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That is true. Actual managers being onboard is probably one of the factors in VIA's better and more consistent customer service. Every train has an SM, not just the long distance ones, btw.

Unfortunately, President Biden just renominated Gardner's godfather Anthony Coscia to the Board. So I am afraid Gardner isn't going anywhere, although I wholly agree with your post. The whole Board needs to be replaced, Coscia especially.

VIA OBS crews are unionized and service on VIA is much more consistent and much better than Amtrak. VIA's unionized OBS crews are very customer service oriented. If Amtrak management actually prioritized customer service excellence and instituted metrics to measure it (post ride surveys, etc)...

Oh, Lord. They chips are fine. I an just happy the dining options on the western trains are good again. I do find it interesting that VIA manages to have a toaster without burning the diner down, though.

Skytrain Expo Line from Waterfront Station right next door to Canada Place Pier to Main Street/Science World station across a small park from Pacific Central Station.

It is official, Cascades service to Vancouver will probably not resume until December 2022. The problem is Amtrak staffing. Washington DOT is officially unhappy about it.

You seriously think that Amtrak management cares? They don't manage the long distance trains for revenue, they are only concerned with costs on what they still consider an albatross. You think they are going to spend money marketing something they don't care about and, in their heart of...

The problem I have with the Superliner Diner/Lounges (aka "CCC") is the fact that the lounge end is too small and the lounge end and the dining end are separated. The "lounge" end has only four tables and is isolated from the rest of the car. More successful, traditional diner lounge designs...

Well, the relative size of two rows of windows to each other plus the angle of the shell wall make it a dead ringer for a Viewliner. If starting from scratch, personally I'd go for something like a Seaboard Sun series lounge with large wraparound windows.

That is a lounge in a Viewliner shell. I have always thought a Viewliner lounge would be a good thing, the double row of windows make viewing almost as good as a wraparound window. It is a good thing if that is a new lounge car (unlikely since Amtrak has pretty clearly said it is done with CAF...

You are correct. General introduction of inventory at low bucket 11 months out has been gone for several years now as Amtrak has gotten more sophisticated in their yield management. It doesn't hurt to look at prices at 11 months out, but do not be surprised if they are in the highest 2 buckets...

Well, I am just going by what the person said at the SEPTA customer service center person said at 30th st station. Who refused to sell me a senior discount based on my Washington ID. Based on the responses of this thread, it is clear that SEPTA subscribes to Amtrak's customer service...

I'd give them the benefit of the doubt under current conditions had their track record not shown their ineptitude (at best) and lack of any attention to anything except cost not long predated the current situation.

This was November 2021 at the SEPTA customer counter at 30th St Station, one of the locations where the website said Senior cards could be obtained. It could be that Maryland was included in the list. I do recall NJ and Delaware struck me because New York (where I was staying) seemed pointedly...

Because, at least on the LDs, current management is focused entirely on costs and ignores revenue enhancement. It has been that way for a long time now.

You won't get the discount on the full $1200. That sounds like a mid-bucket roomette fare with 2 riders on the full route rail fare if on the CZ. You will get the senior discount on the $448 rail fare for 2 if both are eligible. You'll get a $44.80 discount, not a $120 one. If you can get a...

I got senior transit cards on New York MTA and Los Angeles Metro as well as the senior ORCA card where I actually live in Washington. The only place I've run into where I couldn't get the senior discount was Philadelphia. They only do it if you have Pennsylvania, New Jersey, or Delaware ID.

Note the senior discount of 10% only applies to rail fare, any type of accommodation charge, such as a sleeper room or business class seating, is not discounted. Further note that for sleeper accommodations the accommodation charge is by far the larger component of the fare, typically at least...

I ride for the sake of riding, but personally I intend to give the Eagle a clean miss under present conditions with flex dining and no Sightseer. This despite the fact it is the only Amtrak long distance train currently operating that I have never ridden. If buckets drop, I may consider...

It was open in November 2021 when I was through there.