Passenger Trains > Carl Fowler, on Ethan Allen booking embargo

Carl Fowler, well-known member of the Vermont Rail Advisory Council and past vice chair of NARP, wrote earlier today about how availability on the newly-extended Ethan Allen is being embargoed on Amtrak's reservation system:

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Unfortunately the ETHAN ALLEN has been zeroed out through August 5 and the computer is not offering the Vermont Translines Amtrak Thruway "Ambus" in replacement. I've sent this to VTRANS and Amtrak as a plea for early corrective action :"Perhaps because of the warehouse fire beside the approach to the Livingston Ave bridge in Albany the ETHAN ALLEN EXPRESS has vanished completely from the Amtrak booking system until August 6. This comes two days after the triumphant inaugural run. I am NOT protesting the decision not to run past a profoundly dangerous spot--but I hope we can make it clear that Amtrak Bus/Rail options still exist this week.

Obviously this is most unfortunate--but the computer should default to offering the Vermont Translines Amtrak Thruway bus service as a still available option over these dates for riders in Burlington, Vergennes, Middlebury and Rutland--rather than displaying a "Sold Out" as it does on the Amtrak App or "We don't have train service matching your request"as it does from the website.

Obviously this profoundly undermines the positive publicity we got from Friday's inaugural and the bus bridge that day southbound at least resulted in only an 8 minute delay at Hudson for riders. Why isn't the bus bridge still in place?

But assuming it was cancelled because of lack of bus availability we are not without options. More to the point is that there is still service from Burlington to Albany over those dates on the twice daily Vermont Translines "Ambus" and that bus option should be offered.  This brings home again why it is vital to update the reservations system to offer all three options when a passenger asks for any Amtrak trip from Burlington, Vergennes, Middlebury and Rutland. Somehow Amtrak needs to offer an online equivalent of the VRAN Western Vermont Corridor timetable when passengers try to book. That would mean offering common station codes, but defaulting to the bus or rail locations when a passenger tries to book either the train or bus. But short-term potential riders must know we are not without Amtrak options in western Vermont this week.

It is critical that the Amtrak reservations system must advise potential riders that the disappearance of the ETHAN ALLEN is temporary. This might help: "Amtrak Trains 290 and 291--the ETHAN ALLEN EXPRESS--are suspended until August 6, 2022 because of severe structural fire damage to a building adjacent to the track approaching the bridge over the Hudson River at Albany.  As this might collapse onto the track trains are temporarily cancelled west of Albany.  In the interim you can use the twice daily Vermont Translines "Amtrak Thruway" bus service, which is offered from Burlington, Vergennes, Middlebury and Rutland directly to the Amtrak Albany-Rensselaer station. These buses take Amtrak issued tickets and can be booked at Amtrak.com and on the Amtrak App. Select station code BLT for Burlington, VGN for Vergennes, MBY for Middlebury and RTC for Rutland. Please note the bus station locations are different except at Albany and Vergennes".

Of course this is longer than just saying "Sold Out", (or even worse telling them there is "no such service") but more importantly it doesn't discourage riders either. All points are being served within Vermont. Only Fort Edward, Saratoga and Schenectady, NY are missed by Vermont Translines.  This is incredibly important to get fixed NOW."



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 07/31/22 16:55 by GenePoon.

Carl Fowler later writes:

So good friends sometimes howling helps. As of 135PM the ETHAN ALLEN EXPRESS is back in the Amtrak computer for booking between ALL points!  

We still need to see a way to show all options on the Western Vermont Corridor without knowing the different station codes for bus and rail, but the mess is fixed.  Thanks to Amtrak and VTRANS! This mess is corrected and quickly!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/31/22 16:55 by GenePoon.

Goes to show you can't turn your back on this outfit for one minute.

They could also honor NYC - Burlington tickets on the Vermonter, albeit at Essex Jct.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/31/22 17:21 by joemvcnj.

A typical ham-handed arrogant Amanagement  approach to any problem while running trains. Easier to cancel it all than to figure out a work-around. Any inconvenience for Amanagers equals, in their minds, total elimination of service for passengers. Really, Amanagement, have you no shame?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/31/22 17:32 by OnTime.

OnTime Wrote:
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> Easier to cancel it all than to figure out a
> work-around. 

The work-around pilot trips to circumvent the collapsing building issue are underway.

Art House

OnTime Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> A typical ham-handed arrogant Amanagement
>  approach to any problem while running trains.
> Easier to cancel it all than to figure out a
> work-around. Any inconvenience for Amanagers
> equals, in their minds, total elimination of
> service for passengers. Really, Amanagement, have
> you no shame?

I am sure that is exactly why they are working on a diversion route for all trains. What better approach than to find a diversion route so that all trains can be canceled? Oh wait.... LOL!