Amtrak Now Charging Excess Baggage Fee
By Tim Jimenez
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Starting today, Amtrak is doing what the airlines have been doing for years by charging passengers excess baggage fees.
There are signs on ticket kiosks and throughout 30th Street station explaining the policy. Others, like Kim heading to Baltimore, got a note in her inbox.
"They sent an additional email yesterday because it starts today," she tells KYW Newsradio, "and I'm saying 'ok, I don't know what it's all about.' But I don't get why they're even moving in that direction."
That direction is tacking on $20 dollar fees.
"I think they saw an opportunity to make money," she adds.
Passengers are allowed two bags up to 50 pounds each, and then two other smaller bags up to 25 pounds each. Anything more than that quantity or weight is where the penalty comes in.
Kathleen was heading to Harrisburg Thursday morning as she does once a month. With her were two big bags, and for the first time she's making sure they're not too heavy:
"I do think I'm okay. I'm pretty sure they're not more than 50 pounds. I think, I hope!"
Amtrak spokesman Craig Schulz says they've had this rule for a while:
"This policy has actually been in place for quite some time, but we have been, admittedly, somewhat lackadaisical in our enforcement of it."
He says it's all about space on trains and safety:
"It's rather infrequent that people show up on the train carrying more than four carry-on bags, that's not easy to do quite frankly. But when they do it's a major inconvenience. The trains are full and everyone has a bag or two."