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Guest_abqdave_*
Guest
Background: I am a daily user of public transportation, back and forth to work. For my vacation I thought I would try using all public transportation, so took the SW Chief to Los Angeles and back, used LA Metro and Dash while there (subway and buses), used the Pacific Surfliner back and forth to San Diego, and SD MTS while there (streetcar and buses).
I have been reading this forum for the last few months for travel tips, what to expect, etc. Combined with my own experiences using public transportation, I think I had realistic expectations of the compromises I would be making. So here goes.
Trip started Saturday May 24 taking ABQRide bus from the corner of my street at 3pm to the downtown transit center, arriving at 3:45pm to transfer to the SW Chief for an overnight trip to L.A. Departure time was scheduled at 4:45PM, train arrived just before 6pm. Passengers said first the train was delayed due to severe storms in Kansas, then it made up some time but got delayed again in New Mexico after hitting some cows.
At the side of the train trying to figure out where to board, minimal instructions from Amtrak staff. I quickly figured out that I should be boarding a specific train car as per the number on my ticket, so started going down the station looking for it. Some cars had numbers, one had a brown paper bag from a grocery store with its number on it written in crayon, one had no number on it (guess who’s car that was).
Lori was our cabin attendant. She came and told us she scheduled our meal for 6:30, as they were unsure what time they would get into ABQ and had already had the passengers on the train from earlier stops eat. I was hungry, so great. We both had flat iron steak, was very good. After that, didn’t see Lori for the remainder of the trip. Visited the observation car after eating, got back to our room at nearly 8:30. Bed not made, no Lori. Figured out how to lower the upper bunk and ‘unrecline’ the lower seats to make it into a bed, then threw our mattresses on and got toiletries ready. Our roomette was on the bottom floor, so walked over to the restrooms. Two were broken, wouldn’t flush, had evidence of people using them before. Very unpleasant. Luckily only had to do something quick so was in and out fast.
The sleeping experience was an adjustment. I was on the bottom bunk, partner on top bunk. I found the noise of the tracks bothered me, as well as sections of the ride were very rough, made the train slam, and would wake me up. I guess my expectations weren’t realistic…I thought it would be a swaying motion like the cruise ship I took to Alaska 3 years ago. The train ride was very harsh.
During the night the train lost 3 more hours due to freight congestion (we were told this via intercom at breakfast the next morning). Antoine, our dining car attendant, must not have had a good sleep either. Trying to get information out of him concerning breakfast was impossible…I was unclear if I could add a meat side order to my omelette. Sorry to be so demanding, Antoine. Breakfast without the meat was good anyway. The last segment of the trip was re-routed; BNSF closed track from Fullerton to LA, so we switched to UP track. This apparently helped, as we arrived at Union Station only about 1.5-2 hours late (sorry I don’t remember the exact time). Lori reappeared at the exit as we left the train. No instructions as to where to go for baggage. No tip for Lori.
Found our way to the Union Station baggage claim area. There was no baggage there or people waiting or signage, which I found odd, so asked an Amtrak attendant if we were in the right area. Her surly response was that we had to give 45 minutes for the train to be unloaded.
I loved LA, it is fun, lots of things to do, good public transportation system. On Thursday took the Pacific Surfliner to San Diego. Got 2 business class tickets on the next train, was on schedule, had complimentary snacks and sodas, everything good. Also enjoyed San Diego. On the Surfliner on the way back on Saturday we went coach. The chair I was in was broken (didn’t recline), didn’t realize it until all seats were full. I was tired and would have like to have reclined. Had about 2 hours to wait until the SW Chief was heading back, so explored El Pueblo across the street.
SW Chief was on time leaving, and guess who our sleeping car attendant was again? This time our roomette was on the top floor, and the car was different (older as Lori told me later on). It actually was in better condition…the bathrooms worked and the car rode better. Had dinner shortly after boarding, steak again (good again), Antoine again. Went back to the room, made my room up (what exactly does Lori do, anyway). Took PM aspirin so slept this time. Had a different dining car attendant next morning (brought 3 cups of coffee!), Lori came by as I was changing it from sleeping to sitting (and gave me advice that it was an older car and the foot release lever would work harder, thanks Lori). Arrived in ABQ on time. Lori greeted us on the way out. Since she did make dinner reservations, and brought a newspaper in the morning, I did give her a tip ($20 for the 2 trips). She apologized for the bathrooms and said she hoped we would give Amtrak another chance. After leaving train, no indication where baggage area is in station, asked Amtrak employee, whose…surly…response was I had to give them 20 minutes for the baggage to be unloaded…boy did this seem familiar.
When I got home, I went to the new Amtrak Guest Rewards website. It wouldn’t take any of my trip information (that I entered directly from my tickets) for credit for future rewards. Unbelievable.
So, my conclusion. First, the good, which is to thank everyone on this forum for all the help and good advice. I know a number of you work for Amtrak, so I feel badly with the next part of this post. My Amtak experience was terrible. Horrible. I think I had realistic (low) expectations and a clear understanding of equipment not being new because of the railroad being underfunded, people not having raises for years and not to expect them to be whistling and skipping down the aisles, etc. I expected it to not be perfect.
But I wasn’t prepared for so much to be so bad. From staff who were mostly rude, or absent, to being trapped on a train with multiple broken bathrooms, to near total lack of help or instruction. If I hadn’t done so much research here, the lack of help Amtrak employees gave would have been a real problem.
I am still committed to pubic transportation, and as planes have a far higher carbon output per passenger mile, I may consider Amtrak in the future. But I don’t think many other people who had an experience like mine would.
I have been reading this forum for the last few months for travel tips, what to expect, etc. Combined with my own experiences using public transportation, I think I had realistic expectations of the compromises I would be making. So here goes.
Trip started Saturday May 24 taking ABQRide bus from the corner of my street at 3pm to the downtown transit center, arriving at 3:45pm to transfer to the SW Chief for an overnight trip to L.A. Departure time was scheduled at 4:45PM, train arrived just before 6pm. Passengers said first the train was delayed due to severe storms in Kansas, then it made up some time but got delayed again in New Mexico after hitting some cows.
At the side of the train trying to figure out where to board, minimal instructions from Amtrak staff. I quickly figured out that I should be boarding a specific train car as per the number on my ticket, so started going down the station looking for it. Some cars had numbers, one had a brown paper bag from a grocery store with its number on it written in crayon, one had no number on it (guess who’s car that was).
Lori was our cabin attendant. She came and told us she scheduled our meal for 6:30, as they were unsure what time they would get into ABQ and had already had the passengers on the train from earlier stops eat. I was hungry, so great. We both had flat iron steak, was very good. After that, didn’t see Lori for the remainder of the trip. Visited the observation car after eating, got back to our room at nearly 8:30. Bed not made, no Lori. Figured out how to lower the upper bunk and ‘unrecline’ the lower seats to make it into a bed, then threw our mattresses on and got toiletries ready. Our roomette was on the bottom floor, so walked over to the restrooms. Two were broken, wouldn’t flush, had evidence of people using them before. Very unpleasant. Luckily only had to do something quick so was in and out fast.
The sleeping experience was an adjustment. I was on the bottom bunk, partner on top bunk. I found the noise of the tracks bothered me, as well as sections of the ride were very rough, made the train slam, and would wake me up. I guess my expectations weren’t realistic…I thought it would be a swaying motion like the cruise ship I took to Alaska 3 years ago. The train ride was very harsh.
During the night the train lost 3 more hours due to freight congestion (we were told this via intercom at breakfast the next morning). Antoine, our dining car attendant, must not have had a good sleep either. Trying to get information out of him concerning breakfast was impossible…I was unclear if I could add a meat side order to my omelette. Sorry to be so demanding, Antoine. Breakfast without the meat was good anyway. The last segment of the trip was re-routed; BNSF closed track from Fullerton to LA, so we switched to UP track. This apparently helped, as we arrived at Union Station only about 1.5-2 hours late (sorry I don’t remember the exact time). Lori reappeared at the exit as we left the train. No instructions as to where to go for baggage. No tip for Lori.
Found our way to the Union Station baggage claim area. There was no baggage there or people waiting or signage, which I found odd, so asked an Amtrak attendant if we were in the right area. Her surly response was that we had to give 45 minutes for the train to be unloaded.
I loved LA, it is fun, lots of things to do, good public transportation system. On Thursday took the Pacific Surfliner to San Diego. Got 2 business class tickets on the next train, was on schedule, had complimentary snacks and sodas, everything good. Also enjoyed San Diego. On the Surfliner on the way back on Saturday we went coach. The chair I was in was broken (didn’t recline), didn’t realize it until all seats were full. I was tired and would have like to have reclined. Had about 2 hours to wait until the SW Chief was heading back, so explored El Pueblo across the street.
SW Chief was on time leaving, and guess who our sleeping car attendant was again? This time our roomette was on the top floor, and the car was different (older as Lori told me later on). It actually was in better condition…the bathrooms worked and the car rode better. Had dinner shortly after boarding, steak again (good again), Antoine again. Went back to the room, made my room up (what exactly does Lori do, anyway). Took PM aspirin so slept this time. Had a different dining car attendant next morning (brought 3 cups of coffee!), Lori came by as I was changing it from sleeping to sitting (and gave me advice that it was an older car and the foot release lever would work harder, thanks Lori). Arrived in ABQ on time. Lori greeted us on the way out. Since she did make dinner reservations, and brought a newspaper in the morning, I did give her a tip ($20 for the 2 trips). She apologized for the bathrooms and said she hoped we would give Amtrak another chance. After leaving train, no indication where baggage area is in station, asked Amtrak employee, whose…surly…response was I had to give them 20 minutes for the baggage to be unloaded…boy did this seem familiar.
When I got home, I went to the new Amtrak Guest Rewards website. It wouldn’t take any of my trip information (that I entered directly from my tickets) for credit for future rewards. Unbelievable.
So, my conclusion. First, the good, which is to thank everyone on this forum for all the help and good advice. I know a number of you work for Amtrak, so I feel badly with the next part of this post. My Amtak experience was terrible. Horrible. I think I had realistic (low) expectations and a clear understanding of equipment not being new because of the railroad being underfunded, people not having raises for years and not to expect them to be whistling and skipping down the aisles, etc. I expected it to not be perfect.
But I wasn’t prepared for so much to be so bad. From staff who were mostly rude, or absent, to being trapped on a train with multiple broken bathrooms, to near total lack of help or instruction. If I hadn’t done so much research here, the lack of help Amtrak employees gave would have been a real problem.
I am still committed to pubic transportation, and as planes have a far higher carbon output per passenger mile, I may consider Amtrak in the future. But I don’t think many other people who had an experience like mine would.
) is usually travel coach, and I only have dinner and breakfast in the diner. As far as sleeping in coach, including the (small) pillow you get (and once everyone gets one, you can ask the CA for another one), I find either long sleeves or a sweater is good covering. I also find a rolled up coat or sweater against the window is great! And if 2 are next to each other, if the one by the window recline his or her seat 1 or 2 clicks less, that gives the other person a place to rest his or her head at night. (And the other person may not even notice a difference!)
