Cleveland — Local services in Cleveland

My wife and I recently took an Amtrak vacation (the Northern Rail Experience) arriving in Seattle on October 30, departing the next day. (we started in Cleveland on October 28) Before arriving in Seattle, someone mentioned that the view from the Coast Starlight was best from the ocean side of the sleeper car. The configuration of the sleeper cars was the same between the Empire Builder and the Coast Starlight, so I knew that I was not on the coast side of the train as my cabin number was the same on both sections of the journey. Upon arrival in Seattle, I went to the ticket counter to see if I could switch to the coast side. After reviewing the cabins available, the agent told me that there was a cabin available on the coast side, but that it was on the lower level and there was a cost difference due to ticket price changes between when I had booked and now. The difference was slight, $39.16, so we agreed to this change.

Upon boarding the train the next day, we were disappointed to learn that the new cabin was on the same side as our previously booked cabin – facing inland, not the coast. I have requested a refund for the amount paid for changing rooms, as Amtrak did not deliver what was requested and promised. Now don’t think I am being cheap, I am just requesting what I feel is justified. I paid over $3,600 for this trip and while there were other issues with the trip, I am not requesting refunds for these missteps by Amtrak, just this small amount where a specific promise was made and not fulfilled.

I am very disappointed in Amtrak and if this is an example of their customer service I believe they are doomed. Effectively there response has been, we have your money and we are not giving it up.

This small problem has soured...

We have ridden with Amtrak twice now & although this time they did manage to get us to our actual destination, I can't help but wonder how they stay on business when they are so badly run. No one knows what is going on from one moment to the next, half the staff we encountered were rude and acted like we were an inconvenience, when they were around that is. I actually feel bad for saying that because the rest of the staff was amazing, very kind to our daughter & actually acknowledged our existance. Although even they seemed liked no one told them what was happening from one moment to the next. The cherry on the cake was when I got my daughter all excited to go outside during a smoke break at 2am (10pm in our home time zone, Karens), went down & waited on them to open our doors and nothing. After a few moments the train began to move so I went to find someone to answer why, when I had just asked where/when the next break would be, was there no break. Only to find out there was, but they didn't open our doors because "we only open the two ends" why was I told to come to the middle door then? Because no one knows what is going on around here.

This doesn't even include the horrible shape the tracks are in, the non-existent water pressure in the coach cars, the dirty seats and floor, or the guy who sat behind us smoking a dab pen, then spraying body spray to cover it up 🤢 Skip Amtrak and spend less on an airplane ticket, you'll get there faster &...

I feel I should add a perspective. Back in the 1900's, Cleveland was a rail hub. In the middle of the 20th century, five major railroads ran dozens of daily trains to and from the city, most through the city's glamorous Cleveland Union Terminal. Since then, the state of passenger rail travel (along with many of the railroads themselves, and the city itself) deteriorated. Amtrak, created to save passenger rail in the US, opened this modest station in 1977, after the CUT was nearly void of intercity service. It's a miracle the city still gets passenger rail service and didn't suffer a fate like Columbus did. Not much has went into it since then, though. The station lacks many amenities and there is no canopy on the main platform in case of rain, nor can visitors take advantage of the Waterfront Line which connects to Tower City (though this is not one's fault as the line is closed for repairs). It is hard to access for those without a car as well, let alone find. On the bright side, there have been proposals to build a larger, intermodal lakefront transit station along this same area...