Silver Star/Silver Meteor combined train (Jan - Oct 2022)

Advertise with us
Shop deals on ebay
shop deals on amazon
Amtrak Unlimited Discussion Forum

Help Support Amtrak Unlimited Discussion Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
Status
Not open for further replies.
Unless I missed something, it appeared that the 12 car of today's 92 (6/19) was a V1. I saw it when it passed between ORL and WPK.
 
pennyk said:
Unless I missed something, it appeared that the 12 car of today's 92 (6/19) was a V1. I saw it when it passed between ORL and WPK.
Click to expand...
I saw it again this evening and it had its "normal" consist: even sleepers were V2s
 
JP1822 said:
I’ll have to take a look at this next time I am on Viewliner II sleeper. I thought they flipped locations of the beverage station with that of the linen closet, but guess not.….. The beverage station is better where it presently is (away from shower and bathrooms). And with the public restrooms now at the rear of the car, there’s a definite need for a “closet“ of supplies. Perhaps it was to go in the attendant’s room, or since each consist was originally to have a bagg-dorm Viewliner, would have also made sense that it had the applicable storage capacity…….

Guess this was an “oops!” in designing. The Amfleet Diner Lite, with its seating and window arrangement was an absolute BLUNDER. No good architect would have released plans like that.
Click to expand...
The storage was supposed to go in the bag-dorm. Grrrr. They should never have reduced the bag-dorm order.
 
jruff001 said:
I would assume no Meteor until it actually starts running again or there is some sort of official announcement from Amtrak.

I did hear a very loud LSA on the Star the other day complaining to my SCA about some seniority issue with her transferring to a Chef position which made me think at least real dining cars are coming back soon. I was going to ask what they knew of the plans for traditional dining and the Meteor, but it didn't feel like I was welcome to join the conversation so I just mumbled "Excuse me" to get by since they were blocking my access to the shower (on the Viewliner II; at least that was nice!).
Click to expand...
I do believe that traditional dining is coming back, but in typical ass-backwards Amtrak fashion, they seem to be planning to reinstitute it on every other train before putting it on the LSL, which by certain measures had the most paying customers in the dining car, and certainly has the most price-insensitive customers. Aaaargh.

They also have taken their sweet time about selling meal tickets to coach passengers, which is an IT project which I could have implemented in a week or two I think Amtrak's IT deficiencies are really, REALLY hurting them.
 
joelkfla said:
Locomotive 161 resplendent in 50th Anniversary Phase 1 livery leads 91(26).

From VR Ashland north camera @ 18:02 EDT:
View attachment 28701
Click to expand...
Somewhat unrelated to the overall discussion, but I’ve seen it multiple times in this discussion so hoping this question is OK: What does the number in parentheses mean? I’ve tried doing a search on here but can’t seem to figure it out. I’m new so hoping someone will go easy on me and wouldn’t mind answering. ;)
For example, above- 91(26). I know 91 is the train number…
 
Parentheses give the date of departure from the first station. That’s how you can tell apart multiple trains with the same number that are both moving. For example, for the Silvers, in each direction you basically have a train that’s in SC/GA/FL and a train that’s in the Northeast on any given day. On the 2nd day of the month, 91(1) is in FL and 91(2) is making its way down the Northeast Corridor.
 
Heading North said:
Parentheses give the date of departure from the first station. That’s how you can tell apart multiple trains with the same number that are both moving. For example, for the Silvers, in each direction you basically have a train that’s in SC/GA/FL and a train that’s in the Northeast on any given day. On the 2nd day of the month, 91(1) is in FL and 91(2) is making its way down the Northeast Corridor.
Click to expand...
Amazing, makes total sense! Thank you so much.
 
We are getting quite confused about what we are reading about the Silver Star trip we have planned from Orlando to Washington DC in 2 weeks. When I booked our roomette it said meals were included. I now read there is no dining car and sandwiches will be available to purchase in the cafe? I am a bit upset over what is looking like a bait and switch. This was a birthday trip for my husband who has always wanted to take a train trip. I have great memories of NY to FL train trips as a kid and wanted him to have this experience. Not to mention the price of the roomette was significantly more than any tax. To think they yanked away the dining experience is making this a really bad deal. Anyone with true updates about what can be expected? Thank you.
 
Laurajeantx said:
We are getting quite confused about what we are reading about the Silver Star trip we have planned from Orlando to Washington DC in 2 weeks. When I booked our roomette it said meals were included. I now read there is no dining car and sandwiches will be available to purchase in the cafe? I am a bit upset over what is looking like a bait and switch. This was a birthday trip for my husband who has always wanted to take a train trip. I have great memories of NY to FL train trips as a kid and wanted him to have this experience. Not to mention the price of the roomette was significantly more than any tax. To think they yanked away the dining experience is making this a really bad deal. Anyone with true updates about what can be expected? Thank you.
Click to expand...
If you're in a roomette, your meals are included. The meals are what they call flex-dining. The lunch/dinner entrees are cooked in the convection oven.

https://www.amtrak.com/content/dam/...ts/menus/routes/Flexible-Dining-Menu-0522.pdf
 
Laurajeantx said:
I now read there is no dining car and sandwiches will be available to purchase in the cafe?
Click to expand...
Did Amtrak inform you that there is no dining car? Where did you read this? The normal consist of the Silver Star contains a sleeper lounge (aka dining car) available only to sleeper passengers and flex meals are served, as mentioned above. Sleeper and coach passengers have access to the cafe car whereas only sleeper passengers have access to the sleeper lounge/dining car.
 
Laurajeantx said:
We are getting quite confused about what we are reading about the Silver Star trip we have planned from Orlando to Washington DC in 2 weeks. When I booked our roomette it said meals were included. I now read there is no dining car and sandwiches will be available to purchase in the cafe? I am a bit upset over what is looking like a bait and switch. This was a birthday trip for my husband who has always wanted to take a train trip. I have great memories of NY to FL train trips as a kid and wanted him to have this experience. Not to mention the price of the roomette was significantly more than any tax. To think they yanked away the dining experience is making this a really bad deal. Anyone with true updates about what can be expected? Thank you.
Click to expand...
Yes, as @pennyk said, please tell us where you read this so that we can vet it out and debunk if necessary.
 
There’s a “diner” more commonly now referred to as a “sleeper lounge” where you can get your meals for those with rooms in the sleeper car. The flex meals are tolerable, but NOT AT ALL what you used to get in traditional dining sense from when you last traveled I am sure. Its better than nothing, and most regular riders I would say are putting up with it (but longing for something better). Hoping for the flex meals to be replaced by “traditional dining” of what exists on some of the western long hauls. The Viewliner Diners are rather nice - brand new cars - with their double row of windows - provides for a nice “viewing car” while eating and even lounging/working. I try to go here in between major meals when onboard just to either lounge or get work done, as you do get more expansive views. However, as is often said, the trip from the Northeast to Florida is not all that glamorous- see one pine tree you’ve seen them all….

With trains having unfortunate delays lately, even in sleeper class, I would encourage that you bring perhaps some snacks or something that could be had as an extra “light meal” - just because you never know! In January 2022 I was on a 15+ hour late Empire Builder coming into Chicago. We got an extra dinner served, but having a bagel and fruit available for morning breakfast (as we approached Chicago) helped out!
 
There is a food menu in every roomette. The car attendant will take your order and you can decide whether you eat in the diner car or they can deliver it to your roomette.
 
Marty605 said:
There is a food menu in every roomette.
Click to expand...
Sometimes -- on one trip, the SCA handed me a xeroxed copy and stood there until I ordered and returned it to her.

To be honest, I myself have accidentally dropped a menu into the slot behind the folded table, never to be seen again. :oops:
 
joelkfla said:
Sometimes -- on one trip, the SCA handed me a xeroxed copy and stood there until I ordered and returned it to her.

To be honest, I myself have accidentally dropped a menu into the slot behind the folded table, never to be seen again. :oops:
Click to expand...
I've dropped a menu or two into that slot behind the folding table too. You're in good company! ;)
 
It looks like the re-introduction of Silver Meteor has been pushed back to October 3 (Monday).

I had a reservation on it on Sept 17. I just got notified of being moved to Silver Star.

Upon checking with test bookings I find that the first day the Meteor 98 is available from Florida to NY is on Oct 3. First day of 97 is also Oct 3.
 
jis said:
It looks like the re-introduction of Silver Meteor has been pushed back to October 3 (Monday).

I had a reservation on it on Sept 17. I just got notified of being moved to Silver Star.

Upon checking with test bookings I find that the first day the Meteor 98 is available from Florida to NY is on Oct 3. First day of 97 is also Oct 3.
Click to expand...
OUCH! My reservation on 98 is for October 2nd (connecting to 49). Back to the drawing board.
 
jis said:
It looks like the re-introduction of Silver Meteor has been pushed back to October 3 (Monday).

I had a reservation on it on Sept 17. I just got notified of being moved to Silver Star.

Upon checking with test bookings I find that the first day the Meteor 98 is available from Florida to NY is on Oct 3. First day of 97 is also Oct 3.
Click to expand...
Oh wow! I’m also booked on 97 Silver Meteor September 17 and it’s still showing in my account! Didn’t receive any notification from Amtrak.
Guess I’d better call…thanks for the heads up!
 
amy1277 said:
Oh wow! I’m also booked on 97 Silver Meteor September 17 and it’s still showing in my account! Didn’t receive any notification from Amtrak.
Guess I’d better call…thanks for the heads up!
Click to expand...
My October 2nd reservation was still in my account. I phoned AGR, and was able to speak to an agent after about a 15 minute hold. Since I was connecting from 98 to 49 in NYP, changing to 92 the same day would not work. I changed my reservation to 92 on the previous day (with same accommodation and no extra points) and plan to spend the night in NYC (which will cost me $$$).
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Latest posts

Back
Top