I don’t think some passengers realize just how hard/heartbreaking the work can be for Amtrak staff. I’ve witnessed so many things. Verbal abuse from passengers, messy passengers elder passengers that are traveling alone (and often times shouldn’t be) expecting attendants to treat them like a personal nurse and the worst was seeing two male passengers traveling in the middle of the night with a young boy (about 4 years old). The men were physically and verbally abusing the child. The female attendant was trying to keep the child safe (and warm..the poor boy was barely dressed for it being Winter). The attendant suspected what I was suspecting, the child wasn’t theirs and potentially being a victim of human trafficking. That brave attendant calmly kept the child safe, alerted the Amtrak who in turn alerted police at the station the men were set to depart at. The attendant offered to carry the young boy off the train onto the station platform where police (discreetly) were waiting for the men and young boy. This was on the Coast Starlight coming into the Dunsmuir station in the middle of the night. That female Amtrak staffer went BEYOND what most people would do.
Wow! That attendant deserves every merit that is possible, from AMTRAK, law enforcement ... and, possibly the parents of a child. I take the Coast Starlight between SF/Emeryville, and Seattle, every summer. I tip well on even the most UNEVENTFUL ride. That was service "above and beyond."
I think the biggest I've seen, is with the restrooms.. Passengers seem to always plug them up, piss on the floors in them, or throw tissue or toweling on the floor.. Passengers can be really dirty and nasty 🤢🤮
"I agree with you on this matter. That's why whenever I travel, I always pack some sanitizing wipes to clean everything, hand soap or a bar of soap to wash my hands, a roll of toilet paper, and some air freshener.
The feeding 3 people with 2 meals makes sense to me because many people don't like to eat a very full meal on a moving vehicle due to nausea and heartburn.
When I was five years old my Grandmother and I took the train from Detroit to Los Angeles in 1952 and my most vivid memory was having French Toast for breakfast after using a “finger bowl to wash my hands with the help of the porter! That started my love for train travel that has continued to my taking my children on several trips!!
Reminds me of my first train ride in the early 60s when my aunt took my sister and I from Seattle to Chicago. I was 4 and the thing I remember was her little bag that had bananas and Hershey bars in it 😊 I love trains to this day.
My grandmother took me on my first train ride when I was 3 back in 1982 from Cleveland to Seattle. One of the best trips of my life. It took 20 years for me to get on another one, but since then I have taken Amtrak about 40 times as well as 2 European trains. My mother used to mention how back in the 50s and 60s, my grandmother would take her and my uncle as they were the only two kids born at the time from Cleveland back to Alabama.
People that use the speakerphone feature is my pet peeve. Too many people out there think that they have to share their telephone conversation with the rest of the world.
I confess One of the Times I was on a train that I was seated next to somebody And we weren't being vulgar or anything but we were shooting the breeze till late at night. He was drinking a little bit but I wasn't. Neither one of us was really watching the time and I suddenly looked around and noticed everybody was trying to sleep. OOOPS! I just told the guy everybody's trying to sleep and we need to shut up for the night and he was cool about it and I apologized profusely to the other passengers that were anywhere near us. I think that's the worst thing I've done on a train.
I watched to make sure I wasn't doing anything to annoy staff. Whew! I'm off the hook. I have had nothing but great attendants and staff. A few years ago, I was coming back on the Empire Builder from MT to Chicago, and the train was 24 hours late. I spent, unplanned, Christmas day and evening on the train. The staff was so accommodating, they were even giving free food away to coach riders. I'll ride again in a heartbeat. Thanks for your posts. They have been so helpful.
I think the free food if the train is X hours late is standard policy. Last summer, I had two different trains that were both coincidentally seven hours late. I got complimentary stew on one and continental breakfast fare on the other.
My favorite incident involved a southbound trip on the Coast Starlight. During the night, one passenger decided the seat wasn't comfortable enough, and chose to sleep in the aisle! The staff stood around him at three am trying to wake him up. You have to admire them for what they deal with.
In fairness, I have spent a night on the coach floor also. But I used the area in front of our seats (we had seats at the front of the coach, so there was more room), and I was doing it because I had a fussy 9 month old who didn't want to fall asleep in the seat. Still, in some ways it was more comfortable than the seat.
Leaving children unattended in the family bedroom. I was in a roomette next to the family bedroom. The two adult women left their four children (age range about 4 to 12) alone. The children were screaming, throwing things and literally bouncing off the walls- they were literally out of control. I asked the sleeping car attendant if she could do something about the noise and when she found the women drinking in the cafe car, she told them to go back to the family room and control their children. The women came back, loudly berated the kids for getting the moms in trouble, told them to behave and went back to the cafe car for more drinks. Five minutes later, the kids were back at it. This cycle repeated twice more. Finally, the car attendant got the conductor who a) told them that I was being relocated to an upstairs roomette and the one I had been in was out of service and they were being charged for it and b) if they refused to pay for the out of service roomette OR there were any complaints from other passengers, the group would be thrown off the train. The car attendant later told me the women were drunk, belligerent, uncooperative and the family bedroom had been trashed; the group was removed from the train at a small town stop in the middle of the night.
You guys are such great role models for good behavior that I thought of you when I took a trip to Montreal. As you have noted before, the bathroom in coach was a bit messy with used towels on the floor and the trash bin overflowing. I took it upon myself to pick it all up and jam it well down into the trashcan. My experience on trains is the mess tends to snowball. A towel tossed into the sink clogs the drain. The next person uses the sink and it fills up and sloshes over the rim and onto the floor. Then the floor becomes muddy, and the cuff of your pants picks up that mud and you can't wash your hands. And so it goes. So, thanks for reminding everyone to do their bit to make the ride nicer for every rider and for every staff member. It makes a difference. We need the reminder to initiate the change we'd like to see.
I travelled coach so I didn't need anything form a car attendant, but the staff was pleasant. What really made me feel good was the conductor saying, with great sincerity, that he knows we have all kinds of options for travel and that he and the staff appreciated us choosing Amtrak. It was more than the usual spiel of 'Thank you for choosing Amtrak', he really meant it,
March 2024: A group of four women was seated all the way across the row ahead of me for 19 hours. They were all asleep when I boarded mid day. They were loud, cussy, messy, and inconsiderate. During the night they played videos without headphones, Played audible phone games, made and received phone calls, notifications were not muted. They were asked many times to be more thoughtful to those around them. Their response was to always be on the lookout for staff, but continue as usual. They ended their trip by dropping an empty drink bottle in the aisle next to me and spilling laundry detergent in the aisle. I couldn't tolerate the detergent's fragrance and had to flee the car before the building allergic reaction could fully manifest. The headache lingered for two more hours assuring I got less than half the sleep I desired.
I don't tolerate fragrances well. I would've had an instant migraine and probably puked on them. I had the instant migraine on a train when the conductor made me move from my assigned handicap seat to accommodate a man in a huge reclining wheel chair. Moved my upright rollator walker to where I could not access it without help and placed me next to someone that smelled like a ash tray. I got a migraine and nauseated. I puked in the aisle because I couldn't get to my walker. Part of the puke went in stinky ash trays bed on the floor behind my seat.
Why were they even carrying laundry detergent to begin with? Also, ditto on the fragrance sensitivities. That headache would have wrecked the rest of my trip too.
Damn, they're rachet on the train😮,too! I was about to book a trip by train (my bucket list). Was nudged by the Jeb and Susan Brooks travels. I am afraid of flying. Staycation😅😅😅😅😅😅😅, watching your channel
Maybe you should do one of these for things that staff do that drive passengers crazy! I'll start 1.Conductors and car attendants who disappear except for when they are onboarding and collecting tickets, especially the ones who don't bother to come through and tell you the exit car when you're getting off the train in the middle of the night 2. Staff who don't enforce rules (like no vaping) because they just can't be bothered or want to avoid conflict 3. Staff who don't seem to notice that the PA system in a car doesn't work so passengers can't hear the announcements 4. Conductors who walk thru the cars with their VERY loud walkie-talkies turned on, even in the middle of the night
.....and there is so much more. So glad you commented. You would think it would be easier for the attendants to be pleasant and helpful. My husband and I are generous tippers when we receive the basic service.
Sneaking someone into the sleeper car is a form of stealing, but sleeper car passengers paid for their meals in the Dining Car. If they ate part of their meals in their room and took the leftovers to the observation car (where their teenager ate them), no one would notice. If they ask for a second dessert, that's another story
Yeah. I wondered about that one. How does it increase prices? I haven't taken an amtrak before I thought if you're in a sleeper car, you get a meal in the dining room. It sounds like a set meal, so it's not like they would be getting extra food and costing amtrak more money for that meal. Seems like a great way to avoid wasting food if 2/3s is enough for them and they have someone else ready and willing to eat it.
Wow, I've never done any of that stuff on a train. Pro tip #1: If the train is delayed, you are not the only one being delayed -- so is everybody on the crew. Pro tip #2: If the crew can detect smoking in your room, they can certainly detect cooking. Pro tip #3: One of the single most important things to bring is a thermos -- you don't have to constantly bother the staff for coffee or tea. I recommend a wide mouth bottle for ice, too.
I have no problem speaking up if someone is in the assigned seat I paid good money for, and I don't need the conductor unless they refuse to move. It's called having a conversation, more people should get their heads out of their phones and learn it.
@jerseypup, I like your viewpoint; but apparently you have not yet met a belligerent, combative person, who goes into his overblown response on first contact, before a conversation can even be started. Too many of them out there. They're frightening and even dangerous, so I look and listen for cues, before I initiate the polite, civil overture to open the conversation.
A few months ago I was travelling coach out of Chicago. While waiting at Union Station a security team with a sniffer dog ID'd this man's bags and the team did a search. Apparently they must not have found anything because the man ended up in the same coach car I was in and he was going on about how they kept asking him if he had any marijuana and how he was gonna "sue the pants off of Amtrak" and whatnot. Well he eventually quieted down, but about an hour into the trip, lo and behold, I smelled weed. Not long after I went to the lounge car, where at the next stop I saw this man being escorted away from the train by Amtrak crew and local police. Kudos to the crew that day for dealing with the situation swiftly and discreetly. (Not sure how security in Chicago missed it though lol)
Bring an oven mitt with you and you can place your curling iron or straightening iron inside it so it won't burn or melt something else in your room or your suitcase
After my first long trip, where I saw the hat the car attendants do, I have a set proceedure now. I let them know that once my room is set for sleeping, leave it. I'm more of a couch flopper than chair sitter anyways, so it's more comfortable for me, and no, I will make my own bed, thank you. Being a smoker, I also set my alarm for late night smoke stops instead of having to have the attendant wake me up. It might be small, but it's one less thing they are asked to do. And for the love of all things holy, tip your attendant! Especially if you request "extra"...
@@misdesixtysix8255if I am in a sleeper car, I usually tip $5 per day. (I give it to them as I disembark, not each day.) I don’t always tip coach attendants unless they did something extra for me. That is the policy I was taught a longtime ago.
@@misdesixtysix8255 Allie and Rob have a video on that if you search on their channel. I don't know how far apart those stations are but for only one person for one night I would think $5 or $10 would be plenty (?) depending on how far you went/ how much they did - brought meals or not etc. Double for two people. It's your attendant that you tip, there's only one per car and they will be right there when you are gettting off, that's the time to give a tip.They definitely work for it, bringing food al the way from the dining car, keeping the bathroom clean, dealing with bedding and with bags, letting you know when meals are, when to get off etc etc.
Try my seatmate talking on his phone for two hours to various family members from halfway around the world. It was 2pm-4pm for his family, but 2am-4am here. The train staff were no help. I got up to find the conductor, who just said “He’ll just shut up when I show up and go back to talking when I leave, so there’s no point.”
I`ve got a great story for you! Years ago I roughed it and rode Coach from Chicago to Fort Worth Texas and the Cafe car was just ahead of where I sat, about 4 or 5 Hispanics were up ALL NIGHT carrying on laughing, aaaahahahahahaha! all damn night! Could not sleep a wink, wanted to tell them off in the morning but feared a fight would break out and I`d be off the train. After THAT, I booked a room since then.
I had that happen to me. I was riding up to see my aunt. This guy had just gotten out of the hospital for a seizure. He was trying to get home. I’ve taken this train a few times so I know the dead spots in cell service. This guy was trying to call his “girl”. I remember him going on and on “oh baby I love you so much I’m trying to get home.” It was creepy and I couldn’t wait to get off.
I liked this one ...took my first Trip from Cleveland to Lancaster last year ...thinking of doing another one soon 😊❤ Some people really need this ..following the rules written or unwritten just not thier thing . Have a little class people ..🌼 golden rule
#1 is disturbing. So many people so afraid of one another that they can’t just say, “Hey there, sorry to bother you, and maybe I’m wrong, but is this my seat or yours?” Then show the person your friggin ticket, like you need their help. Non confrontational, but effective. Strange world.
I don't think its afraid so much as lack of caring enough when there's a good seat right behind and/or not wanting to trouble the staff to deal with it when they can take this perfectly good seat and bother nobody.
I was thinking the same thing. I can understand maybe one or two people that are too timid to point out the seat assignment on their ticket, but the entire train car? Then there's the idea that they can solve it by taking another empty seat. What exactly do they think is going to happen when the person assigned to that seat shows up? Can these people not think more than one step ahead of what's right in front of them?
These people are insane!!! Geez, if somebody has a cooker next to me, I'll make some noise. The staff is always great, but they don't have it easy. Tip as well as you can!
Great video and good to make current or future passengers aware of what "not to do." I took the Southwest Chief (last Dec) from Chicago to LA Union station and, while the staff was great, I felt bad for them in that people just didn't know how to communicate properly. One night I had to run down from the sleeper car to use the restrooms on that level and saw a pool of water coming from under the shower door, spanning from under the door, across the bottom of that level's floor! I got back to my room and let the attendant know. She was furious as (apparently) the shower had been "backed up" for the entire ride but people would just use it until it "almost over-flowed" and then didn't say a word?! Not cool - let your attendant KNOW if there are issues. The other issue the attendant (and dining car staff voiced) was that, after the first night "No one wanted to eat in the dining car because they don't want to TIP!" I told the attendant that I don't think that's entirely true or perhaps people don't know (if they don't educate themselves in-advance of travel) that you SHOULD tip. I also think it was an issue of me being on a car with a band of mutants - and I count myself as a mutant (so no shade here). But...the first night (being a single rider) I was placed at a table with two other men - one much older (and a lot of fun) the other was much younger and a really interesting guy. We managed to make conversation but there was an underlying tension you could feel/ sense. And, while no one was passive-aggressive (other than the old dude, when I told him I was excited to take a shower on a train for the first time - saying to me "YOU - how are you gonna fit in that tiny place at your size?" (laughing while he said it). It is what it is. I think older people (like kids) have zero filter and don't care what flies out of their mouth. I think the seating of random singles together discourages people from wanting to be in the dining car. I loved the trip for the isolation and ability to unplug. I can have a conversation with anyone, honestly but, when it feels like work, it doesn't feel like vacation. Keep the great content coming! Love you two (and your positive energy).
I'm a mostly solo traveler but dining car seating is one of the times I enjoy meeting new people. Until recently my train travel was at the end of Santa Fe passenger service and the early years of Amtrak. Some things haven't changed, a few have improved and most have slid downhill from the Santa Fe days. One of the things unchanged is that people new to long distance rail travel enter an unfamiliar world, most not knowing how it all works. Things like gratuities are similar to stationary hospitality. It's not uncommon for new travelers to not know that tipping servers for inclusive meal service is expected, and I'd bet the folks that don't tip sleeping car attendants also do not tip hotel housekeepers. All common things, why are they forgotten on rail? Oh, and the reason some old folks don't have filters - because they've figured out what's really important and what's window dressing. Others? I have no idea. You're on your own there. 😏
Here’s a suggestion, take along these disposable wipes( Sheetz Is the name I think) that you can use in place of a shower, you add water to them lather them up, wipe off with a towel and put them in a Zip lock baggy, and toss them away. On my trips I ask my car attendant if I can get my own coffee so I don’t bother him, they always let me. It helps them in a small way. ( juice the same way. I always get a roomette) (those are my couple of tips)
My daughter and I took a trip from Erie PA. to Moorepark in CA. We rode the South West Chief and I can say that the entire Amtrak Staff were wonderful. From the people at the counter to all of the staff on the train. It was a wonderful experience. I plan to do a trip again just because of what a wonderful experience I had.
Good information, thanks. The only thing I disagree with is that two people eating 2/3 of meal each technically does not increase the cost of the food for others unless you’re thinking of it in terms of lost revenue from them buying their own meal at the café.
Agreed. It would make sense if people were feeding an extra person from an all you can eat buffet, but when it's a set meal why would anybody care? It's not as if they could take the rest back to the kitchen if a person doesn't finish it. Would they complain if a person doesn't happen to finish the food and they leave the leftovers to be thrown away instead?
Sadly, too many people view staff as servants. I've ridden 5 different Amtrak trains and the staff every time was wonderful. Did have one grumpy conductor on the City of New Orleans, but not really a problem. One trip to Chicago I sat next to a woman who said she was very uncomfortable sitting next to an older man so I swapped seats with my daughter.
Empire Builder my wife and I being lite eaters always took food back to our sleepers, especially the desserts. Even shared our Blueberry Cheesecake with our attendant. Amtrak is so cool! Thanks, great video.
Had my first Amtrak sleeper experience in Feb. this year. You two were both a huge inspiration to go do a bucket-list type trip, alone, for the first time as well as being extremely helpful with all your tips etc.. I felt, and was, very prepared for all the little 'things' that happen in a sleeper! The second floor of the Metro Lounge in Chicago...that was awesome. So thank you for all the tips! I definitely noticed a few people who apparently just will not listen to simple directions. Like when there's an announcement of "please do not head downstairs to wait by the door just yet, we'll make another announcement..." and certain people are just immediately hanging out on the bottom step. Like "look, I'm not waiting by the door...so it's ok right?" No, you're IN THE WAY. That said, my trip was AMAZING. The crew, and you all have said this before, on the Southwest Chief are TOP notch. Absolutely amazing! My Texas Eagle journey was a little weird with the crew...they kind of always seemed to be difficult to find. Still, they were super nice and regardless of anything else, VERY professional. Gotta love it. But please...anyone going on a trip...when you use the toilet, please take GLT's advice and learn to use the trashcan properly. OOF!
People these days are such entitled, rude, pieces of shit, that care about no one but themselves, and have zero common sense or common courtesy for anything or anyone. at some point just because your parents didn’t teach you any of that as a human adult that’s no longer an excuse.
planning my first train trip, Traveling from Greensboro, NC to Reno, NV. I accidentally found your videos and trying to watch all. I now feel a lot better about the trip. Thank you for all your information. Thank you.
I was talking with our Sleeping Car Attendant and they like low maintenance passengers, but not so low maintenance they think you died. Our Attendant had someone who literally went into their room and she didn’t see him again until he got off the train. They want to know you’re doing alright, but kind of go with their flow. So if they’re going to dinner, it’s ok if you’re not ready for bed. We were thanked for that. Since she could take her dinner and know at least 1 room didn’t need help.
former OBS employee when I was an SCA my policy was simple if your door was open I would stop and chat for about 30 seconds If the door was closed I would continue my trek throughout the sleeper car ease peasy
Great Video… thanks! We have seen all you said except for the food sharing to coach. We have experienced on a couple occasions “very strong” cooking odors coming from a bedroom…. Filling at least all the other bedrooms with their aromas of what they were eating. (It was not hamburgers or hot dogs.). Our sleeper car attendants have been very good with a few exceptions. On the sunset Limited we had great attendants and on the Empire Builder we had an exceptional attendant last year. But… the last trip we had on the Zephyr we had an attendant that loudly announced the rules after every stop. (You mentioned the call button) She actually announced after every stop, that during her “off” time she will not answer the call button. Also saying that during the night don’t bother using the call button that she would not answer, it was her off time, but instead we would have to go find the conductor in the diner or in the snack car.
I had purchased an assigned seat ticket on Amtrak several years ago, pre-COVID. My embarkation time was at 11:30pm and the person in the same row was completely sacked out across both seats. I ended up crashing in the Superliner's Observation Car until the Conductor found me. I explained the situation and he sympathized. I went the 8-hour ride to Chicago without a proper seat. When I later complained to Amtrak about it, I was told that it was my responsibility to remove the passenger from my assigned seat...but then, how uncomfortable of a ride would it have been sitting beside a complete stranger that you rousted and made to move...or worse asked the Conductor to do it.
I find that if you are polite in asking someone to let you take your seat, they are usually polite in return and cause no problems. Of course, there are always exceptions.
If the conductor has to do it, then he/she has to do it; that's part of the job. Maybe ask the passenger to move, yourself, but if that doesn't work, then the conductor assumes responsibility.
I was sacked across two seats in the middle of the night (the next seat was empty and comfortable, and I couldn't sleep the night before), an attendant woke me up, I sat up and leaned against the window, and they put a large woman who kept dropping her hand into my lap all night next to me. I sternly told her what she'd been doing the next morning, and her hand even dropped in my lap as I was telling her about it while she was awake. She found another spot.
The world is simply out of control! People seem to have such a sense of entitlement and that the rules do not apply to them. I was raised differently. While this does not surprise me it continues to disappointment me that humans are behaving this way. Good video!
I was a train conductor in Victoria Australia and these people are on trains worldwide! I had a lady who loaded 2 cats in her luggage and all the drama that caused when I confronted her!I said “ Have you got cats in the luggage van,because they are going crazy!” And people sitting in someone’s reserved seat is so annoying for the Conductor and the passenger who expects there seat vacant! Smoking,drinking,fighting,swearing…I’ve seen it all on trains in Victoria. Love all your content across all your channels!👍
On a recent 4-hour train ride, I noticed some things that you might want to mention. (1) A lady who was first on the train put her small roller bag under the luggage storage rack still standing on its wheels. I turned it on its sude because I knew it would just roll away when the train started moving. I put my larger roller bag next to hers, on it's own side. A young man with the aame destination as me put his bag above on the rack. When we were leaving the train at the end of our trip, his bag had been moved to the seating area behind the baggage rack. He was surprised that his bag was not where he had left it. The staff said that they sometimes move bags to the lower level seating area when there are few lower level seat seated passengers. I had brought a cable lock ro lock my luggage handle to the rack, but I'm glad i couldn't do that if staff had wanted to move my bag.
I've seen the seat issue on several trips I have taken. As a passenger I have had three scary incidents, two where smokers got irritated about not being able to smoke or the stops not being long enough to smoke. I was sitting in front of a guy who was getting so mad and was cursing, even at one point tried to smoke and was caught. The staff threatened to put him off. It's clear Amtrak is starting to get more popular than flying for some people.
@@munimathbypeterfelton6251 I can agree with that as well, partially. I don't fly not because I can't afford it because I can, but I for one is scared of flying. If it's not a road trip, the train it is!
@@behindthescenesphotos5133 Wow, maybe they should be flying or driving so they can get places quicker, it's clear their patience run thin if they can't smoke.
@@behindthescenesphotos5133 I personally wish Amtrak would eliminate the rest stops for smoking, especially since they don’t allow smoking onboard the trains to begin with. Amtrak can and should still allow passengers to take stretch breaks when the system has those layovers at different stations, but definitely err on the side of smoking. That’s just my opinion.
Amtrak staff works hard the majority of the time and we wish people would treat them better overall. They are very underappreciated. Yes we have seen it when everyone is in the wrong seat too! Has happened to us a few times where our seats are taken. Last time we told attendant to correct the issue and the passengers told to move were rude to us the rest of our trip. A wok! Now that is crazy! WOW!
OMG. We have taken many Amtrak trips, including several cross country ones and we've never seen any of that. Thank goodness for us I guess but it's amazing how some people think everyone else is their 'staff'.
Lazy car attendants who disappear. Snack car people who will take lot of breaks and not be open. Last summer the coach attendant filled one coach car up and left the other one completely empty. The AC did not keep up with the 100 plus temperatures. We were coming from Portland to Minot ND. Coach attendant started to split up families of little Children involved. I finally went searching for the Conductor. Turns out she wanted everyone on the same car so she would have only 1 car to monitor. (GO FIGURE) Conductor was not happy. The other car never did have many in it the entire trip. Some passengers did sneak up to the next car. We had traveled that route many many times in the last 30 years. This was the absolute worst experience on the Empire Builder. When we reached our destination, it was a crew change and there were zero announcements made when arriving in Minot ND. The Sleeper Attendant told me the crew had disappeared to go to the motel as soon as the train stopped. Just horrible experience. We melted the entire trip and so did the rest of the passengers. WE got out and each stop and went to the observation car when there was room. In the middle of August it was very very hot.
@@davidjackson7281 I will tip when the service is up to par. Hope that answers your question, David. I do not think I needed to answer that question, but I did. It is between her and I. I have no idea what kind of a day she was having, but she evidently was not having a good day. I did visit with her when we would stop to get a breath of fresh air and pick up passengers. At no time I show any disrespect for her. When she insisted on splitting up a single mother with 5 small children in the coach car, that was upsetting to everyone. There were 3 small children holding hands together in 3 seats and crying, with their mom 7-8 rows in front of them with the 2 other children. They knew ahead of time it was going to be a family of 6. Inexcusable
When I first started to travel by Amtrak, there was no assigned seating. No big deal. Then they started assigning. No big deal. I was asked per Amtrak staff, to sit with a particular passenger. I agreed. For example I was asked to sit with a young woman who was deaf. She was travelling to the same town/station. I admit it has been a few years since I travelled overnight coach. Back then people seemed to follow the instructions of train staff.
Would love to hear a bit of your history! You both are such lovely people could you share how you two met and how the love of travel got started and have your children ever traveled with you?
They have a sweet youtube episode where they visit the college where they met and reminisce about it - you can find it if you click on Grounded Life Travel under this video and then search around on their youtube channel videos.
A few things that drive me crazy that staff do. Staff doesn't help a person with their luggage when there is a huge gap from the platform to train. Staff ask when you want to eat you say 6:30 and he says 5:30. The attendant never checks on you. The attendant looking at you strange when you ask for another bottle of water on a 24 hour ride ; you only get one bottle per person.
That’s not usually true. I have ridden Amtrak trains several times a year for the past 30 plus years. (I am a senior woman.) With one exception, the attendants have offered to help with my luggage if the platform is on a different level than the train floor or if there is a gap-although I don’t usually need help. When I travel by sleeper, they always offer to take bags upstairs. They can’t do that for all coach passengers, since there are just too many passengers per car for them to take the time.
@kathleenhudson8429 no worries. Everyone has a different experience. I just got back on Wednesday from Philly to Florida. Always ride sleeper and that is what I observed. I too am a senior. Peace be
@nataliemkennedy_about the books - I would be interested in hearing more about your recent trip. I’m traveling sleeper car from Philly to FL in July. I’ve only ever done regional day trips in NY/NJ/PA and Via Rail regional in Canada. Thanks!
@juliebedford454 I took the Silver Meteor a couple years ago in a sleeper car to Florida and it was awesome! So nice having your own space and the attendant was fantastic. I have taken several long distance trips in sleeper cars over the last 5 years and have enjoyed each trip
@juliebedford454 you will enjoy. Save up for a sleeper a d rail away. Basically it depends ds if the car attendant is starting their shift 4 9n 4 off so they are fresh and willing, or this is the end of the shift when they are tired. Just depends. Overall, I love my rides 98% of the time. Happy railing!
I wanted to go from Gastonia, NC to Anniston, AL and take my bicycle. Even though the website said bicycles were acceptable if they were a certain dimensions (presumably packed in a box), when I called Amtrak they said I could not get on in Gastonia with a bike because it was not a staffed station. So, I tried to go from Charlotte to Anniston. Charlotte apparently has staff to put the bike (not in a box) in the luggage car. But that didn't work either because there is no staff in Anniston to take the bike out of the luggage car. Apparently this applies to any checked luggage not just bicycles. On the light rail trains in Charlotte we just walk on and hang our bikes on the wall ourselves. Why can't Amtrak do this?
This actually happened to me yesterday!!! One thing that drives me as a customer crazy is when I spend money on a ticket and an attendant never comes to check it off for me… I could have just walked on the platform and taken a seat and gotten a free ride to my destination!!! Lovely trip but was pissed to have wasted money on a ticket that wasn’t even counted!
It’s good to know you shouldn’t take a hot water pot onboard, but I wouldn’t blame people who didn’t know that. A wok is more crazy, for sure. Also, the people who were saving part of their meal for their third (coach) passenger are obviously scrimping because they don’t have a lot of money. This might be the only way they could afford to travel. After all, they weren’t using extra resources (eating only 2/3 of their meals), so why does that bother anybody? From a couple RUclipsrs that seemingly have a lot of money, based on all the videos you do, that one seems a little like class shaming to me. It’s not like they were sneaking food from an AYCE buffet to someone who didn’t pay for it. It’s more like a doggie bag. In my mind, being loud, causing extra, unnecessary work for attendants, or disruptions for other passengers (like sitting in the wrong seat) are problematic, for sure.
I seen a man raise hell getting on the train because the Conductor made him pay for another ticket. Then he was touching a little girl inappropately. The crew called the Sheriff and the took him off the train.
I totally loved what you had to say. I had an attendant issue. I went fron Seattle to Alliance Ohio on the EB. My lady attendant had her grandkids on board. They ran up and down the cars every hour of the day. She let them make announcements. I was in a bedroom, once she turned down my bed the first night, I never saw her again, my bed was down the whole way back.when I would say something,she said she was really busy and would take care of it. No she didn’t. S o things can work both ways.
My husband and I have made several train trips and have had very good attendants and very bad attendants. It's a gamble for sure as to which one you are going to get!
Not having done an overnight train before, we got on the OBB from Venice to Vienna. 😮 The fact the the numbered cars aren't in order, and not understanding how to read the ticket to figure out car, and berth, as well as having under 10 minutes from the train arrival to its departure was a bit crazy. Running down a platform and trying to get help from anyone about locating our car 12 that was 29 cars away?!? Then getting on and not being able to pull out phone to check bunkette number, because of being pushed by families to move forward. Oh heaven forbid I try to step aside, into the doorway of a bunkette, to let them by, and get scolded, that is theirs, get out of there. When all I want is to find my own bunkette. And not speaking German, didn't help the matter. I agree with sit where assigned, you just got to find it.😅😅😅
In Austria/Germany/Switzerland, on the departing platform is a sign titled "Wagenstandzeiger", usually near the middle of the platform. It lists the cars' order by number and the approximate position of each car. Starting out in Italy, it's very possible for confusion, but, hey, that's par for Italy, in my experience.
@@paulpetersen3764 Throughout the remainder of our time in Austria, and Germany we had no other train issues. Just that overnight from Venice. And even the staff on the train, said that since they had just restarted that route,3 weeks before, after the pandemic that things were a little chaotic.
Staff is also under pressure on many of the long distance trains in the west because the staff cars have been removed and retired. This has forced the staff to move into the lower level of one of the passenger cars depriving passengers of that space. Staff has also taken over half of the cafe car lower levels as a rest break area, again, depriving passengers of that space. It's bad for everyone.
One of our best rail trips was not on Amtrak but Alaska rail from Fairbanks to Anchorage. The conductor was one of the friendliest people I’ve ever met. He was happy to answer all of our questions. Because the regular whistle stop train was not running that day, ours was the substitute. At one stop the passenger was traveling with his rifle, the conductor had to lock it in his office; just a normal day
On the Missouri River Runner, it was open seating, so they put cards with our starting location. On the sleeping car, my sister and brother-in-law had a room, and I had a roommette, so I could visit them, but slept in my room, and at the Portland end of the Empire Builder, couldn't go to the Seattle end, through the dining car, to see if those cars were the same as ours (but the attendant allowed me to discreetly view) I saw a plastic Dr. Pepper bottle lodged in the braces between our car (I was in Roomette #7) and the baggage car behind us (except when we backed up). At a fresh air stop, I thought I'd see if I could get a better picture of it, but the maintenance worker saw me and quite forcefully told me there's 480 volts in there!
I once sat near a woman who loudly used her cell phone for 2 hours -- including after 10pm. Almost a confrontation -- she got off just in time. And video makers: you can't get any staff help after a certain hour.
So much is just common curtesy, also when people can't take care of things and destroy rooms or leave trash, that is why prices go up because they probably have to repair things and really clean it. I always think would you do this in your home? Thank you for this information.
Was on Coast Starlight last week, from Emeryville to LA. Was funny to hear the conductor training announced on the PA many times, reminding everyone to be sure to flush after doing your business. Talking to him afterward, he was horrified that people would take their dump and just leave the pile in the bowl without flushing. 😮😮
I travel a lot of Amtrak long distance. The restrooms. I’ve seen the attendant’s throughout the day cleaning them, but people are just filthy. It repulses me walking into a disgustingly dirty restroom. I can’t imagine being the one that has to clean it.
Number of years ago the experience was in the diner car being seated with a group of Korean parents with their son. He was the only one speaking English. Before the food was served his mother hauled out a bottle containing Kimchee, was very smelly and the whole car was looking around to see where it was coming from and what it was. I served in Vietnam and knew what was going to happen when the jar was opened. The server didn't say anything but took the empty glass jar when it was empty. She explained to the son that outside food was not permitted, but could be consumed in the sightseer lounge. Poor son was embarrassed, and the parents were mystified.
Hello guys. In 2021, I was on the Cardinal when the conductor had to put someone off the train in a different state from their initial destination for having his mask off. The conductor had a 3 strike system. 1st ask you, 2nd tell you 3rd your off the train at the next stop No refund.
On full trains, Amtrak staff would tell passengers in the waiting areas & at embarkation that the train was sold out & if they came together to sit together. Single travelers would take up 2 seats anyway & wait to be confronted by an attendant. I've learned to book reservations in sleeper cars to avoid these situations. If my travel is during the day, the accommodation charge isn't as much as if it were at night. I'll pay the difference & avoid the crowds.
Most of it is just rude people. My big "I can't believe you did that" thing is people who rest there dirty, nasty shoes on the seat opposite. Can the attendants or conductors kick the people off the train?
Attendants and conductors can only kick people off the train if passengers of sorts are violating the noise ordinance onboard, are verbally abusive to their fellow riders and train staff, ignore the rules of etiquette after being asked to abide by them multiple times, or if they otherwise prove a threat to the safety and well being to everyone and everything on the train in any way whatsoever. Unfortunately, unsanitary passengers are not asked to clean up their act at all.
I took the Zephyr from Chicago to San Francisco last year. I had a roomette. One hour into the trip, someone flushed a tampon down the toilet in the upstairs restroom. The toilet was out of commission the whole trip.
I've been on two trips where people decided that smoking a bit of weed was fine. No, don't smoke anything on the train. The staff doesn't want to kick passengers, but they will if people think it's okay to light up anything.
What gets them is if ur gonna exit in coach and ur a sleeper u gotta let them know cuz they will go looking around wondering where u are. The conductor told me that after I wanted to spend the trip in the lounge car and get off in coach and use the sleeper for storage for my stuff
I am going on my solo train adventure starting tomorrow!! I appreciate all this tips on how not to drive the staff crazy!! Most of them I would never do anyway but it's good to know!! I am going on the Coast Starlight to Emeryville the on the California Zephyr to Chicago and then the Southwest Chief back to Riverside. Can't wait until 6:00am!!
My daughter and I are going to be on Amtrak May 2nd. This will be our 5th time. Three trips we have had horrible trips so hoping this one will be better. Thanks for some good tips!
We were on the auto train and it wasn't full. A couple in front of us decided to move around so they could each have two seats. The husband left his reading light on and moved. That light shined in my eyes all night. I always bring those eye covers now. We had another group behind us talking well into the night. The downfalls of coach.
Interesting video. I can understand the complaints but it seems like there isn't enough effeffective communication and customer service. Maybe they are short staffed?🤷♀️
Smoking in between the cars and one person had smoked a joint in the bathroom. We recently rode the City of New Orleans, Sunset Limited and the Southwest Chief all in coach.
being a FIRST time traveler ...upcoming ... i cant eat just anything so can i take a small cooler in my bedroom? and can the attendants get me ICE for the cooler when mine melts?
Yes you can do that, just don’t bring anything that has to be warmed up or cooked since almost always passengers do not have access to ovens or a microwave.
It's fine to bring food but there's not much room in a roomette to put stuff so nothing big. I doubt there is ice available for passengers, but I once noticed a pile of ice cubes had been emptied into the sink at the end of the passageway in the roomette car (upper floor), so I have no idea where those ice cubes came from - if a passenger dumped them there or the attendant. Usually I travel coach, and I always bring a bag-cooler of food items, you don't always feel like eating the stuff in the cafe car. No ice in it that would melt and drip through, but I try to start out my trip with cold stuff in there and maybe a frozen item or two. The best place to store a food bag in coach is up top in the overhead, that seems to be where the cooled air circulates. Down by your feet is where heated air comes in.
I must be missing something - I don't understand the issue with the people taking portions of their meals back to the person in coach. They paid to receive 2 meals, they were served 2 meals - aren't they entitled to eat less than they were served, and do whatever they see fit with said leftovers, including giving them to another passenger in their group? If it was an "all-you-can-eat" buffet situation, I would agree with you 100%, but in this case, I'm not understanding the problem. Thanks.
I got #7 right here!!! Passengers clogging half the number of toilets, one even vomited in the sink. The staff had no choice but to lock them down. We went that way from Albuquerque to Chicago.
My last trip, I had woman and her 2 teenagers (2 roomettes). Hers was on the top and theirs on the bottom. I was across from her and she wanted me to change because she needed to keep an eye on them. The attendant heard her rather loud discussion. I knew I had an upper roomette on the Zephyr. The attendant gave her the choice of moving downstairs and the lady across from the teens upstairs. She was not thrilled, but agreed. So entitled almost like the families on planes.
The sleeper car attendant is NOT your personal attendant - there's 20 roomettes and 5 bedrooms of people they have to attend to! I just got back from a nightmare trip made worse by one sleeper passenger who insisted on engaging the attendant in conversation for half an hour or more every time he passed her, and when he politely excused himself to get back to work, there was always just "one more thing" she had to show him on her phone or tell him... even if the call bell had rung loudly several times, a reminder there were other passengers in the car besides her. And we were trying NOT to call him, becsuse she was making his life difficult - he was bearing up well but was having to rush to get everything done. Plus the train had been delayed THIRTEEN HOURS into San Antonio, and he like many of us had been up all night as Amtrak's inaccurate and unhelpful notifications kept insisting the train was coming in two hours, oh, no, another hour, postponing it an hour or two at a time so we couldn't risk sleeping so that the 2:40 am train actually left at 2:45 p'm (shortly after the app showed departure time had been delayed from 4pm to 5pm and the conductor told me no, it wasn't the Texas Eagle, so I'm very lucky I'm assertive enough not to get left behind, but that's another story). Now, I'm afraid I'm guilty of one of the things you describe on this same adventure - but i was trying to avoid having to call poor Chris our attendant because of the demanding passenger hogging him! Outside Yuma we stopped and a different conductor apologetically announced a freight train had hit someone up ahead, and we'd probably be stopped for another several hours while police investigated. At that point Chris was TRYING to put the beds up and prepare for arrival in LA, just in case we got moving again, but super-demanding passenger thought this was another opportunity to borrow her personal entertainment system (him), so as I had used up my two water bottles, I decided to go downstairs and fetch my collapsible electric kettle - it's all silicon apart from the heating element, handle and spout - from my suitcase. The first cup of tea went fine. The second cup of tea? Well, I got covid from someone in the next sleeper on my very first Amtrak ride in 2022, and due to being immunocompromised it turned my immune system whackadoodle so it attacks my own organs including my eyes, and my depth perception is not so great. Which means even though the train was at a standstill, I missed the ledge next to the sink when I put the cup down to add sugar, and poured boiling water all over my leg; INSTANT second degree burns. Magnificent blister almost 3 inches across, and red 1st degree the size of my hand. Luckily I'd splurged for the bedroom instead of roomette this time, so I could get a hand towel with cold water on it instantly. Unfortunately this now meant I had to call Chris, totally defeating the reason I'd tried to make myself tea. And really, I had injured myself badly enough I should've gone to urgent care, but we were south of the Salton Sea, and you just KNOW that would've delayed the train longer, or at the very least made even more work for an already stressed train staff. As usual, Chris couldn't answer the call button because the pit spider had him trapped, so I finally limped to the back of the sleeper with the washcloth pressed to my leg - and may i say, i certainly paid for my foolishness; a second degree burn of that size is NOT comfortable, although luckily having been born with arthritis I can bear pain more than most people, though it doesn't mean I don't feel it - and I was finally able to ask Chris to bring me some ice, although the kitchen was pretty well out by that time. At least I got him away from her. I tipped him $20 for that trip, although I confess I usually only do that for the 2-night trip on the Chief. The good news is that my old first aid training worked, and it's just about healed. But your point stands. I might not have posed a hazard to anyone but myself, but even THAT meant more work for the attendant. And had he realized just how seriously I'd roasted myself, he might've had to do some kind of emergency procedure, further delaying the train and inconveniencing everybody on board. Lesson very much learned!
Thank you for your videos. Question: We are taking our first train ride, coach, to FL. I know you can take food with you. Can you take freeze dried food, like backpacking meals and get hot water to make them? (no pans or heat source needed) Or should you only take food that would be cold?
Taking my first Amtrak trip next month from Erie, PA to NY. I have coach seats and have heard that coach usually aren’t assigned seats. What happens if I go to observation car or food car? Will someone take my seat? I don’t like the idea of leaving any of my stuff to keep my seat.
Assigned seats: Chinese are not very confrontational, but if someone is in their train seat, they just show their ticket and the person in it will move without any hassle.
My wife and I have watched a ton of your videos and they have been such a great resource and help! We are planning to take a train from Lynchburg, Va to Florida as our first train trip. We wanted to try a shorter trip in a sleeper car for the first one and if we like it we would like to take a longer trip. One thing that we are really looking forward to is meeting new people and making friends. Bottom line is that we love people. Do you have a chat that we can ask you questions as we think of them? We are easy people and will help anyone that we can. From everything we have discovered and through you folks Amtrak is one of the best there is and we have talked to the guy at our station in Lyncburg and he was bend over backwards nice, helpful and knowledgeable. If the other folks with Amtrak are half as good we will be tickled to death. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and experiences with us.
I just got back from a trip from Tucson to Lordsburg, NM. Let me tell you, the Amtrak staff made that trip special. Although my return trp to Tucson was cancelled, most likely due to Hurricane Beryl, I want to take a longer trip next time.
I boarded the California zephyr and didn't know there were assigned seats. Nobody told me they just let me board. I took a seat and I was in someone's seat, they sat somewhere else . The conductor came to scan tickets and told me I was in the wrong car. So I'm guilty of taking someone's seat but I honestly didn't know . I didn't think anything of it becuase the previous train I was on didn't have assigned seats in coach
How about things that annoy other passengers. We rode coach on the Cardinal. The lady behind us talked for the whole 26 hour ride. She barely let the other speak. When she ran out of material, she started repeating herself. 26 hours.
I don’t think some passengers realize just how hard/heartbreaking the work can be for Amtrak staff. I’ve witnessed so many things. Verbal abuse from passengers, messy passengers elder passengers that are traveling alone (and often times shouldn’t be) expecting attendants to treat them like a personal nurse and the worst was seeing two male passengers traveling in the middle of the night with a young boy (about 4 years old). The men were physically and verbally abusing the child. The female attendant was trying to keep the child safe (and warm..the poor boy was barely dressed for it being Winter). The attendant suspected what I was suspecting, the child wasn’t theirs and potentially being a victim of human trafficking. That brave attendant calmly kept the child safe, alerted the Amtrak who in turn alerted police at the station the men were set to depart at. The attendant offered to carry the young boy off the train onto the station platform where police (discreetly) were waiting for the men and young boy. This was on the Coast Starlight coming into the Dunsmuir station in the middle of the night. That female Amtrak staffer went BEYOND what most people would do.
Send her a hero award.
God bless that attendant!
@@trishoconnor2169 My feelings exactly !
Wow! That attendant deserves every merit that is possible, from AMTRAK, law enforcement ... and, possibly the parents of a child.
I take the Coast Starlight between SF/Emeryville, and Seattle, every summer. I tip well on even the most UNEVENTFUL ride. That was service "above and beyond."
Some Pass. just Don't Understand....They Do Their Best...(I've seen it).....I now have a Great RESPECT, for the Amtrak Staff!!!...
I think the biggest I've seen, is with the restrooms.. Passengers seem to always plug them up, piss on the floors in them, or throw tissue or toweling on the floor.. Passengers can be really dirty and nasty 🤢🤮
"I agree with you on this matter. That's why whenever I travel, I always pack some sanitizing wipes to clean everything, hand soap or a bar of soap to wash my hands, a roll of toilet paper, and some air freshener.
All the more reason that every sleeping-cvar compartment should have its own toilet / sink
How about the staff CLEAN the restrooms during long stops?
The feeding 3 people with 2 meals makes sense to me because many people don't like to eat a very full meal on a moving vehicle due to nausea and heartburn.
@@schex9 What does this have to do with my comment??
When I was five years old my Grandmother and I took the train from Detroit to Los Angeles in 1952 and my most vivid memory was having French Toast for breakfast after using a “finger bowl to wash my hands with the help of the porter! That started my love for train travel that has continued to my taking my children on several trips!!
Reminds me of my first train ride in the early 60s when my aunt took my sister and I from Seattle to Chicago. I was 4 and the thing I remember was her little bag that had bananas and Hershey bars in it 😊 I love trains to this day.
My grandmother took me on my first train ride when I was 3 back in 1982 from Cleveland to Seattle. One of the best trips of my life. It took 20 years for me to get on another one, but since then I have taken Amtrak about 40 times as well as 2 European trains. My mother used to mention how back in the 50s and 60s, my grandmother would take her and my uncle as they were the only two kids born at the time from Cleveland back to Alabama.
Things have changed since the '50's when travelers were respectful & had manners. Today there's more emphasis on safety than service.
I rode the train with my Grandma...she had a picnic basket for us to have fried chicken and potato salad...I was about 9..I loved trains after that.😊
Maybe not drive the staff crazy but, for sure drive me crazy: a person talking overly loud (and maybe using foul language), on the phone.
And then those who play music or videos off their phone without headphones...........what makes you think that's okay?
People that use the speakerphone feature is my pet peeve. Too many people out there think that they have to share their telephone conversation with the rest of the world.
That is a huge reason why I get a room whenever possible. Some people have no idea of courtesy to other passengers.
I always try to sit in the Quiet car. Loud talking and crazy children are the worst.
I confess One of the Times I was on a train that I was seated next to somebody And we weren't being vulgar or anything but we were shooting the breeze till late at night. He was drinking a little bit but I wasn't. Neither one of us was really watching the time and I suddenly looked around and noticed everybody was trying to sleep. OOOPS! I just told the guy everybody's trying to sleep and we need to shut up for the night and he was cool about it and I apologized profusely to the other passengers that were anywhere near us. I think that's the worst thing I've done on a train.
I watched to make sure I wasn't doing anything to annoy staff. Whew! I'm off the hook. I have had nothing but great attendants and staff. A few years ago, I was coming back on the Empire Builder from MT to Chicago, and the train was 24 hours late. I spent, unplanned, Christmas day and evening on the train. The staff was so accommodating, they were even giving free food away to coach riders. I'll ride again in a heartbeat. Thanks for your posts. They have been so helpful.
I think the free food if the train is X hours late is standard policy. Last summer, I had two different trains that were both coincidentally seven hours late. I got complimentary stew on one and continental breakfast fare on the other.
@@stephenkehl7158 I'll take it!! Lol. Best.
I've never once thought "Gee, the attendant doesn't have much to do." I'm always amazed how much they do.
My favorite incident involved a southbound trip on the Coast Starlight. During the night, one passenger decided the seat wasn't comfortable enough, and chose to sleep in the aisle! The staff stood around him at three am trying to wake him up. You have to admire them for what they deal with.
In fairness, I have spent a night on the coach floor also. But I used the area in front of our seats (we had seats at the front of the coach, so there was more room), and I was doing it because I had a fussy 9 month old who didn't want to fall asleep in the seat. Still, in some ways it was more comfortable than the seat.
Leaving children unattended in the family bedroom. I was in a roomette next to the family bedroom. The two adult women left their four children (age range about 4 to 12) alone. The children were screaming, throwing things and literally bouncing off the walls- they were literally out of control. I asked the sleeping car attendant if she could do something about the noise and when she found the women drinking in the cafe car, she told them to go back to the family room and control their children. The women came back, loudly berated the kids for getting the moms in trouble, told them to behave and went back to the cafe car for more drinks. Five minutes later, the kids were back at it. This cycle repeated twice more. Finally, the car attendant got the conductor who a) told them that I was being relocated to an upstairs roomette and the one I had been in was out of service and they were being charged for it and b) if they refused to pay for the out of service roomette OR there were any complaints from other passengers, the group would be thrown off the train. The car attendant later told me the women were drunk, belligerent, uncooperative and the family bedroom had been trashed; the group was removed from the train at a small town stop in the middle of the night.
Wow that was a lesson.
You guys are such great role models for good behavior that I thought of you when I took a trip to Montreal. As you have noted before, the bathroom in coach was a bit messy with used towels on the floor and the trash bin overflowing. I took it upon myself to pick it all up and jam it well down into the trashcan. My experience on trains is the mess tends to snowball. A towel tossed into the sink clogs the drain. The next person uses the sink and it fills up and sloshes over the rim and onto the floor. Then the floor becomes muddy, and the cuff of your pants picks up that mud and you can't wash your hands. And so it goes. So, thanks for reminding everyone to do their bit to make the ride nicer for every rider and for every staff member. It makes a difference. We need the reminder to initiate the change we'd like to see.
I travelled coach so I didn't need anything form a car attendant, but the staff was pleasant. What really made me feel good was the conductor saying, with great sincerity, that he knows we have all kinds of options for travel and that he and the staff appreciated us choosing Amtrak. It was more than the usual spiel of 'Thank you for choosing Amtrak', he really meant it,
March 2024: A group of four women was seated all the way across the row ahead of me for 19 hours. They were all asleep when I boarded mid day. They were loud, cussy, messy, and inconsiderate. During the night they played videos without headphones, Played audible phone games, made and received phone calls, notifications were not muted. They were asked many times to be more thoughtful to those around them. Their response was to always be on the lookout for staff, but continue as usual. They ended their trip by dropping an empty drink bottle in the aisle next to me and spilling laundry detergent in the aisle. I couldn't tolerate the detergent's fragrance and had to flee the car before the building allergic reaction could fully manifest. The headache lingered for two more hours assuring I got less than half the sleep I desired.
I don't tolerate fragrances well. I would've had an instant migraine and probably puked on them. I had the instant migraine on a train when the conductor made me move from my assigned handicap seat to accommodate a man in a huge reclining wheel chair. Moved my upright rollator walker to where I could not access it without help and placed me next to someone that smelled like a ash tray. I got a migraine and nauseated. I puked in the aisle because I couldn't get to my walker. Part of the puke went in stinky ash trays bed on the floor behind my seat.
Why were they even carrying laundry detergent to begin with?
Also, ditto on the fragrance sensitivities. That headache would have wrecked the rest of my trip too.
@@livinon-dime-n-a-prayer some people think that laundry detergent can mask the smell of drugs from drug sniffing dogs. They're wrong, though.
Damn, they're rachet on the train😮,too! I was about to book a trip by train (my bucket list). Was nudged by the Jeb and Susan Brooks travels. I am afraid of flying. Staycation😅😅😅😅😅😅😅, watching your channel
Maybe you should do one of these for things that staff do that drive passengers crazy! I'll start 1.Conductors and car attendants who disappear except for when they are onboarding and collecting tickets, especially the ones who don't bother to come through and tell you the exit car when you're getting off the train in the middle of the night 2. Staff who don't enforce rules (like no vaping) because they just can't be bothered or want to avoid conflict 3. Staff who don't seem to notice that the PA system in a car doesn't work so passengers can't hear the announcements 4. Conductors who walk thru the cars with their VERY loud walkie-talkies turned on, even in the middle of the night
well the $$ I saved on tipping - I now can spend on myself.....winner winner
Amen. I'll add that to my list above.
Lol. I agree.
Get real. That's ridiculous. There's nothing wrong with vaping, ever.
.....and there is so much more. So glad you commented. You would think it would be easier for the attendants to be pleasant and helpful. My husband and I are generous tippers when we receive the basic service.
Sneaking someone into the sleeper car is a form of stealing, but sleeper car passengers paid for their meals in the Dining Car. If they ate part of their meals in their room and took the leftovers to the observation car (where their teenager ate them), no one would notice. If they ask for a second dessert, that's another story
Yeah. I wondered about that one. How does it increase prices? I haven't taken an amtrak before I thought if you're in a sleeper car, you get a meal in the dining room. It sounds like a set meal, so it's not like they would be getting extra food and costing amtrak more money for that meal. Seems like a great way to avoid wasting food if 2/3s is enough for them and they have someone else ready and willing to eat it.
@@jilloora Or what is being served is something the kids won't eat.
Wow, I've never done any of that stuff on a train. Pro tip #1: If the train is delayed, you are not the only one being delayed -- so is everybody on the crew. Pro tip #2: If the crew can detect smoking in your room, they can certainly detect cooking. Pro tip #3: One of the single most important things to bring is a thermos -- you don't have to constantly bother the staff for coffee or tea. I recommend a wide mouth bottle for ice, too.
The restrooms can get bad. I usually carry cleaning supplies
I have no problem speaking up if someone is in the assigned seat I paid good money for, and I don't need the conductor unless they refuse to move. It's called having a conversation, more people should get their heads out of their phones and learn it.
@jerseypup, I like your viewpoint; but apparently you have not yet met a belligerent, combative person, who goes into his overblown response on first contact, before a conversation can even be started. Too many of them out there. They're frightening and even dangerous, so I look and listen for cues, before I initiate the polite, civil overture to open the conversation.
A few months ago I was travelling coach out of Chicago. While waiting at Union Station a security team with a sniffer dog ID'd this man's bags and the team did a search. Apparently they must not have found anything because the man ended up in the same coach car I was in and he was going on about how they kept asking him if he had any marijuana and how he was gonna "sue the pants off of Amtrak" and whatnot. Well he eventually quieted down, but about an hour into the trip, lo and behold, I smelled weed. Not long after I went to the lounge car, where at the next stop I saw this man being escorted away from the train by Amtrak crew and local police. Kudos to the crew that day for dealing with the situation swiftly and discreetly. (Not sure how security in Chicago missed it though lol)
Bring an oven mitt with you and you can place your curling iron or straightening iron inside it so it won't burn or melt something else in your room or your suitcase
After my first long trip, where I saw the hat the car attendants do, I have a set proceedure now. I let them know that once my room is set for sleeping, leave it. I'm more of a couch flopper than chair sitter anyways, so it's more comfortable for me, and no, I will make my own bed, thank you. Being a smoker, I also set my alarm for late night smoke stops instead of having to have the attendant wake me up. It might be small, but it's one less thing they are asked to do. And for the love of all things holy, tip your attendant! Especially if you request "extra"...
I'll be taking my first train trip in sleeper car, how much do I tip and to whom. Naperville to Newton
@@misdesixtysix8255if I am in a sleeper car, I usually tip $5 per day. (I give it to them as I disembark, not each day.) I don’t always tip coach attendants unless they did something extra for me. That is the policy I was taught a longtime ago.
@@misdesixtysix8255 Allie and Rob have a video on that if you search on their channel. I don't know how far apart those stations are but for only one person for one night I would think $5 or $10 would be plenty (?) depending on how far you went/ how much they did - brought meals or not etc. Double for two people. It's your attendant that you tip, there's only one per car and they will be right there when you are gettting off, that's the time to give a tip.They definitely work for it, bringing food al the way from the dining car, keeping the bathroom clean, dealing with bedding and with bags, letting you know when meals are, when to get off etc etc.
The most annoying thing I encountered in coach was a lady talking on her phone for over an hour...and she was loud, ruined that part of trip!
Try my seatmate talking on his phone for two hours to various family members from halfway around the world. It was 2pm-4pm for his family, but 2am-4am here. The train staff were no help. I got up to find the conductor, who just said “He’ll just shut up when I show up and go back to talking when I leave, so there’s no point.”
I`ve got a great story for you! Years ago I roughed it and rode Coach from Chicago to Fort Worth Texas and the Cafe car was just ahead of where I sat, about 4 or 5 Hispanics were up ALL NIGHT carrying on laughing, aaaahahahahahaha! all damn night! Could not sleep a wink, wanted to tell them off in the morning but feared a fight would break out and I`d be off the train. After THAT, I booked a room since then.
@@77Keith so sorry that you had that experience and that the train staff did not help.
I had that happen to me. I was riding up to see my aunt. This guy had just gotten out of the hospital for a seizure. He was trying to get home. I’ve taken this train a few times so I know the dead spots in cell service. This guy was trying to call his “girl”. I remember him going on and on “oh baby I love you so much I’m trying to get home.” It was creepy and I couldn’t wait to get off.
I liked this one ...took my first Trip from Cleveland to Lancaster last year ...thinking of doing another one soon 😊❤
Some people really need this ..following the rules written or unwritten just not thier thing .
Have a little class people ..🌼 golden rule
#1 is disturbing. So many people so afraid of one another that they can’t just say, “Hey there, sorry to bother you, and maybe I’m wrong, but is this my seat or yours?” Then show the person your friggin ticket, like you need their help. Non confrontational, but effective. Strange world.
I don't think its afraid so much as lack of caring enough when there's a good seat right behind and/or not wanting to trouble the staff to deal with it when they can take this perfectly good seat and bother nobody.
I was thinking the same thing. I can understand maybe one or two people that are too timid to point out the seat assignment on their ticket, but the entire train car? Then there's the idea that they can solve it by taking another empty seat. What exactly do they think is going to happen when the person assigned to that seat shows up? Can these people not think more than one step ahead of what's right in front of them?
Love your insights about Amtrak train travel. However, I am rethinking that bucket list train trip. 🤔
These people are insane!!! Geez, if somebody has a cooker next to me, I'll make some noise. The staff is always great, but they don't have it easy. Tip as well as you can!
Great video and good to make current or future passengers aware of what "not to do." I took the Southwest Chief (last Dec) from Chicago to LA Union station and, while the staff was great, I felt bad for them in that people just didn't know how to communicate properly. One night I had to run down from the sleeper car to use the restrooms on that level and saw a pool of water coming from under the shower door, spanning from under the door, across the bottom of that level's floor! I got back to my room and let the attendant know. She was furious as (apparently) the shower had been "backed up" for the entire ride but people would just use it until it "almost over-flowed" and then didn't say a word?! Not cool - let your attendant KNOW if there are issues.
The other issue the attendant (and dining car staff voiced) was that, after the first night "No one wanted to eat in the dining car because they don't want to TIP!" I told the attendant that I don't think that's entirely true or perhaps people don't know (if they don't educate themselves in-advance of travel) that you SHOULD tip. I also think it was an issue of me being on a car with a band of mutants - and I count myself as a mutant (so no shade here). But...the first night (being a single rider) I was placed at a table with two other men - one much older (and a lot of fun) the other was much younger and a really interesting guy. We managed to make conversation but there was an underlying tension you could feel/ sense. And, while no one was passive-aggressive (other than the old dude, when I told him I was excited to take a shower on a train for the first time - saying to me "YOU - how are you gonna fit in that tiny place at your size?" (laughing while he said it). It is what it is. I think older people (like kids) have zero filter and don't care what flies out of their mouth.
I think the seating of random singles together discourages people from wanting to be in the dining car. I loved the trip for the isolation and ability to unplug. I can have a conversation with anyone, honestly but, when it feels like work, it doesn't feel like vacation.
Keep the great content coming! Love you two (and your positive energy).
I'm a mostly solo traveler but dining car seating is one of the times I enjoy meeting new people. Until recently my train travel was at the end of Santa Fe passenger service and the early years of Amtrak. Some things haven't changed, a few have improved and most have slid downhill from the Santa Fe days. One of the things unchanged is that people new to long distance rail travel enter an unfamiliar world, most not knowing how it all works. Things like gratuities are similar to stationary hospitality. It's not uncommon for new travelers to not know that tipping servers for inclusive meal service is expected, and I'd bet the folks that don't tip sleeping car attendants also do not tip hotel housekeepers. All common things, why are they forgotten on rail? Oh, and the reason some old folks don't have filters - because they've figured out what's really important and what's window dressing. Others? I have no idea. You're on your own there. 😏
Here’s a suggestion, take along these disposable wipes( Sheetz Is the name I think) that you can use in place of a shower, you add water to them lather them up, wipe off with a towel and put them in a Zip lock baggy, and toss them away. On my trips I ask my car attendant if I can get my own coffee so I don’t bother him, they always let me. It helps them in a small way. ( juice the same way. I always get a roomette) (those are my couple of tips)
My daughter and I took a trip from Erie PA. to Moorepark in CA. We rode the South West Chief and I can say that the entire Amtrak Staff were wonderful. From the people at the counter to all of the staff on the train. It was a wonderful experience. I plan to do a trip again just because of what a wonderful experience I had.
(*Moorpark)
Good information, thanks. The only thing I disagree with is that two people eating 2/3 of meal each technically does not increase the cost of the food for others unless you’re thinking of it in terms of lost revenue from them buying their own meal at the café.
Agreed. It would make sense if people were feeding an extra person from an all you can eat buffet, but when it's a set meal why would anybody care? It's not as if they could take the rest back to the kitchen if a person doesn't finish it. Would they complain if a person doesn't happen to finish the food and they leave the leftovers to be thrown away instead?
@@snowangelnc I think they're paid by Amtrak to discourage this
Sadly, too many people view staff as servants. I've ridden 5 different Amtrak trains and the staff every time was wonderful. Did have one grumpy conductor on the City of New Orleans, but not really a problem. One trip to Chicago I sat next to a woman who said she was very uncomfortable sitting next to an older man so I swapped seats with my daughter.
Guess he might have been grumpy from having to keep track of the other two conductors and those twenty five sacks of mail.
Decades ago there was a book written by an Amtrak attendant of many years experience that encouraged the rotating through of a 3rd person.
Empire Builder my wife and I being lite eaters always took food back to our sleepers, especially the desserts. Even shared our Blueberry Cheesecake with our attendant. Amtrak is so cool! Thanks, great video.
Had my first Amtrak sleeper experience in Feb. this year. You two were both a huge inspiration to go do a bucket-list type trip, alone, for the first time as well as being extremely helpful with all your tips etc.. I felt, and was, very prepared for all the little 'things' that happen in a sleeper! The second floor of the Metro Lounge in Chicago...that was awesome. So thank you for all the tips!
I definitely noticed a few people who apparently just will not listen to simple directions. Like when there's an announcement of "please do not head downstairs to wait by the door just yet, we'll make another announcement..." and certain people are just immediately hanging out on the bottom step. Like "look, I'm not waiting by the door...so it's ok right?" No, you're IN THE WAY.
That said, my trip was AMAZING. The crew, and you all have said this before, on the Southwest Chief are TOP notch. Absolutely amazing! My Texas Eagle journey was a little weird with the crew...they kind of always seemed to be difficult to find. Still, they were super nice and regardless of anything else, VERY professional. Gotta love it.
But please...anyone going on a trip...when you use the toilet, please take GLT's advice and learn to use the trashcan properly. OOF!
People these days are such entitled, rude, pieces of shit, that care about no one but themselves, and have zero common sense or common courtesy for anything or anyone. at some point just because your parents didn’t teach you any of that as a human adult that’s no longer an excuse.
Yes 100% agree
planning my first train trip, Traveling from Greensboro, NC to Reno, NV. I accidentally found your videos and trying to watch all. I now feel a lot better about the trip. Thank you for all your information. Thank you.
The first time on an Amtrak train was a huge blessing and all the workers was Awesome 😎
I was talking with our Sleeping Car Attendant and they like low maintenance passengers, but not so low maintenance they think you died. Our Attendant had someone who literally went into their room and she didn’t see him again until he got off the train. They want to know you’re doing alright, but kind of go with their flow. So if they’re going to dinner, it’s ok if you’re not ready for bed. We were thanked for that. Since she could take her dinner and know at least 1 room didn’t need help.
former OBS employee when I was an SCA my policy was simple if your door was open I would stop and chat for about 30 seconds If the door was closed I would continue my trek throughout the sleeper car ease peasy
Great Video… thanks! We have seen all you said except for the food sharing to coach. We have experienced on a couple occasions “very strong” cooking odors coming from a bedroom…. Filling at least all the other bedrooms with their aromas of what they were eating. (It was not hamburgers or hot dogs.).
Our sleeper car attendants have been very good with a few exceptions. On the sunset Limited we had great attendants and on the Empire Builder we had an exceptional attendant last year. But… the last trip we had on the Zephyr we had an attendant that loudly announced the rules after every stop. (You mentioned the call button) She actually announced after every stop, that during her “off” time she will not answer the call button. Also saying that during the night don’t bother using the call button that she would not answer, it was her off time, but instead we would have to go find the conductor in the diner or in the snack car.
Entitled passengers yelling at the staff.
I had purchased an assigned seat ticket on Amtrak several years ago, pre-COVID. My embarkation time was at 11:30pm and the person in the same row was completely sacked out across both seats. I ended up crashing in the Superliner's Observation Car until the Conductor found me. I explained the situation and he sympathized. I went the 8-hour ride to Chicago without a proper seat. When I later complained to Amtrak about it, I was told that it was my responsibility to remove the passenger from my assigned seat...but then, how uncomfortable of a ride would it have been sitting beside a complete stranger that you rousted and made to move...or worse asked the Conductor to do it.
That would have been fun.
I find that if you are polite in asking someone to let you take your seat, they are usually polite in return and cause no problems. Of course, there are always exceptions.
If the conductor has to do it, then he/she has to do it; that's part of the job. Maybe ask the passenger to move, yourself, but if that doesn't work, then the conductor assumes responsibility.
I was sacked across two seats in the middle of the night (the next seat was empty and comfortable, and I couldn't sleep the night before), an attendant woke me up, I sat up and leaned against the window, and they put a large woman who kept dropping her hand into my lap all night next to me.
I sternly told her what she'd been doing the next morning, and her hand even dropped in my lap as I was telling her about it while she was awake. She found another spot.
The world is simply out of control! People seem to have such a sense of entitlement and that the rules do not apply to them. I was raised differently. While this does not surprise me it continues to disappointment me that humans are behaving this way. Good video!
Hey Susan
You're NOT alone in your thinking.
I was a train conductor in Victoria Australia and these people are on trains worldwide!
I had a lady who loaded 2 cats in her luggage and all the drama that caused when I confronted her!I said “ Have you got cats in the luggage van,because they are going crazy!”
And people sitting in someone’s reserved seat is so annoying for the Conductor and the passenger who expects there seat vacant!
Smoking,drinking,fighting,swearing…I’ve seen it all on trains in Victoria.
Love all your content across all your channels!👍
On a recent 4-hour train ride, I noticed some things that you might want to mention. (1) A lady who was first on the train put her small roller bag under the luggage storage rack still standing on its wheels. I turned it on its sude because I knew it would just roll away when the train started moving. I put my larger roller bag next to hers, on it's own side. A young man with the aame destination as me put his bag above on the rack. When we were leaving the train at the end of our trip, his bag had been moved to the seating area behind the baggage rack. He was surprised that his bag was not where he had left it. The staff said that they sometimes move bags to the lower level seating area when there are few lower level seat seated passengers. I had brought a cable lock ro lock my luggage handle to the rack, but I'm glad i couldn't do that if staff had wanted to move my bag.
As a flight attendant, I have seen the goldfish, sunflowers seed shells, etc. numerous times.
I've seen the seat issue on several trips I have taken. As a passenger I have had three scary incidents, two where smokers got irritated about not being able to smoke or the stops not being long enough to smoke. I was sitting in front of a guy who was getting so mad and was cursing, even at one point tried to smoke and was caught. The staff threatened to put him off. It's clear Amtrak is starting to get more popular than flying for some people.
Mainly because it’s more affordable than flying for many people. So unfortunately, the cheaper the cost, the lower the quality of customers. 😕
@@munimathbypeterfelton6251 I can agree with that as well, partially. I don't fly not because I can't afford it because I can, but I for one is scared of flying. If it's not a road trip, the train it is!
I was on one five hours late getting back, one desperate smoker literally fell down the stairs trying to get off and hurt himself on the pavement.
@@behindthescenesphotos5133 Wow, maybe they should be flying or driving so they can get places quicker, it's clear their patience run thin if they can't smoke.
@@behindthescenesphotos5133 I personally wish Amtrak would eliminate the rest stops for smoking, especially since they don’t allow smoking onboard the trains to begin with. Amtrak can and should still allow passengers to take stretch breaks when the system has those layovers at different stations, but definitely err on the side of smoking. That’s just my opinion.
Amtrak staff works hard the majority of the time and we wish people would treat them better overall. They are very underappreciated.
Yes we have seen it when everyone is in the wrong seat too! Has happened to us a few times where our seats are taken. Last time we told attendant to correct the issue and the passengers told to move were rude to us the rest of our trip.
A wok! Now that is crazy! WOW!
Someone try to cook their own food on a train? That’s crazy same time it’s beyond prohibited 🚫🤦🏽♂️
OMG. We have taken many Amtrak trips, including several cross country ones and we've never seen any of that. Thank goodness for us I guess but it's amazing how some people think everyone else is their 'staff'.
Lazy car attendants who disappear. Snack car people who will take lot of breaks and not be open. Last summer the coach attendant filled one coach car up and left the other one completely empty. The AC did not keep up with the 100 plus temperatures. We were coming from Portland to Minot ND. Coach attendant started to split up families of little Children involved. I finally went searching for the Conductor. Turns out she wanted everyone on the same car so she would have only 1 car to monitor. (GO FIGURE) Conductor was not happy. The other car never did have many in it the entire trip. Some passengers did sneak up to the next car. We had traveled that route many many times in the last 30 years. This was the absolute worst experience on the Empire Builder. When we reached our destination, it was a crew change and there were zero announcements made when arriving in Minot ND. The Sleeper Attendant told me the crew had disappeared to go to the motel as soon as the train stopped. Just horrible experience. We melted the entire trip and so did the rest of the passengers. WE got out and each stop and went to the observation car when there was room. In the middle of August it was very very hot.
Did you leave a tip?
@@davidjackson7281 I will tip when the service is up to par. Hope that answers your question, David. I do not think I needed to answer that question, but I did. It is between her and I. I have no idea what kind of a day she was having, but she evidently was not having a good day. I did visit with her when we would stop to get a breath of fresh air and pick up passengers. At no time I show any disrespect for her. When she insisted on splitting up a single mother with 5 small children in the coach car, that was upsetting to everyone. There were 3 small children holding hands together in 3 seats and crying, with their mom 7-8 rows in front of them with the 2 other children. They knew ahead of time it was going to be a family of 6. Inexcusable
I really enjoy your channel.
When I first started to travel by Amtrak, there was no assigned seating. No big deal. Then they started assigning. No big deal. I was asked per Amtrak staff, to sit with a particular passenger. I agreed. For example I was asked to sit with a young woman who was deaf. She was travelling to the same town/station.
I admit it has been a few years since I travelled overnight coach. Back then people seemed to follow the instructions of train staff.
Would love to hear a bit of your history! You both are such lovely people could you share how you two met and how the love of travel got started and have your children ever traveled with you?
@Grounded life travel time for an update Q&A
They have a sweet youtube episode where they visit the college where they met and reminisce about it - you can find it if you click on Grounded Life Travel under this video and then search around on their youtube channel videos.
A few things that drive me crazy that staff do. Staff doesn't help a person with their luggage when there is a huge gap from the platform to train. Staff ask when you want to eat you say 6:30 and he says 5:30. The attendant never checks on you. The attendant looking at you strange when you ask for another bottle of water on a 24 hour ride ; you only get one bottle per person.
That’s not usually true. I have ridden Amtrak trains several times a year for the past 30 plus years. (I am a senior woman.) With one exception, the attendants have offered to help with my luggage if the platform is on a different level than the train floor or if there is a gap-although I don’t usually need help. When I travel by sleeper, they always offer to take bags upstairs. They can’t do that for all coach passengers, since there are just too many passengers per car for them to take the time.
@kathleenhudson8429 no worries. Everyone has a different experience. I just got back on Wednesday from Philly to Florida. Always ride sleeper and that is what I observed. I too am a senior. Peace be
@nataliemkennedy_about the books - I would be interested in hearing more about your recent trip. I’m traveling sleeper car from Philly to FL in July.
I’ve only ever done regional day trips in NY/NJ/PA and Via Rail regional in Canada.
Thanks!
@juliebedford454 I took the Silver Meteor a couple years ago in a sleeper car to Florida and it was awesome! So nice having your own space and the attendant was fantastic. I have taken several long distance trips in sleeper cars over the last 5 years and have enjoyed each trip
@juliebedford454 you will enjoy. Save up for a sleeper a d rail away. Basically it depends ds if the car attendant is starting their shift 4 9n 4 off so they are fresh and willing, or this is the end of the shift when they are tired. Just depends. Overall, I love my rides 98% of the time. Happy railing!
What I want to know is who's Teddybear is that in back?
I wanted to go from Gastonia, NC to Anniston, AL and take my bicycle. Even though the website said bicycles were acceptable if they were a certain dimensions (presumably packed in a box), when I called Amtrak they said I could not get on in Gastonia with a bike because it was not a staffed station. So, I tried to go from Charlotte to Anniston. Charlotte apparently has staff to put the bike (not in a box) in the luggage car. But that didn't work either because there is no staff in Anniston to take the bike out of the luggage car. Apparently this applies to any checked luggage not just bicycles. On the light rail trains in Charlotte we just walk on and hang our bikes on the wall ourselves. Why can't Amtrak do this?
This actually happened to me yesterday!!!
One thing that drives me as a customer crazy is when I spend money on a ticket and an attendant never comes to check it off for me… I could have just walked on the platform and taken a seat and gotten a free ride to my destination!!! Lovely trip but was pissed to have wasted money on a ticket that wasn’t even counted!
It’s good to know you shouldn’t take a hot water pot onboard, but I wouldn’t blame people who didn’t know that. A wok is more crazy, for sure.
Also, the people who were saving part of their meal for their third (coach) passenger are obviously scrimping because they don’t have a lot of money. This might be the only way they could afford to travel. After all, they weren’t using extra resources (eating only 2/3 of their meals), so why does that bother anybody? From a couple RUclipsrs that seemingly have a lot of money, based on all the videos you do, that one seems a little like class shaming to me. It’s not like they were sneaking food from an AYCE buffet to someone who didn’t pay for it. It’s more like a doggie bag.
In my mind, being loud, causing extra, unnecessary work for attendants, or disruptions for other passengers (like sitting in the wrong seat) are problematic, for sure.
I seen a man raise hell getting on the train because the Conductor made him pay for another ticket. Then he was touching a little girl inappropately. The crew called the Sheriff and the took him off the train.
I was on the Spirit of Queensland once and someone rendered the bathroom unit ahead of me useless by taking a dump in the shower cubicle...
first nation - they do the same at roadhouses (from Townsville so I know what ya talking about)
I totally loved what you had to say. I had an attendant issue. I went fron Seattle to Alliance Ohio on the EB. My lady attendant had her grandkids on board. They ran up and down the cars every hour of the day. She let them make announcements. I was in a bedroom, once she turned down my bed the first night, I never saw her again, my bed was down the whole way back.when I would say something,she said she was really busy and would take care of it. No she didn’t. S o things can work both ways.
My husband and I have made several train trips and have had very good attendants and very bad attendants. It's a gamble for sure as to which one you are going to get!
I hope you reported her to Amtrak. She clearly was not doing her job by choice and instead just wanted to get paid to be grandma for the day(s).
Not having done an overnight train before, we got on the OBB from Venice to Vienna. 😮 The fact the the numbered cars aren't in order, and not understanding how to read the ticket to figure out car, and berth, as well as having under 10 minutes from the train arrival to its departure was a bit crazy. Running down a platform and trying to get help from anyone about locating our car 12 that was 29 cars away?!? Then getting on and not being able to pull out phone to check bunkette number, because of being pushed by families to move forward. Oh heaven forbid I try to step aside, into the doorway of a bunkette, to let them by, and get scolded, that is theirs, get out of there. When all I want is to find my own bunkette. And not speaking German, didn't help the matter. I agree with sit where assigned, you just got to find it.😅😅😅
Speaking Austrian? lol
In Austria/Germany/Switzerland, on the departing platform is a sign titled "Wagenstandzeiger", usually near the middle of the platform. It lists the cars' order by number and the approximate position of each car. Starting out in Italy, it's very possible for confusion, but, hey, that's par for Italy, in my experience.
@@paulpetersen3764 Throughout the remainder of our time in Austria, and Germany we had no other train issues. Just that overnight from Venice. And even the staff on the train, said that since they had just restarted that route,3 weeks before, after the pandemic that things were a little chaotic.
Staff is also under pressure on many of the long distance trains in the west because the staff cars have been removed and retired. This has forced the staff to move into the lower level of one of the passenger cars depriving passengers of that space. Staff has also taken over half of the cafe car lower levels as a rest break area, again, depriving passengers of that space. It's bad for everyone.
One of our best rail trips was not on Amtrak but Alaska rail from Fairbanks to Anchorage. The conductor was one of the friendliest people I’ve ever met. He was happy to answer all of our questions.
Because the regular whistle stop train was not running that day, ours was the substitute. At one stop the passenger was traveling with his rifle, the conductor had to lock it in his office; just a normal day
In Alaska, that sounds pretty normal, yes.
On the Missouri River Runner, it was open seating, so they put cards with our starting location.
On the sleeping car, my sister and brother-in-law had a room, and I had a roommette, so I could visit them, but slept in my room, and at the Portland end of the Empire Builder, couldn't go to the Seattle end, through the dining car, to see if those cars were the same as ours (but the attendant allowed me to discreetly view)
I saw a plastic Dr. Pepper bottle lodged in the braces between our car (I was in Roomette #7) and the baggage car behind us (except when we backed up). At a fresh air stop, I thought I'd see if I could get a better picture of it, but the maintenance worker saw me and quite forcefully told me there's 480 volts in there!
I once sat near a woman who loudly used her cell phone for 2 hours -- including after 10pm. Almost a confrontation -- she got off just in time. And video makers: you can't get any staff help after a certain hour.
Don’t show up early for dinning car reservations , wait until your time is called!
So much is just common curtesy, also when people can't take care of things and destroy rooms or leave trash, that is why prices go up because they probably have to repair things and really clean it. I always think would you do this in your home? Thank you for this information.
Was on Coast Starlight last week, from Emeryville to LA. Was funny to hear the conductor training announced on the PA many times, reminding everyone to be sure to flush after doing your business. Talking to him afterward, he was horrified that people would take their dump and just leave the pile in the bowl without flushing. 😮😮
Years ago. The toilet contents went directly on the tracks. I can't imagine working on the tracks or signals with 💩 poo 💩 laying around.
I travel a lot of Amtrak long distance. The restrooms. I’ve seen the attendant’s throughout the day cleaning them, but people are just filthy. It repulses me walking into a disgustingly dirty restroom. I can’t imagine being the one that has to clean it.
Number of years ago the experience was in the diner car being seated with a group of Korean parents with their son. He was the only one speaking English. Before the food was served his mother hauled out a bottle containing Kimchee, was very smelly and the whole car was looking around to see where it was coming from and what it was. I served in Vietnam and knew what was going to happen when the jar was opened. The server didn't say anything but took the empty glass jar when it was empty. She explained to the son that outside food was not permitted, but could be consumed in the sightseer lounge. Poor son was embarrassed, and the parents were mystified.
I'm new to train travel and was curious if there is a "no ride list" like the "No Fly list"on airlines?
There sure is. During the pandemic conductors would often threaten lifetime banishment from Amtrak if they refused to wear a mask.
Hello guys. In 2021, I was on the Cardinal when the conductor had to put someone off the train in a different state from their initial destination for having his mask off. The conductor had a 3 strike system. 1st ask you, 2nd tell you 3rd your off the train at the next stop No refund.
And now we all know anything other than an M95 is useless. Most of us already did.
On full trains, Amtrak staff would tell passengers in the waiting areas & at embarkation that the train was sold out & if they came together to sit together. Single travelers would take up 2 seats anyway & wait to be confronted by an attendant. I've learned to book reservations in sleeper cars to avoid these situations. If my travel is during the day, the accommodation charge isn't as much as if it were at night. I'll pay the difference & avoid the crowds.
Thanks for sharing your experience
Most of it is just rude people. My big "I can't believe you did that" thing is people who rest there dirty, nasty shoes on the seat opposite. Can the attendants or conductors kick the people off the train?
They put their feet on the wall in the Sightseer Car!
Attendants and conductors can only kick people off the train if passengers of sorts are violating the noise ordinance onboard, are verbally abusive to their fellow riders and train staff, ignore the rules of etiquette after being asked to abide by them multiple times, or if they otherwise prove a threat to the safety and well being to everyone and everything on the train in any way whatsoever. Unfortunately, unsanitary passengers are not asked to clean up their act at all.
I took the Zephyr from Chicago to San Francisco last year. I had a roomette. One hour into the trip, someone flushed a tampon down the toilet in the upstairs restroom. The toilet was out of commission the whole trip.
I've been on two trips where people decided that smoking a bit of weed was fine. No, don't smoke anything on the train. The staff doesn't want to kick passengers, but they will if people think it's okay to light up anything.
What gets them is if ur gonna exit in coach and ur a sleeper u gotta let them know cuz they will go looking around wondering where u are. The conductor told me that after I wanted to spend the trip in the lounge car and get off in coach and use the sleeper for storage for my stuff
I am going on my solo train adventure starting tomorrow!! I appreciate all this tips on how not to drive the staff crazy!! Most of them I would never do anyway but it's good to know!! I am going on the Coast Starlight to Emeryville the on the California Zephyr to Chicago and then the Southwest Chief back to Riverside. Can't wait until 6:00am!!
Keep us posted on how it went. Also your hotel choices.
My daughter and I are going to be on Amtrak May 2nd. This will be our 5th time. Three trips we have had horrible trips so hoping this one will be better. Thanks for some good tips!
We were on the auto train and it wasn't full. A couple in front of us decided to move around so they could each have two seats. The husband left his reading light on and moved. That light shined in my eyes all night. I always bring those eye covers now. We had another group behind us talking well into the night. The downfalls of coach.
So sad that we have so many adults who lack self-discipline and responsible behavior.
Interesting video. I can understand the complaints but it seems like there isn't enough effeffective communication and customer service. Maybe they are short staffed?🤷♀️
Smoking in between the cars and one person had smoked a joint in the bathroom. We recently rode the City of New Orleans, Sunset Limited and the Southwest Chief all in coach.
being a FIRST time traveler ...upcoming ... i cant eat just anything so can i take a small cooler in my bedroom? and can the attendants get me ICE for the cooler when mine melts?
Yes you can do that, just don’t bring anything that has to be warmed up or cooked since almost always passengers do not have access to ovens or a microwave.
Good luck. Some attendants will not respond to any request. Hopefully, you will get a good attendant.
It's fine to bring food but there's not much room in a roomette to put stuff so nothing big. I doubt there is ice available for passengers, but I once noticed a pile of ice cubes had been emptied into the sink at the end of the passageway in the roomette car (upper floor), so I have no idea where those ice cubes came from - if a passenger dumped them there or the attendant. Usually I travel coach, and I always bring a bag-cooler of food items, you don't always feel like eating the stuff in the cafe car. No ice in it that would melt and drip through, but I try to start out my trip with cold stuff in there and maybe a frozen item or two. The best place to store a food bag in coach is up top in the overhead, that seems to be where the cooled air circulates. Down by your feet is where heated air comes in.
I must be missing something - I don't understand the issue with the people taking portions of their meals back to the person in coach. They paid to receive 2 meals, they were served 2 meals - aren't they entitled to eat less than they were served, and do whatever they see fit with said leftovers, including giving them to another passenger in their group? If it was an "all-you-can-eat" buffet situation, I would agree with you 100%, but in this case, I'm not understanding the problem. Thanks.
No- the food you take back smells up the car
Have some manners
Maybe if Amtrak didn't charge such ridiculous fares people wouldn't try these dumb tricks
I got #7 right here!!! Passengers clogging half the number of toilets, one even vomited in the sink. The staff had no choice but to lock them down. We went that way from Albuquerque to Chicago.
My last trip, I had woman and her 2 teenagers (2 roomettes). Hers was on the top and theirs on the bottom. I was across from her and she wanted me to change because she needed to keep an eye on them. The attendant heard her rather loud discussion. I knew I had an upper roomette on the Zephyr. The attendant gave her the choice of moving downstairs and the lady across from the teens upstairs. She was not thrilled, but agreed. So entitled almost like the families on planes.
The sleeper car attendant is NOT your personal attendant - there's 20 roomettes and 5 bedrooms of people they have to attend to!
I just got back from a nightmare trip made worse by one sleeper passenger who insisted on engaging the attendant in conversation for half an hour or more every time he passed her, and when he politely excused himself to get back to work, there was always just "one more thing" she had to show him on her phone or tell him... even if the call bell had rung loudly several times, a reminder there were other passengers in the car besides her.
And we were trying NOT to call him, becsuse she was making his life difficult - he was bearing up well but was having to rush to get everything done. Plus the train had been delayed THIRTEEN HOURS into San Antonio, and he like many of us had been up all night as Amtrak's inaccurate and unhelpful notifications kept insisting the train was coming in two hours, oh, no, another hour, postponing it an hour or two at a time so we couldn't risk sleeping so that the 2:40 am train actually left at 2:45 p'm (shortly after the app showed departure time had been delayed from 4pm to 5pm and the conductor told me no, it wasn't the Texas Eagle, so I'm very lucky I'm assertive enough not to get left behind, but that's another story).
Now, I'm afraid I'm guilty of one of the things you describe on this same adventure - but i was trying to avoid having to call poor Chris our attendant because of the demanding passenger hogging him!
Outside Yuma we stopped and a different conductor apologetically announced a freight train had hit someone up ahead, and we'd probably be stopped for another several hours while police investigated.
At that point Chris was TRYING to put the beds up and prepare for arrival in LA, just in case we got moving again, but super-demanding passenger thought this was another opportunity to borrow her personal entertainment system (him), so as I had used up my two water bottles, I decided to go downstairs and fetch my collapsible electric kettle - it's all silicon apart from the heating element, handle and spout - from my suitcase.
The first cup of tea went fine. The second cup of tea? Well, I got covid from someone in the next sleeper on my very first Amtrak ride in 2022, and due to being immunocompromised it turned my immune system whackadoodle so it attacks my own organs including my eyes, and my depth perception is not so great. Which means even though the train was at a standstill, I missed the ledge next to the sink when I put the cup down to add sugar, and poured boiling water all over my leg;
INSTANT second degree burns. Magnificent blister almost 3 inches across, and red 1st degree the size of my hand. Luckily I'd splurged for the bedroom instead of roomette this time, so I could get a hand towel with cold water on it instantly.
Unfortunately this now meant I had to call Chris, totally defeating the reason I'd tried to make myself tea. And really, I had injured myself badly enough I should've gone to urgent care, but we were south of the Salton Sea, and you just KNOW that would've delayed the train longer, or at the very least made even more work for an already stressed train staff.
As usual, Chris couldn't answer the call button because the pit spider had him trapped, so I finally limped to the back of the sleeper with the washcloth pressed to my leg - and may i say, i certainly paid for my foolishness; a second degree burn of that size is NOT comfortable, although luckily having been born with arthritis I can bear pain more than most people, though it doesn't mean I don't feel it - and I was finally able to ask Chris to bring me some ice, although the kitchen was pretty well out by that time. At least I got him away from her.
I tipped him $20 for that trip, although I confess I usually only do that for the 2-night trip on the Chief.
The good news is that my old first aid training worked, and it's just about healed.
But your point stands. I might not have posed a hazard to anyone but myself, but even THAT meant more work for the attendant. And had he realized just how seriously I'd roasted myself, he might've had to do some kind of emergency procedure, further delaying the train and inconveniencing everybody on board. Lesson very much learned!
Thank you for your videos. Question: We are taking our first train ride, coach, to FL. I know you can take food with you. Can you take freeze dried food, like backpacking meals and get hot water to make them? (no pans or heat source needed) Or should you only take food that would be cold?
I would love to know what you guys do for a living with so much travel
They tell all about it on their youtube finance channel! I forget what it's called, but maybe "Grounded Life Finances"
Taking my first Amtrak trip next month from Erie, PA to NY. I have coach seats and have heard that coach usually aren’t assigned seats. What happens if I go to observation car or food car? Will someone take my seat? I don’t like the idea of leaving any of my stuff to keep my seat.
Assigned seats: Chinese are not very confrontational, but if someone is in their train seat, they just show their ticket and the person in it will move without any hassle.
I miss your video last night because I had a power outage at my house on Bumgardner Cemetery Rd Whittier NC sorry.
My wife and I have watched a ton of your videos and they have been such a great resource and help! We are planning to take a train from Lynchburg, Va to Florida as our first train trip. We wanted to try a shorter trip in a sleeper car for the first one and if we like it we would like to take a longer trip. One thing that we are really looking forward to is meeting new people and making friends. Bottom line is that we love people.
Do you have a chat that we can ask you questions as we think of them?
We are easy people and will help anyone that we can. From everything we have discovered and through you folks Amtrak is one of the best there is and we have talked to the guy at our station in Lyncburg and he was bend over backwards nice, helpful and knowledgeable. If the other folks with Amtrak are half as good we will be tickled to death.
Thanks for sharing your knowledge and experiences with us.
I just got back from a trip from Tucson to Lordsburg, NM. Let me tell you, the Amtrak staff made that trip special.
Although my return trp to Tucson was cancelled, most likely due to Hurricane Beryl, I want to take a longer trip next time.
In 1990 i took Amtrack from Philadelphia to penn Station. It was a normal ride from what i recall. It was a weekday. I was a teen
I boarded the California zephyr and didn't know there were assigned seats. Nobody told me they just let me board. I took a seat and I was in someone's seat, they sat somewhere else . The conductor came to scan tickets and told me I was in the wrong car. So I'm guilty of taking someone's seat but I honestly didn't know . I didn't think anything of it becuase the previous train I was on didn't have assigned seats in coach
How about things that annoy other passengers.
We rode coach on the Cardinal.
The lady behind us talked for the whole 26 hour ride.
She barely let the other speak.
When she ran out of material, she started repeating herself. 26 hours.
just shared this to a FB group called Amtrak Fans - so no deep fryers or a self tapping keg?????