Amtrak dining and cafe service

[Cal]

What was the standard dining car crew complement on western trains prior to Covid? Was it LSA, 2 SA, chef, and FSS?

What’s an FSS?

 

[joelkfla]

What’s an FSS?

I think it's Food Service Specialist, i.e. a kitchen worker who is not a chef.

 

[Railroad Bill]

Lets move this discussion back to Amtrak dining. There are other threads regarding masks and Covid cases where this conversation can take place. Thanks

 

[disney1990]

If you are in 1st class, on the Auto Train, will they bring your dinner to your room?

 

[Cal]

If you are in 1st class, on the Auto Train, will they bring your dinner to your room?

Yes

 

[OlympianHiawatha]

If you are in 1st class, on the Auto Train, will they bring your dinner to your room?

They should as that was standard practice (upon request) on other LD trains, at least before the C-19 business kicked in.

 

[Bob Dylan]

If you are in 1st class, on the Auto Train, will they bring your dinner to your room?

That's part of the Sleeping Car Attendants duties! Remember they will be serving lots of Passengers so try to arrange a time for delivery that fits their and your Schedule, and don't forget to tip for good service

 

[cassie225]

So what do you do for bad service?

 

[Cal]

So what do you do for bad service?

Don’t tip, and if it’s especially horrendous you can report

 

[20th Century Rider]

Don’t tip, and if it’s especially horrendous you can report

Most reviews I've read say that either the attendants are super friendly and helpful, or at the other extreme. I do agree and have experienced both. The worst have included hostility, refusal to bring meals, and even scolding and arrogance... and beyond. And I do report them. On the other side are those who will come into your room and set your table for you... with kindness and enthusiasm. Those folks enjoy their jobs... please tip them well... tipping provides well deserved appreciation and encouragement.

 

[Cal]

Most reviews I've read say that either the attendants are super friendly and helpful, or at the other extreme. I do agree and have experienced both. The worst have included hostility, refusal to bring meals, and even scolding and arrogance... and beyond. And I do report them. On the other side are those who will come into your room and set your table for you... with kindness and enthusiasm. Those folks enjoy their jobs... please tip them well... tipping provides well deserved appreciation and encouragement.

I’ve experienced some very average SCAs. They’ll do something if we ask but nothing more.

 

[20th Century Rider]

I’ve experienced some very average SCAs. They’ll do something if we ask but nothing more.

Many are like that... which to me is below the line. Minimally any attendant should ask you about an approximate time to turn down your bed. Many times I've dozed off in the late evening... only to wake up at midnight to find I need to make the bed myself; there is always a conductor on duty who can make the bed; usually in the transition car or lounge. But I would never think of tipping that attendant.

 

[Cal]

Many are like that... which to me is below the line. Minimally any attendant should ask you about an approximate time to turn down your bed. Many times I've dozed off in the late evening... only to wake up at midnight to find I need to make the bed myself; there is always a conductor on duty who can make the bed; usually in the transition car or lounge. But I would never think of tipping that attendant.

I make the bed anyway, but I get your point.

 

[Bob Dylan]

Many are like that... which to me is below the line. Minimally any attendant should ask you about an approximate time to turn down your bed. Many times I've dozed off in the late evening... only to wake up at midnight to find I need to make the bed myself; there is always a conductor on duty who can make the bed; usually in the transition car or lounge. But I would never think of tipping that attendant.

Conductors don't make beds, that's the OBS job!

 

[jis]

Conductors don't make beds, that's the OBS job!

Indeed! Asking a Conductor to make a bed will result in much disappointment usually.

I usually have the SCA make up the bed in the upper berth, and just use it whenever I want, leaving the seats available for use whenever I want. There are times when I stay in the seat until late at night and in the bed late in the morning. This way it all works out well. Of course on Superliners it is a bit of an early coffin experience, but hey, you can't win 'em all

 

[Bob Dylan]

Indeed! Asking a Conductor to make a bed will result in much disappointment usually.

I usually have the SCA make up the bed in the upper berth, and just use it whenever I want, leaving the seats available for use whenever I want. There are times when I stay in the seat until late at night and in the bed late in the morning. This way it all works out well. Of course on Superliners it is a bit of an early coffin experience, but hey, you can;t win 'em all

Totally agree about Viewliner Roomettes, but when by myself in Superliner Roomettes,I avoid the Coffin like the plague!

 

[jis]

Totally agree about Viewliner Roomettes, but when by myself in Superliner Roomettes,I avoid the Coffin like the plague!

It is just a tradeoff between convenience of one sort vs. convenience of the other sort. In Superliners sometimes I have also had them make up the bed on the lower soon after I board and leave it as is for the entire journey, if I am feeling particularly non-coffinish for the trip. I am pretty comfortable sitting Indian style on the bed

 

[20th Century Rider]

I make the bed anyway, but I get your point.

In every experience I've had over the years... when the conductor is the only one available to assist with a problem occurring at night... when the attendants are clocked out and getting needed rest, they have always obliged. I've also seen the night manager... or whatever the title is for night service... make beds of passengers getting on during the night and upgrading with payment when they board.

 

[crescent-zephyr]

Indeed! Asking a Conductor to make a bed will result in much disappointment usually.

Once when I was the only passenger in the Transdorm and my SCA was MIA one of the dining car servers made my bed. I would have made it myself but there was no bedding in the upper berth so she had to grab some from another room.

 

[Bob Dylan]

Once when I was the only passenger in the Transdorm and my SCA was MIA one of the dining car servers made my bed. I would have made it myself but there was no bedding in the upper berth so she had to grab some from another room.

During the RIF on Amtrak, some of the Senior OBS working the Texas Eagle in positions not usually their Regular gigs, helped out in the Diner, the Sleeping Car and the Coaches.

My SCA on my first trip on Amtrak this year was normally an LSA on the Zephyr and helped the One LSA in the Diner and Cafe( CCC), and the Coach attendant was a Chef on the Eagle Route and helped out by heating Sleeping Car Passengers meals and also helping to Deliver Meals to those that didn't want to eat in the Diner.

The Union probably wasn't amused along with the Slacker OBS types, but they did a great job by teaming up under difficult circumstances.

Amtrak is currently working their OBS to death by sending out Understaffed Trains that are Full/SOLD OUT!

 

[cassie225]

I would have liked my lower bed with the seats together to stretch out but no one offered and they almost ran down the hallway by my roomette that by the time I heard them they were gone, I turned on the attendant light but got attention very late. My food was handed to me in a bag , very rushed, so if something was missing, too bad for me. I think I might try megabus, at least I won’t expect anything.

 

[Cal]

I would have liked my lower bed with the seats together to stretch out but no one offered and they almost ran down the hallway by my roomette that by the time I heard them they were gone, I turned on the attendant light but got attention very late. My food was handed to me in a bag , very rushed, so if something was missing, too bad for me. I think I might try megabus, at least I won’t expect anything.

The food is always delivered in a bag.

 

[cassie225]

That’s ok, but it was rushed to me in a bag, before I could check it or ask was my cup with ice, they were gone. I can tell when it’s like here you go and don’t ask me any questions

 

[user 14106]

This is my prediction for further revamp of LD dining besides the western trains and what’s coming. Amtrak will continue to run a separate dining and cafe car only on the Lake Shore Limited, Silver Meteor, and Silver Star with those trains receiving a more traditional dining car type experience with traditional communal table service dining - possibly attempting to staff it with just two employees instead of the three that VL2 diners previously did - the current VL2 diners deployed to those trains will remain in traditional dining car configurations to serve those trains. Amtrak will then announce a revamp of flexible dining that could be something like the original cross country cafe concept that will combine cafe service and sleeper meal service and possibly a return to some onboard preparation of some items staffed with a cook and LSA and would utilize the CCC on Superliner trains and a new single level CCC like car using the currently stored and unused VL2 diners modified for that purpose and replace current split Amfleet cars. This concept will be used on the Texas eagle, City of New Orleans, capitol limited, Cardinal, and Crescent. That’s my theory - feel free to poke holes in it!

 

[jis]

This is my prediction for further revamp of LD dining besides the western trains and what’s coming. Amtrak will continue to run a separate dining and cafe car only on the Lake Shore Limited, Silver Meteor, and Silver Star with those trains receiving a more traditional dining car type experience with traditional communal table service dining - possibly attempting to staff it with just two employees instead of the three that VL2 diners previously did - the current VL2 diners deployed to those trains will remain in traditional dining car configurations to serve those trains. Amtrak will then announce a revamp of flexible dining that could be something like the original cross country cafe concept that will combine cafe service and sleeper meal service and possibly a return to some onboard preparation of some items staffed with a cook and LSA and would utilize the CCC on Superliner trains and a new single level CCC like car using the currently stored and unused VL2 diners modified for that purpose and replace current split Amfleet cars. This concept will be used on the Texas eagle, City of New Orleans, capitol limited, Cardinal, and Crescent. That’s my theory - feel free to poke holes in it!

This seems quite plausible to me.