3/7/13

I awoke somewhere in northern MN. I then discovered that the circuit breaker (in the sleeping car) tripped during the night. This controls the in-room outlets. Thus my cell pone (and thus my alarm) ran out of juice during the night!

I was still early enough to get to breakfast early enough to beat the rush.

Upon my return, #8 pulled into MSP about 30 minutes down. During the stop, I went to take a shower only to find ............... cold water! (And no,I didn't need a cold shower!) the SCA later told me that the water lines from and thus there was no hot water.

#8 continued down to CHI and also reduced the padded stop at MKE. We arrived into CHI about 4 pm, just slightly late.

(Now the good, bad, ugly and unbelievable part begins!)

I went to the Metropolitan Lounge to wait for #50 (the Cardinal). Check in was quick and uneventful. Because I had only about 90 minutes between trains, and I found a luggage cart on the platform, I did not leave my bags in the baggage room.

Before I even found a seat my cell phone rang! It was a robocall from Amtrak. It notified me that "... part or all of my trio (on 50) may involve alternate transportation ..." due to track work, and to call 1-877-xxx-xxxx for more information. Nothing of this sort was told to me when I checked into the ML 2 minutes earlier! I also knew "alternate transportation" is Amspeak for "bustitution"!

Since I was at CHI, instead of calling and wasting cell phone minutes, I walked a few hundred feet to the Amtrak Passenger Services office. I spoke with Linda, who was VERY helpful!

She also was unaware of the reason. She determined (via her computer) that the reason was due to track work between Huntington and CVS.

The track work was on the Buckingham Branch.

..............

The first agent I was called to (I wish I got her name - position #12 about 4:30 pm on 3/7) would not reissue the ticket, because it was an AGR award ticket. She told me that I must MYSELF contact AGR to get this corrected. It did not matter when i replied that i had just spoken to Linda and was told to come over to the ticket window to be re-ticked! (BTW : It is just across the concourse, under 100 feet away!) She then dismissed me!

Because I was so close to the ML, I decided to return there to sit down comfortably to call AGR on my cell phone. While returning to the ML, I passed Linda who asked me if I was all set. I explained what happened.

Linda was mad at agent #12, and told me to follow her back to the ticket windows. At first, she was going to go back to the same agent, but on the way down the line to position #12, she passed an available agent at position #6 (I believe), Kishi, who was VERY helpful!

It was determined that AGR did not make a notation on the PNR that authorized the re issuance of the ticket. Kishi spent much time on the phone and waiting on the computer with me remaining at her position, to get this ticket reissued. A couple of times during this period, Linda returned to check on the progress! Finally, all was set, and Kishi reissued the ticket.

Between Linda and Kishi, these 2 spent well over 1 and 1/2 hours assisting me with my problem! They are 2 of the best employees that I have ever met and dealt with!

I want to publicly commend and thank them! (A letter will be sent to Amtrak to be placed in their employee files!)

#30 departed on time, and the bedroom was GREAT! For those of you wondering about e-tickets, when the conductor came by to scan the tickets I was relaxing on the couch and the curtain was closed. It took me a little time to realize the knock was for me. The conductor called me by name (from his scanning device) - even though I was only reissued the ticket for #30 about 15 minutes before!

Although the car number was 3002, it was located right next to the Dining Car!

The dinner service was very unprofessional from the server! This was one of the earlier meal times also. Thus I doubt that she was "tired" from working too hard.

Near the start of dinner, the train hit a hard switch/bump and I spilled my iced tea. It went all over the table, onto my seat and pants and also on the floor. I used my napkin to wipe it up as best that I could. One of my tablemates also gave me his napkin to use for the clean-up. At that time, I asked for bottled water instead, and 2 napkins to replace the wet napkins.

I never received either one!

After we had finished our meals, the wait for the server to take our desert orders was so long that the other 3 at the table finally gave up and left! Because this was my last meal on this trip with desert, I remained. However, it still was a long time before the server came.

Due to the earlier seating (with many more to follow) I decided to give up the table ASAP for other diners. So I requested a bottle of water and cheesecake with topping to go. I would eat it in my room.

They were both delivered semi-quickly. I returned to my room. But there was a problem. There was no fork (or other utensil) to eat with! Luckily the topping was in a separate container. I had to use my hands to eat me cheesecake. (The topping I had no choice but to throw out.)

I'm very glad bedrooms have their own in room sink and towels!