Takin the train
 

Hi everyone!

Gonna take the train next week and was wonderin if anyone has taken the train with their electric wheelchair?

The people at amtrak have been real helpful, and tell me everything will be fine, but I still wonder if that is totally the truth. They did give me a great fare price round trip.

The wife and I are gonna go to Oregon and visit all the relatives for a couple weeks. Travel around and take in as much of the sights as possible before riding the train back home. Im kinda nervous about the whole thing since I havent gone anywhere in several years.

I am lookin forward to getting out of the house though LOL.

TOOT TOOT!

Several times, easy peasy! They'll have a certain boarding platform for you, they put a bridge down and in you go! You'll be in a car where there is enough room for you to move comfortably, and, the service is even better in there!!!

How exciting for you, Allen! Have a fabulous trip and make sure you post pics for us! :)

OOH TOOT TOOT right back at ya.

You MUST tell us of all your adventures in Oregon.

Where in Oregon are you going??

Melody

I've travelled on Amtrak with my manual w.chair, and it should be no different with a power chair, as AfterMyNap/Cindy stated.

Ideally, there will be a working lift, as she also mentioned, but... it's not something I would count on. The lifts were not functioning when I travelled from Sacramento to Bakersfield (a couple or so years ago) and the porter asked me to help lift my wheelchair. Ehhh, what a twit-wit; if I could lift the darn'd thing I probably wouldn't be needing it in the first place. (He was definitely moron maximus.)

The menu food can be quite price-y; I took my own (from a deli) packed in ice. There is generally a charge for in-seat delivery of food, but... being disabled, no charge should be affixed.

I took my laptop and DVD movies; there are hook-ups in the car(s).

If you have any probs., don't hesitate to call on a car attendant. I found them to be quite friendly and helpful.

Will you be in a sleeper?

Amtrak also discounts those for disabled and automatically bumps the size of the room (no x-tra cost added); it is, however, first come, first serve basis (with reservations).

I also found it easier to take my non-carry-on luggage to the station for check-in a day early so that I didn't have to mess with it; it arrived at my destination and was awaiting my arrival :D.

P.S.: I don't know the travel route you're taking, and I'm not asking you to post that info., but, if there is a bus-transfer point, make sure that all modes of transportation involved know well in-advance that you will be travelling with your power chair and might need assistance.

Something else just came to mind:

Since your chair is an electric, I imagine, it's powered by some type of battery.

You might want to check with Amtrak re: of travelling w/battery or batteries re: any probs. in your trek.

I know that with scooters and other power chairs, airlines have certain guidelines or travel requirements depending on the type of battery used to power DME.


May as well add this here: http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/Conten...2Copy&ssid=188

It's a direct link that delineates Amtrak's acceptable wheelchair specs.

When I travelled, Amtrak also provided me with an x-tra seat at no additional cost; it was for when I wanted to collapse my chair; it remained beside me - in front of the x-tra seat.

On part of the trek, I sat in my chair; the "disabled" car was filled to capacity, and an elderly woman and her travel companion would not have had a seat so I gave up mine.

I also made sure to take proof of disablity with me, in case it was sought and for any security stuff; I wasn't taking any chances :winky:.

Thank you everyone!!

This is encouraging! Im sooo lookin forward to this. Plus!!! Something wonderful happened!!! The SSDI backpay finally landed in the bank!!!!!! So now we wont be travelin on a beggars budget LOL.

Then something aweful happened!! They put me in a jury UGH!!!!

I tried everything just short of a doctors note to get out of it, but they not only called me in, they selected me for a Jury!! The judge says the trial should be over by wednesday....one day before we leave.

We are riding the San Joaquin through Sac. On the way back there is a bus ride from Sac to Stockton, but they say it will be fine to have the power chair. I certainly hope that part doesnt get messed up, and I will be warning everyone.

Cant wait!!

Toot Toot !!

Are you up for the jury duty? As in able to be in one place for a long time?
I'd use the Drs note- just being still in a jury chair would be too much for me.
I have to move around to stay comfortable.. I'd be fidgeting all over the place ..

Ooooh! I remember riding the Zephyr from my home town of Stockton (guess it coulda been Sac) to Salt Lake City, UT. I think I was about 5 years old and it was so much fun!

Toot toot! Have a great time! :)

Hope your Jury duty is over in time!

Hopoe it all goes well, dear friend. Moose did 7 years for Uncle Sam (the first 6 in Europe) and trains where the way to get around.

Romantic, fun, and just like everything else; It's what you make it.
Keep your camera close at hand to shoot the scenery on and off the train.

Have fun with it, partner. I hope all goes well.

Woot the judge let me out of jury duty today!!!! It was a drunk driving case, and because my sister is in MADD they dismissed me. I wanted to tell them I belong to D.A.M.M., drunks against mad mothers, but felt the judge wasnt in a joking mood LOL.

Cant wait to get goin on that train. I will have my camera on the ready, and will come back and let everyone know how it went travelin with a power chair. Was thinkin about keeping a journal and blogging the trip for others that might want to make an informed decision about traveling with a handicap.

I love the trains in europe! Lots of times you can sleep from one destination to another LOL. Thank you bro, and your right we can be our own travel nightmare if we wanted to be LOL.

Toot Toot!!!