We had a truly pleasurable ride on the train to and from San Francisco. First, the station agent in Merced was very friendly. The conductor on the train should audition as a talk show host or comedian; he was informative and friendly. The train itself was spotlessly clean. The engineer drove the train as smoothly as any I ever experienced. In the lounge car, the lady attending to food service was friendly and efficient. When we arrived in Emeryville, the conductor showed us how to connect with the bus that would take us across the Bay Bridge to San Francisco. The bus driver was expert and informative, making sure that his passengers knew where they would be picked up for the return trip.
The Amtrak bus driver on the return trip was friendly, efficient and dedicated. In San Francisco he had to park his bus and walk a couple of blocks to inform passengers that had been stranded. There had been a traffic accident that closed part of Market Street so the bus couldn’t pick up the Amtrak passengers waiting there. He led them to where the bus had been diverted. The whole diversion was orchestrated as if it were a routine procedure. He got us back across the bridge to Emeryville, then made sure we knew how to connect to the train.
I would very gladly hire any of the Amtrak personnel we encountered on this trip. They were dedicated to their tasks and carried them out with soul. Cheers to Amtrak!
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