JackieTakestheTrain
Lead Service Attendant
Hi:
As many of you know I live outside Boston in the metrowest 'burb and I work in downtown Boston. I will spare you the details of the absolutely horrid conditions of the MBTA since that is off-topic, however, I have a related Amtrak issue regarding station conditions.
Today I decided to depart from my normal commuter rail line and opt to go to 128 which is a combined Amtrak/MBTA stop. I thought I was doing fine - I found a spot to park despite the limited availability. Until I tried to get to the tracks.
Inside the station, one elevator is completely masked off with CAUTION tape. The escalator going to the second level (which you need to get to use the bridge to cross over to Track 2 for all incoming trains both Amtrak and commuter trains) was out. I took the remaining elevator up, walked across the bridge to find out that the elevator down to track 2 was not working *AND* the escalator to Track 2 was not working.
Now, as it happens, there was an Amtrak station attendant coming up the stairs as I attempted to hobble with my cane down the 2nd flights of stairs. He saw me and told me to be careful and before I could say another word he told me to contact the *STATE* to complain about the problems.
I am more than happy to oblige -- but three thoughts occurred to me:
1.Why is there NO mention of the elevator and escalator outages on the Amtrak service interruptions pages of their website --and who can I complain to about that to fix immediately? There was a poor man with a cane and a huge suitcase struggling up the steps and he was furious! He was an Amtrak passenger I am sure.
2. On the MBTA website, there is a service alert about the *elevator* being out to Track 2 (which is what the inbound commuter rail trains uses) but *NOTHING* about the other elevators or escalators. (In fact, I think the escalator is out on the Track 1 -- which has been a forever thing.)
The T website says if passengers get off at 128, they should ask a MBTA conductor to help them get to a shuttle *OR* ask a station attendant. Well, there are no MBTA attendants at 128 unless they mean the Amtrak attendants and one of them told me to contact the STATE!
3. I am beyond furious. Can anyone provide me with insights into the best way to get someone to fix this stuff? I know I can complain to Amtrak customer service but that won't be an immediate thing.
if this is off-topic, please tell me where to move my post or kindly move it for me.
Thank you!
- Jackie
As many of you know I live outside Boston in the metrowest 'burb and I work in downtown Boston. I will spare you the details of the absolutely horrid conditions of the MBTA since that is off-topic, however, I have a related Amtrak issue regarding station conditions.
Today I decided to depart from my normal commuter rail line and opt to go to 128 which is a combined Amtrak/MBTA stop. I thought I was doing fine - I found a spot to park despite the limited availability. Until I tried to get to the tracks.
Inside the station, one elevator is completely masked off with CAUTION tape. The escalator going to the second level (which you need to get to use the bridge to cross over to Track 2 for all incoming trains both Amtrak and commuter trains) was out. I took the remaining elevator up, walked across the bridge to find out that the elevator down to track 2 was not working *AND* the escalator to Track 2 was not working.
Now, as it happens, there was an Amtrak station attendant coming up the stairs as I attempted to hobble with my cane down the 2nd flights of stairs. He saw me and told me to be careful and before I could say another word he told me to contact the *STATE* to complain about the problems.
I am more than happy to oblige -- but three thoughts occurred to me:
1.Why is there NO mention of the elevator and escalator outages on the Amtrak service interruptions pages of their website --and who can I complain to about that to fix immediately? There was a poor man with a cane and a huge suitcase struggling up the steps and he was furious! He was an Amtrak passenger I am sure.
2. On the MBTA website, there is a service alert about the *elevator* being out to Track 2 (which is what the inbound commuter rail trains uses) but *NOTHING* about the other elevators or escalators. (In fact, I think the escalator is out on the Track 1 -- which has been a forever thing.)
The T website says if passengers get off at 128, they should ask a MBTA conductor to help them get to a shuttle *OR* ask a station attendant. Well, there are no MBTA attendants at 128 unless they mean the Amtrak attendants and one of them told me to contact the STATE!
3. I am beyond furious. Can anyone provide me with insights into the best way to get someone to fix this stuff? I know I can complain to Amtrak customer service but that won't be an immediate thing.
if this is off-topic, please tell me where to move my post or kindly move it for me.
Thank you!
- Jackie
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