My wife and I booked our first long distance Amtrak trip, going from New York to Myrtle Beach, SC. We decided to get the deluxe sleeper accomodations (aboard the silver service) as neither of us wanted to deal with coach for the approx. 13 hour ride. In addition, we have both always wanted to experience a sleeper car, and were very much looking forward to it. The trip was paid for and ticketed since January. Our departure date is May 30th. Now here's the problem...today when I returned home from work there was a message left on my answering machine from Amtrak. An unidentified woman very casually informed me that the sleeper car on the return leg of my trip has been cancelled. She went on to say that I could book coach on the same train, or if I hurried I could get a sleeper on a later train. She gave only the general 800 Amtrak number to call back and left no name. I was so stunned by this that I want to kind of re-group before I call back. I mean, after paying a whole lot of money and planning a vacation around this...to just call like its no big deal and leave a voice mail message telling me that my trip just got screwed up ...call 1 800 amtrak to re-book????? What kind of crap is that? I don't mean to overreact here, but I just found it very very odd that there was no name to call back, no apology...basically no clue that this would upset me in the least! So I was wondering if anyone on the board has ever experienced a sleeper car being cancelled? I was also wondering if anyone had any advice as to who I can speak to or how I should handle this? The problem is that my wife won't fly, and taking coach will sort of defeat the whole purpose in that for once we were not only looking forward to our vacation destination, but were equally excited about the trip there and back. As far as the later train...well, we were originally booked on a 9:00 AM train...we very much wanted to travel in the daytime, enjoy the scenery and have three meals in the dining car. The later train is at 10:00Pm and would involve paying an extra day for the rental car...paying for three additional restaurant meals, getting on board just in time to go to sleep and getting home the next day instead of the night before. In short, it will cost much more money and is very inconvenient. the more I think about it, the only way this would be worth my while is if Amtrak significantly reduced the fare. Can anyone clue me in on what they think Amtrak's stance will be on resolving something like this? As I said, I have no prior experience with Amtrak, and would like to have an idea before I call as to what I'd be dealing with. Any comments or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for listening.
Posted by reggierail (Member # 26) on :
Call Amtrak & ask for customer relations. Have your reservation number handy & relate the facts to them as you stated in the post. If you don't get satisfaction, call back, hopefully speaking to another person & try again. You should at least be upgraded to Business Class & have your sleeper fare refunded. Please let us know how it turns out. I hope it works out well for you. Reggie
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Posted by JAChooChoo (Member # 723) on :
hat has happened is this: As of the end of April, Amtrak is discontinuing the sleeper and Dining car on trains 89/90 The Silver Palm. This is something that has not happened in the 31 year history of Amtrak. Until now, all overnight trains had a sleeper. Meal service will be in a Dinette-Lounge.
Amtrak reservations is calling all passengers who would have traveled on those trains on or after April 30th, and I'm sure they are calling them in order of the date of travel.
The reason you weren't given a specific name to call is because there are a lot of Reservation Agents at (I believe) 5 different locations across the country, any of whom can serve you at your convenience 24/7.
Amtrak, of course will refund the room accomodation fare for the return trip. I would recommend that you ask the Reservation Agent to tell you about the Business Class coach.
Posted by reggierail (Member # 26) on :
Beg to differ Jachoochoo, The Three Rivers operated without a sleeper for sometime between New York & Chicago on an overnight schedule. It was then granted a waiver to operate Heritage equipment 10-6 sleepers. The Heritage sleepers have now been replaced with Viewliner sleepers. There are 3 reservation centers, Riverside, Ca., Philly & Chicago. Reggie
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[This message has been edited by reggierail (edited 04-17-2002).]
Posted by NorTex (Member # 1460) on :
I had a similar experience. Because of bad weather, the train I was taking was short one sleeper and some passengers were told their sleeper reservation was no good. Although I had checked by phone and internet, I was not told till I arrived at the station. I had held this reservation for months and was furious. I have back problems and sleeping in coach can be a real problem for me. I cancelled the whole trip and got a refund. Amtrak's "don't care" attitude was what really made me mad. And the fact that I still enjoy Amtrak makes me mad at myself!
Posted by JamesW (Member # 1560) on :
If in fact all sleeper's on the silver palm are being cancelled after 4/30 as you state...then why would they have offered me a sleeper on a later train? Wouldn't that be the silver palm as well? I'm confused.
Posted by JamesW (Member # 1560) on :
Just answered my own question...the later train is the silver meteor...Sorry.
Posted by Mr. Toy (Member # 311) on :
For what it's worth, JamesW, be sure to make sure your Congressman and Senators know about this incident. After all, it is their neglect of rail funding that forced Amtrak to put you in this awkward position in the first place.
And grab that sleeper on the later train while you still can.
------------------ Trust God, love your neighbor, and never mistake opinion for truth. -Mr. Toy
I too am a wife that does not fly. Amtrak is the only way for me!
Just calm down, realize "things happen". Take the later train and pay for an extra car rental. Would you rather just blow off your vacation cause you are mad at Amtrak?
I would take the later train, sleeping at night, snuggling with your wife is quite romantic. Have a good time!
Posted by Jack Morley (Member # 1569) on :
Take the sleeper on the Silver Meteor. It is fun sleeping on the train. You should ask for Amtrak's customer relations department and politely but firmly explain that their service cutback is costing you money for an added day's car rental and meals. They probably will either reduce the room charge to make up for it or issue a voucher for money off on a future trip. That department does try to gain repeat customers and you deserve some compensation. Cutting the Silver Palm sleeper and diner are dumb moves. The sleepers are being transferred to a useless overnight run between Chciago and Louisville.
Posted by reggierail (Member # 26) on :
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I certainly agree that pulling the sleeper & diner are a dumb move. I'm not sure putting the Viewliner sleeper on the Kentucky Cardinal is all that great an idea either. I'm still curious as to how the consist will be arranged as far as access from Hi-Level to single level cars. I certainly don't agrre that the Kentucky Cardinal is a totally useless train. If it eventually is extended to Nashville, Atlanta or even Florida, I believe it will become a very popular well used service. It would be the first time any of these markets would be served from the midwest via direct one night service or for that matter any service at all Reggie
Posted by Silver Star (Member # 1570) on :
Amtrak advisories to agents indicate the Viewliner will have access via the transistion dorm car (I assume the Cardinals'). The crew won't like that but so what. Amtrak should sell spare room space in the crew cars anyway.
I assume the rest of the Ky Cardinal will be single level equipment. I think this move was to allow use of its Superliners out west like the summer CZ Denver sleeper.
I apologize, ReggieRail re: my comment about the Ky Cardinal. I would love to see it extended to FL as there is no excuse for not directly serving CHI-FL. However, more equipment would be needed first and the Am-management has never tried to expand its roster of pax cars. When new ones have been built, they merely ax old ones. What I meant was, the Ky Cardinal doesn't seem to draw great ridership and using up 2 Viewliners on a short overnight run that is so slow that few people are attracted, seems dumb compared to the cars' revenue generating power on a long NYP-MIA run.
Posted by reggierail (Member # 26) on :
I did have a question as to how the Viewliner sleeper would fit into the Kentucky Cardinal consist. Guess its a moot point now that the Cardinal is going to low-level equipment. Kind of convenient, sort of like "Things that make you go, HUH!" Wonder what train they're gonna get the Viewliner sleepers from the will be going to train 50/51. Reggie
Posted by Judy (Member # 942) on :
I'm more than a little annoyed at the switch from Superliner to Viewliner on the Cardinal. I have a trip booked in August and do not like the viewliner standard sleepers - the beds are too small for a queen-sized person. I suppose that means no commentary in the New River Gorge either since there is no "observation" car.