Is it trure that other railroad employes nick name ticket agents clowns and if so why? I would like to work for a railroad and would like to know if any one here is/was a railroad ticket agent? What is life as a ticket agent like compared to other railroad employes? I have checked metras website and cannot find a ticket agent vancey why is that? And how do you get a job as a ticket agent with one of the railroads metra contracts out with such as Union Pacific of BNSF please let me know thank you.
Amtrak has what they call "Ticket Clerks", openings show up from time to time on their website:
Amtrak Jobs
I assume most commuter railroads have similar ticket clerks rather than ticket agents. A ticket agent pre-Amtrak was kind of a cross between a ticket clerk and a travel agent. They had to know their own railroad's schedules, and those of connecting railroads. In some cases I think they could even sell you tickets for the connecting railroads.
I doubt UP or BNSF have any ticket agents, the commuter railroads use their lines under a lease or maybe trackage rights agreement, but UP / BNSF etc. don't really have anything to do with selling tickets to people.
wjstix Amtrak has what they call "Ticket Clerks", openings show up from time to time on their website: Amtrak Jobs I assume most commuter railroads have similar ticket clerks rather than ticket agents. A ticket agent pre-Amtrak was kind of a cross between a ticket clerk and a travel agent. They had to know their own railroad's schedules, and those of connecting railroads. In some cases I think they could even sell you tickets for the connecting railroads. I doubt UP or BNSF have any ticket agents, the commuter railroads use their lines under a lease or maybe trackage rights agreement, but UP / BNSF etc. don't really have anything to do with selling tickets to people.
It is quite different with Amtrak, which changes both railfare and space charges as demand increases. However, Amtrak has a system for determining these changes.
Johnny