Amtrak dining and cafe service

[joelkfla]

On the CS today - some unique aspects in the flexible dining today. They have the flex meals plus a meat or veggie lasagna option which is completely different than the normal flexible meals - looked more like it had been prepared at a comissary and reheated - not the usual flex container. They also had the oven pride cafe car burgers and Hebrew National hot dogs available in the diner as well. The lasagna was pretty good - I should have taken a photo before eating but didn’t think too so there’s the finished container.

That looks like the standard tray that's used by a lot of frozen entrées sold in supermarkets these days. Maybe they just loaded up a bunch of those.

 

[JayPea]

Amtrak only serves 46 and I've been to or through them all. Never been to Hawaii, Alaska, South Dakota or Wyoming, the ones they don't. I hope to someday do those by other modes of transportation, just to say I've done it, but am in no hurry. I'll probably drive to SD and WY, and take cruises to HI and AK.

I managed to make the last of all fifty in August, 2018. I began 2018 with only Hawaii, Oklahoma, and Michigan left. So I flew to Hawaii in March to get away from the snow and subzero temperatures here. And in August I flew to Oklahoma City, and took the Heartland Flyer to Fort Worth ( but not before taking in a doubleheader in Oklahoma City between the OKC Dodgers and Iowa Cubs the day prior), then took the Eagle to Chicago, transferred to the Wolverine, and went on to Dearborn, where I spent a day at Greenfield Village (and could have spent another day or two) before heading back to Chicago on the Wolverine and then taking the EB to Spokane. Of the four states not currently served by Amtrak, I have ridden the rails in two of them, as the focal point of my one trip to Alaska was riding the Alaska Railroad between Anchorage and Fairbanks, and while on a road trip to Mt. Rushmore in 2015 I took the Black Hills Central tourist train between Hill City and Keystone,SD. I'd like to be able to say I've ridden the rails in all 50 states. I'm not sure how to do that, especially in Wyoming. I don't have the luxury of getting time off at short notice when the CZ detours through Wyoming.

 

[jis]

Alaska was my 49th and I made it in 2015 I think, or thereabouts anyway, over a Thanksgiving weekend extended by a few days. That is when I rode the Winter Aurora through a mighty blizzard into Fairbanks at -34F.

South Dakota was my 50th, and Rapid City was it. I did ride the Back Hill Central. I also drove across the border into Wyoming to visit the Devil's Tower, which I had always wanted to visit it ever since I saw "Close Encounters....".

Fortunately I had ridden the SFZ through Wyoming several times many moons ago (well actually the Pioneer as a part of the SFZ). I think without particularly trying, but just by chance I might have ridden the rails in all 50 too.

In Hawaii I rode the Lahaina, Kaanapali and Pacific Sugar Train in Maui, many moons ago too, sometime in the early '90s, so that is covered. I was at a Standards Board Meeting at a resort in Kaanapali.

 

[ScottR]

I am missing only Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont.

Yes…those are the same three for me!

 

[ScottR]

Yes…those are the same three for me!

What’s a way to see them on the train..Downeaster? Via Rail?

 

[Bob Dylan]

Vermont is my only miss, I hope to visit there once the Vermonter,Ethan Allen and Adirondack are running again from NYP.

 

[jis]

What’s a way to see them on the train..Downeaster? Via Rail?

Maine and New Hampshire on the Downeaster and Vermont, naturally, on the Vermonter, or Ethan Allen. No VIA Rail anywhere in those states.

 

[Bob Dylan]

What’s a way to see them on the train..Downeaster? Via Rail?

You can do Maine and New Hamphsire on the Downeaster out of Boston.

For Vermont you can ride the Vermonter or Ethan Allen or do a Circle trip by riding the Adirondack North( once it's Operating again!), crossing Lake Champlain on the Ferry from Port Kent NY to Burlington Vermont, ( May-Oct only)spending the night,and then taking the Train back to NYP.

 

[tim49424]

What’s a way to see them on the train..Downeaster? Via Rail?

I did Maine and New Hampshire on the Downeaster in 2016. Vermont was covered on the Ethan Allen in 2017.

 

[crescent-zephyr]

I'm not sure how to do that, especially in Wyoming. I don't have the luxury of getting time off at short notice when the CZ detours through Wyoming.

You have made great travel choices! (I love both Greenfield Village and the Black Hills Central Railroad in South Dakota!).

Union Pacific used to do excursions each Summer from Denver to Cheyenne for the Frontier Days special. - that’s how I got Wyoming in. Sadly they are not currently operating but hopefully it will happen again one day. The train always sold out at like $400 a ticket so there’s certainly a market!

 

[pennyk]

MODERATOR NOTE: please keep the discussion on the topic of Amtrak Dining. Thank you for your cooperation.

 

[CTANut]

I managed to make the last of all fifty in August, 2018. I began 2018 with only Hawaii, Oklahoma, and Michigan left. So I flew to Hawaii in March to get away from the snow and subzero temperatures here. And in August I flew to Oklahoma City, and took the Heartland Flyer to Fort Worth ( but not before taking in a doubleheader in Oklahoma City between the OKC Dodgers and Iowa Cubs the day prior), then took the Eagle to Chicago, transferred to the Wolverine, and went on to Dearborn, where I spent a day at Greenfield Village (and could have spent another day or two) before heading back to Chicago on the Wolverine and then taking the EB to Spokane. Of the four states not currently served by Amtrak, I have ridden the rails in two of them, as the focal point of my one trip to Alaska was riding the Alaska Railroad between Anchorage and Fairbanks, and while on a road trip to Mt. Rushmore in 2015 I took the Black Hills Central tourist train between Hill City and Keystone,SD. I'd like to be able to say I've ridden the rails in all 50 states. I'm not sure how to do that, especially in Wyoming. I don't have the luxury of getting time off at short notice when the CZ detours through Wyoming.

You can ride on a wyoming train here.
https://terrybisonranch.com/list-of-activities/

 

[me_little_me]

Traditional dining will definitely be back by July

That's what they said in May. The "Center of Excellence" told me that - ON THE DAY THEY DELAYED IT!

But we can hope can't we? And if we can't hope, we can dream. And if we can't dream, we can fantasize.

 

[me_little_me]

The problem with an ADA-only car is that it adds an entire car to the consist for what could be an empty car.

Not necessarily. With foldable seats and dual-use features, they can make them usable for anyone if not needed for ADA. They could also allow more semi-ADA people i.e. those without wheelchairs or walkers but who could use help (bad knees, age, etc) to use them when those fully qualifying don't fill the car.

 

[zephyr17]

That's what they said in May. The "Center of Excellence" told me that - ON THE DAY THEY DELAYED IT!

But we can hope can't we? And if we can't hope, we can dream. And if we can't dream, we can fantasize.

It is due back starting tomorrow. Since they threw a fairly big media event it was part of, I am pretty confident.

 

[user 14106]

That's what they said in May. The "Center of Excellence" told me that - ON THE DAY THEY DELAYED IT!

But we can hope can't we? And if we can't hope, we can dream. And if we can't dream, we can fantasize.

They didn’t “delay” it. May 21 was an estimated date set months and months ago. Anyone who booked a trip in late May or early June banking on that did so at their own peril. They were starting to say on various occasions that sometime in June was the likely timetable and they probably wouldn’t be able to make the return to daily service. If dining is absolutely essential to your travel waiting until they announced the plan was the safe move.

 

[Cal]

It is due back starting tomorrow. Since they threw a fairly big media event it was part of, I am pretty confident.

This is why I'm confident.

 

[Way2Kewl]

Who will be the first to post a pic of their steak (anything on the traditional menu) on this thread and put this to rest?

I'm with Cal, My glass if half full and I expect to see traditional dining for my upcoming up trip. Please! I can't take another Flex! :-(
Seeing is reassurance

 

[tim49424]

I’m looking forward to seeing the reports starting tomorrow!

 

[Way2Kewl]

I’m looking forward to seeing the reports starting tomorrow!

Super Ditto...
Figured any dedicated Amtrak Forum member who's live will post just after breakfast on any of the trains out of the gate... it will be anticipation from that time on until the first confirmation...

 

[Cal]

If sleeper prices were lower, I'd book for a round trip from Fullerton to Gallup tomorrow just to try it.

 

[Way2Kewl]

Well, I think some people are going to be disappointed next week. The start of traditional dining is June 23rd, but it will be on trains departing from the crew base that day. That crew and trainset will have to turn before traditional dining is resumed on the trip going the opposite direction.

I just checked it through the Schedules tab, which will give services, and you can see the start of traditional dining by train there. So, according to Amtrak.com, traditional dining will return as follows:
1 June 26th
2 June 23rd

3 June 26th
4 June 23rd

5 June 23rd
6 June 26th

7 June 26th
8 June 23rd

11 June 25th corrected per Cal's post
14 June 23rd corrected per Cal's post

While any of our fellow fans can go straight to the diner and ask the Lead as soon as they get checked in … Looks like it’s going to come down to Coast Starlight as the possible first sighting…

Here’s the possible first meals:
#2 - leaves at 10P (no meals tomorrow)
#4 - leaves LAX 6P (Starts with Dinner)
#8 - leaves SEA at 4P (Dinner)
#5 - leaves CHI 2P (Starts with Dinner (I think)
#14 - departure at 10A (Starts with Lunch)

Insert pictures below!

 

[niemi24s]

Who will be the first to post a pic of their steak . . .

Who will be the first to grumble about the lack of a proper doily under the flower vase?

 

[Way2Kewl]

thought doilies were gone and upside down Amtrak Coffee Cup with Pens stuck in a circle around the flower were in.

 

[Brian Battuello]

Very much looking forward to the pictures and reviews of the new food.

It's starting to look like I might be on the California Zephyr sometime in late July. Only Chicago to Denver.

Would be a real shame if I sleep through Denver and have to turn back at Winter Park...