Amtrak dining and cafe service

[fillyjonk]

I did notice changes on the entrees.

The plant-based Enchiladas entree has been replaced by Thai Red Curry Street Noodles with Plant Based Meatballs. The Sesame Glazed Salmon has been replaced by Roasted Atlantic Salmon & Seared Shrimp. And the Penne Pasta & Meatballs is now Baked Ziti & Meatballs; I don't know whether that last one is actually a change or just a rename.

I enjoyed the Enchiladas and the old salmon dish; I hope the replacements also please me.

the pasta dish is different. I traveled up on May 11 and back on May 27th. Got the pasta both times. On the way up it was bigger, fewer meatballs (IIRC) and ridged pointy pasta (penne); on the way back there was more sauce and cheese, the meatballs seemed smaller, and the pasta were shorter, blunt-edged tubes (so, ziti, I guess).

It was okay, but definitely not in the league with the dearly departed flat iron steak.

The Texas Eagle between MIN and BNL is the train I take and it seems like no one cares about the SAS to CHI run of it, seems like we're always gonna be understaffed (there was apparently only a conductor, a car attendant - maybe the same guy for sleepers and coaches?, and one food-services employee on the whole train. The food-services guy pleaded with people to be patient as he was the only one on staff for both sleeper car meals and selling cafe snacks), we're not getting the SSL back, and we're stuck with flex meals.

And yet, a space in the sleeper costs a good bit more than it did in the before-times. (Everything in this sad old world is worse now that covid has been (and still is) a thing)

 

[neroden]

Membership of RPA designee is almost written into the regulation, not quite, but almost. And of course I don't know who RPA will designate officially for sure. So this cannot exactly run away from us completely, or well at least there is reason to be optimistic.

I can't confirm for sure who the official rep is, but I believe it is Madison Butler, *who was a chef, and also designed IT stuff for restaurants* before working at RPA. They are going to have the right attitude. Whether Amtrak listens or not, who knows.

 

[jis]

I can't confirm for sure who the official rep is, but I believe it is Madison Butler, *who was a chef, and also designed IT stuff for restaurants* before working at RPA. They are going to have the right attitude. Whether Amtrak listens or not, who knows.

Yes. Madi is the Rep from RPA.

 

[saxpower]

First class on planes = unlimited drinks (including alcohol).

So people who fly first class and then take Amtrak will be surprised.

Then again, with what airline crew deal with (likely not helped by alcohol), free unlimited alcoholic drinks may be asking for trouble. I'm not saying don't serve alcohol, or not to provide free drinks with meals... but unlimited may be asking for trouble.

 

[Rasputin]

Then again, with what airline crew deal with (likely not helped by alcohol), free unlimited alcoholic drinks may be asking for trouble. I'm not saying don't serve alcohol, or not to provide free drinks with meals... but unlimited may be asking for trouble.

I have seen drunks on trains (worse than snakes on planes). It is not to be recommended. Unlimited beverages are also a sure sign that someone is going to pee the bed sooner or late. Everything in moderation.

 

[trimetbusfan]

I have seen drunks on trains (worse than snakes on planes). It is not to be recommended. Unlimited beverages are also a sure sign that someone is going to pee the bed sooner or late. Everything in moderation.

Just on my last trip on the EB the crew had to kick off a pax that got very intoxicated in a town in the middle of nowhere. (Not even at an Amtrak Station..)

 

[TheCrescent]

Then again, with what airline crew deal with (likely not helped by alcohol), free unlimited alcoholic drinks may be asking for trouble. I'm not saying don't serve alcohol, or not to provide free drinks with meals... but unlimited may be asking for trouble.

Fair point but on a plane I am usually offered a drink before takeoff and then once (or multiple times) after the plane is at cruising altitude.

It would be nice to be able to have a drink when I first board the train and am settled in my sleeping car room, instead of having to wait a few hours for a drink to be given at dinner.

And, no, I can’t even go to the cafe car to buy a drink since the cafe car is closed when the train leaves its originating station, and for a while after that.

 

[crescent-zephyr]

Then again, with what airline crew deal with (likely not helped by alcohol), free unlimited alcoholic drinks may be asking for trouble. I'm not saying don't serve alcohol, or not to provide free drinks with meals... but unlimited may be asking for trouble.

The last time I flew AA the FA said that they only serve alcohol to first class now and don’t sell it to coach passengers because of all the craziness.

I think 1 drink per meal would be nice on Amtrak. And unlimited soft drinks.

 

[jis]

There was a time in the 80s and 90s AFAIR when Sleeping Car passengers were greeted with a small bottle of wine in their room. I seem to recall experiencing that a few times. But of course, those days are no more...

 

[jiml]

There was a time in the 80s and 90s AFAIR when Sleeping Car passengers were greeted with a small bottle of wine in their room. I seem to recall experiencing that a few times. But of course, those days are no more...

Inglenook - I still have pictures. They later switched to Fetzer.

 

[Dakota 400]

There was a time in the 80s and 90s AFAIR when Sleeping Car passengers were greeted with a small bottle of wine in their room. I seem to recall experiencing that a few times. But of course, those days are no more...

I remember that as well and appreciated the amenity. Used those small bottles as my "bon voyage" drink.

I understand the reason, but, it still irritates me when the Lounge car closes while the train is in a major station, i.e. Washington on the Silver Meteor (and, I assume, Silver Star). It really irritates me that the Lounge does not open until the train is approaching Alexandria. By then. a good sized line of guests have formed waiting to spend money and be served.

 

[crescent-zephyr]

There was a time in the 80s and 90s AFAIR when Sleeping Car passengers were greeted with a small bottle of wine in their room. I seem to recall experiencing that a few times. But of course, those days are no more...

When I rode the starlight and builder in 2013 they both offered complimentary welcome bottle of champagne or Sparkling Cider as a “welcome aboard” for sleeping car passengers.

Of course, both also offered free wine tastings as well!

Those were the days!

 

[Dakota 400]

Inglenook - I still have pictures. They later switched to Fetzer.

Yes, it was Inglenook. I was pleased because that was a label that I was purchasing much of the time. Their Rose was very good. Now, it's no longer being made. (When I learned of the difficulty of getting the wine, but kept two bottles in reserve and still have them.)

 

[TheCrescent]

I remember that as well and appreciated the amenity. Used those small bottles as my "bon voyage" drink.

I understand the reason, but, it still irritates me when the Lounge car closes while the train is in a major station, i.e. Washington on the Silver Meteor (and, I assume, Silver Star). It really irritates me that the Lounge does not open until the train is approaching Alexandria. By then. a good sized line of guests have formed waiting to spend money and be served.

And what is the reason?

The lounge car on the Crescent is closed to coach passengers between about 5pm and 7pm.

Is there any wonder that Amtrak can’t make money, when it closes its sole food service car at dinner time for a large portion of its customers?

 

[Rasputin]

When I rode the starlight and builder in 2013 they both offered complimentary welcome bottle of champagne or Sparkling Cider as a “welcome aboard” for sleeping car passengers.

Of course, both also offered free wine tastings as well!

Those were the days!

I guess you lucky people must have drunk the place dry and put the service in the red. When I rode the Starlight in 2015 and 2016, there was no welcome aboard bottle in the sleeping cars and the wine tasting costs $7.

 

[jis]

I guess you lucky people must have drunk the place dry and put the service in the red. When I rode the Starlight in 2015 and 2016, there was no welcome aboard bottle in the sleeping cars and the wine tasting costs $7.

That was the first round of Mica driven calamity, but let us not rehash that sorry phase again. Let us focus on how to get rid of the last remaining vestiges of the doings of that individual.

 

[Amtrak709]

That was the first round of Mica driven calamity, but let us not rehash that sorry phase again. Let us focus on how to get rid of the last remaining vestiges of the doings of that individual.

Well said and I agree, jis. I shutter to think about the day in the late 1980's when I met <he who shall remain nameless>(before he was a congressman) and invited him to speak in DeLand to a railfan group we were forming at the fire-refurbished Amtrak station there. I have never forgotten that day but I have no recollection of his speaking. I don't guess I can be held responsible for the "calamity"--as you said--he created. Enough said!

 

[crescent-zephyr]

The lounge car on the Crescent is closed to coach passengers between about 5pm and 7pm.

Is there any wonder that Amtrak can’t make money, when it closes its sole food service car at dinner time for a large portion of its customers?

Agreed. There is no reason that Amtrak can’t run like every other business in America and let multiple staff members handle sales. When the LSA goes on break, one of the dining car servers should cover.

 

[TEREB]

I would agree with the improvement - I personally think the current beef and chicken options are much better than the previous - when heated properly.

Magic words. “when heated properly”.

 

[TEREB]

Apparently, the free beverages policy on Flex Dining trains has changed.

The Silver Service Flex menu dated 10/21 said: "Complimentary beverages are available throughout your journey."

The menu dated 05/22 now says: "Complimentary beverages are available during all meal periods."

Does this mean there is no longer a complementary cocktail or wine?

 

[Cal]

And what is the reason?

The lounge car on the Crescent is closed to coach passengers between about 5pm and 7pm.

Is there any wonder that Amtrak can’t make money, when it closes its sole food service car at dinner time for a large portion of its customers?

Maybe so the LSA can handle flex meals?

 

[daybeers]

I feel like it's just talking about non-alcoholic beverages since those were unlimited at any time, but I could be wrong.

 

[fillyjonk]

I was asked if I wanted an alcoholic beverage with my dinner both times on the train recently. (I ordered ginger ale, I suppose they expected I was going to mix something with it? I don't drink so all I wanted was the ginger ale....)

 

[west point]

could closing the lounge car be due to restocking?

 

[TheCrescent]

could closing the lounge car be due to restocking?

I guess so although it seems to open only maybe 30-60 minutes after the train leaves its originating station and I don’t understand why any work done then wasn’t done before the train left.