On Tuesday, April 14, 2015 at 1:28:40 PM UTC-4, Stephen Sprunk wrote:

> I'm sure the union has invented other "duties" to justify their
> existence, as with any featherbed job, but it's clear from watching that
> Amtrak LD is grossly overstaffed, which undoubtedly contributes to them
> losing so much money.

Would you provide specifics on the union-invented other duties?


> You clearly need staff for the snack bar/dining car, but they don't
> operate step boxes; they're serving customers even during stops (which
> can last an hour or more each, thanks to schedule padding).

My own experience is that people do not board a snack or dining car unless it
is the type that does have revenue seats, and some do.


> You clearly need attendants for the sleepers, but a maximum of one per
> car, and probably less than that.

AFAIK, there is only one attendant per sleeping car.  The private railroads
operated with one person per car.



> You clearly need at least one person to collect tickets in the coaches,
> but less than one per car, and they can do other things after that task
> is completed following each stop.
> What else do you need?  Why is there at least one crewman standing at
> _every_ door, in addition to the dozen inside--for a six-car train?
> (And that's just the staff on duty, i.e. not counting those sacked out
> in the dorm car.)

My own experience on Amtrak LD trains is that there are much less crew than
you suggest.

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