3/2/13

Awoke in Texarkana. Because the station platform startles both states, one part of the train stops in TX while the remainder of the train stops in AR! Since our sleeper was at the front of the train, I awoke in Texas.

Due to a scheduled bustitution between Longview and Ft Worth, we had an early breakfast. It was an abbreviated service with an abbreviated menu.

The bustitution was totally disorganized, as most are. The difference is that this was scheduled and had been going on for days or weeks. So it should have been well organized. The best I can say is "Chinese Fire Drill"!

When #421 arrived in Longview, there were 3 buses waiting on the platform. They were situated with the door away from the train. On the train, we were told that those going to FTW and beyond to board the last bus (nearest the sleepers), since it will operate non-stop to FTW. The others will make intermediate stops.

So most people tried to board that non-stop bus. By the time we collected our carry on bars and left the sleeper, more than half of the bus was filled!

Before any Amtrak employees boarded, passengers kept boarding. Soon all seats were occupied, and a number of passengers were standing in the aisle. They made it clear that there would be no standees on the bus. So those people got off, and I assume boarded the other busses.

Prior to our departure, it was asked (by Amtrak) if the SLEEPER passengers received their boxed lunches prior to getting off! HUH? This was the first we heard about this. After some searching, the boxed lunches were discovered - not handed out of course!

The Amtrak employees ten handed out the boxed lunches to the SLEEPER passengers. After a few minutes, they returned and added out the SAME boxed lunches to ALL passengers! (I'm not trying to be "special", but many of the coach passengers would not even have bought lunch if they were on the train.)

"Soon" all the buses were loaded, and the bus left the platform, and went .................... about 300-400 feet - around to the front of the building. And then we stopped. They had "realized" that there was a handicapped person aboard the train and a wheelchair lift equipped bus was needed for transport. Because our bus was the last to depart from Longview, at first we were told that we had to disembark and wait for another bus to arrive.

The natives were not happy with this news!

After a few minutes discussion, our bus was released to travel to FTW. I personally do not know what happened to that passenger, but on the way out, I thought I saw a motor coach (bus) similar to ours headed towards the station. Perhaps that was the lift equipped bus.

I can not find any fault with our bus driver. Soon we were moving on I-20 at 75 MPH - the speed limit. He even stopped at a truck stop en-route for a smoke/fresh air/bathroom break.

The only "problem" was upon arrival at FTW, he was unsure where to go to let us off. At first, he pulled into and circled the ex-SF terminal next door to the new station. Eventually, he found the correct place to let us off.

We arrived at about 12:30 pm. Since the southbound/westbound train would not depart until 3:10 pm, some people with a lot of baggage wanted to day check their bags. As per Amtrak's policy, the cost was $4 per bag! Even with this situation, they would not ake any exceptions!

The northbound train #22 was turned to return south as #21/421. Train #21/421 departed FTW at 3:10:26 - a full 26 seconds late! Can't Amtrak EVER be on time?

Due to freight interference near Taylor, we were in the hole for over 1 hour. We finally arrived into AUS over 2 hours late! I said goodbye to Jim and thanked him for the continuing ticket! Since his was an AGR award ticket, and the "cost" (in points) is the same to AUS as it is to ELP, Jim made the award to ELP so I could use the ticket!

Just aftér departure from AUS (within a few miles), we were put into the hole for another hour. Due to being tired, I fell asleep about 10 pm - even before that freight came thru.