Amtrak advertises its “experience” on its website, specifically stating that “it’s about more than just getting from place to place” and describing on-board amenities.
Even the commuter railroad Metro-North had lounges until recently.
This sounds like me complaining to myself when Amtrak isn't giving me what I want. If I happen to glance at a map I notice the dozens & dozens of trains Amtrak is running at that moment with all the crews involved over impossibly huge distances with difficult operational constraints. Then I cut them some slack.
What I want = what you paid for and what was advertised.
Airlines run operations that have a lot more employees, customers, destinations and moving parts and they seem to manage. There is no “impossibly huge distance” in the US; railroads have covered it since 1869.This sounds like me complaining to myself when Amtrak isn't giving me what I want. If I happen to glance at a map I notice the dozens & dozens of trains Amtrak is running at that moment with all the crews involved over impossibly huge distances with difficult operational constraints. Then I cut them some slack.
There are some cars set up like this for state supported service. Runs like the Heartland Flyer use this. There's a clip of one in this video.
Sounds like a slight step up from the "snack bar coach" on the Penn Central Clockers, a guy with a cardboard box full of drinks and snacks operating out of a seat at the end of a run down P70 coach.
Not sure if it was a superliner or an old “hi-level” but as a kid I remember the lower level cafe cars on the Texas eagle when the train used to split. It was that and the old “hi-level” diner-lounges (which became the pacific Parlour cars).
Yes I remember the upstairs bar being open when I rode the empire builder as a kid. They had snacks up there too, I remember buying m&m’s!
I remember the days when the Upstairs Bar in the Empire Builder was staffed during the Busy Summer Travel Season.
I was about to say that those who seem to imply that its no big deal and in the fine print that "you get what we give you" as acceptable normal operations as fans of Greyhound as thats essentially what Amtrak becomes with only coach car service. They continue to take away one piece at a time to see what people are willing to put up with and it seems that enough are ok with reduced services for the prices we pay that Amtraks experiment with barebonesing the western LD trains seems successful.
I so agree-one of the purpose of taking the EB & CZ is the view and access with an observation car-I know someone will correct me for using the wrong words but this is on my bucket list for next year before I die. I would be devastated and would have expected Amtrak to be notified in advance so I could change my plans.
Almost by definition, you would not be notified in advance if a Builder departure didn't have Sightseer. Since it is a regular assignment, the lack of a Sightseer would almost certainly be due to a last minute mechanical fault. Amtrak's inventory of operational Sightseers is thin and there generally no protection Sightseers available. If a car is bad ordered, it'll be pulled from that day's consist. If you're lucky they may sub in diner/lounge. If unlucky, as this trip was, just a snack coach.
Thanks for offering reasons as to why this may happen. I did not think of that. I would still be disappointed but you helped me to understand what may have happened.
I recall those too, but in fairness, the Penn Central did have a number of former "Congo Cars" with permanent set-ups at one end of the snack bar coaches offering "Hot-Cold Food and Beverages", on most of its "corridor trains".Sounds like a slight step up from the "snack bar coach" on the Penn Central Clockers, a guy with a cardboard box full of drinks and snacks operating out of a seat at the end of a run down P70 coach.
Makes sense as a corridor train rated higher than a clocker which was only 1 step up from a commuter local.
In fairness I have never gotten that response or anything close to it when complaining about an incident to Amtrak CR - I have never once not gotten a full refund or future travel voucher including for minor stuff I decided to complain about. Amtrak is far from perfect and has its fair share of problems but they actually usually are pretty good after the fact when it comes to compensation.
That may be your experience but it has not been mine.
