On Tuesday, April 14, 2015 at 1:28:40 PM UTC-4, Stephen Sprunk wrote:   
      
   > I'm sure the union has invented other "duties" to justify their   
   > existence, as with any featherbed job, but it's clear from watching that   
   > Amtrak LD is grossly overstaffed, which undoubtedly contributes to them   
   > losing so much money.   
      
   Would you provide specifics on the union-invented other duties?   
      
      
   > You clearly need staff for the snack bar/dining car, but they don't   
   > operate step boxes; they're serving customers even during stops (which   
   > can last an hour or more each, thanks to schedule padding).   
      
   My own experience is that people do not board a snack or dining car unless it   
   is the type that does have revenue seats, and some do.   
      
      
   > You clearly need attendants for the sleepers, but a maximum of one per   
   > car, and probably less than that.   
      
   AFAIK, there is only one attendant per sleeping car.  The private railroads   
   operated with one person per car.   
      
      
      
   > You clearly need at least one person to collect tickets in the coaches,   
   > but less than one per car, and they can do other things after that task   
   > is completed following each stop.   
   > What else do you need?  Why is there at least one crewman standing at   
   > _every_ door, in addition to the dozen inside--for a six-car train?   
   > (And that's just the staff on duty, i.e. not counting those sacked out   
   > in the dorm car.)   
      
   My own experience on Amtrak LD trains is that there are much less crew than   
   you suggest.   
      
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