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The wife and I have a trip booked on the Sunset Limited / Texas Eagle #422 LAX-STL -- departing LAX on December 30th.
Going to celebrate the end of this horrible, horrible year on the train.
Anyway, got a text message saying that the "simplified" menu has been extended now. Originally, it was supposed to go away December 15th. We were hoping it would, but knew that would not be likely.
So expect the microwaved food into the winter, spring, and maybe forever?
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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Mr. Tabern, much as it's difficult for "experiential" riders like yourself and "the Mrs." to envision, I will be very surprised if full-service Dining returns - ever, anywhere.
I would even think it could be in jeopardy on the Auto-Train; even though Amtrak apparently can charge whatever they want for the service.
During '19, they "pushed my obscenity button" wanting $972 for a February Northbound "voyage". Taveling from Boca to home, the net saving of miles driven was 396, and no time whatever. It's two nights out "either-or" ("straight-thru" college stuff? another life).
During Jan '20, again Northbound, the rate had dropped to $679 - and I had arranged a Lunch in the Wash area after arrival. But the "Dining service"? Sorry. The Short Ribs were two miniature "hockey pucks" and a waiter coming around with two paper milk bottles of wine, and asking "Red or White" simply "don't cut it" with me.
So even if they do restore full-service Dining to trains #1 through #14, I wouldn't expect much. I think the "mees in Wash" - the Bean Counters - are looking at the cost savings resulting from the "Flex Dining" and recommending "stay with it". To restore the full-service, would take political pressure - and I think "the Lions" in Congress that "pulled that stuff" have simply moved on.
And "Amtrak Joe" is really "Corridor Joe".
yukon11 Member # 2997
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An article, titled ""Garbage Served, Garbage Generated", from Railway Age back in Jan. of 2020.
If 10% of sleeper accommodation revenue goes to meal services, should that not be enough to help offset the cost of providing and maintaining traditional dining car services? What if meals weren't free for passengers in sleepers? What about the brief experience, on the Sunset Limited, with 24 hr meal service. Could that be possible with other Amtrak trains?
I wish we could get a truly honest breakdown of Amtrak meal service costs and compare such to other Amtrak service costs.
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Gilbert B Norman:
[The Short Ribs were two miniature "hockey pucks" and a waiter coming around with two paper milk bottles of wine, and asking "Red or White" simply "don't cut it" with me.]
*********************** I'll bet the white wine wasn't "Kistler" and the red wine wasn't "Chateau Lafite Rothschild".
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