Use of Intercom--A Complaint
 

I arrived into Seattle this morning on the Empire Builder. I really object to crew members using the intercom for unnecessary messages. For example one crew member reminded another not to forget the flowers; after an anouncement by someone thanking the crew for a good job, another crew member came on to second the first announcement.

As a passenger I want only short, necessary use of the intercom. Otherwise I prefer quiet, which is advertised as one of the jobs of train travel.

Not Allowed
 

:mad:Imagine a friendly happy crew and happy passengers on Amtrak.
They will surely be kicked out of the union and disciplined for having a wrong attitude
By the way where is quiet " advertised as one of the jobs of train travel." ?:D

Friendly and happy is different from unprofessional. It shouldn't be a pep rally.

Have to agree with OP. Intercoms are useful. But what business uses them for personal chitchat between staff? Imagine the overhead of a hospital (already too noisy) if people were using them casually. Even the staff would get on edge after a while. If they really need to talk that much, give them walkie talkies with earphones like the people in the local Target store have.

End of the line
 

It was the end of the line the OP did not mention them to be unprofessional the rest of the trip. Personally I prefer this than to the sullen, disgruntled Lakeshore limited and NEC crews.
Be careful what you ask for

You think they will pout if they can't blast the whole world with whatever crosses their mind?

My typo, sorry
 

I meant to say one of the "joys" of travel, not "job." My error, sorry.

However I do stand by my original comments. The intercom should be used sparingly, and only when necessary. This does not include chat between crew members--"don't forget the flowers." etc.

So -- how frequently and how many times did the crew use the intercom on this trip?

To clarify, it's the PA system that was apparently abused, not the intercom (IC), which I too have heard toward the end of the occasional trip. In fact, situations like that definitely warrant use of the IC, which is the private mode of OBS crew communications between cars.

One of my favorite little quirks of Superliner long-distance trains is when crew briefly ping each other over the PA: "Steward to the IC, please." I take it as a sign of engaged, discreet service professionals. ^