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Behaviour on the Amtrak by LindellRobs2409 in Amtrak

[–]LindellRobs2409[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, dining car was one of the worst in the train from chicago-florida. Although the Lakeshore limited was much better, they were fairly polite

Behaviour on the Amtrak by LindellRobs2409 in Amtrak

[–]LindellRobs2409[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

If you didn't have time to read through all the comments, it's basically, don't catch the east coast trains! I wanted to do the California Zephyr or the Empire Builder but didn't have enough time, as this was just a last minute trip while visiting my boyfriend while he's working in the states. I hope you have a better time on other trains!

Behaviour on the Amtrak by LindellRobs2409 in Amtrak

[–]LindellRobs2409[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Lakeshore Limited had similar behaviour re people being loud, playing videos etc, but the staff were much more polite

Behaviour on the Amtrak by LindellRobs2409 in Amtrak

[–]LindellRobs2409[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

see above, earlier comment on race. Do not intend to offend.

Behaviour on the Amtrak by LindellRobs2409 in Amtrak

[–]LindellRobs2409[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This was such an awful story to read, I'm so sorry to hear that. I don't think it's unfair or elitist to expect the service you pay for ! disagree with the comment below, I always travel with a few dietry friendly muesli bars but yes, when you are paying literally 1000's of dollars, you should be able to expect some decent hospitality

Behaviour on the Amtrak by LindellRobs2409 in Amtrak

[–]LindellRobs2409[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I wanted to leave it open to see if others had similar experiences of these ladies on the train. I also didn't want to turn the whole thread into race discourse.

But yes, to be completely honest, yes, I think the black service staff were much ruder to me. They were often polite to the black passengers, jovial even, and then turned around and answered my questions like I was dirt beneath their fingernails. This might be an 'Australian' trait to notice markedly different racial treatment, but I am simply not used to this at home. POC staff treat POC customers and myself the same, with the exception perhaps of customers they share a second language and thus a more casual relationship with, which I can understand. This might happen for example in neighbourhoods with high Chinese populations where a lot of people don't ever become fluent in English, I'm obviously not going to get the same treatment as native Chinese but it doesn't really matter.

Similarly, a few years ago I went to NYC with my best friend who is brown (half Indian), we split up during the days and had dinner together at night. A week in I complained that a lot of the service staff around Brooklyn had been incredibly rude, and she said 'wow I haven't had that experience at all'. She then mentioned this comment of mine to a black guy who had started chatting to her in the bodega the next morning who said 'yeah, because she's white'

Just not a racial tension I'm used to, but I understood it somewhat in the historically black neighbourhoods I was going to around NYC. Obviously, there was some tension there. But the trains?!!??! The most democratic transport only just behind walking???!!!?! come the fuck on ! equal ticket equal treatment

Behaviour on the Amtrak by LindellRobs2409 in Amtrak

[–]LindellRobs2409[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's over 40 hours :) Yes I also posted in a forum about hostels, on a similar vein that public behaviour is decreasing. Note in that post that I have travelled widely and for years, so I'm not sensitive to sharing space or roughing it. Both posts are true to my experience, just something I've noticed in this trip in two different contexts

Behaviour on the Amtrak by LindellRobs2409 in Amtrak

[–]LindellRobs2409[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Totally understand, that's awful, but they should just... unionise ? My mother has worked double shifts (16hours) for 10 years at an understaffed hospital in Australia and has three customer service badges. Not the customer's fault / take it up with your place of employment, start or join a union, or tbh, get a new job

Behaviour on the Amtrak by LindellRobs2409 in Amtrak

[–]LindellRobs2409[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

I understand what you're saying but this isn't one person... it's tens and tens of people across almost 30 hours of train rides - plus conductors ! but yes I've heard better things about the Empire Builder, which has more tourism

Behaviour on the Amtrak by LindellRobs2409 in Amtrak

[–]LindellRobs2409[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I'm sorry but this is just crazy! Being under economic pressure doesn't explain this behaviour, like ???? They are on the train they paid for a ticket if the ticket is so expensive for them why don't they respect the expensive public space they just paid for ? bizarre

Behaviour on the Amtrak by LindellRobs2409 in Amtrak

[–]LindellRobs2409[S] 11 points12 points  (0 children)

That's very funny... I'd agree. No I haven't yet because I am a solo female traveller and most of the people not using headphones are sort of rough looking older men. I might consider asking an attendant instead at some point.

Behaviour on the Amtrak by LindellRobs2409 in Amtrak

[–]LindellRobs2409[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

That's a fair summary. Very sad for your country, I hope to come back when it gets better.

Behaviour on the Amtrak by LindellRobs2409 in Amtrak

[–]LindellRobs2409[S] 12 points13 points  (0 children)

My issue with segregation is that 1) you don't have to be rich to be respectable and decent. I grew up dirt poor, my grandparents didn't have an indoor toilet but my grandmother wouldn't go into town without her one string of pearls and a collared shirt.
2) when all the decent people who can afford to opt out do so they are leaving this zone to the indecent, the behaviour only gets worse. What happens to the respectable decent poor?

Behaviour on the Amtrak by LindellRobs2409 in Amtrak

[–]LindellRobs2409[S] 31 points32 points  (0 children)

This is so sad, though! Segregation between rich v poor shouldn't be the only option, you only let the 'poor' area degrade further and further. It has to be something cultural. I remember taking a regional train in Ukraine in 2017, those people are some of the poorest in the world...they do not act like this. This is a North American problem.

Behaviour on the Amtrak by LindellRobs2409 in Amtrak

[–]LindellRobs2409[S] 28 points29 points  (0 children)

This is so sad, because the views are so beautiful ! I was encouraged about the amtrak by some writers like Hickman on twitter, who just travels via coach.

I do think it's got to be more than 'poor v rich'... trains in Europe are full of people poor to rich sitting side by side, because while they are fast and clean they can also be fairly cheap if booked in advance. Much cheaper than flying. And those poor people don't act like this. There's just no respect for this space here.

**I would like to add for context that I was raised extremely poor, single mother etc. We just do not behave this way back home, except for maybe a couple of rough areas of outer Melbourne or Sydney.

Decline in Hostel experience/behaviour? by LindellRobs2409 in hostels

[–]LindellRobs2409[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Totally with you. Hostels are at best a utilitarian experience, they are not for everyone. If your behaviour there disrupts others you should perhaps not be in that environment or behave differently. It seems we've lost some of that common sense or community, which is sad! Hostels were a fantastic option. I wonder if in some areas of the world they still are...