Car attendant
Encyclopedia
A car attendant is a railroad employee placed in charge of a single coach, sleeping car
, or lounge car
on a medium-to-long-distance passenger train.
Their duties vary according to the type of car, but most typically include managing passenger seat assignments (in order to avoid separating parties of two or more), assisting the conductor
with tickets, making announcements, opening and closing doors, assisting passengers with boarding and detraining, monitoring the safe operation of onboard systems, and generally ensuring the safe operation of the car. In addition, sleeping car attendants (formerly called "Pullman porters") typically convert the individual accommodations from "day" mode to "night" mode, rather than leaving that to the passengers, and set out coffee and juice for their passengers each morning. (Sleeping car attendants, however, typically have fewer passengers to serve than coach attendants). Lounge car attendants typically operate food and beverage service, sell souvenirs and other non-food items, operate onboard motion picture service, and keep tables clean.
On scenic trains, it is not unusual for car attendants to double as tour guides.
Full-service dining cars normally have a steward, supervising several waiters and a kitchen staff, rather than a single attendant; with the car attendants, these people form the onboard service crew, often supervised by a Chief of Onboard Services or "Train Boss," separate from and subordinate to the conductor.
Sleeping car
The sleeping car or sleeper is a railway/railroad passenger car that can accommodate all its passengers in beds of one kind or another, primarily for the purpose of making nighttime travel more restful. The first such cars saw sporadic use on American railroads in the 1830s and could be configured...
, or lounge car
Lounge car
A lounge car is a type of passenger car on a train, where riders can purchase food and drinks. The car may feature large windows and comfortable seating to create a relaxing diversion from standard coach or dining options...
on a medium-to-long-distance passenger train.
Their duties vary according to the type of car, but most typically include managing passenger seat assignments (in order to avoid separating parties of two or more), assisting the conductor
Conductor (transportation)
A conductor is a member of a railway train's crew that is responsible for operational and safety duties that do not involve the actual operation of the train. The title of conductor is most associated with railway operations in North America, but the role of conductor is common to railways...
with tickets, making announcements, opening and closing doors, assisting passengers with boarding and detraining, monitoring the safe operation of onboard systems, and generally ensuring the safe operation of the car. In addition, sleeping car attendants (formerly called "Pullman porters") typically convert the individual accommodations from "day" mode to "night" mode, rather than leaving that to the passengers, and set out coffee and juice for their passengers each morning. (Sleeping car attendants, however, typically have fewer passengers to serve than coach attendants). Lounge car attendants typically operate food and beverage service, sell souvenirs and other non-food items, operate onboard motion picture service, and keep tables clean.
On scenic trains, it is not unusual for car attendants to double as tour guides.
Full-service dining cars normally have a steward, supervising several waiters and a kitchen staff, rather than a single attendant; with the car attendants, these people form the onboard service crew, often supervised by a Chief of Onboard Services or "Train Boss," separate from and subordinate to the conductor.