The SunRail bosses are at a loss to explain why there was
a ridership decline in August.
Wish we had a good answer, but we noticed that the ridership
decline corresponds with SunRail’s decision to layoff the platform Ambassadors
who were hired to answer questions and assist SunRail riders. In addition,
Ambassadors helped ensure safety and enforce rules – such as no-smoking on
platforms -- at SunRail stations.
All the riders we know say the Ambassadors -- who wore
black monogrammed golf shirts -- were extremely helpful. SunRail bosses don’t think Ambassadors were needed anymore. Now riders are on their own.
Unsure which platform to wait on to catch the train to
Longwood?
Too bad.
Having problems getting a SunRail ticket from a vending machine?
So sorry.
Who knows, maybe a SunRail boss will drop by to answer your
questions.
Well, I miss the ambassadors,too ... or, at least, I miss the good ones. When I started at Altamonte Station, we had a really good one who knew his stuff and was helpful. He disappeared. I don't know what happened. It could be he left because he knew it was just a "temp job" and he was offered something better. If so, I sure don't blame him. TEMP JOBS don't inspire loyalty. Now I see folks with problems depending on the rest of us who may be able to help. We do our best. We are usually successful ... but is this the image SunRail wants to project? Well, I guess it's less expensive. Further, when the equipment on the platform doesn't work and someone needs to get where they need to go, what are they supposed to do? Who can they talk to? How can they let you know they've made a good faith effort to purchase a ticket? Are all the rest of us supposed to line up behind him or her to assure you that we've witnessed his/her efforts? Not good. Since you guys developed this scenario for your customers, I can only assume you have an answer. I'm eager to hear it so I can share it with these unfortunates and they can get to their destination. I personally have seen folks who could not purchase tickets or, if they had SunRail cards, the cards didn’t work (they didn’t have "auto load" which, as near as I can tell, is the ONLY failsafe measure to keep one's SunRail card going".
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