City of New Orleans (train) discussion

zephyr17 · Sep 16, 2024

Traveller said:
City of New Orleans - Will they serve dinner?

The CONO departure time for leaving Chicago on the 18 September has changed. It was 8:05pm but is now brought forward to 7:05pm.

As it is earlier, will they serve dinner immediately it leaves Union station or not at all?

Thanks for any insight.

Edit: Are flex meals served in the diner/cafe car or only in the passenger's room?

It has been posted here that the CONO typically runs with a Sightseer Lounge and without a Diner or Diner/Lounge. Since those don't have convection ovens, the "Flex" menu on the CONO is the same as the cafe menu. You can see that for yourself:
https://www.amtrak.com/content/dam/...-of-New-Orleans-Flexible-Dining-Menu-0823.pdf

I don't know how the service is handled, but I would think the SCA just gets your cafe food for you.

Traveller · Sep 16, 2024

zephyr17 said:
It has been posted here that the CONO typically runs with a Sightseer Lounge and without a Diner or Diner/Lounge. Since those don't have convection ovens, the "Flex" menu on the CONO is the same as the cafe menu. You can see that for yourself:
https://www.amtrak.com/content/dam/...-of-New-Orleans-Flexible-Dining-Menu-0823.pdf

I don't know how the service is handled, but I would think the SCA just gets your cafe food for you.

Thanks zephyr17

chadamfleetrailfan · Sep 18, 2024

I've been noticing that it has changed as well and now watch the railcam it passes earlier for it now as well.

Any reason for the hour earlier departure? I'm assuming trackwork down the line?

Cal · Sep 19, 2024

chadamfleetrailfan said:
Any reason for the hour earlier departure? I'm assuming trackwork down the line?

I just assumed it was the schedule change after re-negotiations with the host railroad to improve OTP.

Traveller · Sep 19, 2024

CONO into Jackson MS 2 hours late due to various reasons including leaving late from CHI

Steve4031 · Sep 19, 2024

I just booked a round trip on the City of New Orleans for next week. Departing on Thursday and returning on Saturday.

There is an alert in the app where my ticket is displayed advising of the earlier departure from Chicago. 7:05 vs 8:05. Train 58 departs New Orleans at 12:45 versus 1:45. Not sure where the track work occurs.

I will review the food service when I do my trip report. Hopefully, it will not be as bad as the report upthread.

01piglet_patinas · Oct 11, 2024

Steve4031 said:
I just booked a round trip on the City of New Orleans for next week. Departing on Thursday and returning on Saturday.

There is an alert in the app where my ticket is displayed advising of the earlier departure from Chicago. 7:05 vs 8:05. Train 58 departs New Orleans at 12:45 versus 1:45. Not sure where the track work occurs.

I will review the food service when I do my trip report. Hopefully, it will not be as bad as the report upthread.

I arrived on Oct 6 from CHI & the SCA will bring food to your room or you can eat in the observation car-either way the cafe food is nuked & not good - grilled cheese was awful - angus burger was over nuked & bread roll was hard. I must say the staff was friendly, although sometimes it was hard to find our room attendant.

City of New Orleans (train) discussion

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