#66 arrived into KIN bright and ugly at 6:17 am. Because I had checked a bag to BOS, I continued to BOS. (Besides I wanted more train time!) 66 arrived into BOS early at 7:42 am. (RTE and BBY are both "D" stops.)
#66 delivers checked baggage right from the baggage car at South Station. But it was not aboard, so I had to go to the baggage claim office, it came in the night before on #448 from CHI.
I left my bags with the Red Cap (to allow for early boarding). Mike (the Red Cap) asked me "Didn't you go out on #449 last week?" That small statement earned him an extra tip!
#161 departed right on time at 9:40 am. It was announced over the PA that 161 was "very full".
Due to track work near Quonset Point (RI) that shut down one track, 161 arrived KIN about 15 minutes late.
Friday, April 5, 2013
3/8/13
During the night, I woke up twice on my own. I'm not sure where, but I guess CLE and ALC. Ohio never looked better!
Just before Connellsville, #30 was put in the hole for 3 (THREE) freights! This was over 1 hour in length. Oh yeah, this was within a few miles of the Connellsville stop! (Which I believe is double tracked BTW.) We pulled into Connellsville over 2 hours late. During the next 30 minutes, I heard (on the opposite side of the train) 3 more freights pass by. Luckily we were still moving at the time.
At breakfast, one of my tablemates was on the previous #50. He said that when they arrived at Huntington (note the city is the same as the day before), they were annulled. They returned to CHI as #51. However, due to #51's scheduled departure time, they remained in Huntington for 16 hours!
This brings up 2 questions (at least). If #50 returned to CHI as #51, what was done with the original #51 passengers west of Huntington? (The Cardinal only operates 3 times a week and is usually nearly full, if not sold out,) Also if Amtrak knew about this situation, why was I not notified of it (by robocall) until less than 2 hours before the departure of #50 AND after I had already checked into the ML?
There was much construction on Sand Patch Hill. The conductor kept the passengers informed of the reasons for the delays. He also warned us that it will not improve.
#30 arrived into Cumberland about 2:15 late.
Due to the late train, breakfast ended about 9:30 am so the Dining Car Crew could prepare to serve lunch. (Normally #30 serves both meals continuously between 6:30 and 10:30.) However, the lunch service was unprofessional also.
I ordered a cheeseburger, my tablemate ordered soup & salad and her son ordered chicken nuggets. She received her salad and a dressing (take or leave it - no choice of dressing). However, she did not receive a fork to eat it with for over 30 minutes! And this was despite asking several times. In fact a spoon was brought for her soup (before it was delivered), but still no fork.
Our food was delivered about 45 minutes later, after most of the car had emptied. No apology was made.
My cheeseburger's roll was offset so condiments could be added as desired. But no condiments were offered at all! The kid at the table (as said) had chicken nuggets. Again, no condiments were offered to him either!
This was the family's first train trip. Luckily they shared the table with me, because I explained that this ("service") is not the norm on Amtrak trains. If they weren't seated with me, they may say "Never will I take Amtrak again!" And I personally would not blame them!
Departed Martinsburg over 2:30 late. However, due to continued SSLLOOWW orders, we arrived in Harper's Ferry over 3:45 late! But due to excessive padding, #30 arrived into WAS "only" 2:15 late. However, many missed their connections.
I waited for #66 in the CA, which was packed. This was due to a combination of ush hour, a Friday afternoon and the "get out of town for the weekend" crowd.
#66 was oversold (I think due to late arriving trains) and some passengers had to stand. Luckily, I was in BC and got a seat. In fact one of the 1 side of the 2x1 seats!
The conductor on 66 from WAS to NYP announced EVERY stop over the PA. (This was between 10 pm and 2 am.) The conductor from NYP to BOS did not, except after PVD. This was more then acceptable and very much appreciated.
Just before Connellsville, #30 was put in the hole for 3 (THREE) freights! This was over 1 hour in length. Oh yeah, this was within a few miles of the Connellsville stop! (Which I believe is double tracked BTW.) We pulled into Connellsville over 2 hours late. During the next 30 minutes, I heard (on the opposite side of the train) 3 more freights pass by. Luckily we were still moving at the time.
At breakfast, one of my tablemates was on the previous #50. He said that when they arrived at Huntington (note the city is the same as the day before), they were annulled. They returned to CHI as #51. However, due to #51's scheduled departure time, they remained in Huntington for 16 hours!
This brings up 2 questions (at least). If #50 returned to CHI as #51, what was done with the original #51 passengers west of Huntington? (The Cardinal only operates 3 times a week and is usually nearly full, if not sold out,) Also if Amtrak knew about this situation, why was I not notified of it (by robocall) until less than 2 hours before the departure of #50 AND after I had already checked into the ML?
There was much construction on Sand Patch Hill. The conductor kept the passengers informed of the reasons for the delays. He also warned us that it will not improve.
#30 arrived into Cumberland about 2:15 late.
Due to the late train, breakfast ended about 9:30 am so the Dining Car Crew could prepare to serve lunch. (Normally #30 serves both meals continuously between 6:30 and 10:30.) However, the lunch service was unprofessional also.
I ordered a cheeseburger, my tablemate ordered soup & salad and her son ordered chicken nuggets. She received her salad and a dressing (take or leave it - no choice of dressing). However, she did not receive a fork to eat it with for over 30 minutes! And this was despite asking several times. In fact a spoon was brought for her soup (before it was delivered), but still no fork.
Our food was delivered about 45 minutes later, after most of the car had emptied. No apology was made.
My cheeseburger's roll was offset so condiments could be added as desired. But no condiments were offered at all! The kid at the table (as said) had chicken nuggets. Again, no condiments were offered to him either!
This was the family's first train trip. Luckily they shared the table with me, because I explained that this ("service") is not the norm on Amtrak trains. If they weren't seated with me, they may say "Never will I take Amtrak again!" And I personally would not blame them!
Departed Martinsburg over 2:30 late. However, due to continued SSLLOOWW orders, we arrived in Harper's Ferry over 3:45 late! But due to excessive padding, #30 arrived into WAS "only" 2:15 late. However, many missed their connections.
I waited for #66 in the CA, which was packed. This was due to a combination of ush hour, a Friday afternoon and the "get out of town for the weekend" crowd.
#66 was oversold (I think due to late arriving trains) and some passengers had to stand. Luckily, I was in BC and got a seat. In fact one of the 1 side of the 2x1 seats!
The conductor on 66 from WAS to NYP announced EVERY stop over the PA. (This was between 10 pm and 2 am.) The conductor from NYP to BOS did not, except after PVD. This was more then acceptable and very much appreciated.
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