Amtrak Tainted

[CJtrainguy]

I rode the Lakeshore Limited last summer from New York to Chicago. In the middle of the night we got stuck on the line behind a freight that had to set out a bad car. That put us over 3 hours behind. By the time we made it to Chicago the delay had grown to over 6 hours. I will note that the train stopped it's usual length of time in Toledo allowing it to be refilled and get toilets working again. 

Onboard crew did all they could to keep everyone comfortable and we all got safely to Chicago in the end.

A while after the trip, I contacted Amtrak via email, explaining the facts of the day and the delay scope, asking for some consideration and in a few days was pleased to receive an electronic voucher for most of the ticket cost. Happily using that voucher to pay for part of my next Amtrak trip. Never hurts to ask.

[CMStPnP]

Engine catching fire and sanitary condition of the train is entirely Amtrak's fault and if he would have pressed harder Amtrak does keep coupons and future discounts ready via their customer service line.    My guess is he probably gave up or was not forceful enough on the customer service line.    I would have gave them hell until I at least got a coupon.

The onboard service folks should have done a better job working with the other crew of the train to keep it clean and functional.    

Now granted the waste tanks could have filled and the toilets are no longer opertaional but C'mon, use your darn cell phone and call back to Amtrak base......whats the cost of a sewage pumper meeting the train at a station stop and resetting the toilets?.......where they also could have dumped bags of garbage as well?      A motivated onboard service person would have found a way.    Could have purchased boxed lunches as well.....not like there are thousands of people on the train in winter.   Empire Builder I presume, that leg of the trip maybe 200 people at the most.    Most restaurants can handle that load in an hour with carry out or boxed meals.

So Amtrak, how about you stop the train for another hour since it is already hopelessly delayed and fix the issues?

 

[schlimm]

The demand for a refund is out of line.  The indifference of Amtrak employees, both onboard and customer relations, needs correction.

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

Does anybody remember the fine print that was a part of every public timetable:  "Not responsible for any inconvenience due to late trains, missed connections, etc."  The complainer sounds like someone who would demand a refund of their airfare when O'Hare is shut down due to a massive blizzard and they have to pay for their own lodging due to cancellations.

[MarknLisa]

The item below was in the St.Paul Pioneer Press' Sainted & Tainted column this past Saturday.  Is there anyway Amtrak customer service could stop acting like a government agency and more like they need to compete for customers?  Just adding more 'never again' people to the declining list of Empire Builder riders.

Tainted

I went to Williston, N.D., to help my daughter move into her new home. I took Amtrak because of the road conditions.

Thirteen hours to get there -- a little behind schedule.

Coming home: 28 hours trapped at the train depot, and on the train. Engine burned; the next engine didn't get there for 10 hours.

Then the trip from hell commenced. No working toilets for over 200 people. No water. They ran out of food. The trash was never cleaned during the entire trip. There was a fight in the aisle between travelers, and the hired help didn't seem to care much.

I called Amtrak asking for a refund. I was told that they did not see any reason to consider a refund to me, or to anyone on that trip.

My first trip on a train in almost 50 years, and it will be my last. What a shame to treat people with limited income, who need the train to travel, with experiences like this one.

Thanks.

Jim Johns, Little Canada