Amtrak dining and cafe service

[NYP2NFL01]

The Box was the Best part of "Fresh and Contemporary" Meals!( that's what they were called when first introduced. Flex Meals came later after COVID ramped up IINM.)

I respectfully disagree. In this Amtrak Media Center release dated 9/13/19, “flexible dining experience for sleeper car customers” is used throughout.

Amtrak Introduces Enhanced Menu and Flexible Dining Experience on Five Routes - Amtrak Media

 

[Hans627]

So what is the latest on food service for the Auto Train? We have reservations on Thursday of this week (12/8/22).

Thanks!

 

[zephyr17]

The Box was the Best part of "Fresh and Contemporary" Meals!( that's what they were called when first introduced. Flex Meals came later after COVID ramped up IINM.)

I respectfully disagree. In this Amtrak Media Center release dated 9/13/19, “flexible dining experience for sleeper car customers” is used throughout.

Amtrak Introduces Enhanced Menu and Flexible Dining Experience on Five Routes - Amtrak Media

Well, you both are sort of right. Flex was introduced to the Eastern trains pre-COVID as a cost saving measure by Anderson (despite Amtrak's protestations that somehow "the millennials" wanted terrible reheated sodium bombs). Flex was extended to Western trains as something of a COVID measure.

 

[Rasputin]

When we travelled on the Lake Shore in May 2019, I believe we were engaged in contemporary dining. Flexible dining came later that year as indicated by the press release. (Unless there were three iterations of this dining - contemporary, something else, and finally flexible.)

 

[Steve4031]

I wish the term, flexible dining, could be permanently eliminated.

 

[fdaley]

If I am remembering correctly, "contemporary" was the term used when dining service was killed and replaced with cold, boxed meals on the Lake Shore and Capitol, which happened on 6/1/18. "Flexible" was a sort of rebranding that was applied when the concept was extended to the Crescent and Silver Meteor, which happened at the end of September 2019, by which time the offerings had been expanded to include some hot meals that were attractively presented in their freezer tubs.

After the pandemic hit, "flexible" meals and service were offered systemwide, which was described as a temporary measure. Mercifully, dining service was restored sometime last year (?) on the western trains except for the Texas Eagle, which seems to have been permanently downgraded.

 

[MARC Rider]

terrible reheated sodium bombs

Some of the flex meals, are, indeed of poor quality, but people should keep in mind that for years the "traditional dining" (except for the grilled steaks) has been reheated food. I also suspect that traditional dining, like almost all commercially prepared food, is also full of "sodium bombs." Not to mention fats and sugar, too.

 

[Palmland]

So what is the latest on food service for the Auto Train? We have reservations on Thursday of this week (12/8/22).

Thanks!

I'm assuming you are in a sleeper. It is full service dining in the dining car, also known as traditional dining. This is the Auto Train menu. One caveat, if the departure is delayed there may be only one seating for dinner with meals for others delivered to your room.

If you are in coach there is a limited menu for purchase in the cafe car that services the coaches.

 

[jis]

I respectfully disagree. In this Amtrak Media Center release dated 9/13/19, “flexible dining experience for sleeper car customers” is used throughout.

Amtrak Introduces Enhanced Menu and Flexible Dining Experience on Five Routes - Amtrak Media

What exactly do you respectfully disagree with? In 2019 Flex was introduced on 5 Eastern trains as is stated in the article that you referenced. The Western trains continued with traditional dining until Covid happened. That is when they changed to Flex Meals too.

 

[Sidney]

When we travelled on the Lake Shore in May 2019, I believe we were engaged in contemporary dining. Flexible dining came later that year as indicated by the press release. (Unless there were three iterations of this dining - contemporary, something else, and finally flexible.)

Flex dining came to the Lake Shore and Capitol Ltd in June 2018. Because of the overwhelming popularity and nothing but kudos to Mr. Anderson for introducing this vastly improved dining experience it was expanded to all the Eastern trains and the Texas Eagle. (By the way,in case anybody didn't know,that was sarcasm)

 

[MARC Rider]

Flex dining came to the Lake Shore and Capitol Ltd in June 2018. Because of the overwhelming popularity and nothing but kudos to Mr. Anderson for introducing this vastly improved dining experience it was expanded to all the Eastern trains and the Texas Eagle. (By the way,in case anybody didn't know,that was sarcasm)

The Texas Eagle had full traditional dining in 2019. (I know, I rode on it.) I think it went to flex dining as a cost-cutting measure during the Covid-related ridership crash, and the traditional dining wasn't restored when the rest of the western trains had it restored.

 

[jis]

Flex dining came to the Lake Shore and Capitol Ltd in June 2018. Because of the overwhelming popularity and nothing but kudos to Mr. Anderson for introducing this vastly improved dining experience it was expanded to all the Eastern trains and the Texas Eagle. (By the way,in case anybody didn't know,that was sarcasm)

Sarcasm notwithstanding, that is not the entire story of what happened. It all started with the delays in the delivery of Viewliner Diners from CAF.

The Heritage Diners came upto a point where they were due for a very major overhaul, and Amtrak decided not to spend that kind of money on them for what they then believed was just a few months of additional service. This led to both the Star and LSL losing Diners. The Star at that point lost dining service altogether. LSL got a truncated Dining service served out of the Amfleet II Lounge/Dinette.

These over a period of time were variously called Contemporary Dining and Flex Dining, with appropriate incompetently done marketing hype attached, generally blaming the whole thing on Millennial's alleged awful taste, while carefully hiding the real reason - which was not enough serviceable Diners available. In parallel there was an exercise afoot to meet the Mica induced goal of removing F&B losses, leading to the spread of Flex to all Eastern trains.

Meanwhile the Viewliner deliveries got delayed for years making the situation more and more precarious, until when things were approaching breaking point, the Viewliner Diners finally arrived. But by then the Mica induced move towards Flex was in full swing and all Eastern trains had gotten Flex Dining.

And then for some unknown reason (well actually it was a decision to not spend money doing basic maintenance and inspection since Flex could be served out of Amfleet II Lounges I suspect) Amtrak parked 7 of the brand new Diners so that even as they restored Dining Cars to single level trains as the much ballyhooed Sleeper Lounges, it became necessary to withdraw them from one, and this time they chose the Crescent. But since Flex Dining was in place, that was not a problem since that could be served out of an Amfleet II lounge/ Dinette as it originally was designed to be served.

Strange are the ways of Amtrak!

 

[user 14106]

Back in October I got the pasta meal and the braised beef meal on the Cardinal - obviously microwaved, or terribly abused by the "cook". both looked like dog food. And, I had no option but to eat in my cell.
Of all the current flex meals, I recommend the salmon entree. Had that for both meals on the Crescent between Charlottesville and New Orleans.

The crescent is the train I’ve most commonly heard trip reports of flex meals microwaved.

 

[user 14106]

Sarcasm notwithstanding, that is not the entire story of what happened. It all started with the delays in the delivery of Viewliner Diners from CAF.

The Heritage Diners came upto a point where they were due for a very major overhaul, and Amtrak decided not to spend that kind of money on them for what they then believed was just a few months of additional service. This led to both the Star and LSL losing Diners. The Star at that point lost dining service altogether. LSL got a truncated Dining service served out of the Amfleet II Lounge/Dinette.

These over a period of time were various called Contemporary Dining and the Flex Dining, with appropriate incompetently done marketing hype attached, generally blaming the whole thing on Millennial's alleged awful taste, while carefully hiding the real reason - which was not enough serviceable Diners available. In parallel there was an exercise afoot to meet the Mica induced goal of removing F&B losses, leading to the spread of Flex to all Eastern trains.

Meanwhile the Viewliner deliveries got delayed for years making the situation more and more precarious, until when things were approaching breaking point, the Viewliner Diners finally arrived. But by then the Mica induced move towards Flex was in full swing and all Eastern trains had gotten Flex Dining.

And then for some unknown reason (well actually it was a decision to not spend money doing basic maintenance and inspection since Flex could be served out of Amfleet II Lounges I suspect) Amtrak parked 7 of the brand new Diners so that even as they restored Dining Cars to single level trains as the much ballyhooed Sleeper Lounges, it became necessary to withdraw them from one, and this time they chose the Crescent. But since Flex Dining was in place, that was not a problem since that could be served out of an Amfleet II lounge/ Dinette as it originally was designed to be served.

Strange are the ways of Amtrak!

Seems like those 7 were probably stored before the pandemic since theyve basically been running with the same number for a while. I wonder what the reasoning was for the shift from the crescent to the Star or if it was just changing management preferences. If I’m remembering before Covid it was Meteor, Crescent, and Lake Shore with the V2s but then when Covid came they pulled them off the Crescent and the combined Meteor- Star once a day alternating train consist had a diner (so essentially the Star got one here.) and then when they went back to normal daily service of all trains instead of restoring it to the Crescent the Star got a diner at its expense.

 

[jis]

Seems like those 7 were probably stored before the pandemic since theyve basically been running with the same number for a while. I wonder what the reasoning was for the shift from the crescent to the Star or if it was just changing management preferences. If I’m remembering before Covid it was Meteor, Crescent, and Lake Shore with the V2s but then when Covid came they pulled them off the Crescent and the combined Meteor- Star once a day alternating train consist had a diner (so essentially the Star got one here.) and then when they went back to normal daily service of all trains instead of restoring it to the Crescent the Star got a diner at its expense.

Maybe they were thinking ahead about being able to restore traditional dining to a single route with a single crew base rather than spreading themselves too thin. I suppose not having to turn a Diner in NOL may have been a consideration.

 

[zephyr17]

I lucked out a few years ago on the Crescent. Had a Viewliner II diner with full traditional dining service.

 

[Palmland]

I suspect the Star has more sleeper passengers over the entire route than the Crescent. And the diner is no longer needed for dinner northbound from Atlanta with its later schedule. This may have been factors in the Star getting the diner rather than the Crescent.

Now if there was the ability to turn the diner (and a sleeper) in Atlanta then same day turn would be possible and free up a diner. That may have been enough for both trains to have one.

 

[jis]

I suspect the Star has more sleeper passengers over the entire route than the Crescent. And the diner is no longer needed for dinner northbound from Atlanta with its later schedule. This may have been factors in the Star getting the diner rather than the Crescent.

Now if there was the ability to turn the diner (and a sleeper) in Atlanta then same day turn would be possible and free up a diner. That may have been enough for both trains to have one.

Or they could just get the brand new mothballed Diners out of their cocoons and then there would be more than enough even to put Diners on the Cardinal, in addition to the Crescent.

 

[Hans627]

I'm assuming you are in a sleeper. It is full service dining in the dining car, also known as traditional dining. This is the Auto Train menu. One caveat, if the departure is delayed there may be only one seating for dinner with meals for others delivered to your room.

If you are in coach there is a limited menu for purchase in the cafe car that services the coaches.

Question answered. Thank you!

 

[Amtrak709]

I suspect the Star has more sleeper passengers over the entire route than the Crescent. And the diner is no longer needed for dinner northbound from Atlanta with its later schedule. This may have been factors in the Star getting the diner rather than the Crescent.

Now if there was the ability to turn the diner (and a sleeper) in Atlanta then same day turn would be possible and free up a diner. That may have been enough for both trains to have one.

Your assessment is probably correct. Having said that, there are still some passengers--like me--who board in Anniston AL that would applaud the return of a diner and full service dining on the Crescent. I recognize I am only one passenger.

 

[NYP2NFL01]

What exactly do you respectfully disagree with? In 2019 Flex was introduced on 5 Eastern trains as is stated in the article that you referenced. The Western trains continued with traditional dining until Covid happened. That is when they changed to Flex Meals too.

That "Flex Meals came later after COVID ramped up". My point in linking the Amtrak Press Release was to show that Amtrak used the term "Flexible Dining" well before the pandemic began. I was unaware of the "Fresh and contemporary" cold meals served on the Lake Shore Limited. So, I learned something as well.

 

[NYP2NFL01]

I hope this is not off-topic. The YouTube Amtrak Couple “Grounded Life Travel”, just posted a new video highlighting their Maple Leaf trans-border travel to Toronto. It seems that Via Rail does not honor Amtrak’s Business Class perks, such as complimentary soft drinks.

 

[jis]

I hope this is not off-topic. The YouTube Amtrak Couple “Grounded Life Travel”, just posted a new video highlighting their Maple Leaf trans-border travel to Toronto. It seems that Via Rail does not honor Amtrak’s Business Class perks, such as complimentary soft drinks.

VIA also does not charge extra fare for traveling in the Business Class on the Maple Leaf in Canada, well it charges $1 additional IIRC. This has always been the case. Nothing new there. In Canada it is a VIA train, so they have no reason to honor anything from Amtrak. Even the food served in the Cafe is different from Amtrak.

 

[zephyr17]

I hope this is not off-topic. The YouTube Amtrak Couple “Grounded Life Travel”, just posted a new video highlighting their Maple Leaf trans-border travel to Toronto. It seems that Via Rail does not honor Amtrak’s Business Class perks, such as complimentary soft drinks.

Yes, and they never have.

A seat in the Business Class car is only $1 on VIA 97/98 and it isn't considered true VIA Business Class. The $1 is really just so ReserVIA has something to differentiate it by. And it isn't an Amtrak train in Canada. It is a wholly VIA operation except for the hardware.

On the bright side of not getting a free coke, they do have the BC/cafe restroom open, at least southbound. It somehow mysteriously fails when the Amtrak cafe attendant boards at Niagara Falls.

 

[jiml]

I like the Grounded Life videos as a rule, however they said their arrival inspection "took about 15 minutes". Having done this trip many times, that seems pretty optimistic - perhaps "spun" to improve the experience? Perhaps things have improved since the resumption of the service. They did comment that they waited on the train until their car was summoned, which would be a new experience for me. Previously it was "everybody off" and line up on the platform with your luggage regardless of the weather. Some real world confirmation of changes by anyone having done the trip recently would be helpful.