kal-tex
Train Attendant
Our planned trip included leaving Houston, Texas on Sunday, April 22, arriving Kalamazoo, Michigan on Monday, April 23. Everything started off well - our 4 1/2 hour bus trip from Houston to Longview was smooth and uneventful (but being a bus, not as good as a train). Train 22 pulled into Longview about 15 minutes late, and soon after boarding, we were off to the Diner for dinner. We relaxed in our roomette for the rest of the evening and went to bed at about midnight. Everything was still going well, but that was about to end! At about 2:30 AM the train rolled to a stop. Soon after, I heard a conversation in the hall outside our room, "I'll have to make an announcement to tell them about the problem, and that we're going to get busses." Sure enough, minutes later the announcement came over the PA: The engine had fuel pump problems that could not be repaired. We had no power - thus no lights (except the emergency hallway lights), no heat or air-conditioning, and, worst of all, no functioning toilets! Soon everybody was awake, up, and moving around chatting to the other folks in the sleeper. Periodic announcements kept us informed of what was going on, followed by apologies for the inconvenience we were experiencing. Soon we were told that a freight engine would arrive to tow us back to Walnut Ridge where we would board busses to take us to St. Louis, where we would board another train to take us to Chicago. Long story made short: No power (accompanied by rapidly-filling toilets) until the busses arrived at about 10:30. Boarded the bus at 11:00 for the 9-hour ride to Chicago. Throughout the long wait, there were frequent announcements about our status, and all crew members were pleasant and apologetic. The sleeper passengers remained cheerful, cooperative and as optimistic as possible. Before reached Chicago, we were told that if we had missed our connecting train, we were to report to Amtrak Customer Service when we reached Union Station. There we were given a voucher for a room at the Inn of Chicago and a requisition for cash for food and cabfare. We went to the ticket counter where we were given $70 for food, $22 for cabfare, and our tickets for the 7:30 AM train to Kalamazoo on Tuesday morning. Every person that assisted us was pleasant, professional and efficient. We enjoyed a wonderful dinner at a small Armenian restaurant, and had a great night's sleep at the hotel. Bright and early the next morning we boarded our train for an uneventful trip home.
On other occasions, when we have experienced problems (missed connections, extremely late arrivals, an even a derailment), I have called Amtrak Customer Service, and have received vouchers as compensation for our inconvenience. This time I was debating with myself about whether or not to call. True, the trip was not the most pleasant experience, but we had been carried to our destination as promised. Some very nice perks had been provided, and we certainly had been treated well. Plus, our trip had cost us nothing since we were travelling on AGR points. Then a very surprising thing happened! Amtrak called us! They apologized, confirmed our address, and told us that they were mailing us a voucher for a free trip! We were surprised and delighted! I knew there was a reason I love Amtrak!
On other occasions, when we have experienced problems (missed connections, extremely late arrivals, an even a derailment), I have called Amtrak Customer Service, and have received vouchers as compensation for our inconvenience. This time I was debating with myself about whether or not to call. True, the trip was not the most pleasant experience, but we had been carried to our destination as promised. Some very nice perks had been provided, and we certainly had been treated well. Plus, our trip had cost us nothing since we were travelling on AGR points. Then a very surprising thing happened! Amtrak called us! They apologized, confirmed our address, and told us that they were mailing us a voucher for a free trip! We were surprised and delighted! I knew there was a reason I love Amtrak!