(no subject)
Confirmation email from Amtrak says nothing of the address of Union Station, only to arrive 30 minutes before departure. Email also contains a barcode to print off so that I can print my ticket at the station.
RTD website shows bus service to Union Station at the same place it has been for years.
After navigating ridiculous construction around downtown Denver, Laura drops me off at the front doors to Union Station, 30 minutes before departure time.
She drives away.
I get to the front door where there is an 8x11 sign stating that Union Station has temporarily moved to 21st and Wewatta.
Luckily, I know the streets of Denver and know where Wewatta is. This should only be about six blocks as the crow flies.
Denver has, unfortunately, placed many fences, construction sites, and a professional baseball stadium in between the old station and the current one.
By the time I navigate my way to the new station, on foot with a suitcase, purse, and pillow, the train has started tooting and is about to leave.
Woman working, in response to my asking if I can still get on, says no, she cannot stop the train for me. This is while doors are still open and train does not seem to be moving. I exclaim my frustration about the moved station and the fact that I am supposed to be in a wedding. She says no. I exclaim again, and she asks if I am alone. I tell her yes, it's just me, and I've been walking for a half hour to get here. She decides to let me on. I walk through the gate.
To make sure I won't be in trouble later, I ask to make sure it's okay that I just have my barcode email, but haven't been able to print my ticket yet.
"You don't have your ticket yet?!?!?"
I try to explain that I have the barcode email, but just got here (which should be obvious?). She tells me she absolutely can not let me on board without a ticket. But I have a barcode to show I purchased a ticket. She tells me repeatedly that I should have been on time. I tell her repeatedly that I WAS on time.
She does not let me on.
I sit on the curb and cry loudly.
I use someone's cell phone to leave a message for Joe.
I go inside the temporary station to speak with someone. I wait 5-10 minutes for them to show up at the ticket window.
She acts like I am an idiot for not knowing the station moved. "It's been in the paper, in the press, announcements all over. We've been here for over a year."
I only take the train once a year, and every other time I've taken it, it's always left from, you know, UNION STATION AT 17TH AND WYNKOOP. She can not help me transfer my ticket to the next night- it's beyond what she was trained to do. I'll have to call Amtrak's customer relations.
Did I mention that there is only one train a day? Missing Thursday night's train means missing Jessica's Friday afternoon wedding rehearsal. Where I'm supposed to practice my reading of bible passages for Saturday's wedding.
Nice woman who also missed the train invites me to ride with her and her niece. They drop me at the Greyhound station so I can see if that would be a better option now. Because I am not even guaranteed a spot on Friday night's train, let alone for the same price.
Greyhound would drive me on Friday morning from 8:30 am to 8:30 pm for 100 or so dollars. This is not appealing- I will still miss the rehearsal.
I go home to call Amtrak. She can't take my complaint (normal business hours only), but books me on Friday night's train for an additional $43.
Today, I call customer relations again. The woman is very nice, appropriately appalled that no notice was given to passengers about the station's move. She will not take away the $43 charge, which is what I think is the minimum of what should happen, but will give me a $43 voucher for my next trip, to be used within a year.
So I spent today, with the day off work, sitting at home when I should have been in Omaha with my friends. I should have eaten breakfast with Vicky and Jess at Village Inn at a horrible hour of the morning, I should have visited with Ken and Wendy at the CCSJ this afternoon, I should have rehearsed for the wedding this evening, and I should be spending tonight with Mana instead of on a train.
At least I still get to go.
Time to go practice readings from Philippians and Tobit.
RTD website shows bus service to Union Station at the same place it has been for years.
After navigating ridiculous construction around downtown Denver, Laura drops me off at the front doors to Union Station, 30 minutes before departure time.
She drives away.
I get to the front door where there is an 8x11 sign stating that Union Station has temporarily moved to 21st and Wewatta.
Luckily, I know the streets of Denver and know where Wewatta is. This should only be about six blocks as the crow flies.
Denver has, unfortunately, placed many fences, construction sites, and a professional baseball stadium in between the old station and the current one.
By the time I navigate my way to the new station, on foot with a suitcase, purse, and pillow, the train has started tooting and is about to leave.
Woman working, in response to my asking if I can still get on, says no, she cannot stop the train for me. This is while doors are still open and train does not seem to be moving. I exclaim my frustration about the moved station and the fact that I am supposed to be in a wedding. She says no. I exclaim again, and she asks if I am alone. I tell her yes, it's just me, and I've been walking for a half hour to get here. She decides to let me on. I walk through the gate.
To make sure I won't be in trouble later, I ask to make sure it's okay that I just have my barcode email, but haven't been able to print my ticket yet.
"You don't have your ticket yet?!?!?"
I try to explain that I have the barcode email, but just got here (which should be obvious?). She tells me she absolutely can not let me on board without a ticket. But I have a barcode to show I purchased a ticket. She tells me repeatedly that I should have been on time. I tell her repeatedly that I WAS on time.
She does not let me on.
I sit on the curb and cry loudly.
I use someone's cell phone to leave a message for Joe.
I go inside the temporary station to speak with someone. I wait 5-10 minutes for them to show up at the ticket window.
She acts like I am an idiot for not knowing the station moved. "It's been in the paper, in the press, announcements all over. We've been here for over a year."
I only take the train once a year, and every other time I've taken it, it's always left from, you know, UNION STATION AT 17TH AND WYNKOOP. She can not help me transfer my ticket to the next night- it's beyond what she was trained to do. I'll have to call Amtrak's customer relations.
Did I mention that there is only one train a day? Missing Thursday night's train means missing Jessica's Friday afternoon wedding rehearsal. Where I'm supposed to practice my reading of bible passages for Saturday's wedding.
Nice woman who also missed the train invites me to ride with her and her niece. They drop me at the Greyhound station so I can see if that would be a better option now. Because I am not even guaranteed a spot on Friday night's train, let alone for the same price.
Greyhound would drive me on Friday morning from 8:30 am to 8:30 pm for 100 or so dollars. This is not appealing- I will still miss the rehearsal.
I go home to call Amtrak. She can't take my complaint (normal business hours only), but books me on Friday night's train for an additional $43.
Today, I call customer relations again. The woman is very nice, appropriately appalled that no notice was given to passengers about the station's move. She will not take away the $43 charge, which is what I think is the minimum of what should happen, but will give me a $43 voucher for my next trip, to be used within a year.
So I spent today, with the day off work, sitting at home when I should have been in Omaha with my friends. I should have eaten breakfast with Vicky and Jess at Village Inn at a horrible hour of the morning, I should have visited with Ken and Wendy at the CCSJ this afternoon, I should have rehearsed for the wedding this evening, and I should be spending tonight with Mana instead of on a train.
At least I still get to go.
Time to go practice readings from Philippians and Tobit.