Reality Check

By Harriet Barovick, Autumn DeLeon, Michelle Derrow, Aisha Durham, Sanders Goodrich, Tam Gray, Lina Lofaro, Tim Padgett and Reed Tucker

NEXT STOP, EUPHORIA Amtrak has a new employee handbook, part of its effort to overhaul service. Expect:

--Hygiene: "Body odor can result in the loss of otherwise happy customers"

--Empathy: "[Use this phrase] 'I understand why you'd be ___'"

--Narrative: "Tell guests about the route, scenery and points of interest"

--Mating: "Waiters: Introduce strangers seated together...'break the ice'"

--Haute cuisine: "[Chefs should] live up to the high expectations guests hold for onboard dining"