Amtrak dining and cafe service

[west point]

What we are forgetting is that these services are at present meeting artificial constricted capacity. Since I have no crystal ball what each route will have in actual unrestrained passenger loads determines what "non revenue" cars are on each route.

 

[JoshP]

Years ago, the Carolinian did have that, and it was wonderful. The cafe car was next to the BC car, and the attendant would come through with a cold drinks cart but would also get you coffee if you wanted.

I haven’t been on the Carolinian for a while, but I’m sure that service is long gone.

By the way, it isn’t the distance that’s a problem for me—I routinely walk about 8,000 steps a day on ground that isn’t moving—it’s the wobbliness and trying to carry hot coffee and keep my balance, especially where there’s no seat back to hold on to easily (like that open space where the luggage goes).

I also don’t want to sound like a spoiled prima donna—I don’t mind a walk through two cars—I am simply just terrified of stumbling and spilling coffee on someone. I’ve stopped bothering with the free coffee for now—it’s not worth the stress.

I rode Carolinian many times way back in 2011 and I always ride in business class from CLT to NYP and I always was greed by attendant and it was brilliant, just like airline. I guess it's no more, is it?

 

[stevie]

They brought back traditional dining in the west. When I had it a year ago on the Builder it was great.

Over the past year, I've had Traditional Dining on the Starlight (once) and the Zephyr (at least eight times). All have been top-notch experiences, from the food to the service.

 

[MARC Rider]

Years ago, the Carolinian did have that, and it was wonderful. The cafe car was next to the BC car, and the attendant would come through with a cold drinks cart but would also get you coffee if you wanted.

I haven’t been on the Carolinian for a while, but I’m sure that service is long gone.

The one problem with that service on the Carolinian is that you can only get your free drink from the cart when it's coming through. Otherwise, you have to go to the cafe car and buy drinks like everyone else. But at least the cafe car is located right next to the business class car.

 

[Mailliw]

I've ridden the Carolinian and all I had to do get my free drinks was tell the attendant I was from BC. There was no cart service. This was in 2021.

 

[Mystic River Dragon]

I've ridden the Carolinian and all I had to do get my free drinks was tell the attendant I was from BC. There was no cart service. This was in 2021.

That’s a shame.

I rode Carolinian many times way back in 2011 and I always ride in business class from CLT to NYP and I always was greed by attendant and it was brilliant, just like airline. I guess it's no more, is it?

Yes, like many things (in hotels as well as on trains) that made travel feel a bit more classy and elegant, it seems to have disappeared from this utilitarian world we now live in.

 

[Devil's Advocate]

Yes, like many things (in hotels as well as on trains) that made travel feel a bit more classy and elegant, it seems to have disappeared from this utilitarian world we now live in.

They still serve drinks from carts on planes but I agree that modern hotels offer wannabe Howard Johnson service at Ritz Carlton prices. I guess they figure if travelers are willing to overpay for Marwood and clean their own rooms for AirheadBnB they'll put up with anything at any price (and apparently they're right).

 

[OBS]

The BC attendant on the Carolinian was supported in part by the State of NC if I'm not mistaken. Not sure when it ended.

 

[jis]

Amtrak has talked about cart service on certain short-medium distance services, but of course that is yet to happen.

I think cart service at least in BC is eminently reasonable. Unfortunately the Amtrak hard product at present is not designed for providing such easily. For example in Europe and Asia in trains/cars designed for cart service there is a small cart storage and preparation area set aside at one end of such cars. Having to drag a cart all the way from wherever it has to be stored is not particularly conducive to providing such service, but still it can be done. Many British TOCs manage to pull it off even on two car dinky DMUs on the West Highland Line in Scotland at least upto Crianlarich where the lines to Oban and Mallaig split.

 

[Devil's Advocate]

When Amtrak offered at-seat meal service on LD trains the options were limited but the reviews were positive and the OBS told me they usually sold out with strong demand. In addition to getting a meal at your seat it gave coach travelers a rare chance to purchase other items from their seat like cocktails or amenity kits. Seems like such an obvious and practical benefit for Amtrak and travelers but for whatever reason the service went away and never came back again.

 

[crescent-zephyr]

When Amtrak offered at-seat meal service on LD trains the options were limited but the reviews were positive and the OBS told me they usually sold out with strong demand. In addition to getting a meal at your seat it gave coach travelers a rare chance to purchase other items from their seat like cocktails or amenity kits. Seems like such an obvious and practical benefit for Amtrak and travelers but for whatever reason the service went away and never came back again.

It’s rare to see the coach attendants do much other than assign seats, which is something the conductor / AC could easily do.

Having coach attendants take and deliver at seat meals was such an obviously good use of their time.

 

[MARC Rider]

I've ridden the Carolinian and all I had to do get my free drinks was tell the attendant I was from BC. There was no cart service. This was in 2021.

My last ride on the Carolinian with car service was in 2019.

 

[NYP2NFL01]

In 1998, The Carolinian Business Class was termed "The Carolina Club". In addition to free soft drinks, free movies were shown on TV monitors scattered throughout the car. No cart service though!

 

[allanorn]

Talking of making sense, I’ve always wondered why the cafe car isn’t put next to Business Class on the Regionals.

Essentially, to get your free cup of coffee, you are paying extra to sit at least two cars away from the cafe car and having to walk back with your coffee through a moving train, trying to carry that box and not drop it or bump into anyone.

I loved the split BC/cafe car the couple of times I was lucky enough to be in one. Walk a few steps without having to move between cars, get your coffee, and walk a few steps back to your seat.

I am too used to the Surflner Business class where there the conductors hand out the snack packs and a drink after departing a station, and at-least pre-pandemic there was a coffee station where they would put extra bottles of water. I think the coffee pot resided in the cab car, but don't quote me on that.

I don't know if I'd trust the coffee once I was an hour away from LAX or SAN, but at least it was an option.

 

[crescent-zephyr]

I am too used to the Surflner Business class where there the conductors hand out the snack packs and a drink after departing a station, and at-least pre-pandemic there was a coffee station where they would put extra bottles of water. I think the coffee pot resided in the cab car, but don't quote me on that.

I don't know if I'd trust the coffee once I was an hour away from LAX or SAN, but at least it was an option.

Last time I rode the Surfliner BC bottled water was not an option. You could buy it from the cafe, but couldn’t get any free in BC. You could get a lukewarm can of aha sparkling water, but no ice was offered.

 

[trimetbusfan]

Last time I rode the Surfliner BC bottled water was not an option. You could buy it from the cafe, but couldn’t get any free in BC. You could get a lukewarm can of aha sparkling water, but no ice was offered.

Interesting. When I rode the surfliner in Early January ice and water was offered.

 

[Cal]

where there the conductors

Technically they're train attendants, same feeling on our end though. I do believe I've been able to have cold drinks on the Surfliner on past trips.

 

[Maverickstation]

Back to Amtrak's Dining Service, here is an excellent video of a recent rip on the Empire Builder traveling the full route heading towards Chicago. The video shows the entire experience, including all the meals that they enjoyed in the Dining Car, and as the train was running very late into Chicago, they were served "Amstew" as an extra meal.



Ken

 

[pennyk]

I can confirm that traditional dining is back on the Silver Star. Because the train was extremely late leaving Orlando, I did not get to experience dinner (hopefully on my return). I had breakfast this morning. All tables were set for 4 passengers (and there were flowers). Although I was early and the car was not crowded, another passenger was seated with me (much to his disappointment, I think). The food, in my opinion, was much better than flex meals, although I do not think the server was a good as the servers from years ago (which I expected since this server is virtually brand new).

A positive from flex dining was that we were able to get a full bottle of ice tea upon request, Now the ice tea is poured into plastic cups. I am on my second refill now since I really like ice tea.

 

[pennyk]

The SCA just came around to take lunch orders and reservations. The SCA took the orders of passengers even if they choose to eat in the dining car. That is new. It puts more work on the SCA, but since there is only one attendant in the dining car, this makes sense (and larger tip for SCA).

 

[NYP2NFL01]

The Amtrak website is now displaying the traditional dining menu for the Silver Star:

https://www.amtrak.com/content/dam/...s/routes/Silver-Star-Dining-Car-Menu-0323.pdf

 

[dlagrua]

Back to Amtrak's Dining Service, here is an excellent video of a recent rip on the Empire Builder traveling the full route heading towards Chicago. The video shows the entire experience, including all the meals that they enjoyed in the Dining Car, and as the train was running very late into Chicago, they were served "Amstew" as an extra meal.



Ken

Nice video and clearly explains what one can expect on Amtrak LD travel. I would like to suggest that this be pinned on the guest forum so that prospective LD travelers can have most of their questions answered about the onboard experience with the sleepers and the dining.

 

[jis]

Today we were served limited items from the traditional menu in an additional dinner served in the room as 92 was running very late.

 

[Seaboarder3023]

The Amtrak website is now displaying the traditional dining menu for the Silver Star:

https://www.amtrak.com/content/dam/...s/routes/Silver-Star-Dining-Car-Menu-0323.pdf

The only differences I can find are the removal of the Breakfast Quesadilla and the dinner appetizers.

 

[TEREB]

I can confirm that traditional dining is back on the Silver Star. Because the train was extremely late leaving Orlando, I did not get to experience dinner (hopefully on my return). I had breakfast this morning. All tables were set for 4 passengers (and there were flowers). Although I was early and the car was not crowded, another passenger was seated with me (much to his disappointment, I think). The food, in my opinion, was much better than flex meals, although I do not think the server was a good as the servers from years ago (which I expected since this server is virtually brand new).

A positive from flex dining was that we were able to get a full bottle of ice tea upon request, Now the ice tea is poured into plastic cups. I am on my second refill now since I really like ice tea.

Penny, was it real ice tea or the bottled tea. And, was lemon slices provided?