Reimagining Amtrak stations

[TinCan782]

From Railwayage: An interesting approach to address the de-staffing of stations - franchising.

"Amtrak is embarked upon an aggressive plan to “de-staff” the majority of its stations, to “cut costs.” The project downgrades the service support for its largest and most commercially successful group of trains, the long-distance interregional services. Amtrak justifies this by the trend toward selling tickets on the web rather than from agents at stations."

https://www.railwayage.com/passenger/intercity/reimagining-amtrak-stations/

 

[frequentflyer]

Neat idea and thinking out of the box. I like it, but would not work everywhere. Especially trains arriving O dark thirty AM. In many stations Amtrak is already just a tenant and does not own the property outright.

 

[railiner]

Not sure if I like that 'franchising' idea. If you start with that, what comes next? "Franchising" out other parts of the business? Repair facilities? The train's themselves?

Where does it end?

 

[Bob Dylan]

Not sure if I like that 'franchising' idea. If you start with that, what comes next? "Franchising" out other parts of the business? Repair facilities? The train's themselves?

Where does it end?

Slippery Slope!

 

[PRR 60]

Amtrak cannot lease out space it does not own, and Amtrak owns very few stations outside the NEC. Then there are potentially union issues with contracting out work that is currently performed by represented employees.

 

[cpotisch]

Definitely an interesting concept. This way private businesses would have an incentive to make the station as inviting and pleasant as possible, and would form a bit of a symbiotic relationship with Amtrak. Amtrak brings in customers (passengers have to go through the station), but the company running the station takes up operating costs, taking away Amtrak's motivation to cut back on facilities and amenities. While it might be difficult to implement, I could see this working if done right.

 

[Eric S]

Even before reading the article, I thought this sounded like something URPA might put out (long distance being the "largest and most commercially successful" trains) - and sure enough, it was.

 

[jis]

Even before reading the article, I thought this sounded like something URPA might put out (long distance being the "largest and most commercially successful" trains) - and sure enough, it was.

Though I must say that usually Selden comes across as sane compared to the missives from Richardson.

 

[frequentflyer]

When I saw this pic, I was thinking the return of the the Amshack, the 21rst century edition.

 

[PaulM]

Amtrak cannot lease out space it does not own, and Amtrak owns very few stations outside the NEC. Then there are potentially union issues with contracting out work that is currently performed by represented employees.

So what happened to the agents from the closed stations? or those lower on the ladder who got bumped?

 

[PaulM]

"Amtrak is embarked upon an aggressive plan to “de-staff” the majority of its stations, to “cut costs.” The project downgrades the service support for its largest and most commercially successful group of trains, the long-distance interregional services. Amtrak justifies this by the trend toward selling tickets on the web rather than from agents at stations."

I can see why Amtrak would be loath to mention it, but why everyone else? I'm talking elimination of baggage service, a very important feature for LD travelers, at least for me. The internet is great for a lot of things, but not checking baggage.

 

[railiner]

Amtrak cannot lease out space it does not own, and Amtrak owns very few stations outside the NEC. Then there are potentially union issues with contracting out work that is currently performed by represented employees.

So what happened to the agents from the closed stations? or those lower on the ladder who got bumped?

Not sure I remember the contract or railway labor act...but if they are not willing to use whatever seniority they have to relocate to another location, they can retain their seniority while being furloughed, or they may be able to obtain a "buyout", and give up their rights....

 

[bcanedy]

“You know what would be great for Amtrak? Franchises!!!”

-A former franchise lawyer.

 

[cpotisch]

When I saw this pic, I was thinking the return of the the Amshack, the 21rst century edition.

Agreed. It's pretty and futuristic, but form should follow function - I don't see why that is any better a place to wait for your train.

 

[John Bobinyec]

I don't see what would be in it for the franchisee. I can't see a passenger paying the franchisee for information or baggage services. I also can't see Amtrak paying a small percentage of every ticket sold at the station to the franchisee. A similar arrangement used to exist with travel agents, when Amtrak cut them off. And with Amtrak selling its tickets online, it doesn't need a franchisee selling tickets.

It would almost have to be an arrangement where the other local businesses or government agencies support the franchisee monetarily because frankly, Amtrak isn't interested in any of the services an agent provides except selling tickets.

The one thing that I think that Amtrak would be interested in is efficient loading of a train so that the dwell time at the station is minimized. But these days those delays are one or two orders of magnitude smaller that the other ordinary delays that the long distance trains incur. If, however, an agent could have one of the smart phone scanners that the conductors use, they could pre-scan the passengers to speed up the boarding process.

jb

 

[Dakota 400]

"Amtrak is embarked upon an aggressive plan to “de-staff” the majority of its stations, to “cut costs.” The project downgrades the service support for its largest and most commercially successful group of trains, the long-distance interregional services. Amtrak justifies this by the trend toward selling tickets on the web rather than from agents at stations."

I can see why Amtrak would be loath to mention it, but why everyone else? I'm talking elimination of baggage service, a very important feature for LD travelers, at least for me. The internet is great for a lot of things, but not checking baggage.

The ability to check luggage and to do so without paying a fee is a very attractive Amtrak perk that is very important to me.

 

[the_traveler]

The article mentions Del Rio, TX as an example - as a transit hub. Yeah, right - when the only train comes thru in the middle of the night. I doubt very many buses run at that time. Nor do I see a coffee shop or travel agency being open at (say) 3 am!

If they want to charge for (say) checking your bag, I for one would not use it. That is one reason I do not fly much anymore. I do not want to pay $25 or $35 per checked bag each way!

 

[Charles785]

If some form of franchising or contract labor could reduce - and perhaps eventually eliminate - labor union influence with Amtrak that would have to be good.

Not sure how much of Amtrak's expenses go to labor, but I think with another quasi-government organization, the U.S. Postal Service, it's about 80%, and there

the unions really run the place with their work rules restrictions and the difficulty they create for management in firing non-performing employees or those with

negative attitudes.

 

[JRR]

"Amtrak is embarked upon an aggressive plan to “de-staff” the majority of its stations, to “cut costs.” The project downgrades the service support for its largest and most commercially successful group of trains, the long-distance interregional services. Amtrak justifies this by the trend toward selling tickets on the web rather than from agents at stations."

I can see why Amtrak would be loath to mention it, but why everyone else? I'm talking elimination of baggage service, a very important feature for LD travelers, at least for me. The internet is great for a lot of things, but not checking baggage.

Yes, we lost baggage at DFB last year even though the station is still staffed.

 

[TinCan782]

"Amtrak is embarked upon an aggressive plan to “de-staff” the majority of its stations, to “cut costs.” The project downgrades the service support for its largest and most commercially successful group of trains, the long-distance interregional services. Amtrak justifies this by the trend toward selling tickets on the web rather than from agents at stations."

I can see why Amtrak would be loath to mention it, but why everyone else? I'm talking elimination of baggage service, a very important feature for LD travelers, at least for me. The internet is great for a lot of things, but not checking baggage.

Yes, we lost baggage at DFB last year even though the station is still staffed.

I recall years ago flying a Frontier Airlines "puddle jumper" Durango>Cortez>Gallup>Albuquerque> the (one) Frontier ticket agent had to close the counter when the plane arrived to go handle baggage!

 

[NSC1109]

De-staffing stations is probably one of the dumber ideas Ive heard of since Anderson took over. Smaller, outlying stations with two trains a day? Thats understandable. But almost ALL of them is ridiculous. Sure, more tickets are sold online. That doesnt mean that baggage is taken care of online, or that the wheelchair ramps are taken care of online, etc.

Take Kalamazoo for example. Were a low-boarding platform. Anyone whos in a wheelchair or cant navigate steps has to use the wheelchair lift. Am I supposed to wait for the conductor to run and grab it, use it, then take it back and secure it? In an industry where time is everything, that process sure takes up a lot of it. It would be more efficient for the station agent to take care of it instead of having the crew do it. There are also the benefits of having a person there to answer questions, assist with last minute changes, make announcements, etc. Online, it can only tell you where the train is. It cant tell you why its there. I doubt many people would want to deal with Julie (Amtraks automated system) or wait a half hour to an hour to speak with a human being.

 

[daybeers]

De-staffing stations is probably one of the dumber ideas Ive heard of since Anderson took over. Smaller, outlying stations with two trains a day? Thats understandable. But almost ALL of them is ridiculous. Sure, more tickets are sold online. That doesnt mean that baggage is taken care of online, or that the wheelchair ramps are taken care of online, etc.

Take Kalamazoo for example. Were a low-boarding platform. Anyone whos in a wheelchair or cant navigate steps has to use the wheelchair lift. Am I supposed to wait for the conductor to run and grab it, use it, then take it back and secure it? In an industry where time is everything, that process sure takes up a lot of it. It would be more efficient for the station agent to take care of it instead of having the crew do it. There are also the benefits of having a person there to answer questions, assist with last minute changes, make announcements, etc. Online, it can only tell you where the train is. It cant tell you why its there. I doubt many people would want to deal with Julie (Amtraks automated system) or wait a half hour to an hour to speak with a human being.

It's frustrating, yes, but if the goal is to close the gap of losses...