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Amtrak - Just Plain Bad

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

Cathy of Greeneville TN (7/21/02):
My husband and I booked a train reservation back in to travel to Idaho for a visit to see my son and his family. I had never been on a train before and was so excited to have my first train ride. Well, not only was the train three hours late to begin with, the people you have working on your lines are the rudest people anywhere. I was amazed at how they were not informative about anything or where to go and how you make it up to be such a pleasant and fun ride.

Our journey consisted of three full nites and two full days to get to our destination and coming back home. In that time we encountered two porters and one conductor that was pleasant. It was the most uncomfortable time I've ever had on a vacation. On our ride back from Chicago to Maysville, Ken. the train was terribly filthy and stunk worse than an outhouse. The trash bags were not put in the containers where they should have been, and trash and other things were thrown around the floor.

Colin of Wheaton IL (4/18/03):
I purchased two round-trip tickets to Boston, train 448, departing April 18th at 7pm. Our seats were in a sleeper car -- a standard viewliner bedroom ($889.00), since the trip was over 20 hours in length. Three hours before the train was due to depart, AMTRAK called me and said the sleeper cars had been taken off the train and I would be forced to travel in a coach seat. They told me employees failed to show up for work, and therefore, they were forced to suspend sleeper service and dining service to Boston. They told me I had two options, travel in a coach seat with no dining car or cancel my ticket.

I was forced to cancel my trip to Boston at the last minute and race back to the travel agency before 5pm to get a refund on my ticket. I missed my sister's baby's Christening.

Ronald of Compton, CA, writes:
I'am sending this complaint for myself, and on the behalf of about 50 to 60 other cigarette smokers, aboard the Texas Eagle departing from Los Angeles to Dallas 5/16/00 and about 30 to 40 cigarette smokers departing Dallas to Los Angeles 5/21/00.

I purchased tickets which said smoking accommodations would be provided,but once aboard the train we were informed smoking would not be allowed and there would be a $150.00 fine for anyone caught smoking aboard the train.

The trip from Los Angeles to Dallas takes two days. Needless to say we all suffered serious withdrawals. My trip turned from vacation to rehabilitation. At the time of the trip and currently, I'am taking prescripton medication (ZYBAN) to quit smoking. Which procedures are to smoke at will for the first to weeks while taking this medication. Not being able to smoke interfered with my plans to quit smoking.

It's a little hard to understand how not being allowed to smoke would interfere with one's plans to quit smoking. Anyone hoping to take a long and smoke-filled journey should be aware that federal law requires Amtrak to make non-smoking cars available on demand. So, if there are more non-smokers than Amtrak counted on, the smokers are out of luck.

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