Originally Posted by
PHLviaUS
That "Lift All" option is very interesting. One claim for e-ticketing was that Amtrak would have an accurate manifest of passengers on the train (an Amtrak failing noted by the NTSB in several investigations). If conductors can simply tap a button and have all reservations marked as on board, regardless of whether they are or not, that would seem to degrade the accuracy of the system to say who is actually on the train.
Yes, I find that worrisome too. I hope there is some record that the "Lift All" button was used. I would hate to have a ticket showing as used if it wasn't. I buy unreserved tickets in advance and use them during the year. If the conductor should happen to use that button on my originally ticketed train I could be left trying to use a "used" ticket on a latter train. If they know the "Lift All" was used, then there would be reason to doubt.
I called one time (in band camp) about a missing trip and commented they had my return trip dated before I made my outbound journey. The agents were quite confused until a supervisor pointed out the LD trains record all tickets as of the origin of the train and not your travels. So an overnight to Reno on the CZ returns two days before you depart.
