Clueless Amtrak agent :)

[Anderson]

So, Johnny, you're openly violating Amtrak policy, yet posting exactly where you're at? Good thinking. Of course when I was 15 I thought I was smarter than everybody else.

Do you really feel that any Amtrak person or anyone on my train for that matter really have the time or the will just because they are bothered by my heigh tto check AU, on the off-chance that they know what it is, just for the sole purpose of making me sit ina different section of the Cafe Car??? Really???

Well Johnny, since you brought it up, I was one of the very first to view this thread the other night after you posted it. If I had posted, my post would have been #2. This was well before your scheduled departure the next morning. I work nights ya see. Believe me the thought crossed my mind to contact the station at SOL.

I chose not to and not to post and to see how it turned out for you. For one I had hoped that the personnel at the station and/or aboard the train would have asked for your ID and, seeing that you are not old enough to travel alone, would have told you you couldn't get on the train.

Now, let me tell you why. I get that you're all travel savvy and everything but you don't know everything. You're 15 and 15 years old don't consider ALL the consequences of their actions. Too many adults don't either.

Lemme give you a scenario. Suppose something happened to this train or aboard this train? You get injured or hurt or are involved in some incident. Investigators look at your ticket and look at your ID and discover you should not have even been on the train. You are 15, are unaccompanied and there's no documentation that your parents even know you got on the train. Now Amtrak has to investigate how you got onto the train in the first place. Do you know where they are going to start? With the people, the employees, the ticket agent who didn't check your ID and the conductor who didn't check you ID. Then Amtrak is going to fire one or both of them. How do you feel about that? Your disregard for the rules because you know everything just cost two people their livelihoods.

I know, I know, nothing is ever going to happen like that. I know, you know everything. Well then you should already know this. Things happen out on the train and to the trains everyday. Things happen that are totally and completely beyond the control of you the passenger or the crew and Amtrak everyday.

Follow the rules. You have a long life ahead of you and you only have to wait until you're 16 to travel unaccompanied. In the meantime have your parents bring you to the station, fill out the paperwork and have an adult meet you at your destination. It's not that difficult a thing to do.

Safe travels.

EB_OBS, I completely understand what you are saying. The scenarios are possible, and I actually wish that they did check ID more often. However, it's not an issue with me becaus eI have been safely following the unaccompanied minor rules since the day I turned 8. There are at least two conductors on every single train that know me personally, and if anything happened/I was caught, they would not really care/treat me well. Remember, this new policy took effect in November. Since I have a September Bday, I actually travelled legally in October. Just to clear things up though, I ALWAYS have a parent drop me off. As lomg as Amtrak does not verify your age somehow when you book, or quik-trak machines allow me to bypass station agents though, the system has no way of preventing it. I only have a few more months though, and then I should (rightfully) be legal. I do understand why the policy was changed to include 15 year olds, because most of them are outright stupid and/or clueless, but the 8-12 year olds should still be able to do this. I would not be nearly as close with my grandparent sif this had always been in effect.

Johnny,

I've got to say that while I know what you're saying, but in the event that something does go wrong, what you just posted could bring holy hell down on all of the Surfliner conductors.

To be fair, from what you said, the station agents are pretty clearly off the hook (they never see you). Ditto the booking agents. But you just posted, in plain English, words to the effect that at least two conductors on each Surfliner know you are underage and still let you ride. And you did this on a Google-searchable forum. Don't take this the wrong way, but what were you just thinking when you posted this? You do realize that this is a public board that, in theory, someone from 50 Mass or from a district office could search...right?

I did not mean i tthat way at all. It's not that I see them on every run. Most of the ones I know work biz class, an dI usually sit at the back. To make everyone feel better, I'll ride back as an UM tomorow. I see what you're saying now, Anderson, and I don't want to be the cause of any misfortune to the employees. I was.just trying to say that they'd treat me well. I'll be quiet now.

Johnny,

I guess what I'd say is that the story you've put up here is a great one to laugh about in five or ten years (or to tell the proverbial grandkids about)...or perhaps to laugh with friends about privately. The internet makes for looser tongues than I suspect many folks ought to have (look at all of the Facebook postings that have gotten people in trouble and the fits many people go through to keep their online profiles in good order). Do understand, my frustration isn't with what you did, it's with the public, online posting of it.

So my advice, if I may, is this: If you're going to flout rules, tell us in five or ten years and let us all laugh about it then, when it's far enough removed from the actual deed to avoid getting anyone in trouble...and yes, this should go for illicit train riding as well as anything else that might come up in the course of life. And also, I will say that if the worst thing you ever do in life is ride a train unaccompanied when you weren't supposed to, I suspect you might well stand accused of having a very boring childhood someday

 

[Rush2112]

Wow. What started off as a fun topic got pretty dramatic.

I thought the 'thank you for flying Amtrak' post was funny.

And I am glad Amtrak does not bother to ask for my AAA card each time I board or make sure my ticket is signed or even ask for an id all the time since all that info is on file and I don't see why Amtrak needs to be a police state like air travel.

 

[EB_OBS]

Hey, you'll get no argument from me regarding the systemic lack checking for IDs and discount eligibility. I know it's a system-wide problem. I see it all the time.

I'm not involved in upper managements decision making process or boardroom discussions. Not a lot of information was put out about why the policy was changed. Neither to employees or the public. I can only speculate as to what I believe is behind it based upon observation and working closely with conductors over the last four years and their experiences dealing with unaccompanied minors.

I just know that at least on LD trains, with 10 or 11 cars and 200 - 400 passengers, it's a lot of responsibility and for two conductors to do their jobs and to have to keep track of and protect someone else's kid. It can be too much.

Even if the coach attendant is watching them they've got two cars to manage, two doors to open at stops, and 100-150 passengers to keep an eye on and assist. They are not really babysitters.

In today's world, things just happen way too fast. You can turn you back and a kid could be gone or hurt or traumatized. There are bad people out there and other bad things can happen too.

I have two kids ages 8 and 10. I work for Amtrak and I would never put them on the train alone. Not even with other employees I know well. I know those employees are busy doing their jobs and I don't believe in putting the burden of watching and protecting my children off onto someone else. Especially somebody who has so much to do already.

 

[Dovecote]

Besides FUL would be more easygoing to wait at

I don't know much about FUL - what's close to that station?

And what do you think about business class on the Surfliner? Worth it or not?

Contrary towhatthe chief said, thebiz class seats areneitherwider nor have more pitch than the Coach seats. Anne, I would not do it. The only benefits of it are the guaranteed seats and the booze, but you will not need the guarantee bcuz a mornin train would not be crowded.

I do not really know anything about FUL, I was just assuming that the lesser crowds and being able tonsee all of the train action would be nice.

My knowledge of the Fullerton (FUL) is limited since I live in the east but I will get the ball rolling on this question. I use this station stop on my yearly trip to the Los Angeles area to visit my daughter. The station offers checked baggage, has a Quik-Trak machine, waiting area with ample seating, bathrooms, and free short term parking. Short term parking might be difficult to find during the week since the station serves Metro Link as well. This should not be a deterrent as my daughter always has found a spot to park. I can not comment on long term parking.

This station is a great alternative to LAX Union Station stop in my opinion. It is located in a vibrant downtown location. I highly suspect that you can get a bite to eat around the station although I have never been in this position. Not sure if you can leave your luggage with the station agents if you wander away from station. The station agents are friendly although they are strict in following rules. Case in point, they would not issue my tickets until my wife was present with me and they asked for my AAA card upon inspecting the tickets during the luggage check-in process.

 

[Hotblack Desiato]

I remember a bunch of years ago, I flew alone on a connecting flight without going through the paperwork for being an unattended minor. I survived.

 

[rrdude]

Johnny, to those who advise, "stop traveling" unless you get the proper parental signatures, and all that other rigmarole, I say hogwash.

If you are willing to assume the risk, (not being allowed to board, embarrassment, let's see, what the heck else is there?) then you should go for it.

It is NOT YOUR FAULT, if the train smacks into a semi-truck, and then someone finds out that you are underage. It's the Amtrak staff's fault for not asking you for your ID. If someone got fired for allowing an underage minor to board as adult, without checking any ID, that is not your fault at all.

Don't lead a boring life. Bend the rules, push the envelope, just be totally prepared for the consequences if and when you do get caught.

If the sign reads "Keep Off The Grass". Hope the fence and run all over it and roll around on it! (Unless the neighbor has a shotgun and a short temper!)

I do concur with other posters that have chimed in about "........being 15 and thinking you know it all........." we all think we are invincible when we are young, but a logical persons knows we are not.

I traveled coast-to-coast years ago on Amtrak, by myself, starting in the 8th grade. Just be careful. Trust no one you don't know....and in the words of Sgt Esterhaus of Hill Street Blues fame, "Hey let's be careful out there.........."