Amtrak Rockin', Amtrak Frustrated (PDX, TAC, PDX, TAC, PDX)
The last few trips back and forth to Tacoma have been enjoyable. I've grown accustomed to the fact that even though I spend an extra $12.00 US Dollars each way (totally $24) I might not have a useable Business Class Seat. Now I find this appalling from a service perspective but as long as I get point to point with at least a desktop so that I can work, all is good in the world.
The problem also lies in the fact that a particular crew on board the train seems to have a complete disregard for customer satisfaction. It's not that they aren't nice, because they are, it's because they are absolutely innattentive to the things that go on around them. Often bumming off work to the Talgo Technician so they may remain seated.
A prime example is the narrative I had begun for one of these previous trips:
"Again I sit riding along on the north bound #500. For some reason Amtrak deems that, or maybe it has just become regular habit. The crew as always takes up one 4 seat table and 2 seperate 2 seat tables. The train was full in business class this morning and a large group of these individuals where attempting to do some "business". They had come into the diner in an attempt to sit together but had an awful time.
There however was an insanely easy solution to the entire problem. If the Amtrak crew would have taken up one 2 seat set table less, everyone could have sat comfortably and communicated. However because of insistence and refusal to move, observe, or even a remote attempt to remedy the situation and help the "customer" they just went about their normal business of chatting among themselves."
blagh!
The plus side of things is far cooler than the above complaint though. The trains have been - drum roll please - BEEN ON TIME OR EARLY!!!!! The last 6 times I've rode the train to Tacoma and back the trains have been on time or early within 5-10 minutes. This excludes my Empire Builder trip to Spokane (which I'll have a full review coming up). I have all the fingers and toes crossed that BNSF (thank goodness that track work is done) and Amtrak can keep the trains on time. Getting service into that 85% on time bracket is nice, but if they can maintain 95% plus then I could literally get Amtrak ridership increases. A minimum of 5 people at my business, and others I commonly associate with for business (think 8-10 people), would easily drop the nasty old flight or drive for a comfortable train trip to Seattle, Everett, and Tacoma. But as it stands I still can't brag and encourage ridership until they can provide reliable BUSINESS level service.
So on the up and up, cheers to Amtrak and BNSF doing a good job!