I have a question. I have been riding Amtrak for 18 years and enjoy every minute of it. I went to a local station recently to go from Lincoln IL to Joliet IL. When i arrived to board the train in Lincoln there was a homeless man with a bag covering his heade in the Lincoln station at 6 am. It said on the door this door will be locked from 11pm to 7am. I thought maybe he would move on but I cam back home a week later and it was 11 pm before the train arrived and the same homeless amn was there. is amtrak just not locking the doors. I talked to at elast 10 local people who said they won't ride Amtrak again due to the homeless man. The station/shelter there semlls bad like smoke and urine and is very nice in the winter. What should I do about this problem. someone help me!
Posted by smitty195 (Member # 5102) on :
Contact Amtrak Police at (202) 906-2235. Just give them the same info that you posted here, and they will look into it. If not them directly, then they will notify local law enforcement. Chances are the guy is well known to local PD.
Posted by RRRICH (Member # 1418) on :
Or it could be that the station agent (if there is one) just "looks the other way" and lets the guy stay there overnight as long as he has not been causing problems or harassing customers (asking for money, etc.)
Posted by smitty195 (Member # 5102) on :
Well, if at least 10 locals said they won't ride Amtrak again due to this guy's stench of smoke and urine, I'd say he is causing problems and bothering people.
Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
Mr. Smith's profession is Public Safety; should not this topic be considered as "asked, answered, move on"?
Posted by Henry Kisor (Member # 4776) on :
I'm interested in finding out more about this story. Homeless people and railroads historically have gone together like apple and pie.
Posted by MightyAlweg (Member # 5407) on :
True, Mr. Kisor. But there's a big difference between a romanticized version of a loveable hobo hitching rides on boxcars and singing folk songs in the moonlight, versus a smelly transient camped out inside a depot for days with a bag on his head and scaring the paying passengers.
Posted by Henry Kisor (Member # 4776) on :
Who said anything about hoboes? You must have made a 100-yard sprint to leap to that conclusion.
Homeless people are attracted to railroad properties for a reason -- the facilities are large, contain many places to shelter under, and are sparsely guarded. Given the increasing number of homeless in the United States, the phenomenon is worth discussing. We are unfortunately going to be seeing more of them in places we would rather not see them, and that includes unlocked Amtrak shelters.
Posted by smitty195 (Member # 5102) on :
I thought the attraction to train stations was getting more bang for your buck with handouts.
Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
Mr. Kisor, while it is not my call to make regarding the propriety of the subject matter you wish to further discuss here, there are any of a number of discussion boards that address societal topics such as homelessness. Here is one such.
I'm certain they would be happy to have your well written thoughts shared at their site.
Posted by Henry Kisor (Member # 4776) on :
Mr. Norman, you always are good for a chuckle.
Posted by HopefulRailUser (Member # 4513) on :