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I take any articles from the Huffington Post with a few grains of salt, but reserved coach seats, Wi-Fi, and food carts are probably reasonable subjects:
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Richard, all of the above represents reasonable inquiries by a journalist who has traveled about by means other than air or auto transpot.
No doubt, the absence of "amenities" available to someone flying YUL-LGA must be astounding, considering Pre cleared entry, Attendants coming to you with food and beverage, and, soon if not already, in-flight WiFi.
At seat F&B service is nothing new for railroads, but it is safe to presume Amtrak has evaluated such, and has concluded passengers welcome the opportunity to get up and move around. For the moment, but there could be a change post-Frankford Jct, walking about is fair game on Amtrak; on a flight, you can be sure an Attendant takes mental note should a passenger be walking about unnecessarily or takes too long in a lavatory.
WiFi; well that is almost "expected", nowadays anywhere. Where Amtrak represents they offer it, best have it work. In-flight WiFi is still a work in progress. I found during May aboard a Jet Blue A-320, it worked fine ORD-JFK - and was free. On the return aboard an Embraer 190, that remains a "we're working on it". However, on United during February ORD-MIA, even if the "ex-Con" 737-900, was equipped (look for a bulbous nacelle atop the fuselage aft to see if an aircraft has it) it didn't work well - and it's pay (poor United; they have become more a whipping boy of late than was the New Haven Railroad "back in my day").
I should point out that the Chicago Transit Authority trains, which I use taking my "poor man's way to O'Hare" (hey, we're talkin' $4.60 Senior round trip v. $182 round trip in the "White Glove" car service I used for the trip overseas last year), are Wi-Fi and cell phone equipped when elevated or in a subway. NYC Transit Authority still needs to "get with the program" - and as the highest priced mass transit system in any major city - they'd best get with it!!!
Even though I joined the 21st century last year with a Galaxy S5 (and am already getting bombarded with "you haven't upgraded yet to an S6, what's taking you so long?"), Amtrak had also best "get with the program" regarding Wi-Fi.
Posts: 9976 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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Mr. Vincent, Beatles and trains were fairly common; here they are aboard a PRR Parlor Car with LIRR equipment visible. Therefore they must be just departing or arriving Penn Station and the equipment is stored in Hudson Yard.
Oh, and I don't think $4.62, i.e. $.60 in 1964 $$$$, will go that far in any Amtrak Food Service facility today.
Posts: 9976 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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I can't buy Amtrak's argument against reserved coach seats. I don't think the number of passengers, going to a particular city, is a factor. Also, if coach cars can become more uniform, coach car substitution shouldn't be a problem.
Whenever I fly Alaska Airlines, out of Santa Rosa, I have found booking a seat quite easy. The website provides a diagram, for each flight, of the coach car seats. You can choose first class or regular coach, and choose the seat you want. It will show those seats already reserved. Upon downloading you confirmation, you will get the seat number on the confirmation slip.
If Amtrak ever offers levels of coach seats (as, for example, "regular coach", "first class", or "premium"), Amtrak could have a similar diagram for those seats, show which ones are already reserved, and thus make your selection straight-forward and easy.
Richard
Posts: 1909 | From: Santa Rosa | Registered: Jan 2004
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Catching a train at NY-Penn Station isn't a pleasant experience. There isn't enough waiting room and because there isn't any sort of assigned seating, people show up extra early to get the best seats. Unfortunately, I don't think Amtrak's ancient reservation system could handle pre-assigned coach seats. Creating an IT system that allows assigned coach seating would likely be ridiculously expensive and enormously complex. But I wouldn't stand in Joe Boardman's way if he wants to go to Congress and ask for the money.
I fly Alaska Airlines regularly and it's easier for AS to pre-assign seats because most flights don't make 15 to 20 enroute stops. Amtrak's boarding process is chaotic, but if I don't like my seat I can move to a different seat or hang out in the lounge car to pass the time. If I'm traveling on a cheap fare, pre-assigned seating is one of the frills that won't come with the low fare.
I also sometimes fly Southwest Airlines and it isn't possible to pre-select seats on WN. Passengers are assigned a boarding group based on check-in time, but it is possible to buy an early boarding pass from WN. Maybe Amtrak could offer something similar to the WN early boarding option. If I have to fly WN, I almost always splurge for the early boarding option.
Posts: 831 | From: Seattle | Registered: Jan 2011
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Vincent, I keep waiting for everyone to use early boarding on Southwest. Then maybe they can start a 'very early' boarding system and raise the fee!
I would agree that on Amtrak with their level of sophistication and inconsistent operation assigned seating would likely just make things worse.
What they could do to help the boarding, deboarding chaos is, drumroll, open more doors and collect tickets after departure. Amazing how many people board quickly on the NEC (after you run the nazi gate keeper gauntlet) with automatic door openings and high level platforms and ticket collection/scanning on board.
With a conductor, the AC, and a coach attendant on LD trains, if three doors at each stop were opened (accessing up to 6 coaches plus each SCA's car) and tickets were collected on board, lots of wasted dwell time at stops could be avoided. Faster schedules could help equipment utilization with virtually no added cost.
The process could be further helped if the station agent announced platform locations for the various cars, perhaps corresponding to destination cities, and verified that all those in the waiting area had a ticket. But, maybe that's 'not their job'.
Posts: 2397 | From: Camden, SC | Registered: Mar 2006
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quote:Originally posted by yukon11: I can't buy Amtrak's argument against reserved coach seats. I don't think the number of passengers, going to a particular city, is a factor.
Agreed. Overnight trains where they keep the night boardings and disembarkations to one car, yes. Daytime trains, no.
quote:Originally posted by Vincent206: Creating an IT system that allows assigned coach seating would likely be ridiculously expensive and enormously complex.
If Amtrak or any other government agency (in any country), yes. For a private company it would be easy, not complicated, and not cost much.
-------------------- Geoff M. Posts: 2426 | From: Apple Valley, CA | Registered: Sep 2000
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quote:Amtrak’s attempt to modernize its reservation system through the ResNG program had mixed results, and the program will be terminated in FY 2015 without fully achieving its modernization objective... ...the company does not have a strategy to replace or significantly upgrade the reservation system to ensure its future sustainability and growth. For example, there is no plan to systemically improve the reservation system, and integrate it with technology improvement efforts being managed by other departments.
In other words, get in line and we'll get you a seat when we get you a seat.
Posts: 831 | From: Seattle | Registered: Jan 2011
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I agree with the comments by Geoff, Palmland, & Vincent, above. I think it would be difficult for a bureaucratic juggernaut, like Amtrak, to work out an efficient seat reservation system.
However, entering into fantasy land, I can see the day will come when instant train booking and seat assignments could be done prior to or after entering the train station.
Most stations and depots could have a row of computer screens, touch sensitive, with credit card swipes. You could swipe your Amtrak credit card, enter a pin number, then choose the train and seat/sleeper you want. The computer would be fed with instant data as to what passengers are detraining, which are boarding, and what seats or sleepers are available. The station computer screen could also be accessed at home before leaving for the station.
I will awake from my pipe dream. I do wonder, however, if Amtrak has every thought about an Amtrak credit card which could be used for all train bookings. A bill could be forwarded, to you, at the end of the month. It could also tally your Guest Rewards points.
Richard
Posts: 1909 | From: Santa Rosa | Registered: Jan 2004
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While some retailers still offer single purpose credit cards, those that existed in the Travel and Entertainment sector have, to my knowledge, vanished.
Posts: 9976 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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A few years ago, there was an article pertaining to a rail travel card that appeared in one of my train magazines. I don't know how it worked. I was more of a charge card and you would be billed, later that month. I think it was offered by one of the major passenger trains in the east.
Richard
Posts: 1909 | From: Santa Rosa | Registered: Jan 2004
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Richard, the RTC was due in full 15 days after receipt of a bill. There was no revolving credit with such. Further, I have no knowledge how aggressive they were in pursuing delinquent accounts.
Posts: 9976 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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