Kirkwood's Amtrak station tops in service

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Kirkwood’s Amtrak station tops in service

Amtrak’s best station is run by…

…volunteers.

Now if we take this to the logical conclusion, I believe this is part of the answer to how Amtrak can finally get off the provider class subsidy and be self sufficient. Replace all non-operational staff with volunteers. After all, there are enough Amtrak foamers out there believing that Amtrak is the best invention since the wheel. Who knows? Perhaps the trains will actually start running on time and the stations will stop appearing to be candidates for best eyesore.

These folks are number #1 in my book. These volunteers write to book that every other station in the nation learns by.

Congratulations to the Kirkwood Amtrak volunteers, and thanks to Amtrak volunteers and staff everywhere.

Have you ever heard of volunteers supporting our highways or tollways? Do you see volunteers at airlines such as Delta or Southwest? Of course not. But Amtrak is increasingly recognized as the last civilized, and productive, way to travel in this country, and some folks are willing to help out. Their efforts to ensure that we have freedom of transportation options, and thereby make this country a better place, are appreciated.

Let’s keep America rolling!

My home station. Way to g

I think that this makes big city employees look bad. I have an idea what Gussie will have to say.

PH, politely and so nicely put! We need to replace all of those state DOT workerz leaning on shovel handles with volunteers. Certainly JG doesn’t want his tax dollars providing any funding towards any DOT highway and road payroll. Must keep a balanced playing field, right JG?

@JEFFERY GUSE - Interesting idea. Let’s do that for the roads too - from now on, all Interstate highways should be built and maintained by unpaid volunteers.

Let’s see how that one works out for you…

Not a single Amtrak employee there, and it makes number one? Wow. Mr. Boardman, you need to benchmark Kirkwood for customer service. I would like to give an honorable mention to Longview, TX. It only lacks the train museum venue of Kirkwood.

I am glad things are working well in Kirkwood. I called Kirkwood home for 35 years before I moved to CA.

I am glad things are working well in Kirkwood. I called Kirkwood home for 35 years before I moved to CA.

I am glad things are working well in Kirkwood. I called Kirkwood home for 35 years before I moved to CA.

Goosie, may I suggest that you volunteer to clean restrooms at O’Hare Airport since you love the airlines so much and hate Amtrak with as much zeal?

All volunteer and number one in the nation! Fantastic! I lived in Kirkwood back in the 70’s. A great town and great people. Amtrak employees need to take a look at what these people are doing and pick up the pace. Probably the reason Kirkwood is number one is because they do it for the love of trains and don,t have to deal with the bureaucracy that Amtrak employees must deal with. Wake up management! You can go to this station anytime of the day and there will be people there railfaning.

I wish Amtrak would start its trains to Chicago from this station. It would seem like it would be worth it.

It’s good to know there are volunteers helping out at some of the unstaffed stations. I enjoyed the hospitality from those volunteers in California and North Carolina.

Slight topic drift … don’t work-release prisoners and volunteers from various organizations (see Adopt-a-Highway) pick up a lot of roadside litter?