attitude by a different attendant and was seated alone (eventually to be joined by others).
I noticed that other passengers were meet with similar poor attitude when seating themselves.
Certainly there are reasons for an attendant to seat you. There are lots of people to seat and serve in a very limited amount of space. Seating needs to be done efficiently. And they do make a number of announcements about the seating but they also make tons of other announcements, it all becomes noise after a while. Here is a simple solution, hang a sign. And if someone sill breaks the rules and seats themselves, politely explain that they wait the next time.
I do understand that dealing with the public can be a difficult job. Some passengers can be simply intolerable. But I think most people at least try to be a good passenger. And I also understand how annoying it must be when you need to explain the same thing for they 20th time to those otherwise good passengers.
Amtrak is currently suffering from many ills. I am sure behavior of their employees is not high on their list but still something should be done. Perhaps it is the union that should address the problem. You want the public on your side not against you. They can be your best advocates with just a little bit of effort.
That is not to say there are not some wonderful helpful and pleasant employees out there but for the most part it is a not so pleasant experience when dealing with Amtrak employees.
One of the areas where they really seem to get upset is when you break one of their rules. Most notably, seating in the dining car.
On my recent trip on the EB, I dutifully waited at the door to be seated. I was waved through with a group. I don't know if she miscounted or what but when I got to the table, there was no room for me. I moved to the far end of the car was meet by attitude by a different attendant and was seated alone (eventually to be joined by others).
I noticed that other passengers were meet with similar poor attitude when seating themselves.
Certainly there are reasons for an attendant to seat you. There are lots of people to seat and serve in a very limited amount of space. Seating needs to be done efficiently. And they do make a number of announcements about the seating but they also make tons of other announcements, it all becomes noise after a while. Here is a simple solution, hang a sign. And if someone sill breaks the rules and seats themselves, politely explain that they wait the next time.
I do understand that dealing with the public can be a difficult job. Some passengers can be simply intolerable. But I think most people at least try to be a good passenger. And I also understand how annoying it must be when you need to explain the same thing for they 20th time to those otherwise good passengers.
Amtrak is currently suffering from many ills. I am sure behavior of their employees is not high on their list but still something should be done. Perhaps it is the union that should address the problem. You want the public on your side not against you. They can be your best advocates with just a little bit of effort.