New dining options (flex dining) effective October 1, 2019

[Bob Dylan]

But the idea is to get rid of the Chefs and Waiters, and just have One OBS serve Boxed Meals in the Lounge or the SCA bring it to your room if you so desire.

 

[seat38a]

Giving it a little thought ... and thinking about ALL the people on the train, not just those in sleepers -

Seems to me that, instead of getting rid of the diner car for the sleeper people, why not add a lounge car for the coach class? However, how about remodeling that second coach car to be fitted with several vending machines offering cold canned drinks as well as juices, etc. Also, some with snacks and other room-temp or chilled things to eat. Allow the "normal" lounge car to keep serving the "hot" foods, coffee and alcohol. Doesn't seem like it would be that difficult (costly) to rip out the so-called kitchen from the lounge car to allow for vending machines

Not sure how to arrange the consist for this - but I'm sure it could be done.

You must be new here.

 

[crescent-zephyr]

But the idea is to get rid of the Chefs and Waiters, and just have One OBS serve Boxed Meals in the Lounge or the SCA bring it to your room if you so desire.

The current set up uses 2 LSA’s, one for the sleeper diner, one for the lounge. The example I gave uses 1 LSA and 1 Chef.

 

[Maverickstation]

So when the heck is Amtrak going to officially announce these changes?

 

[Rasputin]

So when the heck is Amtrak going to officially announce these changes?

The way things are going they will probably announce it on October 1st.

 

[Winecliff Station]

The way things are going they will probably announce it on October 1st.

I imagine it will be a nice surprise for all who are boarding that day

 

[DevalDragon]

I'm not sure what you gain....

Honestly the best case scenario was keep the chef and 1 LSA per train (so Cross Country Cafe Style) and have Sleeping Car Attendants take orders and serve the guests.
.......
This wouldn't use any more employees than the current model either... 1 LSA and 1 Chef per train.

The current "Cross Country Cafe" model on the Texas Eagle is 3 employees - 1 LSA, 1 SA and a food specialist.

 

[PVD]

When I was scheduled for the LSL and the CL in different directions on a trip right at the beginning of the cont dining program, I received e-mails from Amtrak well in advance of my trip. We are still more than 60 days out.

 

[Devil's Advocate]

I received e-mails from Amtrak well in advance of my trip. We are still more than 60 days out.

Were you given the option to refund your full ticket value if you disagreed with the change in service? I think the main concern today is that people still aren't being warned prior to purchase, which seems like a pretty reasonable expectation.

 

[jis]

I suppose it will take a few years for the current trend in the airline industry to improve First Class and Business Class food and service offering to Amtrak. Afterall, it did take several years for the downward trends to fully catch up.

 

[crescent-zephyr]

The current "Cross Country Cafe" model on the Texas Eagle is 3 employees - 1 LSA, 1 SA and a food specialist

The Texas eagle operates a traditional dining car in a physical ccc car.

What I described was closer, but not identical to the original ccc concept.

 

[PVD]

I don't remember. It was also shortly after Amtrak changed their refund policies. I was going regardless, I didn't think about it. But the idea of making an exception to a policy when making a major change in offering seems reasonable.

 

[ref5035]

On texas today... full regular diner full menu service

 

[b243923]

I booked a trip on the Auto Train with an agent for travel in February 2020. I was using points and credit card so could not book online. The agent did not mention the change of no meals for coach passengers.​

 

[tricia]

I booked a trip on the Auto Train with an agent for travel in February 2020. I was using points and credit card so could not book online. The agent did not mention the change of no meals for coach passengers.​

Did you book coach or sleeper? Not much reason for the agent to mention no-meals-for-coach unless that's what you booked.

 

[b243923]

Yes I booked coach

 

[b243923]

Yes I booked coach, agent should have mentioned it to me.

 

[tricia]

Yes I booked coach

Well, they certainly should have told you, if in fact there'll be no meals provided for you. Since your trip is nearly six months from now, perhaps they'll come to their senses and resume meal service by then.

 

[Rasputin]

Well, they certainly should have told you, if in fact there'll be no meals provided for you. Since your trip is nearly six months from now, perhaps they'll come to their senses and resume meal service by then.

Well they certainly should have told the passenger but then again this is Amtrak, the "Surprise!, Surprise!" travel company.

 

[Maverickstation]

According to a rep that I just spoke to at the call center, they were officially made aware of the changes yesterday (8/1). The Amtrak website is supposed to be updated “shortly”.

 

[crescent-zephyr]

A rumor on TrainOrders suggests that some Amtrak Employees think the Diners will be parked and that box meals will be served at your room by the sleeping car attendant and/or picked up in the Cafe car.

Simply a rumor... but I wouldn't put anything past them at this point.

 

[AmtrakBlue]

A rumor on TrainOrders suggests that some Amtrak Employees think the Diners will be parked and that box meals will be served at your room by the sleeping car attendant and/or picked up in the Cafe car.

Simply a rumor... but I wouldn't put anything past them at this point.

I doubt the cafe cars have the space to store the dinners. Or the capacity to heat up the "hot" meals.

 

[jis]

A rumor on TrainOrders suggests that some Amtrak Employees think the Diners will be parked and that box meals will be served at your room by the sleeping car attendant and/or picked up in the Cafe car.

Simply a rumor... but I wouldn't put anything past them at this point.

I saw Carls blastogram. I think if Carl was a bit better in forming coherent sentences it would help a lot. I believe when he says "no Diner" he means "no Diner service". Otherwise his first paragraph appears to contradict his last paragraph.

But of course, we will see soon enough, won't we?

 

[Qapla]

announce the upcoming contemporary dining downgrades

The shame of it all is ... they view this change as "upgrades" ... not "downgrades"

 

[tonys96]

THIS, above