Crescent discussion

[Ray Way]

Many thanks to jimdex! Your reply was extremely helpful!

 

[TheVig]

Well living in CLT, pretty much relegates me to the Crescent and Carolinian.

I've only had really one outright negative experience on the Crescent. in fall of 2021, everything to the SCA was a bother. I went to use the shower, only to see it was being used as a storage closet of sorts. Same in the other sleeper car. I inquired, and you would have thought I was asking to keep his daughter out late or something the way he acted. I got my shower.

I've seen the guy on Crescent trips since then, and it looks like he's been relegated to working the coach cars.

Rest of my trips have been fine to stellar. Heck on two trips, they were not allowing anyone to eat in the cafe car. Period. With no effort or complaints on my part, we and a few sleeper pax were invited to have our meals in the cafe car, and hang around in said cafe. Not sure why the favoritism, and not saying it was right, that others got the shaft, but we certainly enjoyed the opportunity.

 

[jis]

Well living in CLT, pretty much relegates me to the Crescent and Carolinian.

You do have the Piedmonts too, no?

 

[TheVig]

You do have the Piedmonts too, no?

Yes, but I was referencing LD rides.

 

[jimmrl]

I am booked for a roomette in car 2009 in May. My current understanding is this is a Bag/Dorm and on the rear of the Crescent, is this correct?

Now for the big decision, do I stay with that car or try to get moved to a normal Sleeper? I like the old Viewliner I's. I will be on a Viewliner II on my return on the Cardinal.


Jim

 

[GaSteve]

Normally, the bag/dorm is on the rear.

 

[n3rdg1rl]

What is the likelihood that the trackwork actually ends by the 16th?

 

[GaSteve]

What is the likelihood that the trackwork actually ends by the 16th?

In the past, their estimate has been pretty accurate. Remember, it affects freight traffic also, so they want to get it done.

 

[west point]

Reservations are open on the 20th .

 

[Chellerz]

Reservations are open on the 20th .

They seem to even be open on the 16th.

 

[west point]

Any one know why 20 / 12 FEB did not operate from NOL - ATL but originate in ATL. 19 did operate ATL - NOL.

 

[Twinkletoes]

I was on Train 19 when it stopped the train in Atlanta because of the Norfolk Southern derailment in Alabama. Alternative bus service was provided. I also see that bus service was provided today. Has anyone heard how long this will continue? I have a reservation on Train 20 leaving tomorrow from Meridian. I haven't head of any outright cancellation. Will Amtrak be providing alternaive transportation on the New Orleans to Atlanta leg of the trip? The people at the main numbe have no information and the web site advisories have sad nothing about this.

 

[jnismith]

So I took my first Amtrak trip for 8 years. It was all a bit of a disaster. I booked a Roomette on the Crescent from New York to New Orleans. The old Viewliner equipment is looking very old and shabby. If you don’t want to use the toilet in your room, you have to walk down to coach, which was pretty dirty. Dinner was served to me in my roomette at 4:50 pm in a plastic bag. No option to eat in the cafe bar. Food was edible but like you got on an economy flight 30 years ago. Cafe bar was closed most of the evening as the attendant was having a break. We were told to leave the cafe bar and go to our rooms/seats at 10:00

So far, pretty average.

Next morning, breakfast given out at about 7:30. Probably the worst pancakes I ever had, but I ate them and looked forward to a long day of staring out of the window. But it was not to be. Just before we reached Atlanta, the attendant came round and said we all had to get off at Atlanta as there was a major freight derailment ahead. After about half an hour in the waiting room at Atlanta Peachtree with no news except that the Conductor was trying to get a coach but the normal firm used was in New Orleans, I gave up and took a taxi to the airport and flew down to New Orleans.

I know the derailment wasn’t Amtrak’s fault but the whole experience was disappointing. I certainly won’t do an East Coast trip again.

 

[Just-Thinking-51]

Welcome to Amtrak.

No matter how low your expectations are, Amtrak can still beat you down.

Hope you enjoying your stay in New Orleans.

 

[west point]

Twinkletoes, enjoying your trip?

 

[fdaley]

Very sorry to read this report of your trip. Alas, apart from the derailment, the rest sounds fairly typical. All of the eastern long-distance trains have been kind of a mess for the past few years since Amtrak killed their dining service and replaced it with pre-fab meals served in their freezer tubs. The Crescent and Texas Eagle have become particularly abominable, with only one food-service car and passengers consequently confined to their seats or rooms for major portions of these 30-plus hour runs. I would not recommend them to anyone. There has been vague talk of improvement, but at this point it appears that will take more like years than months to accomplish.

Except for the Texas Eagle, the other overnight trains west of Chicago and New Orleans still offer a decent level of on-board service and remain an enjoyable way to travel.

I hope you enjoyed your visit to New Orleans even if the train ride was a bust.

 

[jnismith]

I had a lovely time in New Orleans. Sadly I am back home now. I think next time I venture over, I will try the Empire Builder.

 

[vinceg723]

Sorry to hear this. I am on the Crescent now -- pretty ridiculous that they have to bring us our meals in bags to our rooms, but then we can take them to the cafe if we want. I feel awful for the coach passengers who cannot use the cafe while we are in there. Three hours later, they were still saying the cafe was closed to coach passengers while they fed sleeper-car passengers. It didn't make sense to me.

We've also had a four-hour delay to due a track fire in Edison. I'll be posting a trip report in a bit ...

 

[NativeSon5859]

Todays 19 passing through ATL has a dead head Diner on the rear of the train.

Perhaps a positive sign of things to come?

 

[zephyr17]

Todays 19 passing through ATL has a dead head Diner on the rear of the train.

Perhaps a positive sign of things to come?

Maybe. Can't think of any reason to send a Viewliner diner south/west to NOL except to position it for service on the Crescent. It's the only single level train out of NOL.

Even if they only do flex in it, it would still be an improvement over doing everything out of the cafe.

But Amtrak moves in mysterious ways, so who knows?

 

[DennisInGeorgia]

jis: I think you used admirable restraint in your response. I know the connections in SAS to and from the Sunset Ltd. and Texas Eagle are a bit confusing in any direction because of the Sunset tri-weekly days of operation, but really??? My travels are always DAL-SAS-NOL-ATN which requires getting off 21 then getting on 2. I am still here to tell about it and have NOT missed a connection once.

Greetings from ATL. You appear to be more familiar than we with parking around the ATN (Anniston AL) station. Is there any security around parked cars there, or do we just run any risk of smashed windows, etc? ATN would be worth the drive just to avoid the ATL neighborhood after midnight IF we could park our car safely there for 10 days or so.

 

[DavidSh]

I doubt the upcoming New Orleans-to-Mobile service will get a diner.

 

[jis]

Maybe. Can't think of any reason to send a Viewliner diner south/west to NOL except to position it for service on the Crescent. It's the only single level train out of NOL.

Even if they only do flex in it, it would still be an improvement over doing everything out of the cafe.

But Amtrak moves in mysterious ways, so who knows?

More likely for staff training in NOL at present. It is unlikely that Crescent will get a Diner this year. But ya never know

 

[cassie225]

NO to New Orleans I can do that one without food,but will always take my goodie bag of food in case something happens that we are delayed during the trip. So is it really gonna happen soon -NO to Mobile?

 

[NativeSon5859]

Diner is back on 20 this morning.