Superliner trains' removal and restoration of cars (2022-2023)

[thully]

So I ended up calling Amtrak to have them redo the reservation with the voucher from my last trip applied. When doing so, I found that another roomette opened up. That one was in 330, but was on the lower-level. Is there any reason to prefer that over the transdorm, either in general or given the current cancellations? I‘d prefer upper level so I left it alone for now (and it obviously may not last).

 

[MccfamschoolMom]

So I ended up calling Amtrak to have them redo the reservation with the voucher from my last trip applied. When doing so, I found that another roomette opened up. That one was in 330, but was on the lower-level. Is there any reason to prefer that over the transdorm, either in general or given the current cancellations? I‘d prefer upper level so I left it alone for now (and it obviously may not last).

Passengers with mobility issues (and who don't mind eating in their rooms) might prefer a lower-level roomette. You'd also be closer to the shower. The family bedroom is on that level, too, though, so it might be noisier, and you might have a better view if you were to stay on the upper level.

 

[Bob Dylan]

So I ended up calling Amtrak to have them redo the reservation with the voucher from my last trip applied. When doing so, I found that another roomette opened up. That one was in 330, but was on the lower-level. Is there any reason to prefer that over the transdorm, either in general or given the current cancellations? I‘d prefer upper level so I left it alone for now (and it obviously may not last).

I'd stay in the Transdorm but I'm not one that likes Downstairs Rooms!

 

[thully]

I’d prefer upper level for views, and convienence of the transdorm vs lower-level regular sleeper seems pretty even (both have same-level shower, but require going either up stairs/through the next car for coffee or the diner/lounge). My only concern is if Amtrak were to substitute a regular sleeper for the transdorm and kick out the passengers due to having less rooms. Is that something that has been happening?

 

[west point]

When was the FY 2022 budget approved and when did the POTUS sign it? Those dates are when Amtrak should have started hiring not now what maybe 11 months later?

 

[user 14106]

When was the FY 2022 budget approved and when did the POTUS sign it? Those dates are when Amtrak should have started hiring not now what maybe 11 months later?

They haven’t just started hiring now.

 

[trimetbusfan]

I’d prefer upper level for views, and convienence of the transdorm vs lower-level regular sleeper seems pretty even (both have same-level shower, but require going either up stairs/through the next car for coffee or the diner/lounge). My only concern is if Amtrak were to substitute a regular sleeper for the transdorm and kick out the passengers due to having less rooms. Is that something that has been happening?

If anything it would add room. A standard sleeper has more revenue roomettes than a transdorm.

 

[thully]

If anything it would add room. A standard sleeper has more revenue roomettes than a transdorm.

The crew has to sleep somewhere, though - aren’t there less total rooms?

 

[Bob Dylan]

The crew has to sleep somewhere, though - aren’t there less total rooms?

No, most Transdorms have 24 Roomettes and the H Room Downstairs.

Regular SL Sleepers have 14 Roomettes,5 Bedrooms and the H and Family Bedrooms Downstairs.=21

 

[thully]

No, most Transdorms have 24 Roomettes and the H Room Downstairs.

Regular SL Sleepers have 14 Roomettes,5 Bedrooms and the H and Family Bedrooms Downstairs.=21

That would be 4 less rooms - so if the Transdorm is fully occupied, 4 passengers would have to be kicked out if they substituted a regular sleeper. Or am I missing something.

 

[Bob Dylan]

That would be 4 less rooms - so if the Transdorm is fully occupied, 4 passengers would have to be kicked out if they substituted a regular sleeper. Or am I missing something.

You are correct Sir! 4 Transdorm Roomette Pax would be downgraded to Coach UNLESS there was a Bedroom Open!

 

[lrh442]

I'd also like to know what drove the decision to give the Coast Starlight three regular Superliner Sleepers when most other consists are operating (or will be operating) with just one regular Superliner Sleeper. That third sleeper line requires sleeper car attendants (SCAs).

Perhaps they are better staffed at the LA crew base than Chicago?
Given the difficulty of attracting and retaining OBS crew I doubt Amtrak is eager to start relocating staff on an involuntary basis.

 

[thully]

You are correct Sir! 4 Transdorm Roomette Pax would be downgraded to Coach UNLESS there was a Bedroom Open!

Has that been a common occurrence recently? Wondering if I should keep my eye out for a 330 roomette - the lower-level one is gone now, though I’d really prefer upper.

 

[Bob Dylan]

Has that been a common occurrence recently? Wondering if I should keep my eye out for a 330 roomette - the lower-level one is gone now, though I’d really prefer upper.

You should be OK in the Transdorm, but as you said, having the Flights as a backup is prudent.

I'm flying to the Gathering, have SWA flight home as a Backup( Points) in case the Sunset is cut back by the Genuises in Charge!

 

[trimetbusfan]

That would be 4 less rooms - so if the Transdorm is fully occupied, 4 passengers would have to be kicked out if they substituted a regular sleeper. Or am I missing something.

Transdorms have 9 revenue roomettes (plus an H room), while standard sleepers have 6 revenue roomettes, 5 revenue bedrooms, and the H room.

 

[thully]

Transdorms have 9 revenue roomettes (plus an H room), while standard sleepers have 6 revenue roomettes, 5 revenue bedrooms, and the H room.

You mean standard sleepers when used as a crew sleeper, correct? If that’s true, it seems like they’d move some roomettes to bedrooms if there was a swap…

Edit: I saw some old posts suggesting all roomette passengers would be assigned new roomettes, and crew would be assigned bedrooms or roomettes based on seniority. Is this still how it works?

 

[SteveSFL]

I just got invited to bid for an upgrade from roomette to bedroom on my Zephyr trip later this week. Can you imagine bidding $500 and getting upgraded to a bedroom only to then get downgraded to coach when they remove a sleeper! No thanks! I’ll stay in my 631 roomette!

 

[user 14106]

I just got invited to bid for an upgrade from roomette to bedroom on my Zephyr trip later this week. Can you imagine bidding $500 and getting upgraded to a bedroom only to then get downgraded to coach when they remove a sleeper! No thanks! I’ll stay in my 631 roomette!

I don’t blame you given what’s been going on but in all seriousness that likely wouldn’t happen. All the car inventory changes have been made for whatever the period is they have pulled the second sleeper - they wouldn’t be selling any non existent inventory on the bid up program. This is likely due to a passenger cancellation. If you bid on an upgrade and got it the only way you’d get downgraded is if there was a bad ordered car - and then everyone in the car is screwed anyway. You also don’t find out until just before the trip if you got it - and you would only get it if the room didn’t get sold and no one bid higher - and if you didn’t get it you’d keep your roomette. Given how tight the availability of bedrooms is right now I highly doubt you’d get it even if you bid high likely it will sell normally between now and your trip day.

 

[SteveSFL]

Yeah looks like that bedroom is gone already but oddly enough it’s letting me book up to 8 roomettes so they must still have a lot of space in the transdorm.

 

[trimetbusfan]

You mean standard sleepers when used as a crew sleeper, correct? If that’s true, it seems like they’d move some roomettes to bedrooms if there was a swap…

Edit: I saw some old posts suggesting all roomette passengers would be assigned new roomettes, and crew would be assigned bedrooms or roomettes based on seniority. Is this still how it works?

Yes.

Based on a recent starlight trip, the crew took room 1 (sca), and 3-10. The bedrooms and lower level roomettes/family room were for revenue sale.

 

[UserNameRequired]

You mean standard sleepers when used as a crew sleeper, correct? If that’s true, it seems like they’d move some roomettes to bedrooms if there was a swap…

Edit: I saw some old posts suggesting all roomette passengers would be assigned new roomettes, and crew would be assigned bedrooms or roomettes based on seniority. Is this still how it works?

Ok, so both of our recent CZ had normal sleepers used in place of a trans dorm, 08-20-22 and 08-29-22.

For 08-29-22, we were originally scheduled for 10 months to be in a normal sleeper roomette, 532 car. In early August, we were changed to the 540 car, room 24. Then, after being called in the lounge to lineup in Chicago at 13:15, at 13:22 and 13:44 I got emails saying we were back in the 532 car. Who can read email while walking and lining up 2 suitcases one with 65lb and the other 55lb? We went to the 540 as planned, except it was a normal sleeper, not a trans dorm. Then we were hand assigned on the spot another roomette on 540, but we had to go back and forth a few times (much confusion) since their is no roomette 19 on normal sleepers. We ended up in a different roomette in 540, so we were ok. The SCA really got us squared away well after the numbering issues were resolved. After settling in, my wife said something about a notification from the App so I went and read the email and I later went back to 532 and the roomette we received 45 minutes before departure and it was empty.

The crew seemed to be in the bedrooms and in the first one or two roomettes upstairs and they seemed to be in the downstairs roomettes too.

The front of this sleeper used as a trans dorm had a proper cover over where the rail fan window was, held on with yellow ratchet straps. The last one had the straps hanging loose like the cover wasn't put on or it fell off at some point.

 

[trimetbusfan]

Ok, so both of our recent CZ had normal sleepers used in place of a trans dorm, 08-20-22 and 08-29-22.

For 08-29-22, we were originally scheduled for 10 months to be in a normal sleeper roomette, 532 car. In early August, we were changed to the 540 car, room 24. Then, after being called in the lounge to lineup in Chicago at 13:15, at 13:22 and 13:44 I got emails saying we were back in the 532 car. Who can read email while walking and lining up 2 suitcases one with 65lb and the other 55lb? We went to the 540 as planned, except it was a normal sleeper, not a trans dorm. Then we were hand assigned on the spot another roomette on 540, but we had to go back and forth a few times (much confusion) since their is no roomette 19 on normal sleepers. We ended up in a different roomette in 540, so we were ok. The SCA really got us squared away well after the numbering issues were resolved. After settling in, my wife said something about a notification from the App so I went and read the email and I later went back to 532 and the roomette we received 45 minutes before departure and it was empty.

The crew seemed to be in the bedrooms and in the first one or two roomettes upstairs and they seemed to be in the downstairs roomettes too.

The front of this sleeper used as a trans dorm had a proper cover over where the rail fan window was, held on with yellow ratchet straps. The last one had the straps hanging loose like the cover wasn't put on or it fell off at some point.

Sounds like they had a last minute equipment substation.. but twice, that is weird. Could it perhaps had been the same consist both times?

 

[Rasputin]

The recent cancellations of sleeping car reservations must have involved hundreds and perhaps thousands of (potential) Amtrak passengers who have now been downgraded to coach. This appears to be unprecedented in the history of Amtrak.

Perhaps I have missed it but has anyone from Amtrak management, especially senior management, issued any statement concerning this problem. Have they shown any sign that they are aware of the problem or that they consider it to be a problem? Perhaps they are aware of it and just prefer to have these unpleasant matters handled by their underlings at Customer Relations.

 

[jpakala]

I remember all-coach streamliners with coach porters who presumably slept in a seat, and in 12 section & 1 drawing room Pullmans the porter shined shoes at night in the men's room and caught 40 winks on the sofa-seat there. Later he had one of the roomettes at least sometimes. I don't know where the Pullman conductor slept, although of course with stops during the night such personnel had to be on duty in full uniform.

 

[user 14106]

The recent cancellations of sleeping car reservations must have involved hundreds and perhaps thousands of (potential) Amtrak passengers who have now been downgraded to coach. This appears to be unprecedented in the history of Amtrak.

Perhaps I have missed it but has anyone from Amtrak management, especially senior management, issued any statement concerning this problem. Have they shown any sign that they are aware of the problem or that they consider it to be a problem? Perhaps they are aware of it and just prefer to have these unpleasant matters handled by their underlings at Customer Relations.

They sort of did. It was acknowledged a number of times by their spokesperson in articles when they went back to daily trains just before summer that consists and capacity would be less than desired due to staffing shortages. While a direct comment by executives may be well received by those of us that follow Amtrak closely it’s probably not going to make a difference to the more casual person who gets downgraded and doesnt follow Amtrak as much. At the end of the day it’s their version of reducing flights because of staffing and it’s harder to re accommodate in the same accommodation due to the fact the train only runs once a day and the sleeper inventory is tight on some of these trains. But at the end of the day that’s really more a function and limitation of the mode than Amtrak really doing anything different than the airlines. I’d personally rather see them reduce the availability of inventory months out until they know for sure they can add a car before opening up more inventory. Though that probably wouldn’t fly for revenue and yield management reasons.