diesteldorf
Lead Service Attendant
- Joined
- Mar 27, 2006
- Messages
- 391
Just wanted to share this and see if anyone else has ever done anything similar. I realize I could've been denied or kicked off the train as this is against Amtrak's official policy.
I was working until 10PM, my normal schedule, on 12/23 and had planned to go home on 12/24 to visit family for the holidays. I was planning to take the #8 EB from La Crosse (10:47 AM) to Tomah (11:30 AM) and then board a bus going home around 4:00 PM. However, I knew that #8 was probably going to be delayed that morning and later found out that they were substituting buses. I was concerned, so I called the 800# at around 5:00 PM on 12/23 and asked what time #7 had left Chicago. I was told it hadn't and would probably be delayed until after 7:00 PM.
I did the math and hatched a new plan....
Realizing that it would not arrive into La Crosse until after midnight (actually after 1:00 AM in reality) I realized I could work a regular day, go home, pack, and still be able to catch #7 from La Crosse to Minneapolis. I could then catch an early bus from St Paul to home and arrive that much sooner.
The problem that I had was that the train for 12/23 had been blocked out and all seats were showing as sold.
I also discovered that they were going to run that train to Minneapolis only and stop. I assume that all passengers that were going further were accomodated overnight and made to wait for the 12/24 train but I can't confirm.
When I checked the fair for 12/24, I discovered that the fair from La Crosse to Minneapolis was still at the lowest bucket so I made a reservation.
Later that night, I called the La Crosse station, explained my situation, and asked if it was feasible and likely that the conductor would allow me to board the 12/23 train using a ticket from 12/24.
They told me it was up to the conductor's discretion....
I decided to take the chance and showed up around 12:20 AM to catch the (now shortened) EB from La Crosse to Minneapolis.
It was crazy because the #8 from 12/23 was delayed by more than 17 hours as well. It was scheduled to arrive at 10:47 AM on 12/23 and had not arrived when I showed up. In the end it was delayed until around 3:00 AM There were passengers waiting for both trains.
When #7 did roll in around 1 AM, I handed the conductor (actually an AC, I believe) my ticket. I know him from many previous trips both on the EB and Hiawatha (he is assiged to it on Sundays) so he didn't say anything and I had no trouble boarding. Later, when I was safely aboard the train, I told him of my circumstances and that my ticket was actually for 12/24. He didn't care and told me how surprised the crew was when it had been decided to stop the train in Minneapolis.
He told me that it would be taken back to Chicago as the #8 train the next morning. I guess that if you are late enough, you're actually on time again...
Long story short, the EB arrived into Minneapolis (actually St Paul) station at 5:00 AM. I caught my bus and was able to arrive home much earlier than expected. If I had known about the impending delays in advance, I would've purchased a ticket on the 12/23 #7 before it had been blocked/sold out. However, who figures that a train originating in Chicago will be delayed by over 6 hours twice in the same week before it reaches La Crosse.
It will be interesting to see when the ticket posts to AGR. I am counting ojn the points and hope there won't be a problem.
I was working until 10PM, my normal schedule, on 12/23 and had planned to go home on 12/24 to visit family for the holidays. I was planning to take the #8 EB from La Crosse (10:47 AM) to Tomah (11:30 AM) and then board a bus going home around 4:00 PM. However, I knew that #8 was probably going to be delayed that morning and later found out that they were substituting buses. I was concerned, so I called the 800# at around 5:00 PM on 12/23 and asked what time #7 had left Chicago. I was told it hadn't and would probably be delayed until after 7:00 PM.
I did the math and hatched a new plan....
Realizing that it would not arrive into La Crosse until after midnight (actually after 1:00 AM in reality) I realized I could work a regular day, go home, pack, and still be able to catch #7 from La Crosse to Minneapolis. I could then catch an early bus from St Paul to home and arrive that much sooner.
The problem that I had was that the train for 12/23 had been blocked out and all seats were showing as sold.
I also discovered that they were going to run that train to Minneapolis only and stop. I assume that all passengers that were going further were accomodated overnight and made to wait for the 12/24 train but I can't confirm.
When I checked the fair for 12/24, I discovered that the fair from La Crosse to Minneapolis was still at the lowest bucket so I made a reservation.
Later that night, I called the La Crosse station, explained my situation, and asked if it was feasible and likely that the conductor would allow me to board the 12/23 train using a ticket from 12/24.
They told me it was up to the conductor's discretion....
I decided to take the chance and showed up around 12:20 AM to catch the (now shortened) EB from La Crosse to Minneapolis.
It was crazy because the #8 from 12/23 was delayed by more than 17 hours as well. It was scheduled to arrive at 10:47 AM on 12/23 and had not arrived when I showed up. In the end it was delayed until around 3:00 AM There were passengers waiting for both trains.
When #7 did roll in around 1 AM, I handed the conductor (actually an AC, I believe) my ticket. I know him from many previous trips both on the EB and Hiawatha (he is assiged to it on Sundays) so he didn't say anything and I had no trouble boarding. Later, when I was safely aboard the train, I told him of my circumstances and that my ticket was actually for 12/24. He didn't care and told me how surprised the crew was when it had been decided to stop the train in Minneapolis.
He told me that it would be taken back to Chicago as the #8 train the next morning. I guess that if you are late enough, you're actually on time again...
Long story short, the EB arrived into Minneapolis (actually St Paul) station at 5:00 AM. I caught my bus and was able to arrive home much earlier than expected. If I had known about the impending delays in advance, I would've purchased a ticket on the 12/23 #7 before it had been blocked/sold out. However, who figures that a train originating in Chicago will be delayed by over 6 hours twice in the same week before it reaches La Crosse.
It will be interesting to see when the ticket posts to AGR. I am counting ojn the points and hope there won't be a problem.
