A railroading lifestyle: An ethnographic exploration of perceptions and personal experiences of Amtrak crew members

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Abstract

Worldwide inter-city passenger rail is often seen as a public indicator representing a country's economic, political, social, and even environmental success. At present, in the United States, the private automobile remains the dominate passenger transport mode, however passenger rail is an increasingly essential element in the integrated transportation network. Amtrak is by far the largest provider of intercity passenger rail service in the United States. Crew members are responsible for the safe and efficient operation of passenger trains. Little is known about these crew members. Data regarding perceptions and personal experiences from on-duty, volunteer, Amtrak crew members were collected via semi-structured in-depth interviews, questionnaires, and researcher observations. Results detail common themes regarding career benefits, drawbacks, influences on quality of life, and impacts on personal life, as reflected by the Amtrak crew members.