Red Cap Service at Washington Union Station

[McLeansvilleAppFan]

Most of my Amtrak travel is in the southeast so I don't get to use Red Caps often. Over Memorial Day weekend my wife and I were taking the Carolinian SB from Washington to Greensboro and it is 100% full. I think we had the last two seats together, at least in our car, though after a stop or two everyone seems to have moved to have seats with traveling companions. The car attendant was great and everyone was in good spirits and worked with the car attendant.

I know those in Business Class would have access to the Metro Lounge and priority boarding and also assigned seats. Then seniors, and those with children were sent to the front of the line. We were close enough to the front so it worked with us but could have I asked for a red cap to help with luggage and used that as a way to jump a bit higher in the process. Is that bad form but possible?

We might take in a Nationals game later in the summer and taking the Crescent NB and the Carolinian SB is a thought and that would be a great use of my upgrade coupon but it may be used for something else.

 

[AmtrakBlue]

I've used a Red Cap on a recent trip because I knew I'd have to climb the coach stairs as my Regional originated south of DC. Since I had my luggage from my cross country trip, I felt I'd have difficulty boarding, so requested a Red Cap. Just don't forget to tip (like I did ). I did it from the lounge because I had a same-day sleeper ticket as I arrived on the Capitol Limited.

 

[TinCan782]

Red Cap service is available for anyone although used primarily by seniors and the mobility impared.
You have to decide if it is appropriate or not.

 

[McLeansvilleAppFan]

Red Cap service is available for anyone although used primarily by seniors and the mobility impared.
You have to decide if it is appropriate or not.

I have used it a few times many years ago and I was much younger but the Red Caps came to us and asked us if we needed their service and we got on the train much quicker at NYP. We were taking a NB train on our honeymoon to upstate NY. It was nice to not be just sitting on the floor of Penn, which I think is what we did waiting on a connection. This may have been the only time I have used a Red Cap. I am a few years away from being a senior and am not impaired right now, but I am not above working the system on a full train.

 

[Mystic River Dragon]

I think it’s completely appropriate. There are enough red caps that you will not be taking one away from someone who needs them more. (Think of it like a taxi stand—by taking a taxi, you are not taking away another taxi from someone else.)

A red cap is, in my opinion, the best service offered at train stations.

I tip $5 each time I use one.

 

[McLeansvilleAppFan]

I think it’s completely appropriate. There are enough red caps that you will not be taking one away from someone who needs them more. (Think of it like a taxi stand—by taking a taxi, you are not taking away another taxi from someone else.)

A red cap is, in my opinion, the best service offered at train stations.

I tip $5 each time I use one.

Moral/ethics of using it to essentially purchase one's way to near the front of the line? I mean that is what Business Class and sleepers are doing so I may have answered my own question.

 

[Mystic River Dragon]

Moral/ethics of using it to essentially purchase one's way to near the front of the line? I mean that is what Business Class and sleepers are doing so I may have answered my own question.

I think at WAS it’s justified. If the boarding is still the same as the last time I did it (I admit quite a few years ago— it might have improved since then), while you are politely waiting for the seniors and people with children to board, you will find millennials and gen z’s and businesspeople of all ages running over you to try to be the next to board, and you may very well end up last with no chance of seats together.

I am always polite and so have run into this a number of times at major NEC stations. So I use a redcap pretty much for self-defense against the crowds.

 

[joelkfla]

I think it’s completely appropriate. There are enough red caps that you will not be taking one away from someone who needs them more. (Think of it like a taxi stand—by taking a taxi, you are not taking away another taxi from someone else.)

A red cap is, in my opinion, the best service offered at train stations.

I tip $5 each time I use one.

I'm not saying that they're not for anyone to use, but I disagree that there are plenty to go around. Since the pandemic, there's been one red cap escorting 3 or 4 parties from the Washington lounge to the train, sometimes well after the boarding call has been made in the lounge, and I have had trouble finding one to assist deboarding on multiple occasions, even with a service request on the reservation.

 

[McLeansvilleAppFan]

I think at WAS it’s justified. If the boarding is still the same as the last time I did it (I admit quite a few years ago— it might have improved since then), while you are politely waiting for the seniors and people with children to board, you will find millennials and gen z’s and businesspeople of all ages running over you to try to be the next to board, and you may very well end up last with no chance of seats together.

I am always polite and so have run into this a number of times at major NEC stations. So I use a redcap pretty much for self-defense against the crowds.

On Memorial Day weekend we were in WAS and it was not terrible but it was a line and we were lucky, though 20 minutes and after Alexanderia we likely would have had a seat together had that not been the case from the start. In fact the attendant did a great job to move some singles around to make room for couples and that was very nice by both the attendant and the passenger that was gracious in moving. I am not sure the next time I will be back in WAS and on coach but I think you convinced me it would be all right to use a red cap at least at WAS on a non-reserved train.

I mentioned our honeymoon trip years ago a few posts up. We took the Crescent from Charlotte to WAS and stayed a day or two and then took a NEC Regional to NYP and then had a connecting train to Amsterdam, NY. The red caps helped at NYP to get us on the train to Amsterdam. But the NEC was a mad rush and we had luggage. That needed a red cap and we did not do that. Just before I yelled out we were on our honeymoon and would like to sit together someone offerred us a seat so we could sit together. I was thinking of that last weekend, but it all worked out.

 

[McLeansvilleAppFan]

I'm not saying that they're not for anyone to use, but I disagree that there are plenty to go around. Since the pandemic, there's been one red cap escorting 3 or 4 parties from the Washington lounge to the train, sometimes well after the boarding call has been made in the lounge, and I have had trouble finding one to assist deboarding on multiple occasions, even with a service request on the reservation.

I did not see any at WAS but I was not looking for one. I did check in for 30 seconds at the check-in desk and that was not worth doing but that is where I was thinking of inquiring in the future. Of course there has to be someone working as a red cap.

 

[Shanson]

I did not see any at WAS but I was not looking for one. I did check in for 30 seconds at the check-in desk and that was not worth doing but that is where I was thinking of inquiring in the future. Of course there has to be someone working as a red cap.

The Red Caps hang out at the baggage claim area across from the general waiting area. If you're in the Metropolitan Lounge, they will announce the availability of Red Cap service at the side exits.

 

[MARC Rider]

As someone who can still get around, I haven't felt the need to use a recap at Washington. If I'm in business class, Acela, or a sleeper, my seat is reserved anyway, so I don't see a need to rush out and be first on the train. If I'm in coach and the train originates in Washington, all I need to do is to walk down the platform to the first couple of cars in the train where there are always loads of empty seats. The only time it might be worthwhile is for trains that are coming up from Virginia. These trains will not be empty, and may have a lot of through passengers on board, so having a recap helping you get down to the train before the crowd is helpful, plus it's nice to have some help with getting bags down to the lower level and getting them hoisted into the train from the low platform.

 

[McLeansvilleAppFan]

As someone who can still get around, I haven't felt the need to use a recap at Washington. If I'm in business class, Acela, or a sleeper, my seat is reserved anyway, so I don't see a need to rush out and be first on the train. If I'm in coach and the train originates in Washington, all I need to do is to walk down the platform to the first couple of cars in the train where there are always loads of empty seats. The only time it might be worthwhile is for trains that are coming up from Virginia. These trains will not be empty, and may have a lot of through passengers on board, so having a recap helping you get down to the train before the crowd is helpful, plus it's nice to have some help with getting bags down to the lower level and getting them hoisted into the train from the low platform.

Or my use case is that the LD trains that go through North Carolina do not originate in Washington but NYP so there can be lots of seats taken and finding two seats together can be more difficult as folks spread out.

 

[McLeansvilleAppFan]

The Red Caps hang out at the baggage claim area across from the general waiting area. If you're in the Metropolitan Lounge, they will announce the availability of Red Cap service at the side exits.

On the way out I was going to snap a selfie at the A Philip Randolph bust but we went to the counter and then walked to the area where I figured our gate would be due to the tunnels under the station and such. So I completely missed both the APR bust and the baggage claim area.

 

[Joe from PA]

My wife and I use redcaps for every trip, but we are 81 and 79. We even use them on non-overnight trips to DC and Boston for help with luggage. As far as NYC Penn Station goes, it's worth the $5. per bag no matter your age. At this terminal, you are not allowed to go to platform level until the arrivals are up top. Then the mobs can go down. By getting a redcap, you go down first and get your choice of seats.

 

[malaughl]

I have used it a few times many years ago and I was much younger but the Red Caps came to us and asked us if we needed their service and we got on the train much quicker at NYP. We were taking a NB train on our honeymoon to upstate NY. It was nice to not be just sitting on the floor of Penn, which I think is what we did waiting on a connection. This may have been the only time I have used a Red Cap. I am a few years away from being a senior and am not impaired right now, but I am not above working the system on a full train.

I realize this is an old post now. But, I came across this thread as a first time amtrak passenger researching options for getting help with my bags. I just requested Red Cap assistance because I'm traveling alone and realized as I was trying to lift almost 100lbs worth of bags up those steps the first time, that I need help. Maybe I'm just grossly out of shape, but I genuinely felt unsafe boarding with my bags last night (and getting off the train today). So some of us almost middle aged passengers genuinely need the help, also.

 

[Eternityroad]

I realize this is an old post now. But, I came across this thread as a first time amtrak passenger researching options for getting help with my bags. I just requested Red Cap assistance because I'm traveling alone and realized as I was trying to lift almost 100lbs worth of bags up those steps the first time, that I need help. Maybe I'm just grossly out of shape, but I genuinely felt unsafe boarding with my bags last night (and getting off the train today). So some of us almost middle aged passengers genuinely need the help, also.

It used to be, not so many years ago, that Amtrak would provide assitance at its hub in Chicago. Seniors were allowed to board first and those who couldnt walk the distance were given a lift in a golf cart type vehicle. The coach car attendant was train-side to help with bags. Now Red Cap is the only option, at least in Chiago. Too bad Amtrak thinks so little of senior citizens, but this is reflective of our current culture.

 

[MARC Rider]

If I'm riding in reserved space (Sleeper, Acela, NER business class), I really don't feel the need to rush to get on the train, as my seat is waiting for me. If I'm taking coach north out of Washington, there are usually lots of empty seats in the front of the train, even the ones that are coming up from Virginia, though boarding early is helpful to get a more desirable seat. The main problem in Washington is boarding the single level cars at the tracks with low platforms. As I usually only bring one rollerbag and a backpack, getting to the train isn't too much of problem, but I do tend to overpack and hauling a 30-40 lb. suitcase up the train steps is a bit of a nuisance.

So far, I haven't seen the need for a redcap when I ride from Washington, but who knows as I get older. I do use them in Boston, because they'll hold and watch your bags when you go to the Metropolitan Lounge, which is up a flight of stairs. Lugging my 30 lb. rollerbag up those stairs is something I'd rather not do, even if I'm still hailing it up and down stairs when transferring at certain T stations that will remain nameless. Again, who knows, at some point I might just start using Uber/Lyft/taxis when I have luggage.

 

[Hytec]

Red Caps at WAS can be awesome! I was on #20 Crescent arriving WAS at 11:55, nearly two hours late. I was booked on the 12:00 Acela. While leaving ALX, I asked my SCA if there was anything that could be done to get me on the Acela. He said leave it me. He got me onto the vestibule as we entered the WAS tunnel. He opened the door as we were stopping in front of a Red Cap with a cart. The Red Cap cart was moving as I was sitting down with my bag in my lap. We raced around the end of the platform in front of our engine and on to the adjacent platform with "my" Acela. He stopped in front of "my" door. I was still walking to my seat as the Acela started moving. Believe me, that Red Cap got a GOOD Tip.