Having a less than ideal trip so far!!

[caravanman]

Hi,

My understanding was that all "guest" posts had to be vetted before being seen on the board. Moderators then decide what is acceptable.

My own amusing contribution was removed in an item about toilet doors not locking, because I mentioned checking the lock twice, or even a third time. (The third said with an Irish accent!)

Ed

 

[Peter KG6LSE]

How yall do it is not my BIz or my need to know ...however ...this is me explaining how I roll my site

I run forum software as a unique blog . As a mod and admin all my posts are mod approved to kill ALL spam . .

I don't add any reason why I do , or not approve a post . I just do my duty and get on with life. if the post fits it stays ! .

If I REALLY wanted to make a comment to a Grey-zone post I would let the post go live and then make my rebuttal or comment as a normal post after as a normal user ...............Or as a Mod but again as its own post .

To the OP

Sadly this kind of cluster flub is gonna happen . .

I have to say the best way to get some probs solved is to write a letter ,

Best case you get some thing . worse case you have used up time and stamps.

 

[Shawn Ryu]

Atlanta is served by one train per day. How much traffic could there possibly be?

 

[yarrow]

Atlanta is served by one train per day. How much traffic could there possibly be?

we have been there a couple times. as noted above, it is a small station with a precipitous stairway to the tracks. when we were there we heard conflicting announcements for boarding. it's not that it is a busy station just not run adequately for the traffic there is.

 

[LarryG]

Yes, on our last trip on the Crescent, the Atlanta agents made announcements for the coach passengers to board the front of the train even though the sleepers were up front. We were on the train and heard the conductor go bonkers because he had told the agents inside to hold all passengers for a few minutes.

Then here comes the thundering hoard on the platform-- sleeper passengers at the rear and no sleepers. Coach passengers in the front--and no coaches.

Needless to say, the passengers were upset, the train crew shook their heads--and we just took some photos of downtown Atlanta and wondered -- "who is running this station??" :giggle:

On the other hand, no need to rush if you are in a sleeper. Nobody is going to get your room or grab all the good seats leaving you with no place to sit.

That's what we have done. We just wait for the teeming masses to make their way down, and then go at our leisure. There are so many people boarding and leaving the train that we've always had plenty of time to board.

Reminds me of my time boarding the sleeper car of the LSL at SPG. The station exits onto the platform by the rear of the train. All passengers were herded to the front of the train to board. There I was told to walk to the back of the train to board the sleeper car. At the rear I was told the sleeper car doors weren't open and to walk to the front again. The I boarded at the front and got to walk to the back through the train. So all in all, I had to walk 4 train lengths because of poor organization.

 

[guest]

OK so here's a question.

EVERYONE who has been through the Atlanta station finds the boarding process inept, inefficient and stress-inducing.

Certainly there must be Amtrak managers/exec types who have experienced this in their travels around the system.

SO WHY DOES THIS IDIOTIC BOARDING SYSTEM PERSIST AT ATLANTA?

What does this tell us about the ability of Amtrak to rectify poor service? IMHO it doesn't tell us anything good or give us optimism that the system is nimble at all in responding to poor service and in improving quality and consistency.

 

[MattW]

Unfortunately, there's just nothing Amtrak can really do other than better train their station personnel. Georgia is so wishy washy on passenger service. One minute they're wanting an Atlantic Station station, the next they're back on the MMPT, and the next there's nothing but roads being mentioned. Amtrak isn't going to just step in when the state is being so uncommunicative and uncooperative. Really the only improvement could be an escalator instead of the staircase, but Amtrak isn't about to fund this themselves.

 

[guest]

Unfortunately, there's just nothing Amtrak can really do other than better train their station personnel. Georgia is so wishy washy on passenger service. One minute they're wanting an Atlantic Station station, the next they're back on the MMPT, and the next there's nothing but roads being mentioned. Amtrak isn't going to just step in when the state is being so uncommunicative and uncooperative. Really the only improvement could be an escalator instead of the staircase, but Amtrak isn't about to fund this themselves.

Well, then Amtrak should improve the training. Is that so hard to do? How does an escalator help by itself if station employees direct people to the wrong ends of the train and make other unhelpful announcements and actions?

 

[TVRM610]

I have boarded the Crescent several times at Atlanta. In my experience the station staff did everything they could but people crowd the stairs and it just gets hectic. But here is the thing.. It's really no different at NYP. You know.. when they announce a track number and people rush to the escalator and there is a long line and it's really crowded at the "choke" point when they go down the escalators. It's the same thing in Atlanta only it's slightly worse since it's stairs. Anytime you have a LD train (lots of luggage) boarding at a major city where the access to the platform is a staircase.. there will be a crowded choke point.

I honestly do not see any easy solution for Atlanta.. it's a very crowded station for Northbound trains. Amtrak (and I'm sure Norfolk Southern) want a new station in Atlanta, Amtrak even wrote in their Crescent report how they are interested in operating additional trains in and out of Atlanta but they can't until a new station facility is built.

By the way.. if you think Amtrak is concerned with the passenger flow in the station they have bigger fish to fry.. the way the station is used requires Norfolk Southern to hault trains on BOTH mains while Amtrak uses the station. This is a very busy mainline for NS, and the Crescent has a service stop in Atlanta.

 

[GoldenSpike]

When you pay for sleeping car service, you should expect to receive all the amenities that are advertised as well as good service. Am I wrong to want to call in and complain at this point??

You're a first-class passenger on America's top passenger trains -- act like you expect Amtrak to act like it.

 

 

[dlagrua]

Atanta once had two grand Railroad stations with prenty of room, plenty of services and plenty of parking so what does the city do. They get out the wrecking ball and go to work knocking both stations down. What a nice station this must have been. is this progress?

 

[Larry H.]

I know this won't be popular among amtrak defenders but does anyone really think that the better old line railroads would have been so inept at providing decent service when they were in the business to promote rail travel? I know latter many did all they could to get people off, but there used to be a large degree of pride in operation which is almost totally lost in todays passenger rail.

 

[EMDF9A]

I know this won't be popular among amtrak defenders but does anyone really think that the better old line railroads would have been so inept at providing decent service when they were in the business to promote rail travel? I know latter many did all they could to get people off, but there used to be a large degree of pride in operation which is almost totally lost in todays passenger rail.

In the years leadig up to AMTRAK many of the class1 carriers actively worked to turn people off from riding the train. SP is well known for this. Diners replaced with automats, very inconvenient schedules, little or no maintenence to the equipment. Lots of things. Lou Menk on the NP, when he learned that he had permission from the state of North Dakota to take a train "Off" ordered the train immediatelly annulled... in the middle of nowhere.. The train stopped & the conductor ordered everyone off...and who knows how the passengers got to their destinations.

I am not am AMTRAK apologist. I am thankful we have them, but I KNOW that they could be so much better (and No that doesnt necessarily mean spending more money) It means effective front line management, and better training of the front line staff so they will be held accountable. And then HOLDING them accountable. I believe that there are many AMTRAK employees who DO take pride in their work, but those that dont leave a sour taste in the mouths of their customers. And we all know that a customer will tell 2-3 people of a great experience but will tell anyone who will listed about a bad one... and with today's electronic society, that can mean THOUSANDS get the bad message.

 

[AlanB]

but there used to be a large degree of pride in operation which is almost totally lost in todays passenger rail.

That's not an Amtrak thing, it's a society thing. It didn't use to matter who you worked for or what job you did, you took pride in doing that job to the best of your ability. It didn't matter if you were the person peeing in the executive washroom or the person cleaning it, you took pride in doing the best job you could.

While some people still do have that same work ethic today, sadly far too many don't. And again, that isn't unique to Amtrak; you can find that every place.

 

[daveyb99]

Boarded the Crescent in ATL ... Aren't sleeping car passengers supposed to board first?

No. You are think of airlines. Since Sleeper and Coach board different cars, with staff at each car, All Aboard !!!