Ryan
Court Jester
What would you do to make it better and sill maintain the extra capacity?
Auto Train Cuts
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Oh the horror. A 500 foot walk. Dear God in Heaven, what sociopath thought it reasonable to inflict a two minute walk upon passengers?
FormerOBS
Conductor
I probably don't have any suggestions that would be acceptable to current management.
I have to side with Allypet regarding the distance. Don't forget the demographics of the Auto Train, which is always very heavy on retired snowbirds. It's not a 2-minute walk when you're 80 years old & have had (or need) a left knee replacement & a right hip replacement. The new arrangement also means that sleeper passengers who wish to visit the lounge car must ALL pass through the very busy sleeper diner on their way. With the previous arrangement, only 50% of lounge visitors had to go through the diner. A Superliner sleeper is about 90 feet long. Seven of them total about 630 feet (2 football fields). Going through the diner to the lounge adds another 90 feet, for a total of about 720 feet.
I have to side with Allypet regarding the distance. Don't forget the demographics of the Auto Train, which is always very heavy on retired snowbirds. It's not a 2-minute walk when you're 80 years old & have had (or need) a left knee replacement & a right hip replacement. The new arrangement also means that sleeper passengers who wish to visit the lounge car must ALL pass through the very busy sleeper diner on their way. With the previous arrangement, only 50% of lounge visitors had to go through the diner. A Superliner sleeper is about 90 feet long. Seven of them total about 630 feet (2 football fields). Going through the diner to the lounge adds another 90 feet, for a total of about 720 feet.
Ditto. Already made alternate plans for 2015, this for a family of five, sometime six, as many as nine. Screw 'em. I'm not gonna pay those rates to be treated like cattle. I'm resigned to the fact that I'm "off" Amtrak LD for the foreseeable future, and that makes me sad...
This from a consistant annual rider since 2000. Counting each OW trip, that's well over 25 AT trips. (Had to drive OW a couple of times, "sold out")
I mean REALLY, what other company treats it's loyal, money-spending cusx like this?
Mind-blowing if you truly think about it.
LD train travel is supposed to be about "the Experience", NOT just getting from Point A, to Point B.... Just look at 90% of Amtrak's LD advertising over the years. Eugene Garfield must be rolling over in his grave, he started Auto Train with a vision, he KNEW what the rider wanted. Now they get ****. "Butcher paper" as table clothes... Wonder what Suit thought that wud work on a moving train....
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crescent2
Conductor
I certainly don't have a solution, so this situation may be unavoidable, but I'll have to also agree that it would not be uncommon for a walk of that length on a moving train to prove very difficult or impossible for older passengers, who seem to be numerous on the AT. Of course, meals can be served in the sleeper compartment if needed, but not everyone likes that. Point being, that IS a long walk for some people, and it would be "nice" if a better car arrangement could somehow be found.
Having been the spouse of a mobility-limited, along with a few other limitations such as balance and vision, person, I guess I'm more aware that other people's needs may be different from mine, and should be taken into consideration even if a solution can't always be found. And I don't think one would have to be technically mobility-limited for that walk to be a problem, so the above post seemed kind of harsh to me.
Edit: Post crossed with Paulus' last one.
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And who, in their right mind, (AU's excluded, especially Ryan) wants to ride a tin can for 18 hours, sequestered in their tiny room, and virtually not enjoy the amenity of enjoying a meal in a dining car, or sitting in the lounge car? (even thou there are no available seats)
Elon Musk' vacuum tube "capsules" are looking more attractive than ever, at least you would only be in the "room" for 45 minutes, X country....
jis
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The actual numbers are 85', 595' and 680' in case anyone cares for precision. The actual walk from one end to the other I suspect may be more than 90' because of the two jogs on the way moving from center aisle to side aisle and back to center (85' + 2 x 4' = 93' or so). So the actual walk is probably longer than what is mentioned by the OP.
On the Canadian they try to put in a Diner for about 5 or 6 cars. And of course anyone that wants to go to the Park Car may have to walk as many as 15 car lengths, depending on which Sleeper you are in. The population demographics is probably similar to that on the Auto Train. People who have serious mobility problems should preferably be served in their rooms and not made to walk even two cars let alone six.
neroden
Engineer
For goodness' sake, retrofitting the cars to use less HEP would be blatantly worth it. I think these cars are still using incandescent lighting and decades-old A/C? It should be possible to keep the extra coach, add the extra sleeper, and re-add the extra lounge -- it's not THAT long a train.
Has operations asked engineering for an estimate as to what could be done with energy efficiency to lengthen the train? Because they should. This would likely be a cheaper alternative to a power car; a remotely controlled power car should also be priced out.
Ryan
Court Jester
If it's that much of a concern, you can also ask for a room in a car close to the diner at the time of booking.
Unless you want an upper level roomette, then you've still got to walk through the all bedroom sleepers to get there. A refinement chould be alternating the all-bedroom sleepers with the regular sleepers.
I am most assuredly not in my right mind, though.
Unless you want an upper level roomette, then you've still got to walk through the all bedroom sleepers to get there. A refinement chould be alternating the all-bedroom sleepers with the regular sleepers.
Hey, even I'll leave my room for meals!
I am most assuredly not in my right mind, though.
Sucks to be them if they cannot walk that far? Honestly, if they're not going to be able to safely go 600 feet, they're not going to be able to go 300 feet either and no matter what will end up stuck in their rooms.
Unfortunately his design is a fail-deadly vomit comet.
crescent2
Conductor
"Sucks to be them if they cannot walk that far? Honestly, if they're not going to be able to safely go 600 feet, they're not going to be able to go 300 feet either and no matter what will end up stuck in their rooms."
No, not necessarily. Hubby could walk (carefully) one or two car lengths to the diner until our very last trip, but he could not have walked too much farther. Some of my friends who have no "handicaps" and would not even qualify for the H unit are nevertheless limited as to distances they can walk even on regular ground, because of knee surgery, back problems, etc. Many of us are blessed to have no such issues at present, but these issues aren't rare.
As was suggested, trying to get a sleeper car near the dining car may be their best bet. But hopefully, Amtrak takes the needs of all passengers into account when they make these decisions, particularly on the "snowbird train."
No, not necessarily. Hubby could walk (carefully) one or two car lengths to the diner until our very last trip, but he could not have walked too much farther. Some of my friends who have no "handicaps" and would not even qualify for the H unit are nevertheless limited as to distances they can walk even on regular ground, because of knee surgery, back problems, etc. Many of us are blessed to have no such issues at present, but these issues aren't rare.
As was suggested, trying to get a sleeper car near the dining car may be their best bet. But hopefully, Amtrak takes the needs of all passengers into account when they make these decisions, particularly on the "snowbird train."
jis
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Auto train takes 18 hours to get from Lorton to Sanford? Did they show me the wrong timetable again?
The grass always looks greener on the side of the fence that does not exist yet.
Allypet
Service Attendant
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If you are in the furthest bedroom it's a full 8 cars trip to the lounge. I'm young and in great health, but if Amtrak thinks I'm going to walk over a 1/4 mile round trip to buy a can of soda, they have another thing coming to them.
I booked my July AT trip last year before all of this mess. I enjoy utilizing the lounge car, I get a little stir crazy in my room, and I picked my car accordingly. Now the AT is in its third configuration since my booking so I'm not even sure what configuration it will be, and it's 3 weeks out!
I booked my July AT trip last year before all of this mess. I enjoy utilizing the lounge car, I get a little stir crazy in my room, and I picked my car accordingly. Now the AT is in its third configuration since my booking so I'm not even sure what configuration it will be, and it's 3 weeks out!
last time we took it north, it was longer than that JIS. And I think the schedule is for 17.5, effective June 9thAuto train takes 18 hours to get from Lorton to Sanford? Did they show me the wrong timetable again?The grass always looks greener on the side of the fence that does not exist yet.
You should look at some of the YELP! reviews, def not railfans............
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Devil's Advocate
⠀⠀⠀
The Auto Train is starting to sound more like a medical train with cots instead of beds and gurneys instead of vehicles.
You may be closer to the truth than anyone wants to admit.....
I felt so, so, bad for the seniors I witnessed back in April, who, with great effort made it all the way from the sleepers to the lounge car, only to be turned away by a LSA that was out all stock, sans alcohol, and no seats to be found.......
Piss poor decision removing the lounge, and positioning it next to the sleeper diner is almost a slap in the face. "Yes" it makes it closer, and less of a walk, and allows overflow, but really..........."Oppps,.I just screwed up and got caught, now let me un-screw up........" Nice try Amtrak. FAIL.
And if another Sleeper is added to the consist as was mentioned by someone who has boots on the ground, this will alleviate the crowding in the Lounge and speed up meal service without additional OBS right?
Brilliant, give that Amdesk jockey a Bonus, they probably used to work @ the VA!!!!
Brilliant, give that Amdesk jockey a Bonus, they probably used to work @ the VA!!!!
crescent2
Conductor
What is the purpose of this comment? Poking fun at those who have difficulty walking through a half dozen or more moving train cars? :huh:
The Davy Crockett
Engineer
DUDE! LD trains are sooo 20th Century!
Didn't you know that's why the decision was made to paint the Viewliner IIs in a 20th Cenury paint scheme? :huh:
Unfortunately it could be argued from Boardman's actions of late that his new modus operandi (remember the Brookings Institutie report?) is that LD trains are 'so yestreday,' :blink:
Ryan
Court Jester
No, he's poking fun at the "sky is falling" brigade for complaining about having to walk 11 million miles to get from one end of the train to the other.
It's not the end of the world. Yes, it's going to be difficult for some people. But there are plenty of things that can be done to mitigate that, and I haven't seen any solutions that solve the problem any better.
It's very easy to criticize, it's a lot more difficult to actually come up with a solution.
jis
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Heh. If only they left the additional lounge in so that people could rest after their loooong walk before they moved to the Diner...... juuuuust kidding.
Well, since according to the prognostication the Auto Train will most likely cease to be a viable proposition from next year since so many people will never ever ride it again, it will probably cease to exist after 2016, so we won't have to worry about all these details any more. --- again juuuust kidding. Then we can go back to discussing Sunset East.
Well, since according to the prognostication the Auto Train will most likely cease to be a viable proposition from next year since so many people will never ever ride it again, it will probably cease to exist after 2016, so we won't have to worry about all these details any more. --- again juuuust kidding. Then we can go back to discussing Sunset East.
crescent2
Conductor
I understand what you're saying, but if someone with medical problems was reading this thread, I think they might get a different take and not feel very welcome on trains.
FormerOBS
Conductor
Once upon a time I heard a folksinger who had a song about a person who couldn't walk. Wish I could remember the singer's name. In the song, he made the point that there are two kinds of people in the world: Those with disabilities, and those who are temporarily able-bodied. Don't "ask for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee."
It is a simple fact that the Auto Train's clientele is and largely has been dominated by retirees. Of course there are others who use it. Families find it useful for summer vacations or holiday vacations when the kids are out of school. College students use it to get to and from school. There are business travelers, and people making permanent relocations, too. But you will always find a significant number of members of the "greatest generation" on that train. Many cannot fly for medical reasons, and the full trip by automobile or bus would be almost impossible. We have seen many of the same folks year after year after year. The train has always had a very significant number of passengers who dine in their rooms or at their coach seats because of various infirmities that may or may not require use of the "H" room. The number of meals in rooms has significantly increased since the consist change, in the sleepers farthest from the diner. It is true that you can ask for a room in the cars closest to the diner; but those are the cars that fill up first already. Regular Auto Train riders often reserve their accommodations many, many months in advance. Those who reserve closer to the departure date are likely to be assigned to a distant car, unless they are fortunate enough to take advantage of a cancellation.
As for the "18 hour" schedule, it's possible. The current schedule calls for a 17-1/2 hour run: 4 PM to 9:30 AM. Actual arrival is often before 8:30, because the train does not have to hold at intermediate stations waiting for "time". CSX operations can make it longer or shorter, and potential passengers should never make plans that include a close connection at the destination (such as a cruise with an early afternoon departure).
It is a simple fact that the Auto Train's clientele is and largely has been dominated by retirees. Of course there are others who use it. Families find it useful for summer vacations or holiday vacations when the kids are out of school. College students use it to get to and from school. There are business travelers, and people making permanent relocations, too. But you will always find a significant number of members of the "greatest generation" on that train. Many cannot fly for medical reasons, and the full trip by automobile or bus would be almost impossible. We have seen many of the same folks year after year after year. The train has always had a very significant number of passengers who dine in their rooms or at their coach seats because of various infirmities that may or may not require use of the "H" room. The number of meals in rooms has significantly increased since the consist change, in the sleepers farthest from the diner. It is true that you can ask for a room in the cars closest to the diner; but those are the cars that fill up first already. Regular Auto Train riders often reserve their accommodations many, many months in advance. Those who reserve closer to the departure date are likely to be assigned to a distant car, unless they are fortunate enough to take advantage of a cancellation.
As for the "18 hour" schedule, it's possible. The current schedule calls for a 17-1/2 hour run: 4 PM to 9:30 AM. Actual arrival is often before 8:30, because the train does not have to hold at intermediate stations waiting for "time". CSX operations can make it longer or shorter, and potential passengers should never make plans that include a close connection at the destination (such as a cruise with an early afternoon departure).
ronkstevens
Service Attendant
I had sent an email to Amtrak concerning my AT trip last month, and listed some of the things that made me feel that it was the worst LD experience I have had. It took one week to get an email reply, stating that my email had been forwarded to someone in customer service, but it may take several weeks until I hear from them, due to a high volume of customer comments.
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