Passenger Trains > Been an off trip on the Coast Starlight

The Lounge attendant while a nice guy clearly doesn't want to be here. He numerous times has been texting and made me wait. Later he was eating grapes and made me wait as well. On the way up yesterday he was gone a long time on breaks. But nice guy so no big deal. Then I get off for air at Klamath tonight and the attendant gives me the third degree when I get on saying" I don't remember you. Taken this train over 50 times and never had either of these issues till now.

Posted from Android



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 10/20/14 06:17 by goduckies.

Just send him a a text and tell him what room you're in! Then he'll get it!

Rather than use this forum as an alternative to Yelp, perhaps it would be better if you wrote to the Amtrak customer service? I'm sure they have regs about their OBS personnel texting while on duty.

But who is the willing enforcer?

A friend of mine and recent retiree from Amtrak train service characterizes these types of employees as "stealing a paycheck".

Cheers,
Jack

It's nice that you complain about him here, but, did you bring up the lounge attendants attitude with the Conductor?
Train Orders can't fix the problem, but the Conductor can.

goduckies Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The Lounge attendant while a nice guy clearly
> doesn't want to be here. He numerous times has
> been texting and made me wait. Later he was eating
> grapes and made me wait as well. On the way up
> yesterday he was gone a long time on breaks. But
> nice guy so no big deal. Then I get off for air
> at Klamath tonight and the attendant gives me the
> third degree when I get on saying" I don't
> remember you. Taken this train over 50 times and
> never had either of these issues till now.
>
> Posted from Android

When he tells you that he does not remember you being on the train, this is where you mention that you have been watching him text for the last 200 miles!

gary

Oh the person that didn't remember me was the coach attendant. As far as asking a conductor that is extreme. I know others were going to write Amtrak about the lounge attendant. I just posted here because it shocked me.

Posted from Android

PHall Wrote:
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> It's nice that you complain about him here, but,
> did you bring up the lounge attendants attitude
> with the Conductor?
> Train Orders can't fix the problem, but the
> Conductor can.

The conductor isn't going to do anything. It's not their job to oversee the customer service of OBS employees.

A conductor can take OBS out of service if they break rules, serve alcohol to drunks, or abuse passengers. I have seen it done.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/20/14 13:04 by joemvcnj.

joemvcnj Wrote:
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> A conductor can take OBS out of service if they
> break rules or abuse passengers. I have seen it
> done.

That's why I said "customer service". No conductor is going to take somebody out of service for the behavior described in this thread.

Either the conductor is in complete charge of the train, or he is not. I have been there and done that. As a 22 year old conductor of the RI-SP Golden State, I left a surly, disobedient coach attendant who refused to clean up his coach at Palm Springs at 530am one morning in 1966. He was quite excited!

Norm

Norman Orfall
Helendale, CA
TIOGA PASS, a private railcar

Gee Norm, you're getting up there.

OliveHeights Wrote:
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> Gee Norm, you're getting up there.

There goes your ride in the Tioga Pass! ;-)



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/20/14 16:47 by PHall.

calzephyr48 Wrote:
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> Rather than use this forum as an alternative to
> Yelp, perhaps it would be better if you wrote to
> the Amtrak customer service?

I agree - if you really are concerned, this needs to be the first thing you do. Whether you just want to prevent future occurrences or get a partial refund or whatever. YOU need to compose an email to customer service using the "contact us" button at the bottom of Amtrak.com.

BUT...REMEMBER THIS:

Take extra time, compose your message, PROOF-READ, fix your spelling, and have it make sense. This "letter" isn't for Trainorders.com - if you want your message to get respect, be fully understood, and followed through, YOU need it to sound like it comes from someone who is actually worth listening to. You'll also need your reservation number to send the message.

For non-safety items like this I don't think discussing with the conductor will get very far. Go with the email to customer service if you want results.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 10/21/14 07:59 by KA7008.

Did you have your ticket with you when you stepped off the train in K Falls?
I've been snapped at by a Starlight attendant while trying to board in Santa Barbara. Yes, it made me mad. Then I thought about the fact that this was day 4 of who knows what kind of trip for this attendant. As busy and chaotic as things can get on the Starlight, I'm sure it's hard to be at your best 100% of the time.

Posted from iPhone

How 'bout the crew chief, or are they passe now?

Steve Donaldson
Pacific Grove, CA