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

[jis]

Perfect! Excellent! Outstanding! Hits that nail right on its head!

The account is a 'right on' reflection of all the frustration expressed on AU re downgrades from sleeper to coach with no warnings or little opportunities... while the top brass were in absolute bliss with huge pay bonuses!

But also extending sympathetic appreciation to all the front line workers and res agents who were so adversely affected with huge work loads to handle endless problems... and with comparatively low pay.

Sure hope Congress is listening and ready to infuse more appropriated funding... as well as make working conditions and pay attractive enough to bring in Amtrak employees motivated towards a higher level of customer service.

I don’t think Congress should provide any more funding without insisting on the replacement of the entire Board and the executive suite. The problem at present is not lack of funding. It is lack of competent management. They have the incredible inverse Midas touch. All that they touch turns into stinky mud.

 

[tricia]

Regarding sleeper cancellations

http://corridorrail.com/u-s-amtrak-...d-more-than-2-million-in-performance-bonuses/

One specific bit of info from this article:

While all this was happening, aerial reconnaissance at the Beech Grove shops outside Indianapolis, Indiana revealed scores of Superliners and other nominally roadworthy single level cars, and many locomotives, sitting in the weeds gathering dust rather than revenue.

 

[wrowland]

Regarding sleeper cancellations

http://corridorrail.com/u-s-amtrak-...d-more-than-2-million-in-performance-bonuses/

Scared to death I am about fall travel as we have a family trip booked on the SWC, EB and CS that was booked due to our sleeper being removed on the CZ. I am so hoping they do not change the dates of service; with our luck so far the day we are scheduled for will the day dropped!

 

[wrowland]

One specific bit of info from this article:

I am right near Beech Grove; need to go help them fix my sleeper car so we can get back on the CZ!

 

[wrowland]

My trip is planned as a roundtrip on the CS from Olympia to Sacramento, CZ to Galesburg, SWC to LAX and back to Olympia with no overnights.
I'm familiar with car numbers on the CS but need feedback on CZ 640 and SWC330.

I am no pro but the 640 car sounds like a transdorm sleeper where crew and passengers share the top level and bottom is generally reserved for crew (noted by the use of "40" in the car #). The 330 on the SWC is the base consist sleeper car, most likely won't see that disappear unless they sub in a transdorm sleeper and boot bedroom folks. Most likely won't happen but seems to have been observed recently in this thread.

 

[zephyr17]

I am booked on the CZ in car 640, room 20 {initial booking was car 632) from Sacramento to Galesburg on Sept. 23. Is that car an old one?

It is a transdorm and all transdorms are Superliner IIs. Most Superliner IIs are unrefurbished and, while newer, appear much older and more worn than the Superliner Is which have all been refurbished.

 

[PaTrainFan]

Amtrak's handling of all this is abysmal, especially its communications. If Gardner would come out and say, "We're sorry for the inconvenience, but we're taking these cars out of service temporarily for routine maintenance and upgrades," most would be kinder in reaction. But I suspect that's not what they are doing. However, to put it into context, I just saw a media report this morning that said according to Flight Aware, airlines cancelled 120,000 flights between January and July this year.

 

[UserNameRequired]

I am not sure how anyone could rebook into sleepers back into Aug as most all days thru Sept sleepers are sold out when I check? Actually several days are completely sold out coach and sleepers.

I hadn't been checking sold out or not for CZ around the 29th on or before the 6th so I don't know what it looked like at that time. Just trying to do my part and add a log to the speculation fire

 

[20th Century Rider]

Amtrak's handling of all this is abysmal, especially its communications. If Gardner would come out and say, "We're sorry for the inconvenience, but we're taking these cars out of service temporarily for routine maintenance and upgrades," most would be kinder in reaction. But I suspect that's not what they are doing. However, to put it into context, I just saw a media report this morning that said according to Flight Aware, airlines cancelled 120,000 flights between January and July this year.

So now we know what's so apparent about current Amtrak management style...

They leave all to speculate and wonder... as in... 'Shhhhhhhsh - It's a secret.'

But what's not so secret... management incompetence.

 

[20th Century Rider]

I don’t think Congress should provide any more funding without insisting on the replacement of the entire Board and the executive suite. The problem at present is not lack of funding. It is lack of competent management. They have the incredible inverse Midas touch. All that they touch turns into stinky mud.

That certainly goes without saying.

 

[Bob Dylan]

One way to make the punishment fit the crime (and provide the rest of us with a source of innocent merriment) would be to force those responsible for this fiasco to take a long-distance train trip, traveling both ways in coach .

And have the Cafe be " Out" of most items!

 

[MARC Rider]

One way to make the punishment fit the crime (and provide the rest of us with a source of innocent merriment) would be to force those responsible for this fiasco to take a long-distance train trip, traveling both ways in coach .

But if they travel in coach, their reservation won't be cancelled!

 

[MARC Rider]

Once when I rode the Silver Meteor, one of the sleepers (fortunately for me, not mine) was bad-ordered somewhere before our station (Orlando) and the sleeper passengers in that car were downgraded to coach. I talked to someone who was downgraded, and she said that they not only fully refunded the sleeper charge, they gave them the meals they were entitled to as sleeper passengers. This was back in the days when the Meteor had traditional dining and coach passengers could eat in the diner at additional charge. These downgraded passengers apparently didn't have to pay for their meals.

Are the people who are currently being downgraded to coach from sleeper still being offered their sleeper meals? (Of course, for those traveling on the trains with flex dining, that might not be such an advantage.)

 

[trimetbusfan]

Once when I rode the Silver Meteor, one of the sleepers (fortunately for me, not mine) was bad-ordered somewhere before our station (Orlando) and the sleeper passengers in that car were downgraded to coach. I talked to someone who was downgraded, and she said that they not only fully refunded the sleeper charge, they gave them the meals they were entitled to as sleeper passengers. This was back in the days when the Meteor had traditional dining and coach passengers could eat in the diner at additional charge. These downgraded passengers apparently didn't have to pay for their meals.

Are the people who are currently being downgraded to coach from sleeper still being offered their sleeper meals? (Of course, for those traveling on the trains with flex dining, that might not be such an advantage.)

No, they do not offer meal vouchers in the dining car anymore since they closed it off to sleeper pax only.

 

[Just-Thinking-51]

Also have yet to hear anyone take up Amtrak coach seat offer yet. The general statement is there canceling there trips rather trying out a coach seat for 2-3 days.

 

[Eric in East County]

But if they travel in coach, their reservation won't be cancelled!

Not necessarily. Our Southwest Chief No. 4 bedroom reservations for June 28 couldn’t even be downgraded to coach because the train was sold out!

 

[Rasputin]

Are the people who are currently being downgraded to coach from sleeper still being offered their sleeper meals? (Of course, for those traveling on the trains with flex dining, that might not be such an advantage.)

It would be a helpful gesture but what do you think under the current management regime?

As the Amtrak apologists like to point out: "They are getting their transportation aren't they? What more do they want?"

 

[toddinde]

It seems that the sleeper cancellation issues are (at least for now) limited to the Superliners. That would indicate that equipment shortages, not OBS shortages, are the major issue. Remember we have deferred maintenance over the COVID period, cars out of service allegedly for refurbishment, and two major derailments where I expect legal will hold the cars out of service until all litigation is resolved.

If management were competent (note the use of the subjective) they would be working with Siemens now on a new sleeping car to put into the production pipeline.

Supposedly, they are. Amtrak claims they’ll put an order out in 2024. But before that, putting the cars in the deadline at Beach Grove back in service, and doing a comprehensive mechanical rebuild on all Superliners is essential. Amtrak could also order Viewliners which isn’t a bad idea. They’re nice cars.

 

[jcmascarenas]

Once when I rode the Silver Meteor, one of the sleepers (fortunately for me, not mine) was bad-ordered somewhere before our station (Orlando) and the sleeper passengers in that car were downgraded to coach. I talked to someone who was downgraded, and she said that they not only fully refunded the sleeper charge, they gave them the meals they were entitled to as sleeper passengers. This was back in the days when the Meteor had traditional dining and coach passengers could eat in the diner at additional charge. These downgraded passengers apparently didn't have to pay for their meals.

Are the people who are currently being downgraded to coach from sleeper still being offered their sleeper meals? (Of course, for those traveling on the trains with flex dining, that might not be such an advantage.)

I was just downgraded for my 9/18 from CHI-EMY. The first agent I spoke to was utterly useless and rude ( 'too bad, so sad' kind of attitude). Upon receiving a second email about downgrade, I called again because I was worried our second bedroom had been bumped also. Second agent was extremely helpful, ensured the fare difference refund was processed, and more importantly assured me that we would still be provided the meals that our original booking had entitled us to and that if we had any issues with that on board to call them. My plan is to print out all documents to take along, i.e. original ticket (yes, we were booked in two bedrooms!), downgrade email notice, and new ticket. Hoping there's no issues....

 

[jcmascarenas]

No, they do not offer meal vouchers in the dining car anymore since they closed it off to sleeper pax only.

This is not what an Amtrak agent told me when I called in reference to my recent downgrade. She assured me that we would still be entitled to meals and if we had any problems on board to call them. We'll see.....

 

[trimetbusfan]

This is not what an Amtrak agent told me when I called in reference to my recent downgrade. She assured me that we would still be entitled to meals and if we had any problems on board to call them. We'll see.....

Well that’s promising. I hope it works out for you.

 

[20th Century Rider]

I was just downgraded for my 9/18 from CHI-EMY. The first agent I spoke to was utterly useless and rude ( 'too bad, so sad' kind of attitude). Upon receiving a second email about downgrade, I called again because I was worried our second bedroom had been bumped also. Second agent was extremely helpful, ensured the fare difference refund was processed, and more importantly assured me that we would still be provided the meals that our original booking had entitled us to and that if we had any issues with that on board to call them. My plan is to print out all documents to take along, i.e. original ticket (yes, we were booked in two bedrooms!), downgrade email notice, and new ticket. Hoping there's no issues....

Be sure to request a large inconvenience transportation credit voucher for such a horrific downgrade. This usually cannot be done until the trip has been completed. Also you did the right thing to call back and get another agent who was apparently much more understanding. You are entitled to sizable compensation.

 

[thully]

I was just downgraded for my 9/18 from CHI-EMY. The first agent I spoke to was utterly useless and rude ( 'too bad, so sad' kind of attitude). Upon receiving a second email about downgrade, I called again because I was worried our second bedroom had been bumped also. Second agent was extremely helpful, ensured the fare difference refund was processed, and more importantly assured me that we would still be provided the meals that our original booking had entitled us to and that if we had any issues with that on board to call them. My plan is to print out all documents to take along, i.e. original ticket (yes, we were booked in two bedrooms!), downgrade email notice, and new ticket. Hoping there's no issues....

Did you have two people booked in two bedrooms and were switched to a single bedroom? That would explain why you still get meals - two people in a single bedroom are both entitled to meals.

 

[Trucker72]

Also have yet to hear anyone take up Amtrak coach seat offer yet. The general statement is there canceling there trips rather trying out a coach seat for 2-3 days.

I took them up on it. We had to. We are going from Portland, Maine to Boston to NYC to Chicago to Denever to Emeryville to LA to San Diego to LA to Flagstaff to Chicago to Washington to Boston to Portland.
The Denver to Emeryville is the downgraded leg. They have not downgraded the Chicago to Denver leg, yet!

 

[jcmascarenas]

Did you have two people booked in two bedrooms and were switched to a single bedroom? That would explain why you still get meals - two people in a single bedroom are both entitled to meals.

No, we had 4 people booked in 2 bedrooms. My in-laws arriving from the UK will stay in the bedroom and hubby and I will be riding coach. Cancellation was an option, but the trip was for the folks benefit, so since they still have a bedroom, we'll press on as planned.