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Amtrak - Luggage Problems

Amtrak • Abusive staff • Poor security • Slipshod safety • Late, late, late • Thrown Off • Luggage problems • Express shipping • Just plain bad --- News • House Joins Senate in Boosting Rail Travel • Lone Congressman Can’t Kill Amtrak • Lack of Federal Funding Could Kill Amtrak • Amtrak Attempts a Makeover • Amtrak Delays Leave Passengers to Fend for Themselves

"A" of Oxnard CA writes (6/1/03):
Amtrak station agent asked for $15 to take my bicycle, with no other luggage, on the train. Why, that is absurd. I have travelled on many airlines that do not charge fees. It takes nothing to load a bike, even to the baggage cars. Combine this with the pathetic asinine delays and other nonsense and you get a truly discardable program. Amtrak needs management that looks after growing ridership, not just revenue.

Vicki of Bonifay FL (8/13/02):
Last month I took Amtrak from Vancouver, Canada to Pensacola, FLorida with my two small children. I checked the luggage allowances before I left Canada and was told by Amtrak reservations that I could take 3 large bags and 2 carry-ons per person and that our luggage would be checked in Seattle, WA through to Pensacola.

When I got to Seattle, Amtrak refused without giving a reason to check my bags and I was forced to carry them all on the train. I was told again by Seattle customer service/ticketing that my bags would be checked through from Los Angeles to Penscola. When we got to Los Angeles, almost 3 hours late, we were rushed as the train was being held. When my luggage was finally brought to the train, the porter for my sleeper car told me that there was no way he was letting my bags on the train. He said that Amtrak had changed the rules regarding baggage and closed the baggage department in some stations (including Pensacola) and that all my bags were now considered carry-ons and I was over limit.

I tried to explain that I was told by Amtrak only the day before how much luggage I was allowed for this specific trip. He refused to listen, called the conductor and the station manager. They both told me that it didn't matter that there was no way that I was to know that the rules had changed, my bags would not be loaded. The lady, who said she was station manager, called a redcap to "get this crap off my platform" and told me that she was putting me off the train.

She refused to make other travel arrangements for me, but told me that she'd give me a cash refund and leave me there -- in LA at midnight, with the station closed and with two crying children. We eventually compromised that she would check my bags to Jacksonville, FL -- 4 or 5 hours drive past my destination. I was allowed on the train, but was stuck in the car with the porter that didn't want to let me on the train. He was sarcastic and rude the entire trip.

My children and I stayed in our room, except to eat, the entire 3.5 day trip. When we arrived in Pensacola, I asked for my bags again and was refused. I called Amtrak customer service and explained what had happened. The customer service rep apolizied and told me that the incident was Amtrak's fault and that my luggage would be returned to my house at Amtraks expense.

She called the Jacksonville station and the baggage manager refused to send back my bags and cursed at her and hung up. She called me back and told me that she was personally filing a complaint regarding the incident. It took two days of phone calls to get my bags put back on the same train on its return trip. I had to go 15 miles to the station and wait two hours in the middle of the night for the train to get my luggage back. Two of my bags were damaged and the conductor was rude.

My trip across country was completely ruined and my children were unhappy and afraid of the porter. My bags were damaged. My two year old son still cries when we get in the car to go to town because he "doesn't want to go on the train". I paid approx. $800 for the trip and was humiliated and treated horribly by the LA staff and the porter. I have been yelled at, insulted personally, and cursed at by Amtrak staff in front of my children.

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