Riding the rails: Holiday travel ramps up at Carbondale station

CARBONDALE, Ill. (KBSI) – We are fewer than 24 hours from the tryptophan, stuffing, green bean casserole and, of course, the plethora of pies.

The holiday season is one that is not simplistic in nature, as shopping and booking travel plans — not to mention the crowds — can seem a bit daunting.

Teronso Whiterspoon, an Amtrak employee at the Carbondale station, says some customers can be frustrated with the entire process.

Witherspoon says his job is to make the process as seamless as possible.

“To turn your frown into a smile,” he said on Wednesday afternoon.

Witherspoon says Thanksgiving tickets sold out approximately two weeks ago at the Carbondale station.

Open seats are a rarity.

“So, every now and then a seat might pop up to purchase if somebody didn’t show or somebody didn’t want to travel,” said Witherspoon.

Thanksgiving day traveler, Tina Crose, made a last-minute decision to return to California for Thanksgiving, but not before alternate lodging.

“Here until 7:30 in the morning when my train gets here,” she said.

But, Crose has plenty in which to be thankful.

Added Crose: “I’m thankful for my family and my husband and my kids. They’ve been really good and helped me through all this.”