Here's a list of my gripes:
-They are way too tiny. I remember the days of the Heritage cars (when that's all Amtrak had, before they were called "heritage") and those cars (coaches anyway) had HUGE rest rooms. Large enough for a real, full sized toilet and space to pull up your pants without bumping your elbows. An 18" square of floor space just ain't enough folks.
I've been in airliner restrooms that were bigger. Since Superliners have so much more space to begin with, you'd think they could have kept the rest rooms at a reasonable size.

-The faucets are under too much pressure and splatter (now and then I find one that has reasonable pressure, so it can be done properly).

-The toilet paper holder is in a cubbyhole behind your hip where you can't reach it. So the TP ends up on the counter where it gets splattered by water from the sinks.

-The paper towel dispenser is directly above the kleenex dispenser. So people with wet dripping hands reach for a towel and drip all over the tissue.

-The waste can lid snaps back too fast and pinches your fingers after you dispose of your towels.

-Superliner coaches have a wheelchair accessible handicapped rest room, which is quite spacious, but they even found a way to screw that up, too. They crammed the toilet and sink all at one end, placing the toilet at a 45 degree angle to the sink. So your chin is almost in the sink basin when you sit down to do your business.

As far as I'm concerned, hell isn't fire and brimstone. It's a Superliner toilet.

I have no objection to the sleepers, but they could use a wee bit more floor space when the beds are deployed.

Note to Sutton: Sleeper prices have been reduced substantially in the last year or two. The fare my wife and I are paying for our trip at the end of the month is about the same as I paid for myself alone on the same trip in 2002. That 2002 trip was one where I got "the call" from Amtrak for a discounted sleeper upgrade.

The canadians really clean the southbound adirondak well and in each seat back there is a new trash bag. A really great idea. I have never seen a US train in such good shape.

Is it possible to make train bathrooms anything less than gross? If so I would like to complain about them too.

This is getting out of control

A.

PS. CAN SOMEONE PLEASE CONTACT TRAINWEB TO TRACK THIS PEROSN DOWN< THEY CANT HIDE FOREVOR!

so everyone can get back to Amtrak stuff!

Putting up with the snobbiness of passengers (and those Washington Conductors, too!). I've tried ignoring it, but I've had to call the cops on them more than once. You call me a piece of human garbage, let's see who becomes the garbage when he's sitting in the holding tank and having to pay a fine for disorderly conduct!!

Otherwise I enjoy my job as an Amtrak Conductor. Fortunately, 99% of my passengers are great to be with and a pleasure to serve.

I myself am 5 foot 5 345 (im a shot putter) and i do feel the sleepers are too expensive and not roomy enough. the standards are too small for anyone but a midget and the delux and family seat two at a maximum

I've always wanted to work for Amtrak, I've herd that if you want to be an engeener, that first your an assistant Conductor, then Conductor, then Engeener.

Is that how it works?
And also, what kind of training does it take?

littletrain?? you mean "freighttrain"! You cant fit through the door and you think that its Amtrak's problem...maybe we should make a custom coach just for you?? with a dairy queen and a snicker machine in it. Isn't this funny enough for you? I think your hilarious for you to say how Amtrak should make doors bigger so you can fit in...I'm 220 lbs 5'08 and I can get into any spot on the train without any problems, maybe you should check out diet.com and see if they will customize a diet for you or better yet lets customize a train for you and call it the Ryder Express or U-Haul Local. Your probably one of those people that bring a big travel trunk with you along with 4, 48 inch carryon bags and complain that their isn't enough luggage room or complain about all the crew members that are so unprofessional because they wont help you load your 85 lb. carryon. Get real littletrain....now how was that? friendly enough?

This is for M190 who thinks I am another one of them ill-humored employees I am extremely nice when on and off the job because my job and life require it of me but when I view a bulletin board that contains stupid posts or how it says that people on Amtrak are surly employees… That does make me Ill-Humored. A lot of employees on Amtrak do a very good job dealing with the public but just like anywhere else we have bad apples, and anyone can tell you that people do have a boiling point. I know what you’re going to say, that if you can’t do the job, then don’t do it right?? I’ve seen almost everyone even the nicest Conductors get worked up because of distraught passengers or being involved in certain situations and they couldn’t help themselves getting worked up, that’s one of the downfalls about working with the public. Sometimes they suck. Ok here’s a scenario for you…try this on for size and let me know how you would handle this. Your 3.5 hrs late, you are traveling at 79 mph with 2 engines 30 cars (7 are psgr. cars) 1 A.C. 4 OBS crew and 275 passengers aboard. You have lousy equipment and it’s very cold outside in multiple track territory at night. You have 1 rider who had a bad day and has it on his mind that he’s going to ruin everyone’s day by being rude to all who look at him and another who thinks he or she can move the entire collage dorm room inside a coach all while trying to deal with a grandmother who only speaks Spanish who has missed a connection and needs information and another passenger in another car who has had to much to drink and is now hitting on a very young lady who doesn’t want to be near him, all while dealing with a form-D 15 miles ahead and 2 temporary speed restrictions coming up soon and a café attendant who needs cups off of a passing train within the next 20 mins. Tell me how you’re not going to have a bad day once in a while? So why wouldn’t I come in here and tell it like it is?? I’m not on the clock and if it’s a stupid post I’m going to say it’s a stupid post.

We are all Amtrak fans, and Amtrak customers. We want Amtrak to succeed (so you can keep your job and we can keep a valuable mode of transportation that many of us rely on), but we are all well aware that while Amtrak does do many things well, It does have its faults. We feel that by pointing them out, it may encourage folks at Amtrak (like you) to help correct them. Denying their existence or referring to constructive criticism in a hostile manner isn't helping Amtrak, or anyone.

You say you are friendly on and off the job. Why does that level of courtesy end at your computer keyboard?

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Trust God, love your neighbor, and never mistake opinion for truth.
-Mr. Toy

quote:

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Originally posted by boyishcolt:
what is a form D ??

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quote:

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Originally posted by polarbearucla:
Hold up....you called the cops on fellow passangers and/or conductors? Either you have been really unlucky w/ the people you have encountered or this is a huge lie. I've been on Amtrak, and everyone is really nice, until the train gets off schedule. And even then there is only grumbling at worse. Never has any situation developed remotely near to a point where I would call the cops. Btw if you call the cops on Amtrak, is local/state/federal or amtrak special cops that respond?

If your story is really true then I apologize for my lack of faith, however this sounds a little outragous.

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I've never called the cops on any fellow employees, although one DC conductor did call the cops on me because it insulted his intelligence that I dare set foot on his "royal throne" (actually a Metroliner), even though I was assigned by the crew dispatcher to ride this particular train. I made him look really stupid in front of the cop, who eventually authorized me to ride, but as the conductor came back to seat-check me, I could hear him call me a "Piece of Human Garbage" under his breath. This particular individual has since retired.

What I meant was if a passenger talks down to me and I can't calm him/her down myself, the Amtrak cops will be called (Amtrak has their own Police Dept. in the Northeast) and the unruly passenger will be dealt with by them.