NARP Nonsense?

Amtrak Unlimited Discussion Forum

Help Support Amtrak Unlimited Discussion Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
Joined
Jan 3, 2011
Messages
3,312
Location
ALX
I got this email from NARP the other day, which I've copied most of here:

"It's as if I'm watching one of those infomercials in reverse, and the spokesperson is saying, 'But wait — there's less!'"These were the words of Dave Kraminer, a regular patron of Amtrak’s Auto Train service (Lorton, VA – Sanford, FL), in a recent USA Today article. The piece examines trends negatively impacting the onboard experience of Amtrak passengers—an issue that has been lighting up phones in the NARP office for weeks.

Increased prices for previously standard services, paired with broad amenities cuts, are becoming increasingly prevalent. This idea has pursued most aggressively by airlines looking to squeeze profits from every point of contact with customers (and sometimes just squeezing customers). Now this idea has made its way to the national train network. Just last week, Amtrak cut its complimentary amenity kits from its Empire Builder service—the pillow, blanket, night mask and earplugs which were previously allotted to every passenger will now cost customers an $8 fee. Similarly, the Southwest Chief faces cuts from its complimentary wine and cheese service... [emphasis added]
Is it me? While I've never taken coach on the Empire Builder, were the amenity kits free on the Builder? Free wine and cheese on the Chief? How do I not remember it?
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Actually I still have a free amenity kit that I got on the Empire Builder a while back. So at least at some point they did give those out. I have never heard of wine tasting on the Southwest Chief, but that is neither here nor there.
 
Wasn't the pillow and blanket thing a year ago? Or was it just kept on the Builder for some reason?
 
but that is neither here nor there.
Except its hard to give credibility to an organization that does not even know the product they are in theory supposed to represent.
Well, my comment (the part quoted) was reflecting the fact that what I said was not based on a full day to day audit over the last 15 years of what was practiced on the Southwest Chief. It was based on personal experience and conversations that possibly cover 10% of the trips. So darned if I know if there ever was wine tasting. I suspect there was not, but I cannot vouch for it.

AFAIK wine tasting happened only on the Starlight, the Builder and the Lake Shore Limited. But that is just my limited knowledge. Additionally, I don't really care to defend NARP. For that talk to Charlie :p
 
In my experience, Parsons has some very competent engineers that I have had the good fortune of knowing. Generally I have found them to be more competent than some of the engineers that the various rail advocacy groups throw around. OTOH PB also has its small share of strange cookies like any large organization does. And frankly I have no idea how NARP in any way is related to PB except as a matter of a strange joke perhaps.
 
Actually I still have a free amenity kit that I got on the Empire Builder a while back. So at least at some point they did give those out. I have never heard of wine tasting on the Southwest Chief, but that is neither here nor there.
1998, hubby and I traveled from Pgh. to San Francisco/Oceanside round trip on the all aboard america fare. Cost us $1200 total for roomette with the 3 allowed stopovers. At that time there was a wine/cheese tasting on the CZ(2nd day) which we took west, and a wine/cheese tasting on the SWC-east.
 
1998, hubby and I traveled from Pgh. to San Francisco/Oceanside round trip on the all aboard america fare. Cost us $1200 total for roomette with the 3 allowed stopovers. At that time there was a wine/cheese tasting on the CZ(2nd day) which we took west, and a wine/cheese tasting on the SWC-east.
There you go! Thanks! As I said, just because I have not heard of it before, does not mean a hill of beans!
 
Back
Top