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Just returned from a trip out west from Pittsburgh. Here is a report.
Capitol Limited--Pittsburgh to Chicago. First chance to experience new food prep for breakfast. Overall, probably a B or B-. Had Bob Evan's Scrambler. Son had Continental. Service good.
Empire Builder---Chicago to Portland. BEST segment of trip !! Terrific food . Service average or a bit above , but certainly acceptable. We were assigned a newly refurbished sleeper. Very nice. I LOVE the new bathroom configurations !! Much roomier. Our only disappointment was that Mt. Hood was fogged over and we could not see any of it. On time into Portland.
Starlight---Portland to Emeryville. This was the most disappointing part of the trip !! My dinner was a DISASTER !! Foolishly, I tried the catfish (instead of the salisbury steak I was going to.) The fish was just luke warm and almost RAW !! The carrots were cold and hardly cooked either. YUCK !! My son had the ravioli which looked like it came straight from a can. A D- for certain.
This train used to be my favorite. The Parlor Car was so busy , we did not get a chance to even SIT in there. I swear some people claim those soft chairs early-on and NEVER give them up !! They were NEVER empty.
On past trips, cheese and wine was brought to the sleepers for those individuals who could not find room in the Parlor Car. Well not THIS trip. We were totally forgotten !
Service was just average at best. Only about a half hour late.
Zephyr---Emeryville to Chicago. Had a deluxe BR for this segment and loved it. Food was excellent and so was the service. We enjoyed every minute. Spectacular scenery and great weather. Only about a half hour late into Chicago.
Flew home the next day to Pittsburgh.
As mentioned I really like the roomier bathrooms on the refurbished sleepers. What a difference just by "angling" the tiolet.
I am very concerned with the new food service. Although I only experienced 2 breakfasts and one dinner (FORTUNATELY), it did give me a "general" idea-----I do NOT like the idea.
First of all, slowly but surely coach passengers will realize that MOST of the meals are simply not worth the price anymore. Also, in my opinion , most first-class passengers OVER-ALL will be highly disappointed , to say the least. Surely there will be many complaints, and I hope Amtrak LISTENS.
I have offered suggestions earlier on this forum related to a sensible solution to the "dilemma." If "warm" food cannot be offered acceptably , then switch to ENTIRELY cold food service for ALL meals. I mentioned the cold food dinner tray offered to passengers on the east-bound Empire Builder from Portland. These are EXCELLENT. Serve only Continental breakfasts. Offer GOOD hoagies , wraps or club sandwiches for lunch. Nice big salads can be offered for dinner---steak , chicken, taco. Perhaps small servings of Progresso soups. Micro-waved, these are good. DO NOT attempt warm food service unless it can CONSISTANTLY be done RIGHT.
I mentioned, also , that perhaps now is the time to offer first-class passengers the OPTION of meals or NO meals----with a reduced price , naturally , for no meal service. Or perhaps the option of just buying SOME of the meals. To be honest, for me personally , I would much rather just eat from the Snack-bar menu now. I know it would not be as "healthy" but at least I may get my money's worth !!---sorry to say.
I am shocked that "regular" food service will remain on the Auto-train !! Either the Chief or Zephyr needs to be chosen instead. Afterall, the Auto-train only goes about 900 miles , as compared to over 2,000 on those two other trains. It would make sense to me.
I guess the months ahead will determine the "success" of the new food plan. I DO NOT like the idea in its PRESENT format.
I had only three meals with the new plan. My scores for them would be B , D- , C- (as compared to all A or A- with "regular" plan.)
Posts: 187 | From: Pittsburgh , PA | Registered: Apr 2001
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Please send this report to customer relations..Amtrak. If we all dislike the new meal plan and enough people let them know maybe something will be done about it.As the old saying goes" the squeekie wheel gets the oil"
Posts: 1577 | From: virginia | Registered: Jun 2005
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At the very LEAST, Amtrak should place the "traditional" service back on either the Zephyr or Chief and REMOVE it from the Auto Train. It just does not make sense to have the full service operation on a one-nite train , as compared to one of two nites.
What is management THINKING ?????
Posts: 187 | From: Pittsburgh , PA | Registered: Apr 2001
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Interesting report on your trip and especially on how dissapointing the Coast Starlight was for you. The CS used to be Amtraks premier train. I guess the Empire Builder took over that distinction. Why did Amtrak downgrade the Starlight and yes, why is their full meal service on the Auto Train which is only two meals? Something is wrong.
I would imagine the prices have not come down since diner-lite came into effect. You are right..passengers are not going to like this. I recently rode the "Canadien" and enjoyed some of the best food I ever had. I m on the Sunset and the Crescent later this year. I always look foward to my trips, but the dining portion, which should be one of the great highlights, or at least once was, is going to be a dissapointment.
Again..why? How much is Amtrak saving with this new meal service and is itworth all the negative publicity?
Posts: 176 | From: Bloomsburg Pa | Registered: Jul 2000
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talkrr, you have hit the nail on the head in my opinion. Management doesn't seem to have the ability to think. In my book they are all mental pygmys. This administration is trying to kill Amtrak in any way they can.
Posts: 1577 | From: virginia | Registered: Jun 2005
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The bottom-line is that Amtrak is NOT going to save on food service if regular passengers (like myself) ABANDON it , YES , simply because of the new food service. I know this seems "extreme" , but that is the "logic" I will now use when considering Amtrak over another form of transportation.
I realize that there ARE first-class passengers who will accept the new food service. I simply can not. As I mentioned in my previous post , either get the present situation RIGHT or "ditch" it and go with COLD food service---none of this 50/50 business. Personally, I want to KNOW what kind of food QUALITY I am going to get for my money, or NO THANKS anymore.
Presently, the food quality (with the "new system") is pretty much "hit or miss." I simply do not want to take a chance and MISS on the food service part. I am sorry. Not for "top dollar."
For my first-class dollar I expect a TOP QUALITY food service. Under this new policy , I have serious doubts Amtrak can "deliver" on a CONSISTENT basis. Because of this I must now reconsider whether Amtrak is really the right choice for my future travel.
Amtrak DOES have options:
1. Switch to total COLD food service in first-class (and see if THAT can be done to top quality.) It might actually be CHEAPER.
2. Permit first-class passengers to OPT for food service. Permit them to choose for either B, L , D , ALL or NONE and price sleepers accordingly.
To be honest, I think I can NOW get better quality from the CAFE CAR !! Why not give me that option in first-class now that a new food service policy is in place ?
3. SWITCH "traditional" food service from the Auto-train to either the Zephyr or Chief.
I understand perfectly well that something MIGHT have to be done to reduce food service costs at Amtrak---HONESTLY I do. That is not my point. My point is that TOP QUALITY food CAN be served within the new format. However, maybe "HOT" is no longer a "viable" option.
Posts: 187 | From: Pittsburgh , PA | Registered: Apr 2001
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Ah, but Auto Train is the closest thing Amtrak has to PROFIT. It must be protected. That is why "traditional" (perceived as more costly) continues on Auto Train.
-------------------- John Pawson Posts: 137 | From: Willow Grove, PA | Registered: Dec 2005
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"How much is Amtrak saving with this new meal service and is it worth all the negative publicity?"
They are not saving much when compared to the larger picture. I think the savings when fully implemented would be around $10M.
The Auto Train AND the Empire Builder will retain the old style of dining service. Course who knows how long this will last.
I was hoping that the CA Zephyr would receive a similiar upgrade like the Empire Builder got. This train really goes through some spectacular scenery. Actually, if Amtrak had a premiere coast to coast train (i.e. Capitol Limited and CA Zephyr) to match with VIA Rail's Canadian, that would be really great.
Send in your reports on the new dining to Amtrak Customer Relations. I even send a copy directly to the President of Amtrak (formerly Gunn, now Hughes).
Posts: 337 | Registered: Jun 2003
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With my trip on the Capitol and CA Zephry only six weeks away, I enjoyed your trip report. I do have a question about the new meal service. Reservations are taken for all meals at 15 minute intervals if I understand it correctly; how & where do you obtain the reservations, and are they announced or do you "show up" at the time of the reservation?
For instance, I board in Pittsburgh at 11:30 pm in sleeper, does the attendant hand me a reservation for breakfast or do I go someplace the next morning to obtain one? Seems like the reservations could overwhelm the system.
Posts: 76 | From: Steubenville, OH | Registered: Oct 2004
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Fortunately, we had only three meals under the "new" system---2 breakfasts and one dinner.
For breakfst on the Capitol and Starlight , NO reservation was required (as usual.)
The dining-steward did come around on the Starlight for our dinner reservation.
Meals on the Zephyr , luckily , were "traditional" for us----with a reservation needed for dinners only. I do not know what will happen on the Zephyr when the "switch-over" is made.
I am VERY concerned with this new food "policy." I guess only time will tell how it is received overall.
Amtrak DOES have viable options. Hopefully these will be considered.
Posts: 187 | From: Pittsburgh , PA | Registered: Apr 2001
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Auto Train meals are already different from those on "traditional" dining service. They are more like what seems to be the new plan.
Remember the new food policy is not Amtrak inspired but rather a part of the Law. Congress would seem a reasonable place to complain. (I haven't had a chance to try the new meal service yet, so I don't know whether I would complain or not.)
Posts: 28 | From: Alexandria VA 22315 | Registered: Apr 2001
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This is the true savings. The full dining car had six people, one steawrd who seated and collected money, two waiters, a cook, assistant cook and dishwasher.
Simplifed Dining uses only one cook, one waiter and one steward who now must wait table.
Now the math. 3 employees times ten crews for the just the Southwest Chief and that equals 30 full saleries. Add in the California Zephyr, Texas Eagle, City of New Orleans, Capitol Limited and all trhe others and you can see where they are saving money.
Chris
Posts: 711 | From: Santa Ana | Registered: May 2003
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