Amtrak's New "Fresh Choices" Dining on CL & LSL

[TiBike]

Of necessity, the menu choices on a train will be limited. If the options don't suit me, I can either suck it up and live with what's there, or accept responsibility for my own happiness and bring my own food.

With standard diner service, you have the choice of 1. eating in the diner at an assigned time with assigned companions, or 2. somehow learning that you can have food brought to your sleeper, finding the attendant to ask for it, hoping the attendant doesn't blow you off because he/she has other duties at the moment or would like you to think so, and then waiting for it to show up. Either way, sometimes it works well, sometimes it doesn't. The new systems gives me the responsibility and the means to decide when and where I'll eat. That was not the case before.

 

[cpotisch]

2. somehow learning that you can have food brought to your sleeper, finding the attendant to ask for it, hoping the attendant doesn't blow you off because he/she has other duties at the moment or would like you to think so, and then waiting for it to show up. Either way, sometimes it works well, sometimes it doesn't. The new systems gives me the responsibility and the means to decide when and where I'll eat. That was not the case before.

While the menu choices on a train usually have to be limited, they didn't have any problem offering a significantly wider variety before, so why is that suddenly impossible, other than to cut costs?

As to it apparently being impossible to know that room service is an option to sleeper passengers, they already list it as an amenity for every sleeper on the website. And since you think that it's impossible to find your SCA already, wouldn't it be at least is difficult with the new system, since the SCA has to serve food to that many more passengers?

 

[TiBike]

Variety is in the eye of the beholder – I'm seeing more choices that suit me. YMMV.

Asking the SCA to get your meal is just one option now, and a one-step job for the SCA. You can also walk to the diner, pick it up and walk back yourself. Without a reservation or asking permission. Without fully researching Amtrak's rules and procedures, and then communicating that knowledge to staff as necessary.

 

[Mystic River Dragon]

TiBike,

I understand that some people, including you, will like the new system. I think, though, that it is those of us who liked the old system who almost feel like we are being punished and have no clue why.

You always had the option to ask for your meals to be brought to you, and most of my SCAs through the years have mentioned both options. Traveling alone, I always went to the dining car, because the people I have met on the train were, in general, interesting people with fascinating careers or stories, often from other countries, and it was a wonderful way to broaden my horizons.

I was only disappointed a few times--a couple of times when I was seated by myself to start a new table and nobody else came in. And recently, when some people were staring at their phones through the meal. It is of course possible that the world has changed so much from decent civility that everyone will talk to their phones and not ever to another person, in which case the dining car experience is doomed anyway.

But for now I feel like I am being told to sit in my room (or go to what could have been a lovely dining car, made purposely unappealing--no tablecloths, even paper ones?) and wait for someone to bring me a cold box (or go get it myself, of course). Yes, you get to Chicago early enough on the CL to go get a decent breakfast at the diner down the street, but why should you have to? I even thought I could give the breakfast box to a homeless person instead of wasting it, but the ingredients are so unhealthy I would feel guilty in case they got sick from all that sugar and salt.

I have a feeling that if I ever take the CL, I will end up at the door of the diner a few blocks away and, with apologies to Charles Dickens, very timidly say, "Please, sir, may I have an egg?"

(By the way, oddly enough, I am not an extrovert by nature, so it's not that I couldn't be without company. I just think the dining car experience was unique and enjoyable.)

 

[TiBike]

I understand the disappointment of losing a particular service or experience that you loved. To that extent, Amtrak has let you down. That's not true for everyone, though – that's the main point I'm trying to make. There are plenty of minuses, but there are pluses too. The question Amtrak has to answer going forward is whether, on the whole, the net result is positive or negative.

 

[Mystic River Dragon]

Okay--fair enough, TiBike.

In a sense, Amtrak's whole existence has been an experiment--perhaps that is why things have constantly changed there, sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse.

I think where they fall down is in not asking for passenger feedback, which makes it look like they don't care about the people who keep them going.

 

[Manny T]

First kudos to Amtrak for publishing nutritional information on the new meals in a timely fashion.

The breakfast clocks in fairly well in terms of saturated fat and sodium--especially if you don't eat anything else for the rest of the day.

But if you eat an Amtrak lunch (any entree, except vegan), you will exceed your mdvs in saturated fat and sodium, and if you have another "contemporary" boxed meal for dinner, you may as well go directly from the train to your cardiologist's office for a check-up. (The antipasto dinner has 32 g of fat, 160% of your mdv, and 3920 mg of sodium, 163% of your mdv.)

But at least the information is available, so choices can be made on an informed basis.

 

[RichieRich]

"nutritional information" Give me a break. That's like "nutritional information" at a McDonalds. You know what to expect. If you are that sensitive...just bring your own soylent green.

 

[Manny T]

The only "soylent green" I am aware of is composed of deceased humans in the sci-fi movie, Soylent Green (1973). So far as I know, it's not available commercially in the USA.

Under "Food Facts," Amtrak lists two types of information, ingredients and nutritional content. One doesn't have to be sensitive to anything to consult this information or use it for the purpose intended, which is guiding choices.

 

[Ryan]

https://www.soylent.com

 

[Manny T]

Ryan thank you. But that's Soylent; richierich was recommending Soylent GREEN.

That's a bird of a different feather.

 

[cpotisch]

Ryan thank you. But that's Soylent; richierich was recommending Soylent GREEN.

That's a bird of a different feather.

Just so you know, Soylent gets its name from Soylent Green.

 

[PVD]

Edward G Robinson's last role.

 

[Ryan]

You're being needlessly literal.

 

[PVD]

He was dying at the time and Charlton Heston had to hold himself together when they filmed the scene where Sol was dying, he was one of tbe few who knew how sick EGR was.

 

[Manny T]

Ryan thank you. But that's Soylent; richierich was recommending Soylent GREEN.

That's a bird of a different feather.

Just so you know, Soylent gets its name from Soylent Green.

Honestly, I don't think so. I think both take their name from a sci-fi novel that featured a soy and lentil product named Soylent. In the movie, the product's name is Soylent Green, and it's made from humans (a bit of false advertising, like Amtrak's "light" and "contemporary" as applied to its boxed meals.)

 

[cpotisch]

Ryan thank you. But that's Soylent; richierich was recommending Soylent GREEN.

That's a bird of a different feather.

Just so you know, Soylent gets its name from Soylent Green.

Honestly, I don't think so. I think both take their name from a sci-fi novel that featured a soy and lentil product named Soylent. In the movie, the product's name is Soylent Green, and it's made from humans (a bit of false advertising, like Amtrak's "light" and "contemporary" as applied to its boxed meals.)

Turns out it's a combination of the two. From the Soylent wikipedia page:

"Soylent is named after a food in Harry Harrison's 1966 science fiction novel Make Room! Make Room! In the novel, most types of soylent are made from soyaand lentils. The word also evokes the 1973 film adaptation Soylent Green, in which the eponymous food is made from human remains—something of a joke, since in reality people are made of Soylent (at least those who consume Soylent).[11] Rhinehart also says he chose the name, with its morbid associations, to pique curiosity and deeper investigation, since the name is clearly was not chosen with a traditonally "flashy" marketing scheme in mind."

 

[RichieRich]

Some people "got it"! Aren't you sick of people that go to FatBurger, order the Triple Bacon & Cheese Burger, then complain that the "nutrition info" wasn't printed on the front door! lol Lol LOL Like I said - if your dainty digestive system is that sensitive...you shouldn't be eating in public! Pack your own "food"... or "crackers"!!! Would soylent green from fat people be higher in calories then from skinny people ??? Makes you go "hmmmmm". LOL Off topic, but you gotta admit that movie, with "assisted suicide" was way ahead of its time!

 

[Chey]

I understand the disappointment of losing a particular service or experience that you loved. To that extent, Amtrak has let you down. That's not true for everyone, though – that's the main point I'm trying to make. There are plenty of minuses, but there are pluses too. The question Amtrak has to answer going forward is whether, on the whole, the net result is positive or negative.

Looks like a godsend to me! I can put aside the higher-carb offerings for later, take the high-protein and high-fiber offerings together. I know it's hard for those who liked the old menu - but it never worked for people like me. And the quality looks like a BIG improvement. I've said before I didn't think the old menus were that great.

All I can say to those who hate the changes is, I always depended on the food I brought with me to see me through, you can be resourceful as well. I know it sucks, I had to do it too. But it can be done and it's only two lines, at least for now.

 

[pennyk]

Gentle Reminder: Please try to stay on topic (New menu options on CL and LSL) and be respectful. Also try to remember that we are all different and we all have different likes and dislikes regarding food. Thank you.

 

[Thirdrail7]

Okay--fair enough, TiBike.

In a sense, Amtrak's whole existence has been an experiment--perhaps that is why things have constantly changed there, sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse.

I think where they fall down is in not asking for passenger feedback, which makes it look like they don't care about the people who keep them going.

They are supposed to review this operation prior to fall. I would think passenger feedback would be a part of the process. We should wait and see if PVD or any of the other riders get a survey or receive a phone call.

 

[Lonestar648]

I remember a time several years ago that several Amtrak managers got on the CL in Pittsburgh interviewing everyone in the Dining Car on their overall experience on the CL and in the sleeper.

 

[AmtrakBlue]

Okay--fair enough, TiBike.

In a sense, Amtrak's whole existence has been an experiment--perhaps that is why things have constantly changed there, sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse.

I think where they fall down is in not asking for passenger feedback, which makes it look like they don't care about the people who keep them going.

They are supposed to review this operation prior to fall. I would think passenger feedback would be a part of the process. We should wait and see if PVD or any of the other riders get a survey or receive a phone call.

I’ve read Amtrak has people on both the CL & LSL getting feedback on the new meals/experience.

 

[benale]

One hot item should have been kept on the menu for all meals,or at least sleeper passengers should be given a voucher for a microwaved meal in the cafe car. What the hell was Anderson thinking?...like he didnt expect overwhelming negative feedback to this obvious downgrade? Even worse the price of sleepers had not gone down.

 

[amtrakpass]

"Ive read Amtrak has people on both the CL & LSL getting feedback on the new meals/experience"

From just the sleeper passengers or are they walking through the coaches asking how they like not having anything but the cafe car menu available and being locked out of the new lounge car?

I'm happy however they can improve the sleeping car experience but the majority of people travel coach and I hope the quality of their trip is being considered too.