posted
Recently completed a trip from Florida to Reno.
I took train 98 from West Palm Beach to DC and connected to train 29 same day with Chicago as my destination. I took train 98 as it was scheduled to arrive around 6:30am so figured to make the 3:50 pm departure of train 29.
I had a bedroom b which was in ok shape. 3 viewliners on this train and one had no ac so they moved people around. A/C problems on viewliners seem to me to be a common problem. My attendent never introduced himself but did take care of the room. At dinner there were 2 waiters and 1 person serving drinks. It went pretty smooth. Our waiter said "eat the Country Fried Steak at your own risk, the Pasta looked strange, don't touch the Cod but the rest of the food is ok". I had the chicken which was fine.
I was not looking forward to getting up at 5ish. Told the attendent to wake me 45 minutes prior to DC. I rolled over and looked out the window at 7:10am and we were in Richmond so a late train worked out for me.
Train 29 left on time and I had bedroom e which was new looking and very nice. It had a fixed chair, new carpet and clean windows. Dinner on this train was a disaster. The every fifteen minute seating did not work here at all. A 6:45 seating was going to be at least 8pm so I picked up a sandwich and grabbed a piece of cake to go on my way back from the lounge car. We didn't arrive in Chicago till after lunch (pedestrian/freight train accident near South Bend). Once again a late train worked for me as I was staying overnight in Chicago and my room wouldn't have been ready at 8:30am.
My last leg was on the CZ which left on time. I had bedroom c. Old car and it was pretty dirty. Next car was really nice looking. All new everything with the "wood" look like the Empire Builder which I will ride on my way home in September. The top bunk would not lock down (squeaking at every bump) and the curtain frame on door was missing velcro. Having read this forum for quite a while I came prepared. I had velcro and fixed the door and an umbrella propped at an angle solved the squeaking top bunk. Didn't need my duct tape for anything.
The lounge car was also redone with tables down by the coach end. Dinner the first night was very slow. My 6:30 seating started at 7 and didn't end till 8:30. Staff was complaining the whole trip. I got down for breakfast at 6:30 am and was told it would be an hour. I passed. I was heading to the cafe to get something and spotted my attendent. (Last night he lost his Palm Pilot which I found and returned) I said I was glad I found his Palm Pilot and mentioned that I couldn't get into breakfast. He interrupted me and said "I will have your breakfast in 5 minutes, what would you like?" I headed back to my room and enjoyed the omlet, hash browns and sausage! Only the croissant was soggy. Hard to reheat thoses and keep crisp.
It was a nice trip and we were ontime until after Salt Lake City. Arrived in Reno around 11:30 which again worked for me as my hotel room was ready.
The food in the new dining program is generally fine and the service is pretty much the same as always. The fifteen minute seatings with a 30-45 break around 6:30 didn't work well at all in my opinion. Everything was late but it was always late when the diner ran with more people so I just dealt with it. I noticed (CZ) more people than normal eating in their rooms.
Good attendents on leg 2 and 3 made for nice trips. Help with luggage, presetting time to make up room (and showing up on time) was nice. Silver Service seems to always be lacking in service but since that is my way in and out of Florida I just roll with it. I am pretty self sufficient.
All bedrooms faced forward which was nice because the "fixed chairs" are not very comfortable).
Looking forward to my fall trip back to Florida.
Ray
royaltrain Member # 622
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I usually travel in the bedrooms (formally deluxe) and on my most recent trip last December, I noticed that the chair is now firmly attached to the floor. Rather inconvenient as I like to move the chair around to suit my needs. I do seem to recall that when Superliners first came out the deluxe bedroom chair was fixed to the floor but would revolve. I believe the current version of these chairs do not revolve. I wonder why Amtrak went back to the fixed chair? Possibly because they don't want chairs flying through the air in the event of a derailment? I know when Via has had a derailment, they have been criticized for all the furniture that becomes airborne. All of Via's bedrooms have movable chairs as well as the chairs in the dining car and the Park car. Notwithstanding the safety issue, I still prefer chairs that you can move.
stlboomer Member # 2028
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I usually ride in the bedrooms too, and was interested in Ray's mention of the now-fixed chairs. I'm sure safety is the reason. Take a look at a few of the reports on Amtrak derailments on the NTSB website. These reports (with pictures) are very alarming, and almost always point out this issue. Yes, the chairs are awkward and uncomfortable, but the thought of rolling around in a bedroom with one is far worse.
sojourner Member # 3134
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I have to agree, Ray, that the Florida trains are some of the weakest in the system. I take them because I must when I go down in January, but it's getting so I'm considering flying again.
Esp after seeing the price hike for the sleeperettes to FL starting JA. Over $300 for one night, base sleeperette price--it's way too much!
Ray S Member # 3175
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I used Guest Rewards points but agree that I too may fly next time with high prices and low service!
Ray
notelvis Member # 3071
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quote:Originally posted by Ray S: I used Guest Rewards points but agree that I too may fly next time with high prices and low service!
Ray
RE the Silver Service trains - it's almost to the point that I would fly Charlotte to BWI rather than risk the timekeeping of any train which has to travel CSX between Rocky Mount and Richmond......it's as my current signature says.
I've spent many hours curled up with a good book, magazine, or whatever I can find on motionless Amtrak trains between these two cities in the past decade.
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