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A live dispatch from 14(25) - wee hours 6.26.13
Good Morning Rail Enthusiasts...... and it is now morning for any of us in the Continental United States -
My wife and daughter are sleeping comfortably in bedroom D of the 1431 sleeper and I, suffering a bit of jet lag and a bit of insomnia, am trying out the WIFI in the Pacific Parlour Car using my Netbook...... a miniature laptop which was popular for a brief period until being pushed aside by the wave of handheld internet/cellphone devices washing ashore.
But the Netbook still works and since I don't have one of those handheld internet device thingys, the Netbook still comes along anytime I am going to be away from home more than three or four days.
I'm also kind of driven be the realization that time marches on and that by the next time I spend a night on the Coast Starlight these expensive former Santa Fe Hi-level lounge cars may have finally become museum pieces..... or razor blades.
At this exact moment we are pulling out of Sacramento. Not sure what business required us to sit here for 30 minutes even after pulling in 20 minutes late. That's been the norm for this trip. No one seems to be in a hurry at any station stop and every stop has taken 10-30 minutes. Clearly there is padding in the schedule in that we can linger around so and only be 50 minutes late.
But then on-time performance isn't the point here, really. One last ride on a relic in regular passenger service - that's the point.
At the moment my bohunkus is planted in one of the 8 swivel lounge chairs and we are crawling through Elvas Junction. If it were daylight I would not be squandering such precious viewing possibilities by typing away.
The food has been fine..... red meat at lunch and supper. At lunch I was briefly (and prematurely) excited when I spotted French Toast on the breakfast menu. I asked the server and was snottily told "We don't have french toast at lunch." I replied politely "I didn't think french toast was offered on the northbound Coast Starlight any longer......." Then our tablemate asked about the lunch special which was different from the lunch special described on the menu...... another curt reply from the server who then slowly realized that she had mistakenly handed us the southbound menu.
The PPC attendant doesn't seem real thrilled to be in customer service either. Not rude. Just indifferent.
These are two individuals though.... the rest of the dining staff seems fine. The sleeper attendants likewise...... and I'm here for a train ride. Some quiet nocturnal time with wifi an unexpected bonus.
Still crawling at restricted speed.... nearly 15 minutes since departing SAC and have not yet reached the huge Roseville yard.
Equipment - the PPC is starting to show it's some wear on the second renovation. Our sleeper is a phase I superliner that underwent the first round of renovation with the new bathroom layout and it too is showing some wear. A homemade apparatus secures the upper berth (though not well) and a recent rider has quieted some creaks and rattles by wedging timetables (the thinner Coast Starlight ones) into the cracks.
And news - the Amtrak attendant who 'hosted' Coast Starlight sleeper passengers yesterday (now) morning in LAX tells us that Los Angeles will be getting a 1st Class lounge in August. Reportedly the employee gym in an upstairs area near the current Amtrak ticketing area is being converted for a 1st class lounge.
We'll keep our eyes on this.
Safe travels everyone.
-------------------- David Pressley
Advocating for passenger trains since 1973!
Climbing toward 5,000 posts like the Southwest Chief ascending Raton Pass. Cautiously, not nearly as fast as in the old days, and hoping to avoid premature reroutes. Posts: 4203 | From: Western North Carolina | Registered: Feb 2004
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You went right by here, all the way from North Carolina, and didn't notify us?? Awww man, I'm disappointed---I could have stopped by San Jose and said hello. (I tried to do this with Mike Smith, but I got tied up on a lengthy investigation and couldn't cut loose).
I'm glad you're enjoying the trip--I LOVE the PPC! Which one are you on? I'll take a guess and say 39974. I've been on all of them at least, oh, 7 or 8 times over the years. Too bad about the attendant---that truly is unusual for that train. And that guy in the diner...ugh....why do these people work there? I don't expect anything from anyone except the basics. For sure, I would not leave that guy a penny.
Who is your sleeper attendant? I know many of them, and I think my buddy is driving you right now from Sac to KFS. Not positive on that though--he could be southbound now, I'm not really sure.
Enjoy the rest of your trip! Are you going all the way to Seattle to get on #8?
Posts: 2355 | From: Pleasanton, CA | Registered: Apr 2007
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PS: I must have the WORST WiFi luck in those PPCs. Everyone I know that rides gets a good signal and can go online. Me? I have a 100% failure rate.
Posts: 2355 | From: Pleasanton, CA | Registered: Apr 2007
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I, too, am mystified at how Amtrak can attract so many average to below average customer service employees. There must be something in the hiring process that fails to weed out the grumpy, indifferent types. I don't love Starbucks, (lousy coffee), but I'm always impressed by the overall quality of the Starbucks employees that I encounter. I also detest shopping at Costco, but the Costco workforce is usually quite good at politely and effectively dealing with hordes of shoppers behaving like pigs at a trough. I wouldn't expect Amtrak customer service standards to ever reach the level of Nordstrom or Alaska Airlines, but I've hired hundreds of people for customer service jobs over the years and I don't think very many Amtrak employees would get past the first interview with me.
BTW, if any of you are passing through Seattle, don't be afraid to send me a message. I have a very hectic life and I'm often busy at night, but I've lived here for over 50 years and if I'm free, I might be able to steer you away from some of the local tourist traps.
Posts: 831 | From: Seattle | Registered: Jan 2011
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I still think service attentiveness in any service establishment is simply "luck of the draw". I have found attentive service where I least expected it; and lack of such where I could have reasonably expected it. How many of those who inhabit the Coast Starlight, as distinct from me who has never been on it, have reported trips where the service has been exceptional?
Has the service of every Flight Attendant anyone has encountered (and who make much more - think about $80K if they have been at it for a while, but albeit a more demanding and skilled job - then does an Amtrak Service Attendant) been exemplary?
Actually one of the most worst service experiences I recall occurred at Saks Fifth Avenue - yes; SAKS FIFTH AVENUE. This sales clerk was simply more interested in her personal cell phone call than in taking care of me. This was probably her way of saying "what are YOU doing in here?". Well what was I, whose idea is threads come from JCPenney, doing in there? Seems like during '08, I was "out" for a family wedding - and I had forgotten to bring a necktie. Talking with my Sister from where I was fairly near an outlet in Stamford, she said to "just go there and get one lest you be late; it is just off the Atlantic St exit on the 95".
Posts: 9975 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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[QUOTE]Originally posted by Vincent206: [QB] I, too, am mystified at how Amtrak can attract so many average to below average customer service employees. There must be something in the hiring process that fails to weed out the grumpy, indifferent types. I don't love Starbucks, (lousy coffee), but I'm always impressed by the overall quality of the Starbucks employees that I encounter. I also detest shopping at Costco, but the Costco workforce is usually quite good at politely and effectively dealing with hordes of shoppers behaving like pigs at a trough. I wouldn't expect Amtrak customer service standards to ever reach the level of Nordstrom or Alaska Airlines, but I've hired hundreds of people for customer service jobs over the years and I don't think very many Amtrak employees would get past the first interview with me.
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I'm afraid that's all too true. I have had my brush with surly Amtrak attendants but most are polite and helpful.
I do like Starbucks and I too am amazed that so many employees are courteous, upbeat, and can remember your name (no doubt because I go in there so often). It isn't a job I think I could handle for a long period of time.
Speaking of a really first-class organizations and retail outlets, I have to put L.L. Bean at the top of the list. Glad that the Downeaster now goes to Freeport, Maine.
Richard
PS - any accolades for the Walmart experience?
Posts: 1909 | From: Santa Rosa | Registered: Jan 2004
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Home safe from our travels...... look for a full report soon.
Smitty - I apologize..... I wasn't trying to avoid a meetup - just didn't think to try for it as my wife and daughter were the focus on this trip. I don't have them along every time I make a train trip as my wife is good for at most only one sleeping car night per year. She has accused me of having an affair with 'Julie' saying that whenever I call her I disappear shortly thereafter on a 'train trip'!
As for the SJE stop, my wife took the turn for a platform stroll there while I stayed aboard the train with my daughter who, still on eastern time, was already asleep.
You are correct that we had PPC 39974 - Sonoma Valley.
Our SCA was Javier and he was fabulous.... the best Amtraker we encountered on either this trip or our family trip aboard the SWC last summer.
Had this just been myself riding, a connection to #28 would have been part of the plan.
With family the itinerary called for four days with old friends (with a daughter the same age as ours) who moved to Portland two years ago. Following the visit we took the Talgo up to Seattle, did the family tourist thing (aka - Space Needle) there, and caught an early morning flight the next day back to Atlanta.
Again - look for a larger report in a day or two.
-------------------- David Pressley
Advocating for passenger trains since 1973!
Climbing toward 5,000 posts like the Southwest Chief ascending Raton Pass. Cautiously, not nearly as fast as in the old days, and hoping to avoid premature reroutes. Posts: 4203 | From: Western North Carolina | Registered: Feb 2004
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Every Amtrak employee I've encountered in the last couple or three years has been at least tolerable. Things have improved to the point that the 'indifferent' ones now stand out in a less than stellar way.
I was just surprised to get a couple of the indifferent ones on the Coast Starlight..... a train which generally seems to be one where the more outstanding employees are more often found.
-------------------- David Pressley
Advocating for passenger trains since 1973!
Climbing toward 5,000 posts like the Southwest Chief ascending Raton Pass. Cautiously, not nearly as fast as in the old days, and hoping to avoid premature reroutes. Posts: 4203 | From: Western North Carolina | Registered: Feb 2004
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