L
LisaMM
Guest
I'm posting here because after a lifetime of riding Amtrak, I had the worst and most costly experience of my life, and some of you may not know how Amtrak handles theft aboard its trains.
On a 60-mile, one-stop train journey, I had to check my luggage in the general area. I was transporting a new computer and padded it with clothing, etc. When I arrived at my destination, I discovered that the lock was gone and the computer taken--while I was sitting upstairs, thinking that my belongings were safe with Amtrak. That computer was my entire livelihood. $2000 gone in a matter of a couple of hours. This was not a "small" item. And, this is felony theft. Right under Amtrak's nose. Amazing.
The run-around I got from Amtrak was unbelievable; eventually, I found out that none of your belongings are safe on Amtrak. Because some passengers are not permitted to check their baggage, you just have to trust that your luggage won't be compromised and your valuables stolen. If something of yours gets taken ... it's just gone. You can even discover that your baggage has been tampered with in the middle of your trip, and Amtrak will not try to recover the stolen property. I had no clue how lax its theft policies were until now. I'm appalled that I trusted this service for so many years. And I'm wondering how many hands have filtered through my luggage, looking for things to take.
I won't be riding Amtrak again unless policies change. Greyhound is more expensive, but it does allow you to check baggage, and also require that you have a baggage ticket in hand to claim belongings. Similarly, airlines have policies in place that allow you to file a claim for lost or stolen luggage. My advice: If you continue to travel on Amtrak, don't take anything that you can't easily replace. Put anti-theft tracking devices on your electronics. Purchase a ticket for a private berth, if you have to, so you can keep an eye on large pieces of luggage. Anything in the general area is fair game for thieves.
On a 60-mile, one-stop train journey, I had to check my luggage in the general area. I was transporting a new computer and padded it with clothing, etc. When I arrived at my destination, I discovered that the lock was gone and the computer taken--while I was sitting upstairs, thinking that my belongings were safe with Amtrak. That computer was my entire livelihood. $2000 gone in a matter of a couple of hours. This was not a "small" item. And, this is felony theft. Right under Amtrak's nose. Amazing.
The run-around I got from Amtrak was unbelievable; eventually, I found out that none of your belongings are safe on Amtrak. Because some passengers are not permitted to check their baggage, you just have to trust that your luggage won't be compromised and your valuables stolen. If something of yours gets taken ... it's just gone. You can even discover that your baggage has been tampered with in the middle of your trip, and Amtrak will not try to recover the stolen property. I had no clue how lax its theft policies were until now. I'm appalled that I trusted this service for so many years. And I'm wondering how many hands have filtered through my luggage, looking for things to take.
I won't be riding Amtrak again unless policies change. Greyhound is more expensive, but it does allow you to check baggage, and also require that you have a baggage ticket in hand to claim belongings. Similarly, airlines have policies in place that allow you to file a claim for lost or stolen luggage. My advice: If you continue to travel on Amtrak, don't take anything that you can't easily replace. Put anti-theft tracking devices on your electronics. Purchase a ticket for a private berth, if you have to, so you can keep an eye on large pieces of luggage. Anything in the general area is fair game for thieves.