One of the things I enjoy about the NE regional trains is the ability to get some work done on my laptop in the cafe car... if I am lucky enough to get a seat in the cafe car. Getting on the train midway between NYC and WAS often means that the tables are already occupied.

On my last trip to Baltimore, 3 of the 14 tables were occupied by train crew, four crew members using 3 tables, including one being used by the cafe car attendant. If there was no one in line to buy something, he popped out from behind the counter, and sat down at the table he had reserved for himself.

I understand that on the regionals, there appears to be no place else for the conductors to do their paperwork, but is it reasonable for the train crew to be commandeering over 20% of the tables?

I did get one of the last available seats, but there were others who came in later and did not.