1. "Enhanced" sleeper service with full attendant service, freshly cooked meals included in a full service diner, wine tastings, complimentary snacks, games, portable entertainment devices, and exclusive lounge and dining cars. This would apparently be somewhat similar to existing sleeper service, with a few minor extras.
2. A "basic" or budget sleeper service. Same rooms but you pay extra for meals in the "cafe/lounge" and you turn your own bed down. One might describe this as coach-level service with a bed.
3. A high-end luxury sleeper service with its own dining car and lounge, and luxury amenities.
I'm not sure how this would work in the real world. Each class apparently would have their own diners and lounges, which seems problematic - and labor intensive. The "basic" sleepers apparently would share lounge and food services with coach passengers. But its interesting to see Amtrak looking at different options. Perhaps they've gotten a lot of requests for a budget minded sleeper service with no frills. I might go for that on those occasions when I travel by myself.
Posts: 2649 | From: California's Monterey Peninsula | Registered: Dec 2000
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The budget sleeper sounds much like the old slumber coach. You didn't put your own bed down but food was extra. You ate either in the lounge or diner but paid your way. Also there was no coffee, newspaper etc and certainly no shower.
Posts: 1577 | From: virginia | Registered: Jun 2005
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Last week my wife was called by Amtrak and asked to take the survey.
They were very specific that she was to take the survey (not me, but then they probably read some of my prior posts on railforum and didn't really want to hear about my Bagpipes in the Parlour ideas. Ah, as they say, you can lead a pony to water, but....). Before offering her $5 to complete the online survey, they asked her several questions to verify she was the Mrs. Zephyr who took the SWC from LAX to Kansas City on such 'n such date. She apparently passed the identity test, and they gave her a super-secret password to take the online survey.
As has been discussed here and on other forums, the survey asked your interest in different levels of service and at different price ranges. Most notable to me was the various degrees of seperation of meal service from the various sleeper categories.
You gotta wonder what's with this survey. Could it be there's some thought being given to regularly attaching some privately-run Grandluxe-type sleepers and diner to selected LD's (as is being done later this year on a limited basis). This would provide the high-end accomodations described in the survey, which Amtrak does not offer now. The more budget-oriented sleeper classes described in the survey are similar to existing services, but without the three meals in the diner automatically included in the price.
Posts: 445 | Registered: May 2002
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It appears that both Messrs. Zephyr and Toy are skeptical about any results of this survey,; suffice to say, so am I.
Likely what has occurred is that, along with any other publicly funded agency, Amtrak is obligated to "study things'. Further, there is "conveniently" no one "in house' qualified to conduct any such study, so therefore it is time to 'bring in the consultants'. When the results are submitted, now it is time for management to start playing the 'why we can't do this' charade.
So for Amtrak's (AKA yours and mine, even only if taxpayers) $$$, they now have a study establishing 'we've looked into various options for our long distance services' - and that will be that.
Posts: 9975 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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Right on Mr. Norman. Since this is a government funded study I believe the next step will be appointing a committee to appoint a committee to study the results of the study which will naturally need more study and another committee to oversee the comittee that appointed the first committee. (many a truth is said in jest) If you think I am kidding just follow along how congress does ( or doesn't )do things. And Zephyr keep the ponies handy as they will be needed to pull the wagon full of excuses as to why nothing can be done.
Posts: 1577 | From: virginia | Registered: Jun 2005
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Having read many and participated in a few over the years I have one conclusion about government funded surveys and studies.
They are a way to look like you are doing something so that you are able to avoid really doing anything.
Posts: 2808 | From: Olive Branch MS | Registered: Nov 2002
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It is ironic that Amtrak did no such studies before deciding to change the food service on long distance trains. Ditto for their program to rebuild diners and lounges into multi-purpose cars. You can thank NARP for convincing them to run a prototype to gauge customer reaction before deciding on a final design.
Posts: 2649 | From: California's Monterey Peninsula | Registered: Dec 2000
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quote:Originally posted by vline: Wasn't the Dining car/food service on Amtrak deliberately down graded by the Fed's?
Congress has mandated that Amtrak cut its food service costs, but the method of doing so has been determined by Amtrak.
Posts: 2649 | From: California's Monterey Peninsula | Registered: Dec 2000
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Would Sleeper coaches be like the old sleepers with upper and lower berth's? Think "Some Like it Hot." Where Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis escape Chicago to Miami by Train. For a smaller charge you'd have a place to rest your head. Of course with many stops in the middle of the night I hope they put in alarm clocks. Would also be nice when the trains are sitting on the sideing waiting for a CSX frieght to lumber by. I think college students and limited fund train lovers would be interested in. Most literature about long distant rail travel was 1st class riders how did the riders back in coach enjoy there accomodations? Would any of the frequent riders here like this option rather then squeezing into a seat for 9 to 12 hours ?
Posts: 516 | From: New Haven, CT USA | Registered: Feb 2005
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I am possibly not quite as skeptical as others. I think the idea has merit.
Mr. Kummant, if I recall, made mention of different levels of service when he rode the Coast Starlight, a while back. In the thread regarding the Grand Luxe cars addeded to long distance trains, it seems like a possibly valid idea. An addtional $1000 for the Grand Luxe addendum is alot of money. However, having different levels of service and different prices seems like something to try. I do like having dining areas apart from the main dining car and furher amenities would be nice. It would be interesting to see a "test market" develop on one of the LD trains.
Richard
Posts: 1909 | From: Santa Rosa | Registered: Jan 2004
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I don't think adding Grand Luxe cars to the back of a conventional AMTRAK train would work, since the Grand Luxe cars would STILL be subject to the same timekeeping delays as the AMTRAK train they are attached to, and if there are mechanical problems with the AMTRAK locos, the Grande Luxe cars will have the same problems. It would not be like it was when the AOE had its own schedule slot and its own power to operate the trains.......
Posts: 2428 | From: Grayling, MI | Registered: Mar 2002
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