Amtrak Hell

First, a pretty picture of the tiles in LA Union Station.


pretty tiles at LA Union Station

Normally I'm an enthusiastic supporter of Amtrak, but today the system just broke down. I had intended to take the 7:30 am Northbound Pacific Surfliner train from LA Union Station to Goleta Station. Here's a breakdown of what happened.

7:05 am: Arrived at LA Union Station. Dropped off by P, who then made his way to work.

7:10 am: Saw schedule board and noticed that the 7:30 am Pacific Surfliner North was cancelled for some unspecified reason. Asked nearby Amtrak information center worker Number 1 when the next northbound Pacific Surfliner was. Was told that it would leave at 9:05 am.

Sat down to wait for 1+ hours.

8:30 am: Walked to schedule board again and noticed that the 9:05 am Surfliner North was cancelled as well. Went to speak to Amtrak information center worker Number 2. He said next Surfliner North was at 12:30 pm, but the next train I could take to deposit me at Goleta (1 stop north of Santa Barbara) was the Oregon Coast Starlight, leaving at 10:15 am.

8:40 am - 9:00 am: Kept going back to ask Number 2 about whether he was sure the Coast Starlight would make a stop at Goleta, since it wasn't a normally scheduled stop. He said, very authoritatively, of course, they are making all local stops just for today. Then I said, my Surfliner ticket is valid on this other line, right? I don't need a reservation, right? He said, yes, for today only.

9:47 am: Heard announcement that Coast Starlight is on Track 10B for Coach Passengers, and 10A for Sleeper Accomodation passengers. Ran toward Track 10B.

9:55 am: Waited 5 minutes for seat assignment personnel to show up.

10:00 am: Was told by seat assignment personnel very forcefully that Coast Starlight does NOT stop at Goleta, only at Santa Barbara.

10:05 am: Ran after head conductors way on the other end of the platform and ask them whether the train stops at Goleta. Was told that it does not.

10:07 am: Dejectedly ran down stairs to return to main lobby, but before that happened an Amtrak worker asked me why I wasn't getting on the train. Related the complicated story, and he told me my ticket should be valid on Coast Starlight and even though it won't stop at Goleta, I could get off at SB and take bus back to UCSB.

10:10 am: Ran back to Coast Starlight train and get on, am assigned seat 11. Some young guy puts his laptop case on the floor beside seat 12, then walks off.

10:25+ am: Train left LA Union Station and begins journey north.

10:30+ am: Ticket collector came by, looked at my ticket, and said I shouldn't have been allowed on the train. I said conductor told me it was okay. Did not bother trying to explain how everyone else said it was okay.

11:00+ am: Found out why 7:30 am and 9:05 am trains may have been cancelled without notice. Amtrak conductor tells us that we have to stop at Moorpark station for an hour and wait till Union Pacific track maintenance is finished. The maintenance is necessary due to heavy rains earlier in the week.

2:0? pm: Arrived at Amtrak Santa Barbara Station. Commenced speed-walking to Santa Barbara MTD Transit Center

2:18 pm: Arrived at the Transit Center, prayed that one of the two buses I see in front of me is the 24X, to take me to UCSB. Was lucky since it turned out the 24X was just about to leave.

2:48 pm: Arrived at my dinghy little room, exhausted and irritated.