Letter to the Editor - Fight to get Amtrak back on track

Hello rail fans,

I have some great news! On Feb. 15, the transportation budget was passed into law. It states, “the conferees direct Amtrak to provide a station agent in each Amtrak station that had a ticket agent position eliminated in fiscal year 2018. Station agents, which include Amtrak ticket agents or caretakers, assist passengers with their intercity rail travel, provide customer service during all hours that a station is open, and perform building maintenance duties.”

Amtrak is directed to improve communication with local partners taking into consideration the unique needs of each community, including impacts to local jobs, when making decisions related to staffing. What does that mean?

Community, city and state support is paramount! Call, email and fax your representatives. Tell them Amtrak train transportation is important to Montana and dedicated agents are needed.

Amtrak station agents were forced to move up to 165 miles in order to continue employment, and most were forced to leave families behind to continue employment. So many of our dedicated customers that depended on these same agents have been greatly inconvenienced. Many senior citizens depended on Amtrak for traveling, they would stop by or call the station, get a reservation, drop off a bag to be checked to their destination and travel.

Has Amtrak decided customer service isn’t necessary?

Now seniors are expected to make their own reservations on line, or wait for someone to answer at a call center and put their own bags on the train. I feel their frustration! Having agents in our stations isn’t an extravagance, it’s a necessity. So get out your pens, turn on your computers and contact your members of Congress:

Sen. Jon Tester — Phone 202-224-2644; fax 202-224-8594

Sen. Steve Daines — Phone 202-224-2651; fax 202-224-9412

Rep. Greg Gianforte — Phone 202-225-3211

Let’s get Amtrak back on track!

Sue Smith

Shelby