Seat assignments (Acela pilot Feb 2018)

[northnorthwest]

Amtrak should have it set up so you choose your seat in advance. End of story. It would simplify everything. Even on the NEC it is absurd how everyone gets on and then wanders aimlessly trying to find 2 open seats, etc. Way too much unnecessary commotion and waste of time. You should have an assigned car and seat, and then you can wait on the platform by that car in advance and board and go right to your open seat. The end. If they can do it in Europe and Korea and other places, there's no reason why they can't do it here.

 

[Philly Amtrak Fan]

This is always a sore subject. Last week I took the Capitol Limited to Pittsburgh from Chicago. Of course I was hoping for two seats to myself or an attractive friendly woman as a seatmate,but both of these never seem to happen.

Good. I thought I was the only one with this fantasy.

You aren't, and this is one of the reasons why 1) some women prefer to sit next to other women and 2) some car attendants will seat women with other women.

I'm not a prude by any means, but I also don't like sleeping hip-to-hip with a strange man; it is outside of my comfort limits. The one time I was seated next to a man, I spent the entire night (awake) in the lounge car because it was a sold out train and I couldn't move to another seat.

He was a nice gentleman, and we had a wonderful chat about the southwest states, but I still didn't want to sleep practically snuggled up to him.

You make it sound like men who want to sit next to women are perverts who at best want to cuddle and well I don't even want to think about the worst. Are there people like that? Hopefully not but if Amtrak car attendants have to separate women they probably are. I do not have these intentions and don't think a lot of men who want to sit next to women have these intentions either. I would guess there are also single women who would prefer to sit next to men. I think two people of opposite sexes can enjoy a trip together without physical contact or the fear of such.

 

[Ryan]

If you fantasize about getting next to sit next to a girl, that is in fact pretty creepy. Doubly so when you're talking about Amtrak coach, which is potentially an overnight situation on a tiny loveseat without an armrest.

 

[Philly Amtrak Fan]

Fantasy was a poor choice of words. I apologize.

 

[jis]

Can't you guys get close to women in less confined setting than train seats? Sheesh!

A special problem in Amtrak LD coach is the total absence of an armrest between the two seats. Who dreamed up that idea I wonder!

 

[Bob Dylan]

To paraphrase the late and great Nelson Rockefeller: "I never want to sleep with anyone that I'm not on most intimate terms with!"

Unfortunately Philly the world is full of creepy guys that give the rest of us a bad name!

As men we have to put up with the crap that these pervs inflict on

Women!

Pretty much all of us that have ridden overnight in Coach prefer to have two seats to ourselves, but of course Sleepers are the way to roll!

 

[benale]

I guess it's a male thing(straight males) that two strange men usually don't want to spend the night in coach in the same seat. Guess it doesn't matter as much with women.. I would prefer sitting next to a woman than a man in coach,but of course, the best is getting two seats to yourself,which rarely happens. Of course sleepers are the obvious option,but a lot of people can't afford them. They have really gone up in price.

Several times I have met nice woman on line, struck up a conversation and asked if she wouldn't mind sitting together. Other times I've met women after we boarded and ended up sitting next to them. I've taken many cross country coach trips,so the odds of this happening is not bad. A few relationships also blossomed,but they were short lived.

If worst comes to worst and the train is full and you are sitting next to an undesirable person(drunk,smells,etc) there is always the option of the Sightseer Car. A little tougher on the viewliners,where all you have is the cafe car.

 

[R30A]

I've slept next to men and women on the train. I've had pleasant and unpleasant neighbors of both genders. My real preference is generally that the person regardless of gender be small. Makes it easier to get around them without disturbing them on a LD coach.

 

[BCL]

I guess it's a male thing(straight males) that two strange men usually don't want to spend the night in coach in the same seat. Guess it doesn't matter as much with women.. I would prefer sitting next to a woman than a man in coach,but of course, the best is getting two seats to yourself,which rarely happens. Of course sleepers are the obvious option,but a lot of people can't afford them. They have really gone up in price.

On a redeye or transoceanic flight you probably have little choice. Heck - there was a day when staying at a boarding house or dormitory meant two to a bed, with each man sleeping in an opposite direction. The first time I saw a bed like that I thought it was odd. It was at an historic US Army installation. On the CS I was seated next to a guy. We managed to coexist for the entire ride without saying a single word to each other. I had the window and he had the aisle. If I had to come in I would just bob my head in the direction of my seat and he would tuck his feet in. I was planning on telling him that he forgot his USB power adapter and cable, but he was already at the door when we got to EMY, and I couldn't get through the line of off boarding passengers (and I was getting off there too).

I've slept next to men and women on the train. I've had pleasant and unpleasant neighbors of both genders. My real preference is generally that the person regardless of gender be small. Makes it easier to get around them without disturbing them on a LD coach.

I'm not sure what Amtrak attendants are thinking. I suppose each one has a different idea of what someone's comfort level might be. I have been in a situation where I was about to be seated next to an obese man on a plane, and there were only two seats across. I took another seat and the flight attendants didn't complain. Even if someone is small, they might still use the leg and foot rests. That might get a little bit tricky once they're asleep.

 

[StriderGDM]

I've always taken the window seat when taking coach overnight. In part to look out the window, in part to have easier access to the outlet.

But I think one of these times I'll try the aisle so I can get up and out easier.

 

[Ryan]

Window seat is all about having the wall to lean up against and sleep (in addition to the benefits you mention).

 

[wdscott]

Found this in the version 8 service manual:

TAC – Upon Departure and En Route Responsibilities
a) Receiving Passengers
• Wipe all hand railings and grab irons.
• Place the step box securely on the platform
whenever the distance from the lower car step
is 12 inches or more.
• As passengers approach the car, call out the
destination of the train, and the destinations
assigned to the car.
• Assist passengers with the boarding process.
• Assist passengers with luggage.
• Remain on the ground until the Conductor
signals the train is ready to depart.
• Late boarding passengers will be allowed to
board at any opening and then escorted to
their car.
REV. No. 1 10-30-14
Service Standards Manual No. 8
6-77• Ensure that the vestibule doors and outside
windows are properly closed and secured.
• Continually update seating diagram for
boarding and detraining passengers.
• Update the seating diagram as the Conductor
makes the ticket lift.
• Verify this information periodically with the
Conductor.
• Notify the Conductor of any ticketing problems.
• Direct the passenger to their seat.
• Make every effort to seat families and groups
together.
• Coordinate group seating with the Conductor.

The train car attendant (TAC) is the only role I could find with responsibilities specific to seating. Of course we know many trains don't have a TAC, or better stated, not all cars have a TAC. I'm sure most us would recognize that (Assitant) Conductors play this role, too.

No mention of gender separation or any other such requirements.

For whatever that's worth!

--Bill

 

[Seaboard92]

I'll be honest I prefer to sit next to someone who is older then me. I find them more mature. Or to sit next to a women again my age and older. As I find the women act more mature then the guys do. And if I have to sit with you I prefer someone I can get along with. For whatever reason in life I've done better with female friends then males.

 

[Asher]

Size matters.

 

[HP_Lovecraft]

Amtrak should have it set up so you choose your seat in advance. End of story. It would simplify everything.

For me, I like to bring my kids on trips. Sometimes 2 kids. Sometimes even 5 kids. Its always important to me to make sure we are all sitting together. Sure, "choosing a seat in advance" may solve that problem, but it also might mean that by the time I go to pick the seats, there will be nothing left but random aisle seats.

I don't count on the conductor to "let groups with children board first" since that almost never happens. I try to board at terminal points, and be first in line.

 

[Hal]

Amtrak should have it set up so you choose your seat in advance. End of story. It would simplify everything.

For me, I like to bring my kids on trips. Sometimes 2 kids. Sometimes even 5 kids. Its always important to me to make sure we are all sitting together. Sure, "choosing a seat in advance" may solve that problem, but it also might mean that by the time I go to pick the seats, there will be nothing left but random aisle seats.

I don't count on the conductor to "let groups with children board first" since that almost never happens. I try to board at terminal points, and be first in line.

The best thing to do if you have 2 kids or 5 kids is have a Red Cap pre board your family group.

I don't think seat assignments will simplify everything. It will just create a different set of isues for people to whine about.

 

[jis]

But if you happen to book early to get low fares you will get your five seats together with seat assignment, and once you have them they are guaranteed to remain so. I know the rest of the stupid world has figured it out. It might take the geniuses in the exceptional US of A, who have taken a world class passenger railroad system and basically run it into the ground over half a century or more a while yet to rediscover the obvious.

 

[SarahZ]

But if you happen to book early to get low fares you will get your five seats together with seat assignment, and once you have them they are guaranteed to remain so. I know the rest of the stupid world has figured it out. It might take the geniuses in the exceptional US of A, who have taken a world class passenger railroad system and basically run it into the ground over half a century or more a while yet to rediscover the obvious.

Seriously. This is no different than families who wait until the last minute to book airline tickets. You either deal with being split up, or you ask strangers if they would be so kind as to switch seats so you can sit together.

 

[Thirdrail7]

Amtrak should have it set up so you choose your seat in advance. End of story. It would simplify everything.

For me, I like to bring my kids on trips. Sometimes 2 kids. Sometimes even 5 kids. Its always important to me to make sure we are all sitting together. Sure, "choosing a seat in advance" may solve that problem, but it also might mean that by the time I go to pick the seats, there will be nothing left but random aisle seats.

I don't count on the conductor to "let groups with children board first" since that almost never happens. I try to board at terminal points, and be first in line.

The best thing to do if you have 2 kids or 5 kids is have a Red Cap pre board your family group.

I don't think seat assignments will simplify everything. It will just create a different set of isues for people to whine about.

Indeed. This is one of the reasons it wasn't implemented. If you recall, the Acela sets were supposed to have assigned seating. After the passengers started rebelling, it was quickly shelved. Same goes for a few "medium" long distance trains. People didn't like being assigned to seats. A great deal of passengers consider open seating to be one of the marketable differences between the airlines and the rails.

When it comes up again, it will be for specific reason..which I obviously can't get into on this board.

 

[Ryan]

When it comes up again, it will be for specific reason..which I obviously can't get into on this board.

ZOMG, Amtrak is going to start charging a premium for window seats!

 

[jis]

There is no conflict between open seating and reserved assigned seating if the British or Japanese model is followed. A fixed number of seats in specific reserved assigned seating cars are offered for assigned seat reservation, sometimes even for an extra nominal reservation surcharge, thus making the car sort of a Premium car, where you pay the premium to get into it and get an assigned seat, and you don;t get into it if you have not paid the premium. There are other cars with open seating. They go so far as to make the open seating cars really open, i.e. no reservation of any kind and if you luck is not good, you get to stand. The Japanese do this even on their Shinkansen, even on the higher speed Hikaris. only the ecclusive highest speed Nozomis are all all reserved. The French will happily sell you a reserved ticket on a TGV with no seat assignment, which usually means you get to sit on one of the drop down seats by the doors if the train is full. The Germans do not insist on any reservations on the ICE trains, but often, if you want to actually have a seat on a heavily booked train, it is better to have a reservation. ICE trains at heavy travel hours carry many standees.

But there are other case, though uncommon, of reserved open seating too, where you have to have a reservation to get in a particular car, but can sit wherever in that car.

If we wish to find a solution there is one. OTOH, if we just want to make up excuses for not doing something. There are many of those too.

 

[Thirdrail7]

If we wish to find a solution there is one. OTOH, if we just want to make up excuses for not doing something. There are many of those too.

Of course, there are plenty of people with solutions to problems that don't really exist.

 

[jis]

Whether a problem exists or not is a matter of opinion. Just dismissing something by a wave a hand saying it does not exist is not a reasonable way to treat a possible problem that is being raised by some, unless of course one just wants to use ones imprimatur to force ones opinion on others That does happen a lot when people think they are in a position of unassailable power all over the world, so it is not at all out of the ordinary. Indeed, it is almost expected from many.

 

[Thirdrail7]

Whether a problem exists or not is a matter of opinion. Just dismissing something by a wave a hand saying it does not exist is not a reasonable way to treat a possible problem that is being raised by some, unless of course one just wants to use ones imprimatur to force ones opinion on others That does happen a lot when people think they are in a position of unassailable power all over the world, so it is not at all out of the ordinary. Indeed, it is almost expected from many.

Indeed. That is what makes this thread and board entertaining. Problems are often subjective. So are the "solutions," since they can often have unintended consequences for others since most people are concerned about 'their" point of view.

Some say assigned seating. Some say unreserved seating, Some say open seating. Some say no seating. The car is too hot, the car is too cold. The ride is too rough, the ride is just fine.

And the beat goes on.

 

[Trollopian]

If I recall, on German and Austrian trains, a seat reservation (which you purchase separately from your travel reservation) is a "sitzplatz." Pretty easy to translate.