Dixie
Train Attendant
I'm hoping you all can help me brainstorm this in addition to some on-the-spot research I'll do on the train this weekend.
My parents and sister's family are cruising out of Miami in November and they would all like to take Amtrak from Columbia SC to get there. The schedule actually works out well for both directions. There are 5 people in all: my senior citizen parents, my sister and her husband, and my 8yo niece.
The biggest kink in the plan is that my dad is disabled to the point where he requires an ECV or wheelchair for walking distances of more than a few feet. I haven't called Amtrak yet to see what they say, but I understand that they can load an ECV in the baggage car, or that a passenger can take it in coach with them.
I've boarded at CLB a few times but have never paid attention to their handicapped loading facilities there. There is absolutely no way my dad can step up into a train, so there has to be some kind of platform or lift to get him up to the train. He can barely manage a 1-2" threshold. I've never been to the Miami station so I don't know what to expect on that end.
I am taking the train from Columbia to Kissimmee this weekend, so I plan to ask a lot of questions at the station and of the conductors on board to get their perspective.
But I have a few questions for those who might have personal experience of traveling disabled, or accompanying a disabled passenger, or who have even observed disabled travel.
- How is the Miami station equipped for loading/unloading of handicapped passengers? Lifts? Ramps? Or... ?
- What about wheelchair accessible taxis in Miami or other transportation that could move them and the ECV to their hotel and to the port the next morning?
- Are there any accessible sleeping compartments? I realize if there are, they would be booked first come, first served and might not be available anyway.
- With five passengers, there would be no way to make 2 sleeper compartments work would there. You would have to get three compartments, and someone would still be the odd man out. Otherwise, two compartments and someone is in coach by themselves for the trip if I understand the system correctly.
Thanks so much for your help! I'm sure I'll have more questions.
My parents and sister's family are cruising out of Miami in November and they would all like to take Amtrak from Columbia SC to get there. The schedule actually works out well for both directions. There are 5 people in all: my senior citizen parents, my sister and her husband, and my 8yo niece.
The biggest kink in the plan is that my dad is disabled to the point where he requires an ECV or wheelchair for walking distances of more than a few feet. I haven't called Amtrak yet to see what they say, but I understand that they can load an ECV in the baggage car, or that a passenger can take it in coach with them.
I've boarded at CLB a few times but have never paid attention to their handicapped loading facilities there. There is absolutely no way my dad can step up into a train, so there has to be some kind of platform or lift to get him up to the train. He can barely manage a 1-2" threshold. I've never been to the Miami station so I don't know what to expect on that end.
I am taking the train from Columbia to Kissimmee this weekend, so I plan to ask a lot of questions at the station and of the conductors on board to get their perspective.
But I have a few questions for those who might have personal experience of traveling disabled, or accompanying a disabled passenger, or who have even observed disabled travel.
- How is the Miami station equipped for loading/unloading of handicapped passengers? Lifts? Ramps? Or... ?
- What about wheelchair accessible taxis in Miami or other transportation that could move them and the ECV to their hotel and to the port the next morning?
- Are there any accessible sleeping compartments? I realize if there are, they would be booked first come, first served and might not be available anyway.
- With five passengers, there would be no way to make 2 sleeper compartments work would there. You would have to get three compartments, and someone would still be the odd man out. Otherwise, two compartments and someone is in coach by themselves for the trip if I understand the system correctly.
Thanks so much for your help! I'm sure I'll have more questions.