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When the westbound CZ stops in Denver can we have non-ticketed guests come on to the train to look at our room and the train?
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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The station stop at Denver is long enough that I doubt if there would be a problem.
En route, I have "shown off" my sleeping car rooms to coach passengers. A nod at the Attendant "they're with me" will do the trick.
Brian Keefer Member # 2916
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But can people who are not on the train get on at Denver to look at the train and then get off again before the train leaves? Also, is there enough time in Denver to mess with this?
CHATTER Member # 1185
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The answer to that last question, Brian, is no. Only ticketed passengers may board the train.
Geoff Mayo Member # 153
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Denver is a service stop, so the trains stop for at least 10-15 minutes, usually longer. Ask your friends to mention to the station staff that they are meeting somebody on the train and they should let you through.
As Mr. Norman says, ask the sleeping car attendant first and all should be fine.
Listen for the "all aboard" call to make sure your guests don't get an unintentional trip up to Winter Park - although I'm sure they'd enjoy it!
Geoff M.
CG96 Member # 1408
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quote:Originally posted by Brian Keefer: When the westbound CZ stops in Denver can we have non-ticketed guests come on to the train to look at our room and the train?
A quick answer to this question: Certainly not. If you want to show folks what the sleeper is like, then take some photos.
Brian Keefer Member # 2916
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So the answer to my question is no unticked passengers on the train while stopped at Denver - is this correct?
Geoff Mayo Member # 153
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Well, we seem to have a bit of confusion here, since I've definitely seen unticketed passengers onboard sleepers, seeing people off etc. The announcement "would all visitors who are not travelling with us today please leave the train" is often heard as well.
Maybe the policy changed in the last 10 months since I last travelled?
Geoff M.
Brian Keefer Member # 2916
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OK, I got the answer from Amtrak. They say, "Thank you for your inquiry.
Regrettably, non-ticketed people cannot board the train or go to the platform area due to security reasons. For more information please contact our reservation office at 1-800-872-7245. (Select "0" immediately to bypass the automated menu options).
We hope that this information will be of assistance."
So I guess that I will not worry about meeting anyone in Denver to see the train!
Thanks for your suggestions.
Brian Keefer
CHATTER Member # 1185
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I have never heard any announcement about visitors detraining prior to departure. On the contrary, the times I attempted to show visiting family members my compartment, I was always told this was a no-no. Tickets have always been checked at least when boarding, if not at a gate prior to going on the platform. This would seem to be even more true these dys.
Geoff Mayo Member # 153
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I guess that is the official line, and maybe always has been. However, I'm speaking from experience, which does not necessarily toe the official line!
To be fair, the announcements I mentioned aren't too common, and generally only at originating stations and sometimes intermediate service stops.
Geoff M.
sbalax Member # 2801
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I seem to recall the announcement in question was made just before we left SEA on the Empire Builder last month. Nothing was checked when we went through the gate or boarded the sleeper. The attendant just asked if we were in the sleeper (only one ex-SEA). On a previous trip (prior to 9/11) friends got on the Starlight with me in Seattle to check out my Standard Sleeper. They helped me get settled then left and were down the tracks in Tacoma to wave at me as we went by.
Frank in SBA
CHATTER Member # 1185
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I would expect that the announcements made at points of origin and service stops are for Amtrak personnel, rather than visitors.
royaltrain Member # 622
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I have taken non-ticketed guests on Amtrak trains including sleepers. It is the rare place that tickets are checked. They sometimes (but not always) check in Chicago. But I recall that in Denver we just went down a ramp and up to track level and nobody stopped us or demanded to see a ticket, and since there was no Amtrak employee at the open door of my sleeping car we just boarded. In Los Angeles a few months ago there was absolutely no one around when I boarded the Sunset Ltd. No one at the gate, or in the tunnel or at the open door of my sleeping car. Even in New York's Penn station no one checked my ticket going down the escalator to the platform of the departing Lake Shore Ltd. So, with some exceptions, almost anyone can board an Amtrak train at major stations where the train will sit for some period of time. Security at Amtrak stations seems very much a hit and miss affair.
[This message has been edited by royaltrain (edited 05-11-2004).]
sbalax Member # 2801
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I've never been asked for any sort of ticket or identification at LA Union Station. Granted, I'm usually taking a Surfliner where tickets are not checked until you are underway. Access to the tunnel leading out to the tracks (which also serves the Gold Line and Metrolink) is wide open. Amtrak makes a pretense of checking tickets for the Surfliners "out front" but most people just check the board for the track and head on out.
Frank in SBA
UncleBuck44 Member # 2049
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In 2001 we met my grandma at STL on the Texas Eagle. Train stopped, we asked the attendant if we could show my gradma the room, he said yes. Plus we went into the Dining Car as well.
Geoff Mayo Member # 153
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Thanks for the confirmation guys. So *unofficially* you can, depending on the attendants on the day, but *officially* you can't.
Geoff M.
Sheriff Member # 2521
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There are lot's of different suggestions and opinions here about this subject. Let me say that officially no unticketed persons are supposed to be on the train, BUT, as long as you ask the train attendent or Conductor for permission to show someone your quarters, we are generally obliging to let you. Just as long as their is plenty of time and it does not delay the train. If you get caught on board at departure, you can be charged passage to the next station and you find your own way back. I generally do not charge anyone because I feel like they have enough problems having to find a way back to their car. Remember it's pretty much up to the discression of the car attendent and/or Conductor.
Ira Slotkin Member # 81
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Brian: Yet another experience....
I live in Denver. We (6 yr old son and I) took the Zephyr departing from here In early April. Someone rode the little cart with us out to the train, was allowed onto the train and to see our delux bedroom compartment. There were others who had walked out of the station with ticketed passengers and saw the train. There were folks who ran from the train, into the station and bought snacks and came back. There were people standing on the platform waving goodbye to the train/passengers as we departed. They may well have been passengers who had disembarked, but that wouyld have meant they stood on the platform for thirty minutes. I am not certain someone not escorting a pasenger would be able to come out, but there was no one guarding the passageway, and dit certainly seemed that was the case. You might have them check at the station itself and ask the people at the ticket window.
Good luck.
Ira
CHATTER Member # 1185
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This amazens me, as I have boarded In LA Union Station, NY Penn Station, Chicago and Washington Union. In every case, an attendant stood outside the sleeper car, asking for tickets. In fact, I can only recall one time that an attendant was not there.
Ira Slotkin Member # 81
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There was someone in the station checking tickets, and there was an attendant at the door of the car checking tickets as well. Having ridden before I knew where our room was, explained she was my son's mother and was helping us on, the attendant seemed to understand (as noted by Sherrif in a earlier post), and she was only on a couple of moments. Apparently sometimes the inconsistencies are more along the lines of staff flexibility, and work to our advantage... Ira
royaltrain Member # 622
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In Seattle, Los Angeles and Denver where I have boarded The Coast Starlight and The Zephyr, the sleeping car conductor usually has a check-in desk with frequently a long line of first-class passengers. There is no way I am going to stand in a line when I have a reserved sleeper, so I just by-pass him and board my sleeping car that may or may not have someone at the door to assist the passenger with baggage etc. Once the train departs the station the conductor goes through the sleeping cars collecting the tickets of those who failed to check in at the station. I never understand why first-class ticket holders stand in a line, that's one of the reasons of travelling first class--not to be inconvenienced.
sbalax Member # 2801
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As I may have said before, when we took the Empire Builder from Seattle last month Sleeper passengers were called first and then coach passengers. There was nobody checking tickets at the gate. When we got to the sleeper the attendant was busy dealing with strollers, etc. and just asked pleasantly if we were in her car.
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