That something is the staffing shortage which has been seen across the nation IIRC.
When is Sleeping Car returning to WAS-BOS overnight train?
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neroden
Engineer
All customer-facing jobs are unattractive right now due to Covid-19 and the number of members of the public who are unwilling to comply with mask rules -- it means they're hazard-pay jobs.
west point
Engineer
The Amtrak job postings do have coach cleaner positions at NPN. Suspect that means the sleeper as well>Have never seen a job posting just for sleepers' system wide.
The staffing problem seems to come now because the OBS is WASH based. To go to NPN would require probably 2 more positions even if OBS laid over in NPN and go to BOS.?? but the twilight had it as BOS based. There have been several postings for OBS at BOS so maybe when there is enough BOS OBS maybe it will go back to BOS?
BTW more posting for WASH as well.
The staffing problem seems to come now because the OBS is WASH based. To go to NPN would require probably 2 more positions even if OBS laid over in NPN and go to BOS.?? but the twilight had it as BOS based. There have been several postings for OBS at BOS so maybe when there is enough BOS OBS maybe it will go back to BOS?
BTW more posting for WASH as well.
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Siegmund
Lead Service Attendant
Correct. Newport News was part of the national network from the beginning (that lovely little one-car second section of the Cardinal that split off in Charlottesville, as well as the Colonial.)
There was always some weirdness with running empty cars to and from NPN -- when they first added the second frequency, the "Tidewater" (weekends only, and WAS-NPN some days of the week and NYP-NPN other days), I was puzzled to see a train running south 3 days a week but north 4 days a week. The equipment and crew had to get to NPN SOMEhow on Sundays... it seemed to me there would have been no downside to selling tickets both directions every day.
I had not been aware that yet another side effect of PRIIA was that the sleeper had to be closed south of WAS. So many things to hate about that "pay more, get less" bill! (For those who have not looked at a 1990s timetable in awhile: there was also no state support for the Empire Service except the Adirondack; nor for the old Montrealer, nor 3 round trips each on the Keystones, San Diegans, Hiawathas, and Chicago-Detroit. They had already talked Illinois into paying for all the Chicago-St. Louis trains by then, but at one time two of those were part of the 'national network' too.)
Coach cleaner is the official job title for people hired to clean trains.
Is there any information about was/bos sleeper service returning to ner 66? What happened to it?
They shifted some trains. 66 now originates in Roanoke. 65/67 terminate in Newport News.
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There has been some vague chatter that they may eventually bring the sleeper back - if they do it'd likely be cut/added on at WAS given the different end points in VA. Nothing concrete just chatter/rumors.
Honestly, when it comes to sleepers, Amtrak has a lot to straighten out before addressing 65/66/67.
20th Century Rider
Engineer
So many problems on the 'reintroduced Night Owl' a while back... such as blaring announcements at NYP... an intermediate stop in which all were awakened at unimaginable hours [yes... I did do the actual Night Owl when I was a lot younger and remember the quiet knocking and whispers at NYP so as not to wake up passengers.] And the rudeness of todays attendants is quite discouraging... especially noted in an account by a well known travel blogger in which that included nightcap was unattainable after the train left WAS cause the cafe was not yet open... but I mean... it's a short night trip... why shouldn't it be open when the train leaves the station for the short night run.=??? And the dry roll in a 'breakfast box' for the next morning doesn't seem to serve a purpose. [The original Night Owl included reasonable food and a toilet kit similar to transatlantic business class.]
Don't know why anyone would patronize a night train with this kind of service. Amtrak has lost its way with customer service... but this is not something that is new since the pandemic and before. I certainly wouldn't want to experience such a disappointing and uncomfortable service... for any price.
There are 1st class night busses plying the BOS NYP WAS corridor with far better service at much more affordable cost.
Don't know why anyone would patronize a night train with this kind of service. Amtrak has lost its way with customer service... but this is not something that is new since the pandemic and before. I certainly wouldn't want to experience such a disappointing and uncomfortable service... for any price.
There are 1st class night busses plying the BOS NYP WAS corridor with far better service at much more affordable cost.
Chatter = unfounded rumors and/or hopeful speculation. Meaningless.
Yes it did take a few days for kinks to be worked out. However the PA announcement was addressed, and train did get the new bedding. Pain to watch, but someone was managing the roll out, and got under control shortly. Then the train was canceled.
Oh well.
Oh well.
Mailliw
OBS Chief
And the award for understatement of the year goes to Zephyr17! Congratulations!
Mystic River Dragon
Engineer
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Was the reviewer Jeb Brooks? In his Night Owl review, he said the cafe attendant yelled at him because she wasn’t open yet. He is always pleasant, upbeat, and I am sure he is polite. I can’t imagine him doing anything to incur such wrath.
Simply Railway reviewed the Night Owl as well, and when he detrained at Boston, he said it was nice getting there early in the morning but that he had a horrible night’s sleep with the track being so rough. And this from a guy who usually has no trouble falling asleep in trains all over the U.S. and Europe.
Yes, and in the discussion about new VA service on AU in another thread couple months ago there was mention of a sleeper
west point
Engineer
The real question is will the BOS <> WAS sleeper net income be more or less than having them assigned to LD trains? That is if no external pressures are applied either for or against.
The ultimate solution would be 100 more sleepers which would allow for 3 - 4 additional sleepers on each LD train set + daily Cardinal. Of course no more LD routes turning single level.
The ultimate solution would be 100 more sleepers which would allow for 3 - 4 additional sleepers on each LD train set + daily Cardinal. Of course no more LD routes turning single level.
Ryan
Court Jester
Meaningfulness is in the eye of the beholder. Chatter from certain people can be very meaningful if one is savvy enough to know who has the best tea.
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Fair enough - meant no offense. Just sharing what I had heard - take it or leave it.
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Very true.
20th Century Rider
Engineer
Right on... Jeb Brooks it was!
No offense taken, at all. I just get weary in social media with unfounded rumors being posted and taken as fact. Not saying you did that, just happens so consistently on so many venues. A level of critical thinking needs to be taken with any social media post.
Any updates on this saga of sleepers?
I now have have semi regular work in Baltimore that would make a sleeper car perfect and the current train options aren’t great.
I’m currently opting for the morning Acela instead of the previous overnight train.
I now have have semi regular work in Baltimore that would make a sleeper car perfect and the current train options aren’t great.
I’m currently opting for the morning Acela instead of the previous overnight train.
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Acela150
Super Buff
Right now, no. I think that their are some things that need to be worked out before this happens again.
