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I have read almost all the travelogues regarding the Southwest Chief. I have read that if a person is in a sleeper car, there is coffee, soft drinks and snacks always available. Several people had written that they were even given free drink coupons! When I rode the Southwest Chief several months ago, none of these services were offered. Has it been discontinued, since most of the travelogues I had read were from years ago, or were the refreshments on the 2nd level? I was in room 13 on the lower level and my car attendant was not very amicable/helpful and didn't mention anything to me if these were available. I will be riding the Southwest Chief again in December so just wanted to know this time! Thanks.
Posts: 3 | Registered: Oct 2006
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Soft drinks and free drink coupons I believe are long gone from the amenties the sleepers provide. The Builder may still offer some extras. These days two bottles of water greet you in your room, and there is coffee and juice available all day.
Posts: 176 | From: Bloomsburg Pa | Registered: Jul 2000
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Coffee and juice are available and that is it.(Located at the coffee station at the top of the stairs on the Chief.) The soda and snacks are from a time long gone. As graynt stated there will be bottled water awaiting you in your room. If you are in need of additional bottle or two you may need to ask the attendant for it as it is not always auto-replenished.
If you are taking the Chief to Chicago and connecting with another train (being it another sleeper or coach) you are entitled to use of the Metropolitan Lounge. In the lounge Coffee, juice and soda is available. Also available are mini-muffins in the morning and packages of snacks (pretzels and chips) later in the day.
Posts: 460 | From: North Central CT | Registered: May 2004
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quote:Originally posted by Navillus68: I was in room 13 on the lower level and my car attendant was not very amicable/helpful and didn't mention anything to me if these were available.
From the way your post is worded, I presume that you didn't venture upstairs during your trip -- which is where you'll find (as others have pointed out) the "complimentary" refreshments that Amtrak currently offers. Sorry, no snacks or soft drinks, unless you're willing to pay for them separately in the lounge car.
However, there are more than a few lazy sleeping car attendants out there who will somehow "forget" to make coffee, replenish the water and juice supply, restock the restrooms with toilet paper, or open the exit door at station stops unless you -- the paying passenger -- firmly request that they do so.
If you don't see it, ask.
Posts: 793 | Registered: Mar 2002
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No, I didn't venture upstairs...I am handicapped and couldn't navigate the stairs. I had to have my meals in my room, which didn't make the car attendant very happy. When I travel in December, I have reserved the Accessible Bedroom, which means another round of in-room meals. Hopefully I will have a nicer car attendant. Anybody ever travel in the Accessible Bedroom before???
Posts: 3 | Registered: Oct 2006
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From the (two) times I have traveled in Superliner sleeper accommodations (May '06 and July '04), what I observed as being available was coffee, juice (at least in the mornings), bottled water, and (normally) ice. These refreshments are normally kept at the beverage station at the top of the stairs.
Since you are, from your post, restricted to the accessible bedroom, in order to obtain these extras you will need to make use of the attendant call button. Don't be shy; that is his/her job. I'm sure you won't be pushy or demanding, but there is absolutely no reason why you shouldn't feel free to push that button and tell your attendant, "When you get a minute, I'd love a cup of fresh coffee with cream."
Apparently you had an attendant who was less than enthusiastic about serving meals on your last trip. One thing that might induce more cheerful service is the old standby, the tip. In a railroad dining car, I always recommend that people tip as they would for the same meal in a restaurant, regardless of whether they are in a sleeping car (with prepaid meals) or coach (pay as you go). When you eat in your room your attendant is your waiter; tipping him appropriately may encourage him to regard his duty as a pleasure rather than a chore.
Tips for serving meals should be regarded as separate from a tip for sleeping car porter service. When we took our big trip in May, I encouraged the other adults to tip the attendant a minimum of five dollars per room per night. Since you will be requiring a bit more attention than the average passenger, you might consider increasing that to seven or ten. If you give your attendant his tip for the day when he makes up your room at night, he will know he isn't going to be stiffed for this trip (the IRS expects that train attendants and waiters will receive tips, and makes them pay taxes on tips whether they actually get a tip or not) and may put him in a more cheerful frame of mind the next day.
-------------------- --------Eric H. Bowen
Stop by my website: Streamliner Schedules - Historic timetables of the great trains of the past! Posts: 413 | From: Houston, Texas | Registered: Mar 2006
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