Amtrak Dining and Cafe Service discussion 2024 H2

[blueman271]

The Crescent got Flex Plus, aka Flex-With-A-Flower, instead. They did get the Viewliner diner back to put the flowers in, though.

I understand what the Crescent got. What I’m saying is wasn’t the ask last year for money to restore the Viewliner diner and traditional dining back to the Crescent? I vaguely remember Jis posting about that.

 

[Cal]

I understand what the Crescent got. What I’m saying is wasn’t the ask last year for money to restore the Viewliner diner and traditional dining back to the Crescent? I vaguely remember Jis posting about that.

Skimming what I believe is the FY2024 grant request, it was not in there. I know there were rumors of traditional dining coming to the Crescent, but it wasn't ever published anywhere unlike this year for the Eagle.

 

[blueman271]

Skimming what I believe is the FY2024 grant request, it was not in there. I know there were rumors of traditional dining coming to the Crescent, but it wasn't ever published anywhere unlike this year for the Eagle.

I stand corrected. Thank you.

 

[west point]

Can anyone explain why Amtrak claims it will take funds to just start regular dining back on routes that it has not yet restored? Not the ordinary expensing of operating it.

 

[Cal]

Can anyone explain why Amtrak claims it will take funds to just start regular dining back on routes that it has not yet restored? Not the ordinary expensing of operating it.

I think it's because when they dropped to flex dining, the expenses dropped and so the ordinary expenses are now for flex, not traditional dining. To restore traditional dining it would then take additional funding.

 

[joelkfla]

Can anyone explain why Amtrak claims it will take funds to just start regular dining back on routes that it has not yet restored? Not the ordinary expensing of operating it.

Maybe the cost of hiring and training chefs?

 

[mediaman]

Does anyone have pictures showing flex plus dining on the Crescent?

 

[JamesWhitcombRiley]

Does anyone have pictures showing flex plus dining on the Crescent?

September 18, 2024: https://www.amtraktrains.com/threads/crescent-discussion-2023-q4-2024.86130/page-11#post-1050987

Looks pretty modern, perhaps even spicy. One is vegan protein. My opinion is irrelevant, but I wondered what people thought of that.

 

[MsCarolyn]

The Continental Breakfast is probably the most kid-friendly of the flex dining options, as there are several choices one can make within the Continental Breakfast offerings. Nothing very kid-friendly among the lunch/dinner choices, though. Parents/grandparents accompanying children on a LD route w/Flex Dining should look over the online menu before the trip, and be prepared to either buy from the Cafe Car options or bring food with them for any kids they know are picky eaters.

I don’t know if this is a fluke or not, but on one occasion I asked my SCA if he could bring something from the cafe car instead of the flexible dining menu, and he was absolutely fine with that. I was able to enjoy Mac and Cheese in my roomette, and no, I was not charged for it. It counted as my meal.

 

[pennyk]

To continue the discussion of Amtrak Dining and Cafe service, please post your comments in the "current" thread on that topic:

https://www.amtraktrains.com/thread...e-service-discussion-2025.88366/#post-1058526

Thank you for your cooperation and participation.