Honestly, I think most of the reason for the meal times that aren't lining up consistently is just institutional inertia. Until the controversial Crescent schedule revisions a couple years ago, the Crescent had left New Orleans at or around 7 am since Amtrak took it in 1979. Breakfast service for a train leaving at 7 would be a close to a requirement. The California Zephyr used to leave its East Bay terminus mid-day, like its 1970 WP predecessor. In 1990 at 11:50 am, in 1991 at 10:40 am, 1993 at 10:10 am, 1995, OKJ at 9:55, EMY at 10:28, 1998 at 10:40 (EMY), 2001 at 9:35, 2005 at 9:15, 2008 at 8:55. Cannot pinpoint when it got moved to 8:25, as archived timetables don't go past 2010, but you see the picture.
They just didn't adjust meal service as the schedules changed. In the Crescent's case it was a sudden change, for the Zephyr it was a case of the proverbial frog getting boiled. If the trains were starting/taken over today on the current schedules the Zephyr probably would have breakfast and the Crescent probably wouldn't.
It is yet another example of the care and attention Amtrak management gives to their long distance services. That is to say approaching zero. They changed the schedule but neglected to look at anything else involved.
They just didn't adjust meal service as the schedules changed. In the Crescent's case it was a sudden change, for the Zephyr it was a case of the proverbial frog getting boiled. If the trains were starting/taken over today on the current schedules the Zephyr probably would have breakfast and the Crescent probably wouldn't.
It is yet another example of the care and attention Amtrak management gives to their long distance services. That is to say approaching zero. They changed the schedule but neglected to look at anything else involved.
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