I have had the chance to take a few trips on Amtrak recently. It seems like a lot of the passengers think they are dressing for a homeless shelter. A lot of these passengers also feel that they are entitled to 2 seats for their 1 ticket. I don't know if any of you have also encountered this. It got me thinking. How many of you would pay a few extra dollars to ride in a designated coach that had a well defined dress and conduct code?? (minimum shirt and tie , dress shoes, real luggage and something equivilant for the ladies).
I will leave the logistics and legalities for another topic. - Just something to ponder for now.
Thanks
Good luck. Sometimes it's a great accomplishment to get them to keep their shoes on when walking through the train (Basic Safety 101).
Tom
Upgrade to Business Class, or take the Acela instead ? (only Business Class and First Class seating on them)
From: http://www.amtrak.com/onboard-the-train-seating-accommodations
- Paul North.
On my last trip (last fall), I rode both Amtrak and VIA, mostly in sleepers. In more than 8,000 miles of travel, I saw one other man wearing a tie. I did talk with another man who commented, favorably, on my dress, and said he would consider dressing similarly. Three years ago, as my wife were waiting in the sleeper class waiting room in New Orleans before boarding the train for Memphis, a couple came in, also to take the train north. The lady seemed to be dressed for an evening party. Dress certainly has changed since the UP ran an ad showing people in the first class dome and people in the coach dome.
More times than not, except for the train crew and on board service crew, I am the only man wearing a coat and tie. All too often, there are even sleeper passengers who look as though they are ready to work in the yard.
Johnny
Yes, I'd pay more. I have only taken one (2-part) AMTRAK train trip about 20 years ago. My teenage son and I rode from Raleigh NC to Washington DC and then a week later from DC to Princeton NJ.
Getting the trip reservation was just like airline ticketing, and the ticket itself was exactly like what I get when I fly. I was expecting assigned seats, but that didn't seem to be available and was a bit confusing. But considering how much it was like airline reservations I don't understand why AMTRAK cannot do the same.
Anyway, I was hoping to get a window seat and enjoy the view... even though my brother commented that all I'd see was the walls of a "green ditch".
The boarding process was a melee. My son and I were shoved out of the way by people fighting to be the first on with their 3 or sometimes 4 LARGE pieces of luggage. Those that won the fight, rapidly spread through the car, one to a row of seats on each side, stacked their luggage in the rack overhead and on the adjacent seat, sat at the window, pulled the shade down, leaned against it and promptly went to sleep... many SNORING loudly. Many people were left standing, even though there were more seats than passengers. I gave up my seat to a lady, who took it like I was an "untouchable" who should be riding under the car on the bracing (not even a nod, smile or "Thanks"). My son had to sit at the other end of the car, but because of the excess luggage and standees I could not get down the aisle to stand near him. As the train stopped at various places and a FEW people got off, my son and I were finally able to get seats together before the new boarding melee started... and we did get a few miles viewing the "green ditch".
How the people were dressed was not too bad at that time, but the number of people listening to music was astonishing... all were wearing some sort of head-fitting speaker, either ear buds, ear plugs or 'headphones'. But all had the music up so LOUD that between that and the snoring, my son and I had to read lips to communicate with each other.
One young woman (I won't call her a "lady" and I apologize for sullying the word "woman" by including her in that generality) had a small boy (about 4 years old) on her lap who was playing quietly and being very nicely behaved... until she decided to share her "music" with him (I also apologize for using the word "music" to describe what was coming from the "headphones" she was sporting... my son and I still refer to what she was listening to as "plunk-a plunk-a clink-clink" as that was most of what we could hear... there were lyrics, but the sound was so distorted as to make the words unintelligible). Her "headphones" were the old WWII style with big round "cold cream jars" on the ends of "coat hangers" over the crown of the head. She just plopped them down over the poor child's head while he was facing away from her. He SHRIEKED in pain from the volume of the noise suddenly insulting his ears and he tried desperately to get off her lap and knock the headphones off, but she had one arm around his body and the other holding the headphones on his head.
I reached my hand out, palm down and limp, and said, "Ma'am,.. That is much too loud for his tender ears". To which she replied "Shut up, ***! I know what is best for him. Leave me alone or I'll call the conductor and have you arrested!" I didn't have to worry about that, I only saw the conductor at the door as I got on, and not at all afterward.
I wonder if that "kid" now needs a hearing aid at age 24?
Semper Vaporo
Pkgs.
rluke I have had the chance to take a few trips on Amtrak recently. It seems like a lot of the passengers think they are dressing for a homeless shelter. A lot of these passengers also feel that they are entitled to 2 seats for their 1 ticket. I don't know if any of you have also encountered this. It got me thinking. How many of you would pay a few extra dollars to ride in a designated coach that had a well defined dress and conduct code?? (minimum shirt and tie , dress shoes, real luggage and something equivilant for the ladies). I will leave the logistics and legalities for another topic. - Just something to ponder for now. Thanks
Unfortunately happening in Coach Class on airlines as well when discount fares are offered to fill seats. Sorry but a jogging outfit is not proper attire for travel and niether are saggy pants. I think shorts are OK in warmer climates given they do not expose the bare skin to the seat fabric. I boarded one American flight and got poison ivy from the coach seat.........gross when you think of what else could have been on that seat.......maybe flesh eating bacteria (lol, OK had to put that in to rile people up).....true story about the poison ivy though.
You're mixing 2 unrelated items, and asking if people would pay extra for them in separate accomodations:
1. a dress code. I don't care how anyone else dresses, and I don't believe that dressing better makes anyone behave better, so I wouldn't pay extra to have a dress code.
2. enforce existing ideas of proper behavior. Absolutely no, I am not willing to pay extra to get something that the existing fare should already include.
CMStPnP, do you realize that poison ivy transfers from clothing, not just from skin?
Patrick Boylan
Free yacht rides, 27' sailboat, zip code 19114 Delaware River, get great Delair bridge photos from the river. Send me a private message
Careful there bubba, you've seen the beancounter designed seating on RyanAir et al? (torture racks designed by smurfs, trolls and hobbits)
ps - Amtak calls your solution "Roomettes". Chair cars have been the way they are since the emmigrant train days.
People dress for comfort. They do not even know what modesty is.
I saw one lady in Walmart whose looks could only be improved by a full burka.
You want dress codes, yeah, the Middle East has them for all the good it does them. Those are the xtremes.
I would settle for the "Quite Coach" even at a premium price. People who enjoy the quite also dress better and have not a trail of rug rats.
ROAR
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
It is not limited to the trains ....
http://www.boston.com/travel/2014/09/26/passenger-shaming-photos-you-can-unsee/Gf6DG60BUzNqUheb4Mq1CO/story.html
The dress code thing would be a disaster, but Amtrak could most certainly sell assigned seats for an extra fee. DB does exactly this. Amtrak should.
-Don (Random stuff, mostly about trains - what else? http://blerfblog.blogspot.com/)
oltmanndAmtrak could most certainly sell assigned seats for an extra fee. DB does exactly this. Amtrak should.
DB does have designated quiet cars on ICEs. They are also planning to have seat reservations included in the ticket for ICEs, 1st and 2nd class. Currently they are optional and the charge is 4.50 €.
C&NW, CA&E, MILW, CGW and IC fan
schlimmDB does have designated quiet cars on ICEs. They are also planning to have seat reservations included in the ticket for ICEs, 1st and 2nd class. Currently they are optional and the charge is 4.50 €.
Yes, they have a suppliment you have to pay as well to have a first class sleeping compartment to yourself when your traveling single. They charge you a surcharge so that Joe Public does not get the other bed. I paid that suppliment then heard a German arguing with the Conductor on how it was I was able to take two beds with one compartment. German conductor explained the surcharge I paid.
In fact a good portion of the luxury tour trains charge a suppliment on this contient if you are not double occupancy........well, except for Amtrak.....lol
The age of 'dressing to travel' ended in the 50's. Our Boomer generation put a stake in it's heart in the 60's and it has never returned.
I used to spout 'Don't trust anyone over 30!' With that I can't trust my kids any longer. :(
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
Well, so far (from SLC to CHI) on my spring trip, I have not noticed any slobs, though I spent just a short time in the lounge car each morning. All whom I saw in the diner, both First Class and Coach, were decently dressed. I have no idea as to what I see when I leave here for the Crescent City tomorrow evening, or when I leave there for Charlotte on Monday. As I wend my way up to Bean Town the following week, I will be traveling Business Class, so that should not be too bad. From Bean Town back home, I have to ride coach to Albany, for the Boston sleeper does not run any farther east right now--more "equipment manipulation"?
Amtrak had sent me an e-mail about the change in time leaving Boston--but told me NOTHING about not being able to occupy my bedroom when leaving Boston. I learned this after getting to the station yesterday morning--the agent looked my reservation up, and found no listing for me to get from Boston to Rensselaer/Albany and asked me to back to the window; he then made a telephone call and got the coach leg put in, took my Boston-Chicago coupon, printed the two now necessary, and gave me a voucher for the difference in the new cost for my space and what I had paid. He's a good man to know.
I'll report as I am able.
I absolutelyy miss SPel Czech.
CMStPnP I think shorts are OK in warmer climates given they do not expose the bare skin to the seat fabric. I boarded one American flight and got poison ivy from the coach seat
I think shorts are OK in warmer climates given they do not expose the bare skin to the seat fabric. I boarded one American flight and got poison ivy from the coach seat
gardendance CMStPnP, do you realize that poison ivy transfers from clothing, not just from skin?
I guess I already ride in a designated coach its call a sleeper or business class. But all kidding aside its just how the times have changed. You see it at air ports and shipping centers and yes on Amtrak coaches and dining cars. I am taking a cruise in two weeks, and even on formal nights things are not that formal like 20 years ago. Just got to make adjustments.
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