by Arborwayfan
What's "street caring"? Checking tickets before letting people on?
It frustrates me, too, but sometimes there's a useful part to it. I have seen conductors on the Illini at Effingham identify the groups and point them towards seats they've found for them, which is pretty helpful for a family of four boarding a fairly full train, or even for a single passenger in the same situation. Sell reserved seats already. Also, maybe investigate if conductors are given too much trouble from above if an unticketed passenger boards and is discovered after the train departs, and then is unable to pay for a ticket by credit card: does Amtrak blame the conductor? Is there a lot of paperwork?
It frustrates me, too, but sometimes there's a useful part to it. I have seen conductors on the Illini at Effingham identify the groups and point them towards seats they've found for them, which is pretty helpful for a family of four boarding a fairly full train, or even for a single passenger in the same situation. Sell reserved seats already. Also, maybe investigate if conductors are given too much trouble from above if an unticketed passenger boards and is discovered after the train departs, and then is unable to pay for a ticket by credit card: does Amtrak blame the conductor? Is there a lot of paperwork?