AAARGH!
Conductor
Sunday 3/15/09:
-2250 (Acela first class) from WAS to NYP
-99 (Regional coach) from NYP to BYI
After taking the DC Metro from Reagan Airport to Union Station, I asked if I could use an upgrade coupon even though I used the 10% AAA discount when I made the reservation. The ticket counter guy smiled at me and said, we'll take care of you. Woo Hoo!! First time in First Class!!! I shook his hand and thanked him profusely. For those who believe if you are nice to people, they will be nice to you, this is proof! (As I approached him to begin with, I gave him an enthusiastic "good morning sir!")
I made my way to the Club Acela lounge. It reminds me of the Chicago Metropolitan Lounge, but surprisingly (to me) small.
Boarded and found a seat on the single-side with a table. The train was maybe 1/8 full if that. Another gentleman was playing around with the reclining angle of the various seats and found the only ones that reclined much were one of the pairs that face each other. He made some complaint to the attendant and sat down. The attendant explained he couldn't sit there as it was reserved for groups of three or four. They guy went off, being rude and a bit loud about how he had to be able to recline, etc... The attendant held his ground, but was not getting anywhere. Eventually the conductor was notified, but did not do anything about it as the train was empty and the seats were not needed.
However, they then moved a family of three to first class and instructed them to sit with this guy even though there was another set of facing seats available 5 feet away. I guess they were trying to punish this guy, but why do that to the family? As they were about to sit down with him, the guy politely pointed out the open seats and they took those. I don't think the guy was right by any means to take those seats or the way he behaved, but Amtrak should not have forced the issue given the train was near empty.
Same thing in reverse, if you are NOT nice to people, they WON'T be nice to you.
Anyway, the train was on time the whole way up to NYP. The actor Terrence Howard and family(?) got on in Philly and sat right behind me. They didn't get off at NYP, so I don't know how far they were going. He sang to himself part of the way. Nice voice!
FYI, the windows were FILTHY! No attempt had been made to clean them AND/OR the train sat overnight in the rain.
When I got to NYP, the place was jammed! I went above ground and got caught in the throngs heading to MSG for a Ranger's hockey game. I quickly retreated to the Club Acela lounge. It looks the same the same to me as the others, but is a bit bigger, but again seemed surprisingly small to me. I waited until about 20 minutes before my Southbound Regional was to depart.
It was about 10 minutes late arriving (no announcements, nothing on the board). We left about 5 minutes late and was about 5 - 10 minutes late the whole trip. Not bad at all. The train was full, and I do mean full! Every seat and the lounge was full. Lot's of young adults. Nice to see 'kids' using the train. It bodes well for the future. Nothing exciting about this leg, business as usual, nobody famous.
I got my train 'fix' taken care of, for a little while anyway.
-2250 (Acela first class) from WAS to NYP
-99 (Regional coach) from NYP to BYI
After taking the DC Metro from Reagan Airport to Union Station, I asked if I could use an upgrade coupon even though I used the 10% AAA discount when I made the reservation. The ticket counter guy smiled at me and said, we'll take care of you. Woo Hoo!! First time in First Class!!! I shook his hand and thanked him profusely. For those who believe if you are nice to people, they will be nice to you, this is proof! (As I approached him to begin with, I gave him an enthusiastic "good morning sir!")
I made my way to the Club Acela lounge. It reminds me of the Chicago Metropolitan Lounge, but surprisingly (to me) small.
Boarded and found a seat on the single-side with a table. The train was maybe 1/8 full if that. Another gentleman was playing around with the reclining angle of the various seats and found the only ones that reclined much were one of the pairs that face each other. He made some complaint to the attendant and sat down. The attendant explained he couldn't sit there as it was reserved for groups of three or four. They guy went off, being rude and a bit loud about how he had to be able to recline, etc... The attendant held his ground, but was not getting anywhere. Eventually the conductor was notified, but did not do anything about it as the train was empty and the seats were not needed.
However, they then moved a family of three to first class and instructed them to sit with this guy even though there was another set of facing seats available 5 feet away. I guess they were trying to punish this guy, but why do that to the family? As they were about to sit down with him, the guy politely pointed out the open seats and they took those. I don't think the guy was right by any means to take those seats or the way he behaved, but Amtrak should not have forced the issue given the train was near empty.
Same thing in reverse, if you are NOT nice to people, they WON'T be nice to you.
Anyway, the train was on time the whole way up to NYP. The actor Terrence Howard and family(?) got on in Philly and sat right behind me. They didn't get off at NYP, so I don't know how far they were going. He sang to himself part of the way. Nice voice!
FYI, the windows were FILTHY! No attempt had been made to clean them AND/OR the train sat overnight in the rain.
When I got to NYP, the place was jammed! I went above ground and got caught in the throngs heading to MSG for a Ranger's hockey game. I quickly retreated to the Club Acela lounge. It looks the same the same to me as the others, but is a bit bigger, but again seemed surprisingly small to me. I waited until about 20 minutes before my Southbound Regional was to depart.
It was about 10 minutes late arriving (no announcements, nothing on the board). We left about 5 minutes late and was about 5 - 10 minutes late the whole trip. Not bad at all. The train was full, and I do mean full! Every seat and the lounge was full. Lot's of young adults. Nice to see 'kids' using the train. It bodes well for the future. Nothing exciting about this leg, business as usual, nobody famous.
I got my train 'fix' taken care of, for a little while anyway.