Red Caps; how does Amtrak decide where to have them?

[Blackwolf]

Quick question, for those who have the insight.

Red caps. Only a select few stations around the country have them available. Per the Amtrak website, those lucky stations are:

• Baltimore, MD
• Boston, MA (South Station)
• Chicago, IL
• Los Angeles, CA
• New Haven, CT
• New York, NY
• Newark, NJ
• Philadelphia, PA
• Portland, OR
• Seattle, WA
• Washington, DC
• Wilmington, DE

I have a hunch that they are something of a legacy from the private railroad days, and in many cases the stations that have them always had baggage assistance, where as many others used to have them and lost service. Since many portions of the Amtrak network have seen ridership increase dramatically, I foresee a returned need to have Red Cap assistance be available at more stations.

I am specifically interested in seeing Sacramento, a station that is busier than some of those on the list above, come to enjoy Red Cap service in the future. Seeing as the station is in the midst of a major remodel, now seems to be an ideal time to bring the subject up to Amtrak management for consideration on an official level. Ever since the new platforms opened, a sort of impromptu service is being provided, and it does not seem to be a very large leap to having full-fledged Red Caps become a reality here.

Thoughts?

 

[Bob Dylan]

:hi: Excellent Post and Idea! Have you Shared this with Amtrak?

Keep in mind that RedCaps are Amtrak Employees just like all other Amtrak Staff, but I Doubt that they make as much as them, hence they work for Tips! But the way ,Congress has kept Amtrak on a Starvation Budget for so many years I Doubt if theyll be Funding anymore Employees any time soon! I use them when Im in the Big Stations and Appreciate their Service and Tip Accordingly!

 

[Sky Pilot]

Your post raises a related question for me: what does it take to get checked baggage service at a station? That one really seems arbitrary. My home station (NPN) is staffed for ticketing and is the end of the line of a pretty darned long run on the NER (644 miles) but has no checked baggage despite the fact one of the two trains that call on NPN is the only NER that has a baggage car. I was recently taking mixed mode trip over the holidays where I drove from Virginia to New Haven to visit family and then took the Acela to BOS while my wife and kids drove back to VA. I wanted to check my bags to BOS. To do so required two trips to Union Station, one to drop the bags the night before and of course the second one to take the Acela first thing in the AM. If I read the timetable correctly, the 66/67 is ithe only train that calls on New Haven with baggage cars and New Haven has a fully staffed baggage service (and Red Caps!).

I did use the Red Cap the next day because I want to support that service and it was well worth it. And of course I flew home to VA after a week up there for work and naturally checked my bags for the flight.

As far as I'm concerned all staffed stations should have baggage service and more stations should be staffed. Whether or not a station is staffed in my mind ought to be more a function of pax throughput, whether mulitple train routes use a station enabling a connection (e.g. Silver + NER) and so on.

When the new baggage cars come online, I do hope that Amtrak takes a good look at rationalizing what stations/trains get baggage service. It's one area where I do feel they compare less favorably to the services offered on other modes of transportation. It boggles my mind that some traveling from NYP to Vermont, from BOS to WBG or other "leisure" destinations like WSS can't check bags. It can't be a function of passenger boardings/de-boardings because Petersburg and Rocky Mount have checked bags on Silver service but their companions traveling on Palmetto or Carolinian service do not. I understand people may view corridor trains as not needing baggage service but I checked bags from San Diego to LA which sure felt like a corridor service. Truly, I cannot fathom what the criteria are or how they are applied. Grand Junction CO sees 1 train per day in each direction and served ~32K pax in 2012 and has baggage service. Little Rock same story, with ~24K passengers. I don't begrudge them their baggage service. I just don't undertand how it is determined when I compare those stations to WBG (~58K pax) or NPN (136K pax) and the train calling on the station has a baggage car already!

Sorry for the rant. I feel better now.

Back to Red Caps. What strikes me as odd (in a wonderful way) is that they are appear to be Amtrak employees (I assume they are). When I travel through airports, the baggage helpers at say Norfolk are contractor employees (Huntleigh) that I assume the airport hires rather than the airline. These employees also assist with wheelchairs to/from planes. But they have dolleys for moving baggge from the claims area to your car if you want. It's a nice service.

Can you tell I don't pack lightly? Seems as I've gotten older I've felt the need to travel with more. Don't get me started on all the electronica I carry in my bookbag. Must be my security blanket.

Edited to correct typos.

 

[BCL]

Back to Red Caps. What strikes me as odd (in a wonderful way) is that they are appear to be Amtrak employees (I assume they are). When I travel through airports, the baggage helpers at say Norfolk are contractor employees (Huntleigh) that I assume the airport hires rather than the airline. These employees also assist with wheelchairs to/from planes. But they have dolleys for moving baggge from the claims area to your car if you want. It's a nice service.

Airports are strange beasts when it comes to who pays for which employees. Technically the airport authority is responsible for security and baggage handling outside the airlines' direct control. Skycaps are employees of the airport and work for tips. I've even had a few check us in at the curb, and they let us know that they didn't work for the airlines (and appreciated tips). Most airports contract their security out to the TSA, although they're not required to do so. San Francisco International Airport actually hires a private company just like they did before the TSA.

Amtrak is for the most part self-contained, although I understand that there are interesting regional partnerships. I know there's "regional" entities such as Amtrak California, but the employees I talked to say they are considered full Amtrak employees even if the service they run is financed by state and regional funds. Several stations I use have parking lots that are owned and maintained by a city government.

 

[AlanB]

I am specifically interested in seeing Sacramento, a station that is busier than some of those on the list above, come to enjoy Red Cap service in the future. Seeing as the station is in the midst of a major remodel, now seems to be an ideal time to bring the subject up to Amtrak management for consideration on an official level. Ever since the new platforms opened, a sort of impromptu service is being provided, and it does not seem to be a very large leap to having full-fledged Red Caps become a reality here.
Thoughts?

Hmm, if SAC doesn't have Redcaps then that is a change. I'll admit that I didn't pay attention two years ago when I was last there, but about 5 years ago on an OTOL Fest there was indeed Redcap service. In fact, one member of our group was refused the opportunity to check his bag by the Redcap. Yet another had to repack his luggage because when the Redcap weighed it he claimed that it was 1 pound over.

So if there are no Redcaps there now, then that is a change and a cut in service.

 

[Trainmans daughter]

Whenever I'm in SAC, I see lots of those little carts--not many drivers but plenty of empty carts!

A few months ago, we drive down to SAC to meet Sunchaser and her hubby and spent a few hours with them between their CZ/CS connection. I wasn't witness to her conversation with the redcap, but she charmed him into driving the 4 of us all the way to the Train Museum in Old Sac! We tipped him well.

 

[Karl1459]

Your post raises a related question for me: what does it take to get checked baggage service at a station? That one really seems arbitrary...
...When the new baggage cars come online, I do hope that Amtrak takes a good look at rationalizing what stations/trains get baggage service...

Amtrak HAS to be cost concious to survive. "Luxury" services such as Red Caps need to be carefully considered as to if they bring in additional revenue to pay for themselves, or if they are there to provide a necessary service (ada compliance?) at a particular station.

Checked baggage is an important service to have, imho. I can certainly see where NOT having it could be a deal breaker as to taking Amtrak. Perhaps a little creativy in a "gate check" or "boarding check" process might be in order. On Superliner routes boarding and baggage check could occur in a "baggage/coach", with excess baggage, or baggage to be soon off loaded could be moved at service stops. SCA's could handle this for sleeper cars. Obviously bags would have to be picked up as de-training as there would be no storage capability. For single level equipment certain coaches could have a check baggage "cage" easily installed.

 

[Blackwolf]

Hmm, if SAC doesn't have Redcaps then that is a change. I'll admit that I didn't pay attention two years ago when I was last there, but about 5 years ago on an OTOL Fest there was indeed Redcap service. In fact, one member of our group was refused the opportunity to check his bag by the Redcap. Yet another had to repack his luggage because when the Redcap weighed it he claimed that it was 1 pound over.
So if there are no Redcaps there now, then that is a change and a cut in service.

Nope, Sacramento does not officially have Red Cap service. The list above is propagated by Amtrak, and I can back up that none of the employees who work at SAC are officially Red Caps (none wear the trademark red cap, nor the cardinal red coat.) Now SAC does have a staff of three baggage handlers on duty during peak hours, as well as a sizable staff of station agents. Ever since the drama about the new platforms last summer, and the heavy dose of bad press after several passengers had medical issues that were (supposedly) aggravated by the longer than previous walk, even more station agents were hired to operate the small fleet of carts to escort passengers out to the platforms. Hence the 'pseudo' Red Cap service I referenced.

I have the feeling that changing a percentage of the current staff allocation for SAC from the large number of station agents and the extra baggage handler to Red Caps would be a draw for personnel costs. And, if there is ever a possibility for extra passenger amenities (IE: Metropolitan Lounge) in SAC's future, having Red Caps would be a must. ^_^

 

[Blackwolf]

:hi: Excellent Post and Idea! Have you Shared this with Amtrak?
Keep in mind that RedCaps are Amtrak Employees just like all other Amtrak Staff, but I Doubt that they make as much as them, hence they work for Tips! But the way ,Congress has kept Amtrak on a Starvation Budget for so many years I Doubt if theyll be Funding anymore Employees any time soon! I use them when Im in the Big Stations and Appreciate their Service and Tip Accordingly!

No, not yet. I get aboard the Empire Builder/Coast Starlight tomorrow morning to head home and I'm mulling over what others think before drafting a letter. Best to be educated ahead of time, right? As to the cost of adding Red Caps, see my reply to Alan on why I think the cost may be a minimal issue. All one can do is ask, right?

 

[OBS]

Hmm, if SAC doesn't have Redcaps then that is a change. I'll admit that I didn't pay attention two years ago when I was last there, but about 5 years ago on an OTOL Fest there was indeed Redcap service. In fact, one member of our group was refused the opportunity to check his bag by the Redcap. Yet another had to repack his luggage because when the Redcap weighed it he claimed that it was 1 pound over.
So if there are no Redcaps there now, then that is a change and a cut in service.

Nope, Sacramento does not officially have Red Cap service. The list above is propagated by Amtrak, and I can back up that none of the employees who work at SAC are officially Red Caps (none wear the trademark red cap, nor the cardinal red coat.) Now SAC does have a staff of three baggage handlers on duty during peak hours, as well as a sizable staff of station agents. Ever since the drama about the new platforms last summer, and the heavy dose of bad press after several passengers had medical issues that were (supposedly) aggravated by the longer than previous walk, even more station agents were hired to operate the small fleet of carts to escort passengers out to the platforms. Hence the 'pseudo' Red Cap service I referenced.

I have the feeling that changing a percentage of the current staff allocation for SAC from the large number of station agents and the extra baggage handler to Red Caps would be a draw for personnel costs. And, if there is ever a possibility for extra passenger amenities (IE: Metropolitan Lounge) in SAC's future, having Red Caps would be a must. ^_^

A good point about personnel costs, especially as the need for Ticket Agents decreases because of use of E-tks.

 

[Bob Dylan]

Excellent Point about Checked Baggage Especially @ Stations that are Staffed and have LD Trains and Heavy Passenger Totals such as Galesburg, IL! Until 2 years ago Austin Didnt have Checked Baggage since the Station was closed on Sundays even though there were 3 Agent working the Station 6 days a Week! Temple ,Texas is another one though there is only One Agent 6 days a Week! I'm sure there are Plenty of others all over America! If Agents are going to be Replaced because of e-ticketing (hope not!), perhaps they can become more involved in Baggage Handling and Checking like they do in NOL, AUS, SAS etc.

As a funny aside, in October when we rode a Surfliner from LAX to Van Nuys on a Points Run, we were able to Check our Luggage To / From LAX even though it is a 30 Minute Ride! The agent in LAX told us that she had a Hunt for a Luggage Tag for Van Nuys since this was the First Time EVER that someone did this! :giggle:

 

[the_traveler]

Sky Pilot: NHV does offer checked baggage service on the overnight train - but only in one direction! (I forget if it's on #66 and not #67, or the other way.)

 

[Devil's Advocate]

I wish we had redcaps here in San Antonio. I have no need for assistance but I'd love to get out of the kindergarten lineup for the Northbound TE.

 

[Sky Pilot]

Sky Pilot: NHV does offer checked baggage service on the overnight train - but only in one direction! (I forget if it's on #66 and not #67, or the other way.)

I will confirm that it was in the northbound direction. I checked my large bag from NHV to BOS the night before. When I arrived on the Acela I just walked to the baggage area and retrieved it .. no muss, no fuss (other than the 2 trips to Union Station).

 

[Sky Pilot]

Sky Pilot: NHV does offer checked baggage service on the overnight train - but only in one direction! (I forget if it's on #66 and not #67, or the other way.)

I will confirm that it was in the northbound direction. I checked my large bag from NHV to BOS the night before. When I arrived on the Acela I just walked to the baggage area and retrieved it .. no muss, no fuss (other than the 2 trips to Union Station).

Nothing like replying to one's own post and continuing a thread hijack with my 1st world problems specific to NHV (and NPN!) but ..

the_traveler got me curious so I looked at the new timetable that was released this week. It's kinda strange and probably was this way before this timetable was issued but I don't have an old one handy. It essentially seems to indicate that checked baggage service is available for outbound pax. For #67 which is the southbound, overnight NER from BOS to NPN, the timetable indicates that checked baggage service is available at NHV for the departure time (12:35AM) but not for the arrivals from BOS (12:30AM). So I could check a bag if departing NHV for NYP, WAS, or RVR but if I started in BOS I couldn't check a bag if heading to NHV.

However, for #66 the northbound NER from NPN to BOS the timetable indicates that checked baggage service is available for either direction. So whether headed to BOS or to NYP/WAS/RVR I could drop a bag off at NHV or alternatively retreive one if arriving at NHV from BOS/PVD (but never KIN!! :giggle: -- after all that's what PV is for).

The takeaway seems to be that loading or unloading bags on a train is OK at 4 AM but retrieving them from a midnight train is an issue. I'm trying to figure out the staffing constraint that causes this. I also wonder if there's some linkage between Red Cap staffing and baggage service.

Like I said, it's an odd blind spot that Amtrak has as it relates to its customers. I have always found baggage retrieval on Amtrak to be much, much quicker than it is on an airline so it seems like an overlooked opportunity for a good customer experience differentiation.

 

[fairviewroad]

Sky Pilot: NHV does offer checked baggage service on the overnight train - but only in one direction! (I forget if it's on #66 and not #67, or the other way.)

I will confirm that it was in the northbound direction. I checked my large bag from NHV to BOS the night before. When I arrived on the Acela I just walked to the baggage area and retrieved it .. no muss, no fuss (other than the 2 trips to Union Station).

Nothing like replying to one's own post and continuing a thread hijack with my 1st world problems specific to NHV (and NPN!) but ..

the_traveler got me curious so I looked at the new timetable that was released this week. It's kinda strange and probably was this way before this timetable was issued but I don't have an old one handy. It essentially seems to indicate that checked baggage service is available for outbound pax. For #67 which is the southbound, overnight NER from BOS to NPN, the timetable indicates that checked baggage service is available at NHV for the departure time (12:35AM) but not for the arrivals from BOS (12:30AM). So I could check a bag if departing NHV for NYP, WAS, or RVR but if I started in BOS I couldn't check a bag if heading to NHV.

However, for #66 the northbound NER from NPN to BOS the timetable indicates that checked baggage service is available for either direction. So whether headed to BOS or to NYP/WAS/RVR I could drop a bag off at NHV or alternatively retreive one if arriving at NHV from BOS/PVD (but never KIN!! :giggle: -- after all that's what PV is for).

The takeaway seems to be that loading or unloading bags on a train is OK at 4 AM but retrieving them from a midnight train is an issue.

I wouldn't put too much stock in the idiosyncrasies of the printed (or PDF) timetables. If you do a dummy booking on Amtrak.com, it indicates

that checked bags are available for both 66 and 67 in either direction at NHV. I'd put more trust in what Amtrak is telling you at the point of

sale then what the timetable indicates. (But no, I haven't personally tried to check a bag to or from NHV.)

 

[June the Coach Rider]

My home base is WOR and it only has bag checking Monday thru Friday. The ticket office and baggage check is unavailable on the weekend. Most of the time I try and leave during the week, but it can be a pain when I need to leave on the weekend.

 

[Exiled in Express]

Lancaster had an actual uniformed red cap on duty for at least the Thanksgiving and Christmas rush. Not sure if this is a permanent thing or just a PHL extra.

 

[roadman3313]

After the construction opened at SAC there were job postings for 2 Baggage Handlers and 1 Gateman/Baggage Handler. There were no positions posted for Red Caps, however those people were probably hired as the alternative to Red Cap service as they do drive the shuttles and bags back and forth between trains. As the majority of the trains are unreserved service though I presume the Capitol Corridor did not want to invest in full fledged Red Cap service.

That isn't anything official, just an assumption. They seem to wear the standard station employee uniform remake of a logo jacket, polo shirt, or blue jump suit type uniform (coveralls).

I don't know how much investment the Capitol Corridor would put towards that level of baggage service since they only allow carry-on bags, but it would be helpful for Amtrak for the CZ and CS and potentially the SJ.

 

[Gfoley4]

Excellent Point about Checked Baggage Especially @ Stations that are Staffed and have LD Trains and Heavy Passenger Totals such as Galesburg, IL! Until 2 years ago Austin Didnt have Checked Baggage since the Station was closed on Sundays even though there were 3 Agent working the Station 6 days a Week! Temple ,Texas is another one though there is only One Agent 6 days a Week! I'm sure there are Plenty of others all over America! If Agents are going to be Replaced because of e-ticketing (hope not!), perhaps they can become more involved in Baggage Handling and Checking like they do in NOL, AUS, SAS etc.
As a funny aside, in October when we rode a Surfliner from LAX to Van Nuys on a Points Run, we were able to Check our Luggage To / From LAX even though it is a 30 Minute Ride! The agent in LAX told us that she had a Hunt for a Luggage Tag for Van Nuys since this was the First Time EVER that someone did this! :giggle:

I believe the reason for no checked baggage at Galesburg is that there is simply not enough space. Of couse, the city tore down the huge CB&Q station in the 80s, that would have worked!

 

[railiner]

The availability of Red Caps at various stations is interesting. In places like New York Penn Station, Red Caps are bid positions from Clerk's seniority, and are dedicated entirely to that position while on duty. In stations like Denver, they used to years ago let regular bid baggagemen 'act' as Red Caps, based on seniority, for a particular shift. During the hours of no train to work, they performed regular baggageman duties. I believe some other stations such as Portland, Oregon had a similar system. At least that's the way it was several years ago.....

 

[dlagrua]

The Red Cap service is good but of little use these days. In the past Red Caps were at many stations. Now they are at 12 and can only be used on trips from major terminals/stations to other major terminals or those smaller stations with baggage service. On all others its "carry on" and "carry off".

 

[railiner]

The Red Cap service is good but of little use these days. In the past Red Caps were at many stations. Now they are at 12 and can only be used on trips from major terminals/stations to other major terminals or those smaller stations with baggage service. On all others its "carry on" and "carry off".

I would have to disagree with this.....in places like NYP, Red Cap service is almost a necessity. It is true that there is checked baggage service there, but not to all points, nor on all trains, so carryon is required for many. And even though they have installed ADA elevators to the platforms in recent years, trying to get to the platforms with baggage on the narrow escalators or stairways is very difficult at best, and hazardous at worst.

Watching an experienced Red Cap perform his job is almost like watching an artist.....they seem to load an unbelievable amount of luggage and bags on their narrow carts, and keep it all balanced while riding down the long escalator to the platform.....

 

[Phil S]

I must be doing something wrong as I have never been able to get a red cap. Tried twice in CHI and once in LAX. Seems like I was always in the wrong line or there just weren't any red caps available (CHI twice). Any hints? Hold up a $50 bill? It's not that I really need help with my bags as I travel pretty light and am still in good shape. But I'd happily pay $5 to not have stand in line, and help with bags would be a nice plus.

 

[Bob Dylan]

I must be doing something wrong as I have never been able to get a red cap. Tried twice in CHI and once in LAX. Seems like I was always in the wrong line or there just weren't any red caps available (CHI twice). Any hints? Hold up a $50 bill? It's not that I really need help with my bags as I travel pretty light and am still in good shape. But I'd happily pay $5 to not have stand in line, and help with bags would be a nice plus.

In LAX there is a Seating Area over by the Baggage Room that is for Passengers that desire Red cap Service and the Red Caps Drive their Carts up the Seating and Load up there! If you are getting Off a LD Train they usually are Met by Red Caps on the platform but the Conductor or your attendant can Call one for you if None are Around! For the Coast Starlight they come to the Traxx lounge and Pick up the Sleeping car Passengers @ the lounge on their Carts!

In Chiucago, the Best Place to get redCaps is @ the Metro Lounge if you are in a slleping Car or outside the front Door of the lounge as the carts have to be Loaded in the hallway due to the lack of room in the lounge! RedCaps meet all LD Trains Arriving on the platforms but again they are in Demand so ask if they arent there when you need them!

Of course Tips are Apprerciated and Proper! They work Hard for the Money!