Amtrak Cafe service, vending machines etc. discussion

[JoshP]

I've been reading more stories now than before. It seems now after COVID, conductors starting to force you not to hang out there longer even overnight. What amazes me if you refuse to cooperate, police will be called and kick you off the train or go to jail. This what happened to two passengers who were elderly ladies in 85 and 95 had experience something like this. Story: Two 85 and 95-year-old sisters were kicked off Amtrak train 500 miles from home

However, I found one of Amtrak made a post in 2016 stated that any passenger is allowed to sit in the cafe car for entire trip, you can see it here: Amtrak Basics, 12 Things You Might Not Know

However, since why they don't want passengers to hang out in cafe car? I though that is where people can sit, chat, eat and do whatever they want. In ole days when I used frequently travel between Miami-Newark on Meteor and I never had issue and all conductors who worked on the train never arropached me, ever. But until now, I rode on Empire Service recently from Buffalo to Rochester, NY (48 minutes) trip and I went straight to cafe car and sat there and opened up my laptop to do quick check up and guess what? I was called to go back to my seat and I was like, what? You kidding me, right? I paid my fare and I am entiled my rights to access this cafe car. Pretty sure the conductor was pissed and contacted the engineer and said what to do, and pretty much other assitant conductor wrote a small note on a paper and slide to me without the conductor knowing that Amtrak now starting to enforce passengers not to clog up the cafe car.

Once we arrived at Rochester station, I just gather up my things and went out and the conductor being an jerk so I filed a complaint with Amtrak and within hours, acknowledgement was received and gave me a voucher for my next trip.

Anyone have same experience lately?

 

[Bob Dylan]

I've been reading more stories now than before. It seems now after COVID, conductors starting to force you not to hang out there longer even overnight. What amazes me if you refuse to cooperate, police will be called and kick you off the train or go to jail. This what happened to two passengers who were elderly ladies in 85 and 95 had experience something like this. Story: Two 85 and 95-year-old sisters were kicked off Amtrak train 500 miles from home

However, I found one of Amtrak made a post in 2016 stated that any passenger is allowed to sit in the cafe car for entire trip, you can see it here: Amtrak Basics, 12 Things You Might Not Know

However, since why they don't want passengers to hang out in cafe car? I though that is where people can sit, chat, eat and do whatever they want. In ole days when I used frequently travel between Miami-Newark on Meteor and I never had issue and all conductors who worked on the train never arropached me, ever. But until now, I rode on Empire Service recently from Buffalo to Rochester, NY (48 minutes) trip and I went straight to cafe car and sat there and opened up my laptop to do quick check up and guess what? I was called to go back to my seat and I was like, what? You kidding me, right? I paid my fare and I am entiled my rights to access this cafe car. Pretty sure the conductor was pissed and contacted the engineer and said what to do, and pretty much other assitant conductor wrote a small note on a paper and slide to me without the conductor knowing that Amtrak now starting to enforce passengers not to clog up the cafe car.

Once we arrived at Rochester station, I just gather up my things and went out and the conductor being an jerk so I filed a complaint with Amtrak and within hours, acknowledgement was received and gave me a voucher for my next trip.

Anyone have same experience lately?

This sounds like a Power Tripping Conductor, luckily the AC had more sense and handled it well!( I mean, a 48 minute Trip!!! Seriously??? And what's up with Amtrak Suits dreaming up such nonsense "Rules" while driving their Desk???!!!)

 

[John Bredin]

I've been reading more stories now than before. It seems now after COVID, conductors starting to force you not to hang out there longer even overnight. What amazes me if you refuse to cooperate, police will be called and kick you off the train or go to jail. This what happened to two passengers who were elderly ladies in 85 and 95 had experience something like this. Story: Two 85 and 95-year-old sisters were kicked off Amtrak train 500 miles from home

However, I found one of Amtrak made a post in 2016 stated that any passenger is allowed to sit in the cafe car for entire trip, you can see it here: Amtrak Basics, 12 Things You Might Not Know

However, since why they don't want passengers to hang out in cafe car? I though that is where people can sit, chat, eat and do whatever they want. In ole days when I used frequently travel between Miami-Newark on Meteor and I never had issue and all conductors who worked on the train never arropached me, ever. But until now, I rode on Empire Service recently from Buffalo to Rochester, NY (48 minutes) trip and I went straight to cafe car and sat there and opened up my laptop to do quick check up and guess what? I was called to go back to my seat and I was like, what? You kidding me, right? I paid my fare and I am entiled my rights to access this cafe car. Pretty sure the conductor was pissed and contacted the engineer and said what to do, and pretty much other assitant conductor wrote a small note on a paper and slide to me without the conductor knowing that Amtrak now starting to enforce passengers not to clog up the cafe car.

Once we arrived at Rochester station, I just gather up my things and went out and the conductor being an jerk so I filed a complaint with Amtrak and within hours, acknowledgement was received and gave me a voucher for my next trip.

Anyone have same experience lately?

A cafe with only tables is not necessarily the same as a lounge with various kinds of seating, which IS the car where passengers "can sit, chat, eat, and do whatever they want." See "lounge lizards" camping out in Sightseer Lounges.

In my experience on corridor trains (mostly Lincoln Service) with cafe but no lounge, the crews have been consistent that you can sit at a cafe table while you're eating or drinking but can't linger because there are three or four coaches of passengers who may want to eat at the table you (generic "you") want to camp out at. There's a tray table for each coach seat for laptops and such.

My only experience with the flex-dining-era Lake Shore Limited, we had a dining car where sleeper passengers ate meals but could also use as a lounge between meals. I never made my way through the coaches to the actual cafe car at the Boston end of the train. Judging from a couple of railcams, a dining car is consistently at the New York end of the consist by the two NY sleepers, just like the one time I rode the LSL post-Covid.

 

[BlackDiamond]

Judging from a couple of railcams, a dining car is consistently at the New York end of the consist by the two NY sleepers, just like the one time I rode the LSL post-Covid.

Yes, usually the diner is after the NY coaches and before the NY sleepers.

 

[Haolenate]

I recently took the Cardinal from Delaware to Virginia - was assigned a seat in coach next to a guest who claimed both seats; I sat in the row behind but got barked at by the car attendant, so I went back to the cafe car, setup shop with my laptop and worked. I got barked at again that I'd need to move, no asking, just telling me I gotta move. Seatmate still sprawled all over, sat in row behind, got barked at, AGAIN, so I moved to the bulkhead seats (handicap) - conductor mentioned I'd have to move if someone requested those seats (and was totally fine with that, explained situation) - she was a bit more friendly. Until original car dragon barked at me and told me I absolutely can NOT sit there - just as conductor was coming out of the loo & told her that she spoke to me and gave me the drill.... After Manassas, I tried to go back in the cafe car to work, and the workers were spread out everywhere this time.

*shrugs*

 

[AmtrakBlue]

I recently took the Cardinal from Delaware to Virginia - was assigned a seat in coach next to a guest who claimed both seats; I sat in the row behind but got barked at by the car attendant, so I went back to the cafe car, setup shop with my laptop and worked. I got barked at again that I'd need to move, no asking, just telling me I gotta move. Seatmate still sprawled all over, sat in row behind, got barked at, AGAIN, so I moved to the bulkhead seats (handicap) - conductor mentioned I'd have to move if someone requested those seats (and was totally fine with that, explained situation) - she was a bit more friendly. Until original car dragon barked at me and told me I absolutely can NOT sit there - just as conductor was coming out of the loo & told her that she spoke to me and gave me the drill.... After Manassas, I tried to go back in the cafe car to work, and the workers were spread out everywhere this time.

*shrugs*

Did you explain that the other person was taking up your seat?

 

[MARC Rider]

I recently took the Cardinal from Delaware to Virginia - was assigned a seat in coach next to a guest who claimed both seats; I sat in the row behind but got barked at by the car attendant, so I went back to the cafe car, setup shop with my laptop and worked. I got barked at again that I'd need to move, no asking, just telling me I gotta move. Seatmate still sprawled all over, sat in row behind, got barked at, AGAIN, so I moved to the bulkhead seats (handicap) - conductor mentioned I'd have to move if someone requested those seats (and was totally fine with that, explained situation) - she was a bit more friendly. Until original car dragon barked at me and told me I absolutely can NOT sit there - just as conductor was coming out of the loo & told her that she spoke to me and gave me the drill.... After Manassas, I tried to go back in the cafe car to work, and the workers were spread out everywhere this time.

*shrugs*

Did the "original car dragon" who assigned your seat do anything about the person who was occupying your seat? After all, Amtrak clearly states that a passenger can only occupy one seat, and they can't buy two tickets to occupy two seats together. I find the whole story rather hard to believe. All you should have to do is ask the car attendant ("car dragon") to clear out the seat he assigned you, and you wouldn't have had any problem.