Amtrak Pets on Board Trial

[MattW]

Since service animals are already allowed, the issues relative to allergies to dogs/cats/whatever is not really valid. The animals can already be there. Most service animals are well above the 20 pound animal as well. Just because Fido stayed home does not mean the Fido-owner did not have some quality lap time with Mutsky for a goodly time before leaving or give the hound a good hug and experience a good face licking just before walking out the door. Since exposure to an animal that sets off the allergy can be and probably usually is unexpected, the person must always be prepared with an epi-pen or whatever their short acting anti-allergy medicine is. And as noted, the exposure could be second hand, not direct exposure.

The reason that pet carrying ended was two fold: One, the SPCA and others got regulations put in force requiring climate control and other features not practical on trains. The other was slob pet owners. The restrictions on carrying animals in baggage cars is close to being an example of the saying that, "The road to Hell is paved with good intentions."

Sarah, as to not subjecting a pet to carriage in airport baggage compartments, that is not as simple a decision as it may seem. We did it three times. First, was a transpacific move. Our 16 year old dog had never know life with anybody else and was thoroughly bonded with the family. The final decision was that bringing her with us was the better choice. It took here a couple of weeks to forgive us, but she ultimately did. The other was a four hour trip each way after a not so happy for her experience at a pet motel, and not a cheap one, either. Being able to carry her in a cage or on a leash for a 4 hour trip would have saved several weekends of car rental.

Having to stab your self with an epi pen all throughout a trip is a joke.

And a ridiculous, ludicrous and preposterous requirement for anyone to have to go through just so Fluffy can be close to Mommy.

So we should ban pets from being outside at all? People with allergies might encounter them anywhere so if they were that allergic, they would have their epi-pens with them anyways!

 

[tonys96]

If we, the self-appointed Amtrak fan club are this divided on the issue, I can only imagine what the larger traveling public will have to say.

The traveling public isn't going to care one whit, much like 90% of the other topics we was millions of bits on daily.

Unless they happen to be assigned seating next to a yapping chihuahua.

 

[tonys96]

Aside from a true service animal leave the things at home. We have three cats and a dog they are fine with someone at home.

Not everyone has someone to stay home with their pets & not everyone can afford to pay for care.I don't think people should take their pets on trips just for the fun of it, but I do understand there are times pets need to travel with their owners.I'm neutral on the pets issue.

If you cannot afford to pay for pet care, you have two options: 1. Get rid of the pet 2. Stay home with the pet.

3. Drive.4. Take a plane.5. Take Amtrak (traveling Chicago and Quincy).

Correct. And I hope option #5 ceases to be an option soon, and never expands to any other Amtrak routes.

 

[Devil's Advocate]

At any given moment a chihuahua is so close to death that the simple act of respiration causes it to shiver in fright.

 

[tonys96]

Since service animals are already allowed, the issues relative to allergies to dogs/cats/whatever is not really valid. The animals can already be there. Most service animals are well above the 20 pound animal as well. Just because Fido stayed home does not mean the Fido-owner did not have some quality lap time with Mutsky for a goodly time before leaving or give the hound a good hug and experience a good face licking just before walking out the door. Since exposure to an animal that sets off the allergy can be and probably usually is unexpected, the person must always be prepared with an epi-pen or whatever their short acting anti-allergy medicine is. And as noted, the exposure could be second hand, not direct exposure.

The reason that pet carrying ended was two fold: One, the SPCA and others got regulations put in force requiring climate control and other features not practical on trains. The other was slob pet owners. The restrictions on carrying animals in baggage cars is close to being an example of the saying that, "The road to Hell is paved with good intentions."

Sarah, as to not subjecting a pet to carriage in airport baggage compartments, that is not as simple a decision as it may seem. We did it three times. First, was a transpacific move. Our 16 year old dog had never know life with anybody else and was thoroughly bonded with the family. The final decision was that bringing her with us was the better choice. It took here a couple of weeks to forgive us, but she ultimately did. The other was a four hour trip each way after a not so happy for her experience at a pet motel, and not a cheap one, either. Being able to carry her in a cage or on a leash for a 4 hour trip would have saved several weekends of car rental.

Having to stab your self with an epi pen all throughout a trip is a joke.

And a ridiculous, ludicrous and preposterous requirement for anyone to have to go through just so Fluffy can be close to Mommy.

So we should ban pets from being outside at all? People with allergies might encounter them anywhere so if they were that allergic, they would have their epi-pens with them anyways!

And then they get away from the allergen as quickly as possible, after the one time use of the pen. If you are boxed into a moving steel tube, it is difficult to get away from the allergen, especially on a sold out train where there is no alternative seating in a car without pets traveling. Would you be happy to give up your seat by a window to move to an aisle seat nest to a yapping dog with dander/ fleas all around it?

 

[Ryan]

If we, the self-appointed Amtrak fan club are this divided on the issue, I can only imagine what the larger traveling public will have to say.

The traveling public isn't going to care one whit, much like 90% of the other topics we was millions of bits on daily.

Unless they happen to be assigned seating next to a yapping chihuahua.

You can get up and move if it bothers you that much.
No different than if you find yourself sitting next to a smelly person, or one that talks to much, or (god forbid!) a KID, or anything else that one might find annoying. We're not going to ban any of those from the train, so banning pets makes no sense.

 

[MattW]

Since service animals are already allowed, the issues relative to allergies to dogs/cats/whatever is not really valid. The animals can already be there. Most service animals are well above the 20 pound animal as well. Just because Fido stayed home does not mean the Fido-owner did not have some quality lap time with Mutsky for a goodly time before leaving or give the hound a good hug and experience a good face licking just before walking out the door. Since exposure to an animal that sets off the allergy can be and probably usually is unexpected, the person must always be prepared with an epi-pen or whatever their short acting anti-allergy medicine is. And as noted, the exposure could be second hand, not direct exposure.

The reason that pet carrying ended was two fold: One, the SPCA and others got regulations put in force requiring climate control and other features not practical on trains. The other was slob pet owners. The restrictions on carrying animals in baggage cars is close to being an example of the saying that, "The road to Hell is paved with good intentions."

Sarah, as to not subjecting a pet to carriage in airport baggage compartments, that is not as simple a decision as it may seem. We did it three times. First, was a transpacific move. Our 16 year old dog had never know life with anybody else and was thoroughly bonded with the family. The final decision was that bringing her with us was the better choice. It took here a couple of weeks to forgive us, but she ultimately did. The other was a four hour trip each way after a not so happy for her experience at a pet motel, and not a cheap one, either. Being able to carry her in a cage or on a leash for a 4 hour trip would have saved several weekends of car rental.

Having to stab your self with an epi pen all throughout a trip is a joke.

And a ridiculous, ludicrous and preposterous requirement for anyone to have to go through just so Fluffy can be close to Mommy.

So we should ban pets from being outside at all? People with allergies might encounter them anywhere so if they were that allergic, they would have their epi-pens with them anyways!

And then they get away from the allergen as quickly as possible, after the one time use of the pen. If you are boxed into a moving steel tube, it is difficult to get away from the allergen, especially on a sold out train where there is no alternative seating in a car without pets traveling. Would you be happy to give up your seat by a window to move to an aisle seat nest to a yapping dog with dander/ fleas all around it?

When someone uses that pen, they have to go to the hospital anyways so guess what? That means they are moving away from the allergen.

 

[tonys96]

If we, the self-appointed Amtrak fan club are this divided on the issue, I can only imagine what the larger traveling public will have to say.

The traveling public isn't going to care one whit, much like 90% of the other topics we was millions of bits on daily.

Unless they happen to be assigned seating next to a yapping chihuahua.

You can get up and move if it bothers you that much.

You can? On a sold out train? Even if the conductor assigned your seat before boarding? You can just get up and move anywhere you want to? In whatever car you wish?

I do not think so..........

 

[tonys96]

Since service animals are already allowed, the issues relative to allergies to dogs/cats/whatever is not really valid. The animals can already be there. Most service animals are well above the 20 pound animal as well. Just because Fido stayed home does not mean the Fido-owner did not have some quality lap time with Mutsky for a goodly time before leaving or give the hound a good hug and experience a good face licking just before walking out the door. Since exposure to an animal that sets off the allergy can be and probably usually is unexpected, the person must always be prepared with an epi-pen or whatever their short acting anti-allergy medicine is. And as noted, the exposure could be second hand, not direct exposure.

The reason that pet carrying ended was two fold: One, the SPCA and others got regulations put in force requiring climate control and other features not practical on trains. The other was slob pet owners. The restrictions on carrying animals in baggage cars is close to being an example of the saying that, "The road to Hell is paved with good intentions."

Sarah, as to not subjecting a pet to carriage in airport baggage compartments, that is not as simple a decision as it may seem. We did it three times. First, was a transpacific move. Our 16 year old dog had never know life with anybody else and was thoroughly bonded with the family. The final decision was that bringing her with us was the better choice. It took here a couple of weeks to forgive us, but she ultimately did. The other was a four hour trip each way after a not so happy for her experience at a pet motel, and not a cheap one, either. Being able to carry her in a cage or on a leash for a 4 hour trip would have saved several weekends of car rental.

Having to stab your self with an epi pen all throughout a trip is a joke.

And a ridiculous, ludicrous and preposterous requirement for anyone to have to go through just so Fluffy can be close to Mommy.

So we should ban pets from being outside at all? People with allergies might encounter them anywhere so if they were that allergic, they would have their epi-pens with them anyways!

And then they get away from the allergen as quickly as possible, after the one time use of the pen. If you are boxed into a moving steel tube, it is difficult to get away from the allergen, especially on a sold out train where there is no alternative seating in a car without pets traveling. Would you be happy to give up your seat by a window to move to an aisle seat nest to a yapping dog with dander/ fleas all around it?

When someone uses that pen, they have to go to the hospital anyways so guess what? That means they are moving away from the allergen.

Seen any hospitals inside an Amtrak train lately?

 

[MattW]

Since service animals are already allowed, the issues relative to allergies to dogs/cats/whatever is not really valid. The animals can already be there. Most service animals are well above the 20 pound animal as well. Just because Fido stayed home does not mean the Fido-owner did not have some quality lap time with Mutsky for a goodly time before leaving or give the hound a good hug and experience a good face licking just before walking out the door. Since exposure to an animal that sets off the allergy can be and probably usually is unexpected, the person must always be prepared with an epi-pen or whatever their short acting anti-allergy medicine is. And as noted, the exposure could be second hand, not direct exposure.

The reason that pet carrying ended was two fold: One, the SPCA and others got regulations put in force requiring climate control and other features not practical on trains. The other was slob pet owners. The restrictions on carrying animals in baggage cars is close to being an example of the saying that, "The road to Hell is paved with good intentions."

Sarah, as to not subjecting a pet to carriage in airport baggage compartments, that is not as simple a decision as it may seem. We did it three times. First, was a transpacific move. Our 16 year old dog had never know life with anybody else and was thoroughly bonded with the family. The final decision was that bringing her with us was the better choice. It took here a couple of weeks to forgive us, but she ultimately did. The other was a four hour trip each way after a not so happy for her experience at a pet motel, and not a cheap one, either. Being able to carry her in a cage or on a leash for a 4 hour trip would have saved several weekends of car rental.

Having to stab your self with an epi pen all throughout a trip is a joke.

And a ridiculous, ludicrous and preposterous requirement for anyone to have to go through just so Fluffy can be close to Mommy.

So we should ban pets from being outside at all? People with allergies might encounter them anywhere so if they were that allergic, they would have their epi-pens with them anyways!

And then they get away from the allergen as quickly as possible, after the one time use of the pen. If you are boxed into a moving steel tube, it is difficult to get away from the allergen, especially on a sold out train where there is no alternative seating in a car without pets traveling. Would you be happy to give up your seat by a window to move to an aisle seat nest to a yapping dog with dander/ fleas all around it?

When someone uses that pen, they have to go to the hospital anyways so guess what? That means they are moving away from the allergen.

Seen any hospitals inside an Amtrak train lately?

The ambulance will meet the train at the next grade crossing. *facepalm*

 

[Ryan]

You can? On a sold out train? Even if the conductor assigned your seat before boarding? You can just get up and move anywhere you want to? In whatever car you wish?

I do not think so..........

There's always the lounge car, and 100% sold out trains aren't all that common.
You're bitching about and edge case of an edge case.

 

[neroden]

I think the only reason that Amtrak can get away with prohibiting pets is because of its relative insignificance in the big transportation picture in the US. AFAIK in every country where passenger rail plays a significant role in transportation pets are allowed in some way, shape or form. The details vary, but in all cases reasonable accommodation is made for pets a AFAICT.

Yep. No real, serious mode of transportation bans pets outright. The pet ban is a sign of the irrelevance of Amtrak, and its repeal is a sign of the growing relevance of Amtrak.

 

[tonys96]

You can? On a sold out train? Even if the conductor assigned your seat before boarding? You can just get up and move anywhere you want to? In whatever car you wish?I do not think so..........

There's always the lounge car, and 100% sold out trains aren't all that common.You're bitching about and edge case of an edge case.

So, you are promoting the position that paying pax should relinquish their paid for seats, and move to the lounge, so Fluffy can ride with Mommy? And stay there for the entire ride, taking up space that other pax might want to use, becoming a "lounge lizard" ?

So it has come to cats and dogs taking precedence over pax now?

 

[tonys96]

Since service animals are already allowed, the issues relative to allergies to dogs/cats/whatever is not really valid. The animals can already be there. Most service animals are well above the 20 pound animal as well. Just because Fido stayed home does not mean the Fido-owner did not have some quality lap time with Mutsky for a goodly time before leaving or give the hound a good hug and experience a good face licking just before walking out the door. Since exposure to an animal that sets off the allergy can be and probably usually is unexpected, the person must always be prepared with an epi-pen or whatever their short acting anti-allergy medicine is. And as noted, the exposure could be second hand, not direct exposure.

The reason that pet carrying ended was two fold: One, the SPCA and others got regulations put in force requiring climate control and other features not practical on trains. The other was slob pet owners. The restrictions on carrying animals in baggage cars is close to being an example of the saying that, "The road to Hell is paved with good intentions."

Sarah, as to not subjecting a pet to carriage in airport baggage compartments, that is not as simple a decision as it may seem. We did it three times. First, was a transpacific move. Our 16 year old dog had never know life with anybody else and was thoroughly bonded with the family. The final decision was that bringing her with us was the better choice. It took here a couple of weeks to forgive us, but she ultimately did. The other was a four hour trip each way after a not so happy for her experience at a pet motel, and not a cheap one, either. Being able to carry her in a cage or on a leash for a 4 hour trip would have saved several weekends of car rental.

Having to stab your self with an epi pen all throughout a trip is a joke.

And a ridiculous, ludicrous and preposterous requirement for anyone to have to go through just so Fluffy can be close to Mommy.

So we should ban pets from being outside at all? People with allergies might encounter them anywhere so if they were that allergic, they would have their epi-pens with them anyways!

And then they get away from the allergen as quickly as possible, after the one time use of the pen. If you are boxed into a moving steel tube, it is difficult to get away from the allergen, especially on a sold out train where there is no alternative seating in a car without pets traveling. Would you be happy to give up your seat by a window to move to an aisle seat nest to a yapping dog with dander/ fleas all around it?

When someone uses that pen, they have to go to the hospital anyways so guess what? That means they are moving away from the allergen.

Seen any hospitals inside an Amtrak train lately?

The ambulance will meet the train at the next grade crossing. *facepalm*

That' s great. Lets delay the train making all pax late, so little Fluffy gets to ride the train. Not to mention the person who has to get off the train in the middle of BFE, because Mommy can't bear to leave little Fluffy at home.

I hope this experiment is an epic failure.

 

[D.P. Roberts]

Since service animals are already allowed, the issues relative to allergies to dogs/cats/whatever is not really valid. The animals can already be there. Most service animals are well above the 20 pound animal as well. Just because Fido stayed home does not mean the Fido-owner did not have some quality lap time with Mutsky for a goodly time before leaving or give the hound a good hug and experience a good face licking just before walking out the door. Since exposure to an animal that sets off the allergy can be and probably usually is unexpected, the person must always be prepared with an epi-pen or whatever their short acting anti-allergy medicine is. And as noted, the exposure could be second hand, not direct exposure.

The reason that pet carrying ended was two fold: One, the SPCA and others got regulations put in force requiring climate control and other features not practical on trains. The other was slob pet owners. The restrictions on carrying animals in baggage cars is close to being an example of the saying that, "The road to Hell is paved with good intentions."

Sarah, as to not subjecting a pet to carriage in airport baggage compartments, that is not as simple a decision as it may seem. We did it three times. First, was a transpacific move. Our 16 year old dog had never know life with anybody else and was thoroughly bonded with the family. The final decision was that bringing her with us was the better choice. It took here a couple of weeks to forgive us, but she ultimately did. The other was a four hour trip each way after a not so happy for her experience at a pet motel, and not a cheap one, either. Being able to carry her in a cage or on a leash for a 4 hour trip would have saved several weekends of car rental.

Having to stab your self with an epi pen all throughout a trip is a joke.

And a ridiculous, ludicrous and preposterous requirement for anyone to have to go through just so Fluffy can be close to Mommy.

So we should ban pets from being outside at all? People with allergies might encounter them anywhere so if they were that allergic, they would have their epi-pens with them anyways!

And then they get away from the allergen as quickly as possible, after the one time use of the pen. If you are boxed into a moving steel tube, it is difficult to get away from the allergen, especially on a sold out train where there is no alternative seating in a car without pets traveling. Would you be happy to give up your seat by a window to move to an aisle seat nest to a yapping dog with dander/ fleas all around it?

When someone uses that pen, they have to go to the hospital anyways so guess what? That means they are moving away from the allergen.

Seen any hospitals inside an Amtrak train lately?

The ambulance will meet the train at the next grade crossing. *facepalm*

That' s great. Lets delay the train making all pax late, so little Fluffy gets to ride the train. Not to mention the person who has to get off the train in the middle of BFE, because Mommy can't bear to leave little Fluffy at home.

I hope this experiment is an epic failure.

Where is BFE? I am not familiar with that station code, & it's not listed anywhere on Amtrak's site.

 

[FriskyFL]

BFE is the stop right before SOL...ROTFLMAO!

 

[jebr]

When someone uses that pen, they have to go to the hospital anyways so guess what? That means they are moving away from the allergen.

Seen any hospitals inside an Amtrak train lately?

How do the airlines make it work? After all, those are more routinely sold out, an even more confined space, and nowhere to move. Plus, they're up in the air, and there's no hospitals there.

Yet they allow animals the same as Amtrak's new policies do.

 

[MattW]

It's nothing more than a numbers game. How many people are going to be so badly affected by the pets that they *MIGHT* can't travel? How many pet owners currently can't use Amtrak because of the no-pets policy? Though I have no data to back it up, I'm willing to believe that the latter is the far greater number.

 

[afigg]

I think the only reason that Amtrak can get away with prohibiting pets is because of its relative insignificance in the big transportation picture in the US. AFAIK in every country where passenger rail plays a significant role in transportation pets are allowed in some way, shape or form. The details vary, but in all cases reasonable accommodation is made for pets a AFAICT.

Agreed. If the NEC and the connecting corridors are to be regarded as a primary means of travel in the Northeast, then Amtrak will have to accomodate people bringing their (small) pets with them.

What is forcing Amtrak's hand on the pets policy are the members of Congress and their staffers who travel between DC and their home districts on a weekly basis on the NEC. In short, those who use the NEC as a primary means of travel. Unlike the rest of us, members of Congress have the option to submit a bill requiring Amtrak to carry small pets and try to get it passed. That in turn forces Amtrak to respond and implement - as an experiment - a policy to allow small pets in cages to preempt a possible bill or language inserted in an appropriations bill. Better for Amtrak to set the policy and rules than to take a risk that Congress will pass a bill with requirements or restrictions that limit Amtrak's flexibility in setting the rules on carry-on pets. There are already enough micro-management restrictions in the annual appropriations bill; don't need any more of those.

Something has not been discussed in this thread so far is if Amtrak charges $25 extra for people to bring a small pet on board is how much additional revenue that might generate. Could add up to a few million or more a year.

 

[Karl1459]

Since service animals are already allowed, the issues relative to allergies to dogs/cats/whatever is not really valid. The animals can already be there. Most service animals are well above the 20 pound animal as well. Just because Fido stayed home does not mean the Fido-owner did not have some quality lap time with Mutsky for a goodly time before leaving or give the hound a good hug and experience a good face licking just before walking out the door. Since exposure to an animal that sets off the allergy can be and probably usually is unexpected, the person must always be prepared with an epi-pen or whatever their short acting anti-allergy medicine is. And as noted, the exposure could be second hand, not direct exposure.

The reason that pet carrying ended was two fold: One, the SPCA and others got regulations put in force requiring climate control and other features not practical on trains. The other was slob pet owners. The restrictions on carrying animals in baggage cars is close to being an example of the saying that, "The road to Hell is paved with good intentions."

Sarah, as to not subjecting a pet to carriage in airport baggage compartments, that is not as simple a decision as it may seem. We did it three times. First, was a transpacific move. Our 16 year old dog had never know life with anybody else and was thoroughly bonded with the family. The final decision was that bringing her with us was the better choice. It took here a couple of weeks to forgive us, but she ultimately did. The other was a four hour trip each way after a not so happy for her experience at a pet motel, and not a cheap one, either. Being able to carry her in a cage or on a leash for a 4 hour trip would have saved several weekends of car rental.

I have to take issue with the epi pen bit... Allergies to animals (dander etc) rarely cause anaphalaxis. Epinephrine is used to treat acute anaphalaxis when breathing is impared or there is vascullar collapse. If someone is so severely allergic to animals to where they are succeptable to anaphalaxis they will have to take severe precautions anyway... remember there are service animals and illicit animals on the trains already and we do not have significant instances of people falling and dying from allergies. That said, animal allergies do cause discomfort and can increase asthma, however exposure will be minimized by keeping the animal in a carrier.

 

[Paulus]

For the love of all that is good and holy, can you folks please delete extraneous quoting? There is no reason to have more than two layers of quoting and it gets incredibly ridiculous for a single line response.

 

[Green Maned Lion]

All of those definitions can mean the same thing, but if you can't handle both of us winning I'll just concede

Don't you dare concede. I want to argue all day over the inane differences in similar words because I am REALLY bored!

 

[Cina]

All of those definitions can mean the same thing, but if you can't handle both of us winning I'll just concede

Don't you dare concede. I want to argue all day over the inane differences in similar words because I am REALLY bored!

Arguing makes my blood pressure go up! :unsure: :lol:

 

[jis]

Something has not been discussed in this thread so far is if Amtrak charges $25 extra for people to bring a small pet on board is how much additional revenue that might generate. Could add up to a few million or more a year.

I was talking to a friend of mine, who some who were on a past OTOL Fest to New Orleans have met on the platform of Birmingham AL, who is an ardent dog trainer. She actually has won many medals at dog shows. She shared an experience she had of taking a dog along in a carrier in the cabin of an airliner with her on a cross country flight.
She said that the dog carrier fit nicely under the seat in front of her and the well trained dog just slept through it all. It cost her more to have the dog on board than her own ticket. But she was happy that she was able to take the dog along with her.

This might give you some idea of the potential revenue opportunity that Amtrak is currently ignoring. A full additional passenger revenue potentially for not even providing any space other than that under a seat!

 

[JayPea]

On the subject of chihuahuas, a few years ago while on the TE, a woman got on at Fort Worth with her boyfriend, a baby, a young boy of about 10 years old, and a service chihuahua. I'm sure it was a service dog, because as we all know that only service dogs are allowed on Amtrak, right?? At any rate, the entourage all boarded the same sleeper car I and my uncle were in. Oh great, I thought to myself, here comes the non-stop yapping. I never heard so much as a yip out of the dog at all. Never seen a more calm, serene chihuahua in my life. Never a yip, as I said, from the time the train was held up at Fort Worth so she and her entourage could board the train with enough luggage to have serviced an entire Army platoon, until she got off in California (Ontario, I think). The dog was absolutely no problem The woman??? Well, she was a different case. One of the oddest people I've ever met. It will suffice to say she boarded the train with a man whom she obviously had great affection for, and got off the train with another man she'd meet onboard, with whom she had quickly added an equally great affection for. And that was the capper of a long list of nutty behavior on her part. I'd have kept the dog and booted the woman. :lol:

As for pets on Amtrak, I guess it's easy for me to say this from a neutral position, as I'm not allowed to have pets where I live, but I don't have much problem with small, crated animals for short distances. If I did have a pet, I'd never take it with me. That's what I have my mother for, for pet-sitting duties! :lol: I do know how much it can cost to board pets. My mom had cats, and she said oftentimes it cost her more to board them than it did to pay for plane tickets when she'd fly out to my uncle's from Spokane to Illinois. So that part I can sympathize with. For short distances, and for a trial basis, and for restrictions and added fees, why not? Of course, that's easy for me to say since I will probably never travel to Quincy from Chicago on Amtrak, either. :lol: