posted
I would like to know but does the thru way busses that AMTRAK uses to bring passengers to and from the outer lying areas of an AMTRAK station (SFO-EMY) have two way radios in order to talk with AMTRAK personnel at the train station?
If the bus runs into unexpected delays in traffic, is there anyway the bus driver can notify the train personnel that he is running late and not to leave because he has passengers aboard which needs to catch the train.
posted
I do not think that they have communications between the bus & the station. I say that based on this recent situation. I friend of mine last week took the SF thruway bus from SF to EMY to catch the CZ to Chicago & transfer to the City of NOL to contine to New Orleans. He boards the bus in SF, the bus proceeds to make other pick-ups and by the time it reaches EMY (it has to cross the SF Bay Bridge, a major commute run, & it only allows 10-15 minutes to make the train connection) the CZ has departed leaving him & one other passenger stranded. He asks the ticket agent what they should do and the agent says "you have two options, rebook the trip or take a cab and try to meet the train in Sacramento" (Note - Sacramento is a 90 mile drive & a $150. cab fare !) My friend asks the agent "who will pay for the cab" & he's told "you will have too, but you can write a letter to Amtrak". My friend and the other poor soul grab a cab, & as my friend related "raced at break neck speed" arriving in Sacramento just in time. He boards the train & asks a member of the crew about the cab fare & he's told the same thing....."write a letter". He settles into his standard bedroom $75. lighter in the wallet (the other passenger split the fare). He did go on to tell me he really enjoyed riding Amtrak....once he got on the train ! I wonder if he missed the train in Sacramento what Amtrak would have "suggested" ?!? My wife & I really enjoy riding Amtrak but we always do it with a great sense of humor and always making sure we arrive 2 hours early as opposed to one minute late. It's sad, but we've learned that you cannot count on Amtrak busses or trains to every make the proper connections & you cannot ever expect them to properly provide professional customer service. Posts: 218 | Registered: Mar 2001
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posted
CK, your friend's experience is just the sort of thing that give people in Congress good reason to want to eliminate Amtrak. If that had happened to me I would have read George Warrington the riot act.
But knowing how unpredictable Bay Bridge traffic can be I would probably opt to ride BART. I think there is a BART station less than a mile from EMY. From there it would be an easy cab ride. Better yet, the CZ should stop at Richmond which is the only station shared by BART and Amtrak. But that would make sense.
I can say that the minibus connecting Monterey/Carmel to the Coast Starlight is radio equipped. The driver reports his status at every stop and tells how many passengers were picked up. I think this bus is subcontracted so I don't know if the transmission gets to Amtrak or not.
------------------ Trust God, love your neighbor, and never mistake opinion for truth. -Mr. Toy
posted
It's my understanding the Thruway bus is a guaranteed connection. Lateness on their part shouldn't constitute an emergency on your part.
IMHO, most busses these days have radios.
Plus, if Amtrak was told the bus left San Fran with pax for the CZ, then the CZ should not depart until the bus physically arrives, regardless of the lack of enroute communications.
The SFO to EMY bus leaves SFO in the morning, and is against incoming SFO traffic for the most part.
Make sure the reimbursement from Amtrak for the Cab is in the form of a check and not a voucher good only on Amtrak.
Posts: 9 | From: Vernon, CT USA | Registered: Dec 2001
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CK, your story sounds like a typical Amtrak story. And Mr. Toy, this is why I too want to see the end of Amtrak. If they could provide quality service, I would back them all the way, but these are the kinds of stories I hear constantly, and the kinds of things that have happened to me personally. Why should the government continue to fund an organization that treats its customers so bad?
------------------ Elias Valley Railroad (N-scale) www.geocities.com/evrr
quote:Originally posted by Konstantin: Mr. Toy, this is why I too want to see the end of Amtrak....Why should the government continue to fund an organization that treats its customers so bad?
Konstantin, with all due respect, I understand the frustration, but I don't see what good it would do to scrap Amtrak and start over. There are good things in Amtrak and bad things. Certainly Amtrak needs a good shake-up to root out the riff-raff and incompetence, but I think that can be done without rebuilding from the ground up. There are a lot of good people there, too.
------------------ Trust God, love your neighbor, and never mistake opinion for truth. -Mr. Toy
posted
Mr. Toy, I understand you when you say "with all due respect." I am glad to see polite debate rather than the bickering that has taken place lately on this board.
For thirty years, Amtrak has had major problems, and has been continuously patched together. It is similar to placing a band-aid on a gaping wound. Amtrak has been making a mockery of passenger railroads for thirty years. I really cannot understand why train fans would support them. They bring a bad name to the passenger railroad business. If we get rid of them altogether, then we have the chance to start from scratch and build a quality passenger railroad system.
You can remodel old buildings if they are structurally sound, but sometimes you just have to demolish them and start over.
posted
As a passenger rail advocate and frequent traveler for over 30 years (over 50K miles alone on Amtrak), I agree completely with Konstantin. Sorry Bleeding Amtrak Hearts, but Amtrak should die. Myself and my family have been treated rudely by ticket agents and by on board staff on the Ann Rutlege, State House, Texas Eagle, Empire Builder, San Diegans, and finally the Eagle/Sunset Ltd where I spent over $2,500 for my family to go first class from STL to LAX. Yes, I have complained each time, and yes, I have gotten vouchers. But some things never change. The charm school Amtrak sent their employees to a couple years ago had no effect for the most part. P.S... In fairness to the very few positive employees out there, I did meet one charming female conductor on the Surfliner in Nov 2001. She nicknamed herself the "train Princess." Some of you out there may know her!
Posts: 11 | From: Thousand Oaks, CA | Registered: Aug 2001
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posted
If Amtrak doesnt have radios on their coaches, they need to get on the ball. I haven't seen one coach in service without a 2way. 2ways aren't a required thing on coaches, but they would help.
------------------ Buslady of SoCal Long Live Crown Coach!
posted
In fairness to Amtrak, I would like to clarify my prior posting. My friend returned from his trip and I learned that, as a first time Amtrak passenger, he made the mistake of boarding the wrong Amtrak bus in SF. He boarded a bus that was scheduled to make several stops before reaching EMY. He was suppose to board the non-stop bus from SF to EMY. This is why he missed the CZ. He has contacted Amtrak customer service and they may refund his cab fare anyways. Either way, he did say that he had a great time on Amtrak and he will ride it again. Good news!
Posts: 218 | Registered: Mar 2001
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