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[QUOTE]Originally posted by smitty195: [QB] That's a good question, Dee. I don't have solid answers, but I do have a few educated guesses. The on-board attendants go through a very basic course on Amtrak policies/procedures (how to fill out your time card, where to report for work, how to dress, how to handle your job duties in the company manual, etc). However, I believe most of the training is "OJT" (On the Job Training). I've seen sleeper attendants teaching new-hires how to make a bed, how to make coffee, etc...When I've talked to them over the years, they usually say that this is their first train trip and it is their first time inside a sleeping car. So the training really isn't too much. Two summers ago, I watched a regular sleeper attendant "training" a new-hire on the Coast Starlight in a sleeper how to make up the beds in the morning. The trainer was in her room watching TV and drinking soda, while the trainee was floundering and couldn't figure out what to do. I asked her if she needed help, and she said, "Oh boy, do I!". I asked her where her trainer was, and she said, "Watching TV again". So I showed her how to do the beds and she was appreciative. For the dining car chefs, I don't know what their training is today, but as recently as 3 years ago, all of Amtrak's chefs were sent to CIA (Culinary Institute of America) to become certified chefs. And of course, once they completed all of that expensive and lengthy training, they came out with the government mandated Simplified Dining Service which not only laid off many dining car employees, but also voided everything they had learned in chef's school! (since everything was pre-cooked, for the most part). The one area at Amtrak that receives a great deal of training are the Conductors and Engineers. Now as far as I know, neither of them receive any type of "charm school" in how to deal with passengers. Their training consists of going back east to Wilmington, Delaware to "Choo Choo U". I understand that this is a very tough school, and there are lots and lots of rules to learn (which is a good thing, since they have our precious lives in their hands). Regarding Chicago Amtrak employees....I will just be blunt. It is well-known within Amtrak (and with regular Amtrak passengers) that Chicago has some of the most rude and lazy employees in the entire system. It's very noticeable if you are transferring from a Los Angeles based train (such as the Southwest Chief) to a Chicago based train (such as the California Zephyr). Amtrak, in my opinion, definitely has a problem there. Personally, I think it's too big for them to handle internally. I don't know what the solution to that weird system is. I once asked a red cap which side of Union Station (in Chicago) I should use to find taxi cabs. His response: "That ain't in my job description bro!". Yeah, thanks a lot for the help dude. [/QB][/QUOTE]
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