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Cat Forum / Cat Anecdotes / August 2006Amtrak Sucks
Hi guys, I just got back from a few (hot) days in the DC area, so I first want to send purrs out to all the masters and slaves and others who need them. My train (which *originated* in DC, BTW) was TWO HOURS late. It was just incredible. No explanation, just the time of the train's arrival getting pushed back in five and ten minute increments, over the course of two hours. If it were an airline, at least they would eventually come to you and offer you options. Do you want to see if you can get on another flight? They would offer you at least partial compensation. They sometimes even offer you a future trip-- this happened to my father. But Amtrak, you're just stuck there, waiting for the same damn train for two hours, and once you finally get going, the train just loses more and more time as you go. So finally, you're not just two hours late, but more like four or five hours late. Man, was I crabby when I got home. Theresa Stinky Pictures: http://community.webshots.com/album/125591586JWEFwh Make Levees, Not War > Hi guys, I just got back from a few (hot) days in the DC area, so I > first want to send purrs out to all the masters and slaves and others [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > compensation. They sometimes even offer you a future trip-- this > happened to my father. <snip> > Theresa > Stinky Pictures: http://community.webshots.com/album/125591586JWEFwh Don't count on it with the airlines, either. There are specific standards, and they *often* will not offer anything. I once sat in the waiting area beside a mother with two young (and very active) children. Here plane had been "delayed" 15 minutes at a time for more than 3 hours. She was afraid to leave and try to get some food because they only gave 15 minute intervals with each delay, and she was struggling with carry-on luggage and two small children. I watched her luggage for her while she took a restroom stop. She was still sitting there -- still getting 15 minutes-delay messages -- when I left. MaryL >> Hi guys, I just got back from a few (hot) days in the DC area, so I >> first want to send purrs out to all the masters and slaves and others [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] > > MaryL The one time my plane did get delayed enough for them to offer something, all they came through with were food vouchers for the cafeteria. I think they were for eight or ten bucks. Its been ten or twelve years ago. At any rate at the time you could not actually get a meal and a drink in the cafeteria in the Dallas/Ft Worth terminal for the paltry amount they gave us. And it isn't like we were going to get fed once we were on the plane either. Not so bad for those of us who could afford to fly on our own dime. Pretty rough on kids and servicemen and young families who were barely scraping by and who's families or employers had probably bought their tickets but not a pocket full of spending money. About half of us ended up supplementing the vouchers for the other half to make sure they got fed. I think we were delayed about 5 hours that time. Jo > Hi guys, I just got back from a few (hot) days in the DC area, so I > first want to send purrs out to all the masters and slaves and others [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > Theresa > Stinky Pictures: http://community.webshots.com/album/125591586JWEFwh Heh. Look at the bright side. Some people don't even have a train. I thought Amtrak was cool when we visited NYC, although I missed the train back to Ronnkonkomen and got stuck in the city overnight. What an adventure THAT was. We have this one dinky train that doesn't actually stop anywhere. It takes you to some creepy part of Ft. Worth. I keep trying to get DH to ride it just for the experience of riding through the countryside and looking in people's back yards. Sherry > Heh. Look at the bright side. Some people don't even have a train. I > thought Amtrak was cool when we visited NYC, although I missed the [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > Sherry There is something about trains that attrace people. The seniors I work with love taking the 2 hour train ride to Montreal. They've been to Montreal by buses. But they wanted to experience riding on the train. Riding the local city transit's light ride trains won't do. Personally I like riding the LRT much more than the Via rail to Montreal, which in turn, is better than taking the Greyhound. Winnie >> Hi guys, I just got back from a few (hot) days in the DC area, so I >> first want to send purrs out to all the masters and slaves and others [quoted text clipped - 25 lines] > > Sherry I ever get in your area, I'll go for a train ride with you. I love trains. Reminds me I want to take youngest grandson on the train from Sacramento to Reno just for the ride one of these days soon. I also like riding city busses and subways. A carryover from childhood entertainment I guess. Daddy drove a taxi in Washington DC when I was a baby. Mom was very ill and almost died. When he couldn't get someone to watch me on his shift he would take me with him. I wasn't old enough to remember it, but I still find some taxi rides highly entertaining. San Francisco (and can you hurry?) beats most roller coasters. Jo > > Heh. Look at the bright side. Some people don't even have a train. I > > thought Amtrak was cool when we visited NYC, although I missed the [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > > Jo It's a deal! DH would be happy to be off the hook. He thinks it's a dumb idea, to ride a train just for the sake of riding a train and not really going anywhere. Maybe it's the novelty of it. Public transportation of any kind is rare here. The Heartland Flyer (that's the name of the train)--they beg people to ride, and even have parties and special events & incentives to ride. I'm afraid we're going to lose it soon for lack of business. But the schedule is so unhandy, it's not practical for people to use it. Metro Transit, our city bus, is the same way. Taxis are the only realistic way to get anywhere on time, or if you just want to shop & don't like to drive in the city the tram is kind of fun. If I had a grandchild I think a train riide would be awesome. They'll always remember it, and it would give you a great opportunity to talk. Sherry >> > Heh. Look at the bright side. Some people don't even have a train. I >> > thought Amtrak was cool when we visited NYC, although I missed the [quoted text clipped - 36 lines] > always remember it, and it would give you a great opportunity to talk. > Sherry Forget the grandkids. I love traveling by public transportation, in fact I love traveling by private transportation. After Rob and I were married, he had to leave right away to report at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. The two boys and I held a yard sale to get rid of as much of our belongings as we could, then used the money to Amtrak out to join him a month and a half later. I was so thrilled that I got to ride on "The City of New Orleans" to Fulton, Kentucky. If my travel agent and I new our stuff, the boys and I would have gotten on in Cairo, but we didn't and thereby hangs a tale. We had to go through a lot of hoops and jumps but we finally got to Fort Campbell and were installed in the guest room. Other than getting from Fulton to Fort Campbell, the trip was a blast. I'm game to go again, though I don't want to do it with an 18 month and five year old again. Pam S. > My train (which *originated* in DC, BTW) was TWO HOURS late. It was > just incredible. No explanation, just the time of the train's arrival > getting pushed back in five and ten minute increments, over the course > of two hours. I think the worst thing is being given these little increments - that must drive you insane after a while. It wouldn't be quite as bad if they just said, "This train is going to be two hours late." I mean, people would be very annoyed to start with, but at least then, you could maybe go do something else, depending on where the train station is located. As many people have mentioned, this sort of thing does happen with airlines all the time, and you frequently don't get anything for the inconvenience they caused you. I hope the actual visit was better than the getting to and from! Joyce > > My train (which *originated* in DC, BTW) was TWO HOURS late. It > was > just incredible. No explanation, just the time of the train's [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > could maybe go do something else, depending on where the train > station is located. Yep, or at least not be afraid to walk away to find something to eat if they have food courts in the station. > As many people have mentioned, this sort of thing does happen with > airlines all the time, and you frequently don't get anything for the > inconvenience they caused you. > > I hope the actual visit was better than the getting to and from! I hope so, too! I can only recall one airline flight being delayed in the last 2 years, and I've been doing lots of plane travel. I can't remember how long the delay was, I think it was about 4 hours. Luckily it was the last leg of my trip. I didn't have to make a connecting flight so I didn't really care - I understand *that* can be a real nightmare! No, they didn't offer us anything. I always make sure I have plenty of snack crackers, cheese and things like that in my carry-on bag and a water bottle which I refill at the water fountains. I refuse to pay $2 (or more) for a bottle of water. And I generally take 3-4 paperbacks so I have something to keep myself occupied. Portable music players probably appeal to some folks, too. Jill |
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