Tom Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> ...But they'd prefer a few railfans. :0)
>
> Seriosuly, I got an unusual help request from my
> mother yesterday. She's one of the Station
> Agent's at the Stockton Amtrak Station. They're
> looking for a few volunteers to assist with
> passengers on the platform. Helping elderly
> passengers, passengers with physical difficulties,
> and young children on and off the trains.
> Answering questions, keeping a lookout for
> potential safety hazards and providing a presence
> to represent Amtrak and promote passenger train
> travel in general. There isn't any kind of real
> physical work necessary. I believe there is a
> group of retired gentlemen who do this in
> Martinez, or at least there was when I was an
> Amtrak Trainman about 8 years ago. You are free
> to bring your scanner, camera, etc. and do your
> thing train spotting, railfanning, or whatever,
> however, when the San Joaquins and connecting
> busses come in, you will be expected to be
> available to assist the passengers, as well as
> answer questions and give assistance as the
> passengers start arriving on the platforms just
> prior to train time. They need folks to be there
> around 8-8:30am until the evening, although they
> are not looking for folks to work a 12 hour shift,
> just a few hours a few times a week or so,
> whatever you can do. Their personnel needs are
> going to depend on how many people committ so many
> hours, so they have at least one person at most
> times. As stated above, this is a VOLUNTEER gig,
> think of it like the Senior's that volunteer for
> various local law enforcement agencies. There is
> no monetary compensation associated with this
> program, only some free Amtrak travel to be
> negotiated with the Station Agents. I thought
> this would be a great resource to find a few
> interested parties as this is pretty much what
> most of you folks like to do anyhow, this way you
> can help them out, get some free Amtrak travel and
> still enjoy the hobby.
>
> Interested parties contact Clark, Stockton Agent
> Mon-Fri 8-4 in person at the depot or for more
> details, talk to Phyllis, again in person at the
> Stockton Depot, her schedule is Sat-Wed 7am - 3pm
> or e-mail or call me at the contacts listed below
> and I'll answer what I can and pass it on.
>
> Tom Carter
> Railroad Training Services
> 209-465-4635 Office
> 209-993-9899 Cell
> tomwcarter@railroadtrainingservices.com

Tom:

One thing that needs to mentioned here is the possible liability mess that a "volunteer" force could create. I think back to the problems at Martinez some years ago with railfans helping passengers and the trouble it caused involving a particular injury claim (not to mention the station agent having to go to investigation for permitting non-employees to handle checked baggage and allowing them to go behind the counter).

I'm sure that AMTRAK officials have really thought this thing through (?) and have some sort of personal liability/accidental injury release waiver that the "volunteer" would be required to sign. This would, of course, make the "volunteer" solely liable and responsible for his actions (which should scare away most sane persons). Or, does AMTRAK plan on covering any/all liability issues that arise due to "volunteer" negligence? Would the "volunteer" be required to go to investigation should some type of incident occur?

While this sounds like a good idea overall, it also opens a big can of worms.

Mike