RAILforum: Two Amtrak stations to lose staffing

This is topic Two Amtrak stations to lose staffing in forum Amtrak at RAILforum.

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Posted by Fan_Trains (Member # 2874) on :

From Trains.com:

The Amtrak stations at Tallahassee, Fla., and Mobile, Ala., will lose staff as of Thursday, April 22, and Friday, April 23, respectively. The stations host Amtrak trains 1 and 2, the transcontinental Sunset Limited, operating between Orlando, Fla., and Los Angeles via Jacksonville, Fla.,; New Orleans; Houston; San Antonio; El Paso; and Tucson, Ariz.

According to Amtrak, after those dates, tickets will no longer be available for purchase at the two stations. Passengers may, however, purchase tickets on board the train, or, as always, through travel agents or directly over the Internet at www.amtrak.com. checked baggage will also be discontinued at Mobile; the service is not available at Tallahassee. As in many locations, Amtrak caretakers - local people employed part-time - will open and close the two stations at the appropriate train times.

well gang, what is your reaction?

Posted by MPALMER (Member # 125) on :

Not too swift, but you gotta cut costs any way you can.

What happens if the caretaker doesn't make it there one day...passenger wait outside? That happened recently in Martinsburg, WV.
Station was locked up. Station is unstaffed anyway but at least it has restrooms/pay phone.

Posted by Pojon (Member # 3080) on :

The losing of staff at the 2 stations in Florida is lousy--it discourages travel on Amtrak. The staff at Palatka, FL Amtrak station has been non-existent now for 15 years even though the station is no also a Greyhound office and center for the local ride solution service and taxis. Go figure it out!