Michael061282
Lead Service Attendant
Ok I just finshed a week long trip from Richmond up to DC over to Chicago then LA and San Francisco...
Overall it was a fantabulous trip, but, as usual I have a couple of questions and comments.
#1 last Monday (the 12th) my friend and I left DC on the Capitol Limited headed for Chicago. We had a room in the TransDorm. Amtrak however was hosting a private employee party and had added an extra sightseer lounge and sleeper to the consist. However, instead of taking them on to the rear, they added the sleeper and lounge in behind the transdorm and in front of the 2 other sleepers.. as a result.. at 11:00 we had to do downstairs in the transdorm.. WAKE UP the snoozing conductor.. no I'm not joking.. and ask him to radio one of the SCA to come pull down our beds. We weren't the only passengers in our car, there were 4 other rooms taken up. It seems the SCA who was supposed to be looking afetr our car, didn't know we were there. This was also a problem when it came time for dinner and noone had bothered to get our reservations.. We went to the diner and were told "We've already been through the sleepers you'll have to take 8:30". In the morning... no one came to help us make up our beds, so we left them. What else were we supposed to do. On the UPside of the situation however, we were allowed to sit in the private lounge for the ride, which was very nice and relaxing with only 8 people tops.
Now.. for thing #2. So we get to chicago, spend the day there then board #3 on Tuesday afternoon. When it came time for dinner the LSA gave us one of the most idiotic commands I've ever heard. "You are to fill out your name and room number and sign your dinner sheet, in black ink. if its in Blue ink it won't be accepted" SAY WHAT? What does the color of ink on a signature and a room number have to do with the price of tea in china??? I've ridden over 75,000 miles and I've never once heard this. The guy was just a control freak, although my travel partner called him "efficient"... I have a another word for him, but I can't use that in a public forum. My opinion could change, if I knew a valid reason for such a thing. Also I need to add, on the #3 I had what is, without a doubt the BEST sleeper attendant I've ever had. I didn't get her last name, but he first name is Cynthia and she got a $30 tip for her efforts. Marvelous attendant. The brightest personality I have encountered on Amtrak in a long long time. Thank you Cynthia.
Overall it was a fantabulous trip, but, as usual I have a couple of questions and comments.
#1 last Monday (the 12th) my friend and I left DC on the Capitol Limited headed for Chicago. We had a room in the TransDorm. Amtrak however was hosting a private employee party and had added an extra sightseer lounge and sleeper to the consist. However, instead of taking them on to the rear, they added the sleeper and lounge in behind the transdorm and in front of the 2 other sleepers.. as a result.. at 11:00 we had to do downstairs in the transdorm.. WAKE UP the snoozing conductor.. no I'm not joking.. and ask him to radio one of the SCA to come pull down our beds. We weren't the only passengers in our car, there were 4 other rooms taken up. It seems the SCA who was supposed to be looking afetr our car, didn't know we were there. This was also a problem when it came time for dinner and noone had bothered to get our reservations.. We went to the diner and were told "We've already been through the sleepers you'll have to take 8:30". In the morning... no one came to help us make up our beds, so we left them. What else were we supposed to do. On the UPside of the situation however, we were allowed to sit in the private lounge for the ride, which was very nice and relaxing with only 8 people tops.
Now.. for thing #2. So we get to chicago, spend the day there then board #3 on Tuesday afternoon. When it came time for dinner the LSA gave us one of the most idiotic commands I've ever heard. "You are to fill out your name and room number and sign your dinner sheet, in black ink. if its in Blue ink it won't be accepted" SAY WHAT? What does the color of ink on a signature and a room number have to do with the price of tea in china??? I've ridden over 75,000 miles and I've never once heard this. The guy was just a control freak, although my travel partner called him "efficient"... I have a another word for him, but I can't use that in a public forum. My opinion could change, if I knew a valid reason for such a thing. Also I need to add, on the #3 I had what is, without a doubt the BEST sleeper attendant I've ever had. I didn't get her last name, but he first name is Cynthia and she got a $30 tip for her efforts. Marvelous attendant. The brightest personality I have encountered on Amtrak in a long long time. Thank you Cynthia.
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