Amtrak dining and cafe service

[20th Century Rider]

Breakfast and lunch on todays Coast Starlight. Great food!

Scrambled eggs could come plain, with or without cheese, and with or without all veggies. The eggs and potatoes were both excellent.

The salad was quite good, very good flavors and good quality ingredients. Good portion for an entree salad.

Chocolate cake was good. I liked it better than the lemon cake but not as good as the cheesecake.

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That's a take! The joy of dining on a train as the world goes by!!!

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[toddinde]

I travel the Sunset Limited between Houston and LAX about once a month and go sleeping car. I don't know if you know how these long distance trains operate or not, but it takes 5 full time "on board" crews that live int the LAX area and make the entire round trip in 6 days. They would have to hire 5 employees (dishwashers) to accomplish going back to china. That would add an annual expense of $300-$400K cost. Can't see it happening in the near future.

I'm not convinced of that. That assumes that you need a dedicated dishwasher and that the existing crew can't handle the work of washing dishes which is highly automated. You put the plates and silver wear in the dishwasher, and it comes out. The Superliners always had dishwashers. In addition, there is cost savings from not having to use disposable plates and cutlery. I'm not buying it.

 

[Cal]

Oh my sunset several weeks ago they were out of multiple items and ran out further as the trip progressed. I’ve been procrastinating a trip report.

 

[marcoloco]

I'm not convinced of that. That assumes that you need a dedicated dishwasher and that the existing crew can't handle the work of washing dishes which is highly automated. You put the plates and silver wear in the dishwasher, and it comes out. The Superliners always had dishwashers. In addition, there is cost savings from not having to use disposable plates and cutlery. I'm not buying it.

I agree with you 100 percent, but there's the union to deal with and a bunch of picky regulations and BS. And your right, the existing crew could very easily handle the work. Have you ever traveled the Coast Starling southbound into LAX? They don't want to serve any passengers boading at Santa Barbara (dining car that is) They make the existing passengers make dinner reservations at the latest 5PM and sometines even start at 4:45pm, If they could move it up an hour, it would help. The train doesn't even arrive at LAX till 9PM.The crew is in such a hurry to get off, afraid they might still be working for a FEW MINUTES when the train arrives at LAX. They like to sit on there ass for at least the last hour of the trip, but ended up sitting on their ass a whole lot longer by making the passengers eat so darn early. Again, right now Amtrak is under very poor management right now.

 

[cassie225]

That’s so sad, wow!!!

 

[MARC Rider]

.The crew is in such a hurry to get off, afraid they might still be working for a FEW MINUTES when the train arrives at LAX.

This may also be a management desire not to have to pay them any more than is needed. Otherwise, they could stay on the clock serving passengers until the destination, and then stay on the clock making more money (and maybe even overtime) cleaning up and shutting down after arrival.

That may also be a reason why they chase everybody out of the sleepers on early arriving trains like the Sunset Limited into LA.

It may not be lazy workers, it could just as easily be skinfint management.

 

[TRA_Thom]

I was on the City of New Orleans yesterday, from Chicago to Champaign.
I noticed that after we left Chicago, they would call two sleepers at a time to come pick up their meal from the cafe and eat it in the SSL. They also didn’t open the cafe to coach passengers until all the sleepers had gotten their dinner.
At Champaign, I overheard one of the station staff talking to the conductor. He was surprised that there was no dining car. The conductor explained the new process, saying that this was Amtrak’s new policy for the CONO. They also said that the next NB CONO would be the last one with a dining car.

 

[Cal]

I agree with you 100 percent, but there's the union to deal with and a bunch of picky regulations and BS. And your right, the existing crew could very easily handle the work. Have you ever traveled the Coast Starling southbound into LAX? They don't want to serve any passengers boading at Santa Barbara (dining car that is) They make the existing passengers make dinner reservations at the latest 5PM and sometines even start at 4:45pm, If they could move it up an hour, it would help. The train doesn't even arrive at LAX till 9PM.The crew is in such a hurry to get off, afraid they might still be working for a FEW MINUTES when the train arrives at LAX. They like to sit on there ass for at least the last hour of the trip, but ended up sitting on their ass a whole lot longer by making the passengers eat so darn early. Again, right now Amtrak is under very poor management right now.

The starlight often arrives an hour early into LAX if not late, there’s a lot of padding there.

 

[Rizla Ronnie]

You can complain here for all the good its going to do.☺

Looks like I may have to take you up on your offer.
Three days later no reply to my polite email.
They really don't care do they ?

 

[Palmland]

At Champaign, I overheard one of the station staff talking to the conductor. He was surprised that there was no dining car. The conductor explained the new process, saying that this was Amtrak’s new policy for the CONO. They also said that the next NB CONO would be the last one with a dining car.

I wonder if the Texas Eagle will be next?

And, I thought the SSL was still on the CONO because they needed it for the CN axle count requirement. This doesn't make sense. Maybe it's short the diner just for this round trip.

 

[20th Century Rider]

I agree with you 100 percent, but there's the union to deal with and a bunch of picky regulations and BS. And your right, the existing crew could very easily handle the work. Have you ever traveled the Coast Starling southbound into LAX? They don't want to serve any passengers boading at Santa Barbara (dining car that is) They make the existing passengers make dinner reservations at the latest 5PM and sometines even start at 4:45pm, If they could move it up an hour, it would help. The train doesn't even arrive at LAX till 9PM.The crew is in such a hurry to get off, afraid they might still be working for a FEW MINUTES when the train arrives at LAX. They like to sit on there ass for at least the last hour of the trip, but ended up sitting on their ass a whole lot longer by making the passengers eat so darn early. Again, right now Amtrak is under very poor management right now.

Yup... I've experienced CS dining car staff laziness and selfishness... getting done quickly so they can sit back and relax hours before arriving at LAX... but when it comes to tipping... they certainly do have their hand extended!

 

[20th Century Rider]

I was on the City of New Orleans yesterday, from Chicago to Champaign.
I noticed that after we left Chicago, they would call two sleepers at a time to come pick up their meal from the cafe and eat it in the SSL. They also didn’t open the cafe to coach passengers until all the sleepers had gotten their dinner.
At Champaign, I overheard one of the station staff talking to the conductor. He was surprised that there was no dining car. The conductor explained the new process, saying that this was Amtrak’s new policy for the CONO. They also said that the next NB CONO would be the last one with a dining car.

Question for you TRA_Thom... was there dinner service out of Chicago? They leave at 8:05pm I believe. The Amtrak agent said they don't when I ordered Kosher meals for the trip. Your info would be kindly appreciated!

 

[tricia]

Looks like I may have to take you up on your offer.
Three days later no reply to my polite email.
They really don't care do they ?

In my experience, it can take weeks for them to reply to an email. Sometimes the reply is on-point and satistactory, sometimes not so much.

 

[saxpower]

This may also be a management desire not to have to pay them any more than is needed. Otherwise, they could stay on the clock serving passengers until the destination, and then stay on the clock making more money (and maybe even overtime) cleaning up and shutting down after arrival.

That may also be a reason why they chase everybody out of the sleepers on early arriving trains like the Sunset Limited into LA.

It may not be lazy workers, it could just as easily be skinfint management.

Some employers actually prohibit employees from working "unauthroized" overtime. If Amtrak does so, the employees are in a position where they must both close out/clean the cafe/dining car to Amtrak's standards and do so without triggering overtime. Depending on what they are specifically required to do, as well as staffing issues, they may have no choice but to close it down early in order to meet both requirements.

 

[20th Century Rider]

Some employers actually prohibit employees from working "unauthroized" overtime. If Amtrak does so, the employees are in a position where they must both close out/clean the cafe/dining car to Amtrak's standards and do so without triggering overtime. Depending on what they are specifically required to do, as well as staffing issues, they may have no choice but to close it down early in order to meet both requirements.

Again... management / policy issues go against what is best for the customer! Grrrrr!

 

[Amtrakfflyer]

In a way I hope Gardner and Co do pull the trigger get rid of more dining cars, reduce service to 3x weekly in Oct as rumored, go against Congress’s wishes, etc. Management needs to be called to the carpet on their lame, disingenuous excuses.

Congress, States and advocacy organizations need a loud and clear wake up call. Business as usual can’t go on. Things need to come to a head before it’s too late.

I wonder if getting rid of the CONO dinner came up in the latest food prep working group that still has almost a year to come out with ideas.

 

[Asher]

Looks like I may have to take you up on your offer.
Three days later no reply to my polite email.
They really don't care do they ?

We’re here for you.

 

[20th Century Rider]

In a way I hope Gardner and Co do pull the trigger get rid of more dining cars, reduce service to 3x weekly in Oct as rumored, go against Congress’s wishes, etc. Management needs to be called to the carpet on their lame, disingenuous excuses.

Congress, States and advocacy organizations need a loud and clear wake up call. Business as usual can’t go on. Things need to come to a head one way or another.

I wonder if getting rid of the CONO dinner came up in the latest food prep working group that still has almost a year to come out with ideas.

But, um, I heard from an Amtrak exec who was taking reservation calls, about a month ago, that all diners are coming back to Eastern trains, along with the restoration of full meal service!

Of course, with management being so upside down with 'what end is up?' this doesn't surprise me. The overall trend, it seems, is a consistent digression towards no Amtrak at all.

The elimination of service of an American institution is sad, frustrating, and totally unnecessary.
The elimination of Amtrak service when so important to the environment and economy...

Bad choice folks.

 

[TRA_Thom]

Question for you TRA_Thom... was there dinner service out of Chicago? They leave at 8:05pm I believe. The Amtrak agent said they don't when I ordered Kosher meals for the trip. Your info would be kindly appreciated!

I believe there was, at least 4 rooms were called to pick up their meals, which I could see (and smell) them eat in the observation car.

 

[20th Century Rider]

Thank you! It will be interesting to see if they still have the dinner or perhaps that will be cut too before my February departure. No telling with Amtrak!

 

[marcoloco]

This may also be a management desire not to have to pay them any more than is needed. Otherwise, they could stay on the clock serving passengers until the destination, and then stay on the clock making more money (and maybe even overtime) cleaning up and shutting down after arrival.

That may also be a reason why they chase everybody out of the sleepers on early arriving trains like the Sunset Limited into LA.

It may not be lazy workers, it could just as easily be skinfint management.

Yes and by the way, sleeping car passengers have the right to occupy their room till 5:35AM, many don't know this. It's an Amtrak rule. I complained about that once, and won (Train #1 Sunset Limited). As for the Southbound Coast Starlight, I mean really, they could have a 7PM seating for dinner and have everything cleaned up in plenty of time and get alot more extra business and revenue (that's what it's all about right, more income?). As I said in my last reply, the dining car crew sits around doing nothing for last hour and a half of the trip minimum, most times more than that. All the dishes are throw away.

 

[20th Century Rider]

Yes and by the way, sleeping car passengers have the right to occupy their room till 5:35AM, many don't know this. It's an Amtrak rule. I complained about that once, and won (Train #1 Sunset Limited). As for the Southbound Coast Starlight, I mean really, they could have a 7PM seating for dinner and have everything cleaned up in plenty of time and get alot more extra business and revenue (that's what it's all about right, more income?). As I said in my last reply, the dining car crew sits around doing nothing for last hour and a half of the trip minimum, most times more than that. All the dishes are throw away.

Amtrak wants to save money by pushing back service and chasing pax off early arriving trains???

Amtrak needs to be more focused on quality service for pax paying high high high and rising higher ... sleeping car prices... rather than cutting away service that it's clientele have paid so dearly for.

Ridiculous! Gimme a break!

 

[Dakota 400]

I heard from an Amtrak exec who was taking reservation calls, about a month ago, that all diners are coming back to Eastern trains, along with the restoration of full meal service!

An Amtrak executive taking reservation calls? This seems a bit unusual. Doesn't this person have anything better to do?

 

[20th Century Rider]

An Amtrak executive taking reservation calls? This seems a bit unusual. Doesn't this person have anything better to do?

He said that he was pitching in at the call center.

 

[river]

I too was on the CONO this past week from Chicago to New Orleans and back in a bedroom (in the sleeper car).

We were supposed to have FLEX dining. Not only did we NOT have a dining car either way--there was NO Amtrak food loaded onto the trains before departure for the sleeper cars either southbound or northbound.

On Southbound trip : We were offered a breakfast sandwich or a muffin for breakfast from the cafe car. For lunch we received a boxed sub, chips, and cookie from a deli in Mississippi they brought in on a stop.

Northbound several days later we departed mid afternoon and flex dining menus were personally handed out to each room by an attendant going through the sleeper as we were departing NOLA.
Well that was an OOPS! Another attendant shortly thereafter came around and said SORRY-- NO supper was loaded onto the train so we will stop and get subs from the same Mississippi deli place as before. I asked for a glass of wine for dinner with my sub. Was told it wasn't available.
For breakfast it was the same muffin or breakfast sandwich offering--which we didn't even bother with.

That's not what I wanted or planned to eat.

I paid for flex dining with a menu --which was not provided. I will plan to contact customer service about this and request a refund for food and services not provided.

Has anyone had experience with this kind of situation?