Passenger Trains > A modest start on a trip to Savannah

My spouse and I are off to Savannah for Thanksgiving.  We took Acela to NYC fron Boston to transfer to the Meteor to Savannah.  The Acela was fine, though quite dirty on the outside.  These trains are tired.  The toilet is yellowed plastic now, and it just looks terrible.  The staff in first class was solid, and one new person was being trained.  I have had the crew before, and they are good.  We both had the omlette, which was edible, but not great.  

The Meteor is a joke so far.  The dining steward is rude, based on her demeanor taking reservations.  I went up to the cafe to grab a bourbon.  No.  There is no bourbon, no Jack, no scotch.  "They did not give me any."  WHAT??  So she suggested I drink vodka or gin.  I do not want those.  So she said that I could go to the diner and get Makers Mark.  Well, I am not a drunk, so no, and the dining staff has no interest in serving us outside of the "dinner hour.".  Here is ANOTHER example of Amtrak incompetence costing them money.  Honestly, this company does not know how to make money at all, only how to cut costs. 

As for the train itself, the exterior was probably washed last in Hialeah.  So it is ok.  Inside, it is clean and things work.  Our sleeper attendant is fine, and seems nice.  

I am just baffled at how this train leaves NYC and is not fully stocked.  There is no way they (the cafe) will have enough food and drink to get the passengers to Orlando, much less Miami.  Zero.  The cafe is swamped and has had a line since opening somewhere after Newark.  The attendant told me that with 91/92 gone, everyone for those trains now rides this one, putting extra demand on everything.  We have 240 on board at Philly!

Once again, Amtrak has a decent idea (with 91/92) but they do not implement properly at all.  Anyone who runs a business will tell you that plans are one thing, but making it work is another.  And Amtrak fails nearly every time, thanks to management.  This is NOT the fault of the crews.  

We will see how dinner goes, but based on the crew attitude thus far, my expectations are low.  May I please be proven wrong. 

All that said, my son's flight from Boston to Baltimore is delayed 3 hours.  They could not afford to take the train.  That is a statement in itself.

Of course at Philly there are a number of new Acela trains sitting.  Just sitting.  Unbelievable at this point.  I hope the new transportation secretary cleans out Amtrak and esentially starts over.  Management has to go.  The crews are great, but management lets them down daily, and doesn't seem to care.



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 11/26/24 13:48 by Chessie1963.

Your assertion that the Meteor is a joke is derived from not getting the beverage you wanted? Surly Amtrak crews have been around since 1971 and are not Meteor-specific. As for crowding, I don't doubt that NY and Philly residents are taking 97/98 instead of connecting at DC to 40/41. We all predicted this, just like we predicted chronic lateness for 40/41. But it is Thanksgiving week, you know. 

You know my trouble?  Careful now, I have many...

I have owned two inns and a hotel and while I am a marketing professor, I teach some courses in hospitality management.  The job is to make guests happy.  That is job one, every minute of every day.  Amtrak long distrance trains, and really all trains, are not just transportation, but hospitality; an experience.  And I see all of the opportunities, especially with these great new crews, to do so much better.  

As they say, you have to spend money to make money.  Amtrak, give me a call.  I can help.

Amtrak would have to go to Congress to beg for the dime to call you.

Well, Connecticut friend, yes. I am about service and Amtrak is not, at least today. This is peak travel time and the time to gain new customers. Call me crazy, but it is a missed opportunity. I am not an Amtrak defender as you know. I call a spade a spade.

ctillnc Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Your assertion that the Meteor is a joke is
> derived from not getting the beverage you
> wanted? Surly Amtrak crews have been around since
> 1971 and are not Meteor-specific. As for
> crowding, I don't doubt that NY and Philly
> residents are taking 97/98 instead of connecting
> at DC to 40/41. We all predicted this, just like
> we predicted chronic lateness for 40/41. But it is
> Thanksgiving week, you know. 

Posted from iPhone

Hopefully they will re-stock the train in DC

No excuse for bad service as that is provided free of charge

I’ve headed very large customer care departments in my past life. Good customer care is a culture and it’s up to Amtrak management to create that culture

Posted from iPhone

Hopefully they will re-stock the train in DC

No excuse for bad service as that is provided free of charge

I’ve headed very large customer care departments in my past life. Good customer care is a culture and it’s up to Amtrak management to create that culture

Posted from iPhone

Chessie1963 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Well, Connecticut friend, yes. I am about service
> and Amtrak is not, at least today. This is peak
> travel time and the time to gain new customers.
> Call me crazy, but it is a missed opportunity. I
> am not an Amtrak defender as you know. I call a
> spade a spade.
>


If Amtrak upsets you so much then why do you continue to use them?

PHall Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Chessie1963 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Well, Connecticut friend, yes. I am about
> service
> > and Amtrak is not, at least today. This is peak
> > travel time and the time to gain new customers.
> > Call me crazy, but it is a missed opportunity.
> I
> > am not an Amtrak defender as you know. I call a
> > spade a spade.
> >
>
>
> If Amtrak upsets you so much then why do you
> continue to use them?
There are still many Americans who enjoy train riding period even though the management of Amtrak is incompetent and just plain stupid when it comes to running this business.  Gardner and his cronies need to go immediately.  They should have never been put in charge to begin with.  Our only hope is that some day, somehow, our Congressional Leaders in Washington, D.C. will reorganize Amtrak and bring in competent railroad minded people with good business sense, people who are not worried about their bonuses, but are interested in growing a business and providing the service of quality travel.
John in White Marsh, Maryland

Chessie1963 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> My spouse and I are off to Savannah for
> Thanksgiving.  We took Acela to NYC fron Boston
> to transfer to the Meteor to Savannah.  The Acela
> was fine, though quite dirty on the outside.
>  These trains are tired.  The toilet is yellowed
> plastic now, and it just looks terrible.  The
> staff in first class was solid, and one new person
> was being trained.  I have had the crew before,
> and they are good.  We both had the omlette,
> which was edible, but not great.  
>
> The Meteor is a joke so far.  The dining steward
> is rude, based on her demeanor taking
> reservations.  I went up to the cafe to grab a
> bourbon.  No.  There is no bourbon, no Jack, no
> scotch.  "They did not give me any."  WHAT??
>  So she suggested I drink vodka or gin.  I do
> not want those.  So she said that I could go to
> the diner and get Makers Mark.  Well, I am not a
> drunk, so no, and the dining staff has no interest
> in serving us outside of the "dinner hour.".
>  Here is ANOTHER example of Amtrak incompetence
> costing them money.  Honestly, this company does
> not know how to make money at all, only how to cut
> costs. 
>
> As for the train itself, the exterior was probably
> washed last in Hialeah.  So it is ok.  Inside,
> it is clean and things work.  Our sleeper
> attendant is fine, and seems nice.  
>
> I am just baffled at how this train leaves NYC and
> is not fully stocked.  There is no way they (the
> cafe) will have enough food and drink to get the
> passengers to Orlando, much less Miami.  Zero.
>  The cafe is swamped and has had a line since
> opening somewhere after Newark.  The attendant
> told me that with 91/92 gone, everyone for those
> trains now rides this one, putting extra demand on
> everything.  We have 240 on board at Philly!
>
> Once again, Amtrak has a decent idea (with 91/92)
> but they do not implement properly at all.
>  Anyone who runs a business will tell you that
> plans are one thing, but making it work is
> another.  And Amtrak fails nearly every time,
> thanks to management.  This is NOT the fault of
> the crews.  
>
> We will see how dinner goes, but based on the crew
> attitude thus far, my expectations are low.  May
> I please be proven wrong. 
>
> All that said, my son's flight from Boston to
> Baltimore is delayed 3 hours.  They could not
> afford to take the train.  That is a statement in
> itself.
>
> Of course at Philly there are a number of new
> Acela trains sitting.  Just sitting.
>  Unbelievable at this point.  I hope the new
> transportation secretary cleans out Amtrak and
> esentially starts over.  Management has to go.
>  The crews are great, but management lets them
> down daily, and doesn't seem to care.

In past Thanksgiving weeks, the Silver Star and Silver Meteor would be given extra coaches and extra Viewliner Sleepers. But Amtrak's current management can't figure that out. They could also also "call ahead" and have the cafe car stocked up if your visit to the cafe car happened between NYC and Washington DC. This too was a common practice. And NOT surprised to hear that the Silver Meteor is getting slammed with ridership demand as a result of the Silver Star's origination in Washington DC - essentially. Temporarily - extend the Palmetto to Tampa or Miami under the name of Silver Palm - even if during peak period. 

PHall Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Chessie1963 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Well, Connecticut friend, yes. I am about
> service
> > and Amtrak is not, at least today. This is peak
> > travel time and the time to gain new customers.
> > Call me crazy, but it is a missed opportunity.
> I
> > am not an Amtrak defender as you know. I call a
> > spade a spade.
> >
>
>
> If Amtrak upsets you so much then why do you
> continue to use them?

Come on - this is basic stuff - why can't Amtrak clean up its act and get it together? Good grief! It's been a roller coaster for 53 years. 

I truly sympathize with the original poster.  My solution was to vote with my feet.  No ATK rides for this guy since 2019 and I haven't missed them at all.

-John

That is if the LSA gets the order in. If I remember right, to get anything in DC, LSA has to submit the order in Baltimore, maybe Wilmington. I know going NB it's Trenton for a restock in NYP. Again, that's all contingent on the LSA placing a order. I realize that the issue is the fact they left the gate without it, but whether the LSA bothers with a order or not is another story.

amtrakbill Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Hopefully they will re-stock the train in DC
>
> No excuse for bad service as that is provided free
> of charge
>
> I’ve headed very large customer care departments
> in my past life. Good customer care is a culture
> and it’s up to Amtrak management to create that
> culture
>
> Posted from iPhone

Ok, dinner was GREAT!  The offending lead attendant was wonderful in her territory, and the diner has two floor staff now and one cook.  One of the floor staffers assists the cook and the second attendant.  Everyone in the diner was amazing, truly.  Quite impressive, and I stand corrected.  I actually went up to the kitchen door and thanked them all for doing such a great job and making people happy.

And I got my bourbon there!

Meanwhile, train 40 just departed DC for Chicago, leaving from the adjacent track.  Decently clean train as well.

See?  I can be a decent guy!  lol

CHESSIE1963 -  Nobody doubts you are a "decent guy." 
Glad you got your bourbon. Now, is the Meteor still "a joke?"
Drink up, Chessie1963. By the way, with or without ice?

With ice!

Maybe not a joke, but worth a chuckle as the cafe did not appear to get restocked at DC.

You made me smile. Thanks! Have a great Thanksgiving, all!

We are on time at Alexandria.

CPMorris Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> CHESSIE1963 -  Nobody doubts you are a "decent
> guy." 
> Glad you got your bourbon. Now, is the Meteor
> still "a joke?"
> Drink up, Chessie1963. By the way, with or without
> ice?

Posted from iPhone

they do not care and never ever ever will. It is not in their DNA.  These things are not like a cure for cancer. they are simple things like washing windows and stocking enough booze.  It is all hopeless and will never get better.  A normal start up business, say a hotel or restaurant, would have figured this stuff out in the first few weeks.

I have to add that our seat mate at dinner was on her first train trip, headed to Delray Beach. So far, she loves it!

I had the chicken for dinner, my spouse the steak, and Amy had the salmon. All were tastefully presented and done to order.

Posted from iPhone

Chessie 1963: once in Savannah, don't forget to visit the Georgia RR Museum (or whatever the proper name is).  Nice collection if you've not seen it previously.
jb

ssarcadia Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> they do not care and never ever ever will. It is
> not in their DNA.  These things are not like a
> cure for cancer. they are simple things like
> washing windows and stocking enough booze.  It is
> all hopeless and will never get better.  A normal
> start up business, say a hotel or restaurant,
> would have figured this stuff out in the first few
> weeks.


A "normal" start up business operates under totally different rules then a semi-government organization. For starters Amtrak has never been expected to make a profit, to break even and not require additional support from congress has always been their goal