more on Amtrak's ID requiremeent

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: jean_camp <jean_camp () harvard edu>
Date: August 14, 2005 9:56:42 PM EDT
To: dave () farber net
Subject: Re: [IP] more on Amtrak's ID requiremeent


In terms of Amtrak the company and the conductor have quite a it of  
power. There is no customer bill of rights on Amtrak, all the rights  
belong to the conductor. The conductor can throw you off the train  
onto a platform in the middle of the night if he feels you have been   
uncooperative or disruptive, or even loud. You might want to read the  
back of the Amtrak magazine the next time you take a train. You will  
find several pages of print describing your behavioral requirements  
as a passenger, an affirmation of the power of the conductor, a note  
on how your ticket is highly limited, and exactly nothing on customer  
rights.

I am one who believes in promoting the general welfare and investing  
in infrastructure. But the attitude of Amtrak towards the customer is  
one reason for the repeatedly dismal performance of the organization.  
The ability to _lose_ _money_ between Boston and Dc in these days of  
bad air travel and decreasing service is truly a wonder- a wonder  
made possible by the arbitrary behavior of Amtrak towards its cattle,  
er, un passengers.

-Jean

On Aug 10, 2005, at 5:08 AM, David Farber wrote:


> Begin forwarded message:
>
> From: Jeff Porten <civitan () jeffporten com>
> Date: August 10, 2005 3:34:11 AM EDT
> To: dave () farber net
> Subject: Re: [IP] Amtrak's ID requiremeent
>
>
> I haven't taken Amtrak for a month or two, but last time I did,  
> there was still zero photo ID requirement if you purchased your  
> tickets at the interactive kiosks.  All you need is to swipe your  
> credit card, which I suppose counts as a form of non-government,  
> non-photo ID -- excepting the cases of stolen cards.
>
> As I understand it, the conductors have the right to ask for photo  
> ID on the trains, but rarely do; on a crowded train, it is quite  
> possible that half the train could be able to get off at their  
> destination before the conductor has had a chance to collect all of  
> the tickets, if he is slowed down by carding everyone.  Uncollected  
> tickets can be redeemed for cash or used for future travel, so  
> Amtrak has a strong fiscal incentive to cover the entire train.   
> You can therefore easily predict which trains will not be checking  
> photo IDs.  There is a requirement to sign all tickets, but that  
> signature has never been checked against the card in my experience.
>
> Note that ironically, you have to use plastic to avoid showing ID;  
> if you pay cash, it's done at a window where there is 100%  
> compliance with the photo request.
>
> Best,
> Jeff
>
>
>
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