The first part of the trip was completed. From railfan point of view:
- there was a refurbed ElCapitan bi-level car (I think they call it "Pacific Lounge?") - anyway it was in superb condition, what a piece of history. The glass decoration was new with CSL motive, I was pretty much surprized, they offered us FREE wine tasting.
- there was "Ohio" (did not note the manuf. number) in the front, followed by "Missouri" (S/N 32093, "mine" car) and "Kansas" (S/N 32084).
- as usual in USA, attendants, personal, etc. did their best they could. This kind of service level is unknown on "regular" trains across Europe and Asia, only on "Orient" series. According a Canadian passenger, the "niceties" like linen etc. are not on par on "Canadian", but for a REGULAR train it is pretty extensive. Question is, do we REALLY need it to that extent - later about it. I rather use a "plebeian" 54-sleeper in Europe for $10/bed (OK, if I am in more generous mood, the 16-sleeper with 2-bed cabins for $30 is better) - without all amazing extras even couch passengers are offered here. I mean, the attendants DO try to satisfy evey wish of passengers, they are working under gruesome pressure, esp. on CSL due delays. Over there not much (unless you are on Transsib, there the distance is simply too long, you will socialize with the attendant, no matter what).
- Until SJC our "sweetheat" You-Pee was not working as it should. I even asked the attendant, what happened with the train, it arrived in SJC about 20 minute too early (due "padding"). She and I agreed, someone was really sick that day at UnionPathetic or the UP gods had the day off.
- UP realized the mistake and did punish us with roughly 2 hours at Dunsmuir. After Dunsmuir the things did slow down due a minor issue with the track, but after a few hours - to my surprize - the engineers decided they are over 14 hours in the shift, so they just stopped in the middle of nowhere and we arrived at Klamath Falls ca. 7 or 8 hours late - as we were told with a new engineer crew. I know about the 14 hour rule, but I wonder, why we did stay extra 4 or so hours rather than drive the remaining 20 into Klamath Falls. Besides, if the things are so difficult and delays are expected, an extra engine crew (just in case) in the crew-sleeper would be useful.
- After Klamath Falls both "Missouri" and "Kansas" did break down to a lesser degree (no toilet, heat problems). Our attendant, Angela did fight with machinery and after many hours somehow "cracked" the secret forcing the relais (and thus the toilets and heating) back to normal. She told me, she suddently recalled some tricks and tried. Not sure about the poor "Kansas", but since I have a habit first TRY OUT the toilet on a train before using it, the working "Ohio" was only a few steps away.
- All in one I landed up with extra dinner and thus extra steak (we don't eat steaks that much in Hungary, so it was an extra bonus). Arriving in hotel was late, but very pleasant. The MaxRail in Portland rules, too - not just German Bundesbahn! A long and fast ride for $1.80 in the middle of night - wow. San Jose could really use this kind of transportation, ours is not that great.
Back to the original issue. Since the train was early I was busy validating parking lot coupon (OK, this is the ONLY coupon I like!) with Amtrak agent and running back-forth. Our attendant, Angela was waiting outside to make sure I do not miss the train - even it was 10 or so minutes too early. So I decided not to entertain the ticket agent - she had other things to do. On the train I asked Angela when is the best to approach the Conductor with a theoretical question about the two-for-one and a separate ticket, she told me before SAC is not good, they are busy but after SAC there will be new crew. Indeed, it was. Angela also told me, a few days ago a conductor told her the on-board upgrade price is the same as in the computer. We discussed it and agreed, it sounds suspicious because there is no way a conductor would know the actual price since it is not fixed. A gentleman was upgrading in SAC, but I missed asking him what he paid. Finally after SAC I tried to approach the conductor as he passed by and - surprise(?) the conductor simply refused to answer any questions like "what if" or "what is currently the upgrade price". After few words I did see, it does not make sense to force the issue. On his side conductor was feeling guilty and murmled somewhat that he can't tell now anyway what will be later and can't sell or issue any upgrade for a future thing - so I guess, he was following certain directions from above and these directions are: DO NOT TELL PRICE INFORMATION.
And here we are again. Coupons, hidden codes, withholding the information... and so on. One conductor refusing to tell, how much are the rooms selling for. An other conductor (as Angela told me and as we suspect) telling attendants straight lies. On the other side (according Angela) Amtrak is hiring consultants who approach coach paseengers and try to sell them sleeprs. Indeed, there is stuff to sell. From SJC there were only 180 passengers and many de-trained at Klamath Falls due CSL being late. On "Ohio" the entire upper deck of roomettes was empty.
- With such ridership I see no point Amtrak was raising the price above $130 (as one coach passenger told me) on the day of departure.
- Generally, from our approach (besides coupons being evil) there is perhaps one more thing which will stear quite a bit of feelings here. Namely, I simply do not see the point of what Amtrak is doing.
I am pretty much aware, to tase German and Californian wine in a restored vintage 1950-s car is POSSIBLE in Germany, Hungary and Russia. To do so, you have to pay roughy $1000/day (and feel lucky) or ride a train for, say, one hour and pay $100. The job done on ElCapitan car was terrific - but I feel, such cars are okay on tourist trains occupied by honeymooners, wedding or corporate parties. What I paid (=$222 , $54 for the ticket and $168 for the bed) does not pay a small bit to compensate for the efforts on that car alone. They should ask $3000. It is a terrific touch to ride it for $222, but there is nothing for free. So if more plain vanilla Talgo cars with plastic interior (or god forbid - Russian streamliner "commodity" sleepers for 36 people) will be bought - I think it's a better use of taxpayers money. We need so many cars, seaters, sleepers, diners, what-not ... even parlor cars ... well, you can buy even a Talgo or other European parlor car fresh out of works. It will be cheaper, it is full of plastic interior, modern, safe - but not even near as romantic. Amtrak should decide, do they want to be a SERVICE company serving general public (much like German Rail, Russian Rail, China Rail) or BUSINESS (like Nostalgia-Orient)? Both are fine, but require a different approach for each kind of service. Hungarian rail has even a special unit ("Utasellato") for sleeping car service ($10-$30/bed), dining car service ($3-$10 for dinner), nostalgia-service ($$$$$ ooooouch!!!) or nostalgia sleeper (forged-aboud-it-unless-lottery-winner). Each activity has different people involved. Most of us and most of you will use the first two, but some of you may think to arrange a wedding party on the Utasellato's train, gypsy musicians included and guests put in 1930-s sleepers. In the train I was today Amtrak tried both approaches at the same time but neither was success from revenue point of view (180 guests) and the entire execution (tickets overpriced, coupons, not-coupons, confuusion, train late) was below what it should be. Even worse, our "loved" UP was responsible for the small part of the delay. I mean, if the engineer would not literally walk away from the train... (and it was not the first time I experienced it!)
Anyway, it's late now, let's see how my trip back on Nov 10 will be and how much is the upgrade on board...if they let me do it at all.
