This is topic overbooking? in forum Amtrak at RAILforum.


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Posted by TNCMAXQ (Member # 4875) on :
 
I rode Acela Express r/t from New Haven to DC a couple of weeks ago. It was a pleasant ride as usual. On the return trip on Sunday the 10th though there were some standees. I had never encountered that on Acela. No one was sitting next to me from DC until NY. At Penn Station hundreds of people got on and apparently not all of them had seats. About a half dozen folks were told to go to the cafe car where staff would try to 'accommodate' them. Later the lady next to me asked the conductor if everyone got a seat and he said no. Do they overbook these trains like the airlines do? I was almost hoping they would ask for voluntary bumping so I could get a free ticket on a later trip. But I have never heard of Amtrak doing this. Anyone know if it is unusual for Acela to be standing room only?
 

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Posted by notelvis (Member # 3071) on :
 
I don't know what usual is BUT I was on an Acela Express from Boston to BWI on a Sunday afternoon last October. We were 'full up' and SRO only by the time we left the Route 128 Station......still in suburban Boston......and there were more passengers than seats until at least Philadelphia.

I wound up with three different seat partners as I was on the train from about 1pm until 7 something.
 

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Posted by Judy McFarland (Member # 4435) on :
 
I haven't been on the Acela trains, but isn't it dangerous to be standing on a moving train? (Walking through the train to the dining car can be scary enough.)
 

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Posted by PullmanCo (Member # 1138) on :
 
Oh, heck no! I've held lots of conversations on trains through the years standing. Take a look at the publicity photos and drawings from the streamliner era (1935-70). Lots of folks stood in lounge cars.

In fact, being able to stand and walk about is one of the great blessings of riding by rail!!!
 

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Posted by TNCMAXQ (Member # 4875) on :
 
I should check a ticket but I wonder if it says anything on there about NOT guaranteeing a seat. If I paid the several hundred dollars to take this train and then had to stand I would be upset.

I haven't ridden in regular coach since 1994 in part because of two incidents where the trains coming back from DC on a Sunday afternoon were so packed. My friend and I had seats but with so many people sitting in the aisles it was quite claustrophobic. After that it was business class only for me. Now even if Acela costs more I like the comfort and slightly shorter ride. If it ever gets to a point where that becomes like riding a subway or commuter train, I guess I would have to try flying or driving to DC again.
 

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Posted by George Harris (Member # 2077) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by TNCMAXQ:
I haven't ridden in regular coach since 1994 in part because of two incidents where the trains coming back from DC on a Sunday afternoon were so packed. My friend and I had seats but with so many people sitting in the aisles it was quite claustrophobic. After that it was business class only for me.

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