Originally Posted by
IDontWearSocks
No issue with Amtrak employees moving around by train, but do they pay for their commuting capacity? Or is this an Amtrak perk?
If the associates pay themselves, then no big deal. But if Amtrak is financing this activity, could they not go on the lower fare routes/options? I see the Amtrak associates on Acela and NE Regional business class. These are busy routes that a full fare customer could be paying for....especially weekday morning Acela routes.
Employee benefit. If you're on a regional arriving in DC before 9:00AM, you'll notice it daily. A lot make the commute from Baltimore. Since your 'office' is within a couple of blocks, it's not a bad commute at all.
Someone here will know for sure but I believe regionals are free anytime. Acela is restricted to outside of peak hours. Even then I believe they have to pay a small fee.
Reason you're seeing folks in Business Class is likely that the cafe is full by that point in the trip and Business is the least full car. On weekends and odd hours, you'll see more commuting employees go for a table in the cafe car.