I may never take the Amtrak again!

[WillParkinson]

We got to the station for a train that was to board at 3:55. It did not board until after 8 pm. We got to Minnesota at 3 in the morning.

There was a sign up saying to make sure that you're early for all trains so today we got there at 5:30 for our 7 am train. The problem? The station didn't open until 7 am. Paul and I stood outside for almost an hour in 8 degree weather. Then when we got in they told us the train was going to be 3 hours late.

I don't think it's unreasonable to expect the train to be somewhat on time. I could understand up to an hour late, but 3 - 4 hours seems to be pretty excessive to me. There was a lady with a seeing eye dog. She was pretty much begging to find out when we'd get to Minnesota as she needed to have someone come get her. We didn't find out until 10 minutes before we hit the station when we'd arrive.

All in all they don't seem to be all that reliable.

(If you've had better experiences please ignore my rant. I just had to type it to make me feel better.)

[Taverner]

1. We need speed rail

Speed rail can make up for this stuff...

[david13]

2. Welcome to the United States.

I will not inquire as to which country you are visiting from, but I suspect that it may be Japan, or Germany.
(Switzerland?)
Anyway, Amtrak has a feature on their website and you can track any train. Then look at the record, as to on time, etc., for that line. Then, when you go, you will have a very accurate idea how late they will be.
I have a very good record in that regard with the Coast Starlight.
But a lot of people don't realize how late they will be, or that the website has the feature.
dc

[WillParkinson]

3. Sadly...

The St. Paul station doesn't have WiFi (anywhere that we could find in the station) so I could not get online.

[struggle4progress]

4. The Amtrack trains don't have priority use of the rails so are often late

I think it's part of a deliberate strategy by the RR companies to discredit Amtrack

[Chan790]

5. Further...

they always run late in the winter in heavy-snow areas because schedule is written and assumed for optimal operating conditions. Much like you and I, Amtrak doesn't drive as fast in the snow as they do when it's 80-degrees, dry and sunny.

I used to take Amtrak to and fro college at Christmas...one time in 5 years (12 mid-winter Hfd.-DC) trips did I arrive within 2 hours of the posted time.

[WillParkinson]

7. I think the part that upset me the most...

Was standing outside the station for almost an hour in 8 degree weather because they said arrive early and then don't open till 6:30 am (30 minutes before the train is scheduled to have departed).

The fact that we arrived at 3 am and the station was packed caused serious disconnect between us and we did not realize they closed at 11:30 pm.

I realize fully that it would be our fault for not knowing the customs of the city that we were visiting, just as I realize that we should have been more aware of the station times. An hour in 8 degree weather, though, just made me uber-cranky.

[Chan790]

10. I empatize completely...

I once spent one of those college Christmas breaks chair-ridden because I got frostbite on the soles of my feet after I spent 45 minutes standing on the aluminum grate platform at BWI (Baltimore-Washington International Airport) in threadbare socks and well-worn Converse All-Stars.

They really should tell people the station hours and not tell people to arrive that early for the mail-train (that's what they call the train between two major cities that runs in the deep-overnight, if you stay awake you'll see the porters actually unload bundles at major stops...it's not USPS mail though but Amtrak inter-office mail and 3rd party shipping.) DC>>>NYC>>>Bos runs 3am>>>6:20am, 6:50am>>>~9:30am for example.) I've thought for some time that I could make a killing with a seasonal pop-up store selling hot beverages and thermal socks at some whistle-stop in the week before Christmas overnights. (You're welcome to that idea if you want it. A man; a van; half-dozen thermal coolers of coffee, hot water and hot cocoa; cash-box; mittens, hats, scarves, discount-rack thermals for retail. Find the right station and you could make a few grand in that week.)

I love rail-transit if you can't tell. Amtrak is run by hooligans and mental-defectives though or so it sometimes seems.

[Ron Green]

6. It's all part of the plan. Retirees and railfans will ride even if the train is late,

and actual travelers on a schedule will be discouraged from considering rail as a viable option. So, everybody back on the highway.

Sometimes I can't stand this country.

[MiddleFingerMom]

8. I was used to the AMAZING rail service in Germany...

.
.
.
.
.
...and I had heard all the horror stories about Amtrak before I got home,
but I eventually regularly took the train from Philadelphia to Connecticut
to visit MiddleFingerMomSis and I was fairly impressed with their service
and punctuality.
.
.
.

[JCMach1]

9. Weather!- I would hazard a guess they are having a hard time with trains in Europe at the moment too

Just let me count the 3hr delays I have had for air flights...

Too many to count...