Trains win hands-down over others (like cars and air travel) as the most preferred means of travel to grab the scenic and spectacular locales of the U.S. countryside. Train trips are economical, comfortable, and convenient. With Amtrak, it gets even better with A-grade onboard amenities that are not only at par with inflight services but in many ways also supersede them. Amtrak cross-country rides are both fun and adventurous.
Amtrak’s top features include availability of checked baggage service and baggage limitation (2 free checked bags and 2 carry-ons; anything over and above the limit is chargeable); private room accommodation (meals included) with attached washrooms for passengers taking long-distance trips; dedicated dining cars on long-distance trains; and wide seating arrangements across all their classes with large legroom and reclining chairs.
All Amtrak trains offer good cafe and snack service. The trains also offer WiFi access with charging/power outlets. Further, there is observation deck with glass roofs and large windows that allow an unrestricted panoramic view of the breathtaking and thrilling scenery as the train chugs along. You can soak in the beauty of the diverse and colorful terrain with a tummy-filling snack and beverage on the deck. Some Amtrak trains allow bikes in their baggage cars at extra costs. Amtrak is pet-friendly too.
Amtrak serves more than 30 routes, and 500 destinations across 46 US states, connecting major cities and smaller towns. It is owned by the US government which was established in 1971, a little over fifty years back.
The most popular trains and busiest Amtrak routes are — The Northeast Regional, Acela Express, Pacific Surfliner for Southern California, Capitol Corridor for Northern California, San Joaquin for Central California, Keystone Service from New York to Harrisburg, Empire Service for Upstate New York, the Cascades for Pacific Northwest, and Lincoln Service on Chicago-Saint Louis route.
Now, here’s what to do when you discover a missing bag on alighting from the car
Submit a Lost Item Report
Try to submit an online lost item report immediately following the incident (and preferably within 30 days of your trip, as per the instructions on their official website). Here is the link to report a lost or missing item. The key information that you would be required to fill in are — your name, contact information, and email address; the date/s of the journey; departure and arrival stations; train number; and a complete description of the lost bag/s by mentioning their brand, color, size and contents.
Once you submit the report, you get an email confirmation that acknowledges the complaint. They will send you a lost item tracking number that will enable you to track the status of your baggage online yourself. If you call the staff at the office for a follow-up, you will again need to provide them with the tracking number for recent updates.
They will keep you posted with every development through SMS and/or email. If they are successful in tracing your bag, you will be contacted shortly to know how and where to collect them from. The Search Team continues the baggage search for up to 30 days from the day/time of the missing report.
Contact the Customer Relations Services
It is a good idea to enlist extra help when you do not hear back from the officers at the Lost Property department. You can call the helpline on 1-800-USA-RAIL (1-800-872-7245) or 1-215-856-7924.
Be clear and precise with your written and verbal messages to help the representative assist you suitably. Furnish them with all relevant details. If you have emailed your message, wait for someone at customer care to get back (they are usually prompt) to address your concerns.
Report Through Social Media
Alternatively, you could use social media to send out your message and seek quick help. Social media is inarguably the most powerful and fastest means of spreading the word and getting feedback/responses in real-time.
While the following are the official pages of Amtrak trains in general, you may also want to check out the individual pages of the Amtrak train you took on the day you lost your baggage or left it behind (eg – Empire Service, Acela Express, Keystone Service, etc). Here are the social media pages of Amtrak – Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Bothersome situations (such as those above) can leave you with an important lesson. With lost baggage on a train, you will learn to be more prudent on your next. Travel less, and travel light. Just to play it safe, do not forget to label your bags with clear contact information like a working phone number and email ID.
