AFAIK = As far as I knowStupid question what's AFAIK??
Its obvious why the crew car is always fulled to capacity on the AutoTrain. Since it is a 17 hour non-stop run; after the last dinner meals have been served, the lounge closes and the beds are all pulled down, almost the entire crew retires for the evening. When the train arrives in Sanford around 9 AM, the crew departs, goes shopping, enjoys some recreation and returns around 2 PM for the 4 PM departure. They work three days per week. The AutoTrain crew is largely based in Virginia but numerous employees keep a car in the employees lot in Florida so that they can get around during break time. As far as I can tell;its the best route for Amtrak workers.The only train where one cannot get a room in the Trans/Dorm is the Auto Train. All other trains that use Superliner cars will sell into the Trans/Dorm at varrying rates. The EB typically sells the fewest number of rooms, since that train has the most crew members and they need more rooms.
However, AFAIK, they won't sell the rooms in the Trans/Dorm until all the roomettes are sold in the rest of the sleepers.
Actually the only reason that the crew car is filled to capacity on the AT is simply because it has the largest train crew of any Amtrak train. The AT is one train that still retains the Chief of On Board services (COB), it has two cafe cars, two dining cars (both with heavy staffing), two sleeping cars with no attendant's room, and several coaches (each with it's own attendant). And they all need a place to sleep.Its obvious why the crew car is always fulled to capacity on the AutoTrain. Since it is a 17 hour non-stop run; after the last dinner meals have been served, the lounge closes and the beds are all pulled down, almost the entire crew retires for the evening. When the train arrives in Sanford around 9 AM, the crew departs, goes shopping, enjoys some recreation and returns around 2 PM for the 4 PM departure. They work three days per week. The AutoTrain crew is largely based in Virginia but numerous employees keep a car in the employees lot in Florida so that they can get around during break time. As far as I can tell;its the best route for Amtrak workers.The only train where one cannot get a room in the Trans/Dorm is the Auto Train. All other trains that use Superliner cars will sell into the Trans/Dorm at varrying rates. The EB typically sells the fewest number of rooms, since that train has the most crew members and they need more rooms.
However, AFAIK, they won't sell the rooms in the Trans/Dorm until all the roomettes are sold in the rest of the sleepers.
Alan: I'd say that's a pretty good description of the way the AutoTrain operates. I remember the food service car supervisor telling us that he had a bedroom like us and its a certainty that the conductor does too. The sleeping car attendants may bunk downstairs (I believe that it may have been mentioned). They need the room with a call board so I'm pretty certain that they are in the same car as the sleeper passengers.Actually the only reason that the crew car is filled to capacity on the AT is simply because it has the largest train crew of any Amtrak train. The AT is one train that still retains the Chief of On Board services (COB), it has two cafe cars, two dining cars (both with heavy staffing), two sleeping cars with no attendant's room, and several coaches (each with it's own attendant). And they all need a place to sleep.Its obvious why the crew car is always fulled to capacity on the AutoTrain. Since it is a 17 hour non-stop run; after the last dinner meals have been served, the lounge closes and the beds are all pulled down, almost the entire crew retires for the evening. When the train arrives in Sanford around 9 AM, the crew departs, goes shopping, enjoys some recreation and returns around 2 PM for the 4 PM departure. They work three days per week. The AutoTrain crew is largely based in Virginia but numerous employees keep a car in the employees lot in Florida so that they can get around during break time. As far as I can tell;its the best route for Amtrak workers.The only train where one cannot get a room in the Trans/Dorm is the Auto Train. All other trains that use Superliner cars will sell into the Trans/Dorm at varrying rates. The EB typically sells the fewest number of rooms, since that train has the most crew members and they need more rooms.
However, AFAIK, they won't sell the rooms in the Trans/Dorm until all the roomettes are sold in the rest of the sleepers.
In fact while I'd never really given it much thought before, I suspect now that I'm thinking about it, that the crew probably overflows into one of the regular sleepers. You've got 4 LSA's, 4 coach attedants (minimum), 4 cooks, 6 waiters (SA's), 2 sleeping car attendants, and 1 COB for a minimum grand total of 21 employees all needing rooms. The Trans/Dorm only holds 16, 17 if you put someone in the H-room. Crew members are entitled to their own rooms, so even though each room can hold 2 people, they are limited to 1 person per room.
I'm not sure how the Supervisor got a bedroom, unless one went empty and he pulled rank to get it, as Amtrak does not block out Bedrooms for crew; only roomettes.Alan: I'd say that's a pretty good description of the way the AutoTrain operates. I remember the food service car supervisor telling us that he had a bedroom like us and its a certainty that the conductor does too. The sleeping car attendants may bunk downstairs (I believe that it may have been mentioned). They need the room with a call board so I'm pretty certain that they are in the same car as the sleeper passengers.
The AT never exceeds 70 MPH, as that's the maximum allowed speed for the Auto Carriers.At night the train moves along at 70+ MPH and the freight line track is not all that smooth.
Without trying to hijack this thread, may I ask if the same experience is obtained by riding the Portland sleeper, the last car on the EB?. . . I can tell you from experience that its difficult (but quiet) to sleep in the next to last sleeper car. Sleeping a few cars towards the front of the train makes for a smoother trip. At night the train moves along at 70+ MPH and the freight line track is not all that smooth.
A TAS in the deluxe car told me that what is normally room 11 is their room, complete with call board and so forth.In fact while I'd never really given it much thought before, I suspect now that I'm thinking about it, that the crew probably overflows into one of the regular sleepers. You've got 4 LSA's, 4 coach attedants (minimum), 4 cooks, 6 waiters (SA's), 2 sleeping car attendants, and 1 COB for a minimum grand total of 21 employees all needing rooms. The Trans/Dorm only holds 16, 17 if you put someone in the H-room. Crew members are entitled to their own rooms, so even though each room can hold 2 people, they are limited to 1 person per room.
See my separate post on the pricing of transition sleeper roomettes.I liked this ability, because you know which side of the train you'll be on. Is it still possible?
If so, on what trains is it available?
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