Recent content by Walt

Nice letter, though it lacks to offer any concrete solutions to the underlying problems. Money and constantly shifting Congressional whims.

What I found out, is that the amount you get isn't linear. If you have in 15 years, you don't get 50% what you would have gotten after 30 years. Its back-end loaded. With 15 years you get like 15%. 25 years you get like 75%. Its the final few years, just before 30, that it quickly climbs to each...

Well, I too read this thread, and your opening posting, as being a complaint about your Amtrak trip. You choose to include as part of that complaint, the bad situations you found in Chicago. If you didn't want the conditions you found in Chicago to be part of your Amtrak complaint, you...

Amtrak should restrict all on-board knitting, to only Red Scarves.

Good question. Though, if the Police allowed the kid to stay on the train, and continue the journey, makes me wonder if there is more (another side) of the story. Plus, if the minor was allowed to stay on the train, why would Amtrak ban him for future travel?

So, is it like the TSA where now everyone with the same name, or even a somewhat remotely similar name, will be banded from Amtrak for life?

If the public is so willing to pay higher prices, why doesn't Amtrak simply raise prices and keep accepting only cash?

Not picking on @Palmland, but I though it was a good branching off point to mention who will pay all the fees? The 2% to 2.5% per transaction fee? The card terminal use fee? The communication fee? The gateway fees? And so on? IMHO, it would be difficult to Amtrak to justify switching from...

Just thought those here, who might not have stumbled upon this CNN news story on their own, might want to read it. https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/amtrak-crescent-new-orleans/index.html

I think the issue here, is that the OP refused to take the next day train. And refused to take the train the day after that. The OP has their reasons, but those are their reasons, not Amtrak's.

I take the train to simply have low stress travel. True, Amtrak sometimes runs late, but I always plan for that.

Though, typically when I am in the ClubAcela, I am traveling Sleeper class, and Sleeper class passengers are allow to bypass/skip the line (I assume because the line is for coach).

Is there some rule or pattern, to figure out a head of time, if your on "cycle 1" or "cycle 2" of the rotating menus choices?

Maybe I am simply lazy to drag my luggage that far, so I always take a taxi. With tip, it should be under $10. Well worth it.

To me, there is a difference between a station that is locked shut, and a station that is open (waiting room, bathrooms, etc) but staffed by volunteers.