Texas Eagle Sightseer lounge discontinued

[Rasputin]

I saw on another list that the Texas Eagle sightseer lounge was being discontinued "permanently" between Chicago and San Antonio.

Evidently a desperate move on Amtrak's part to clearly show that their trains are not worth riding.

 

[Cal]

This is very annoying. The TE route is over 30 hours. So 30 hours of being either in your room or your seat. Poor decision.

 

[Sidney]

The TE had the Sightseer Car until the Pandemic hit. I thought it was just temporary. How much money are they saving by eliminating the car?

Made to order cooked meals and a Sightseer car are two of Amtrak's biggest draws.Hopefully the former will be returning. I believe the Capitol Limited and City of New Orleans also have no SSL car. I wonder if that is permanent. The only one overnight train with the car is the Coast Starlight.

Another idiotic decision by Amtrak.

 

[TrackWalker]

So who do you think is going to get it?

 

[A.H. Rudd]

I believe the Capitol Limited and City of New Orleans also have no SSL car.

I rode the CONO from CHI to NOL on April 19. I’m happy to report the sightseer lounge was in the consist. I asked our conductor and she said it never left (thankfully.)

 

[me_little_me]

Another effort to kill of LD trains.

If they cared, they would inform everyone of the REASONABLE explanation for taking away amenities. Since they don't ever do that, it is reasonable to say it is a deliberate act to continue Anderson's program to dump LD overnight service and replace it with daytime trains or not replace it at all.

 

[frequentflyer]

Hard to take Amtrak seriously. How much fuel Amtrak do you save not pullping a lounge car? Might as well go ahead make it single level equipmen, and that may be next.

 

[HammerJack]

That’s too bad. The SSL was a nice amenity for coach passengers. At least they’ll keep the Cross Country Cafes. They just need to open the tables back up already.

 

[MaisieM]

Oh no. Without that, I'm not sure I really want to travel on the TE! It's looking increasingly likely that we'll just cancel our trip planned for July.

 

[20th Century Rider]

Huh? Now what? they're taking away the sightseer car on the TE? As I put together a big trip for next October, I gotta find out more and more of what will be less and less?

50 years of Amtrak consistently regressing, deteriorating, declining, worsening, degenerating, and dismantling it's system; the only thing that's going up is pricing.

Sad way to celebrate the 50th year anniversary.

 

[caravanman]

That's a blow! Where can I sleep overnight in future on the Texas Eagle?

 

[Everydaymatters]

Since they are taking away the Sightseer Lounge, hopefully they are at least putting in a cafe car that can be used as a respite from the coach seat...for the passengers,? Sarcasm here due to seating in cafe cars being monopolized by crew.

 

[user 1215]

How can they get rid of the SSL? That's where the cafe car is (first floor). Without a cafe, there is literally NO FOOD available between SAN and CHI (Diner gets booked up by sleeper pax)? This is asinine.

 

[Bob Dylan]

How can they get rid of the SSL? That's where the cafe car is (first floor). Without a cafe, there is literally NO FOOD available between SAN and CHI (Diner gets booked up by sleeper pax)? This is asinine.

The Cafe is operated in the small end of the Diner ( CCC) that runs on the CONO and the Texas Eagle, but Coach passengers have to eat and drink in their Seats, they're not allowed to sit in the Crews " Lounge", which is where they hang out now that the Transdorms are also not operating on the Eagles.

The other bad feature of this "hybrid" car is that the LSA and SCA gets to make up their own rules as to whether or not SLEEPER Passengers can eat in the " Diner ",or have to pick up their " Meals" in a "To Go " Bag or have it delivered by the 1 SCA on the Train and eat in their rooms.

On my last 2 trips on the Eagle (Round trips)to Dallas and San Antonio, it was 50/50 as to whether we had a choice, and also the Cafe would be Closed for Hours as the Overworked LSA would be busy heating and packing up the Sleeping Car Passengers meals, sometimes assisted by the also Overworked SCA and the 1 Coach Attendant!().

 

[Rasputin]

That’s too bad. The SSL was a nice amenity for coach passengers. At least they’ll keep the Cross Country Cafes. They just need to open the tables back up already.

That is very true but it was a great amenity for sleeping car passengers as well. We do not care to sit in our roomette all day.

 

[MaisieM]

Can I please just clarify something about this? Being an Brit and a relative Amtrak 'newbie' (only have done one other LD trip before, on the CZ in 2019), does this mean that we will have to stay in our sleeper for the entire trip, with the exception of meal times (if of course, traditional dining returns by 2 July)?

 

[Sidney]

Does anybody know the "thinking" behind the decision to not return the SSL car to the TE? Do the *****(s) who made that decision rationalize the scenery isn't as good as the other trains so passengers wouldn"t miss it,?

How much money can they be saving,?

When I first began riding in 1990,I was very impressed with the Sightseer car and have been ever since. This is a great disservice to both Coach and sleeper passengers.. This is close to the decision to eliminate traditional.dining on the Eastern trains. As that jerk Anderson stated...this will revolutionize how people eat on the train.

 

[Amtrakfflyer]

Even worse and apparently going under the radar is the fact Amtrak is only selling Bedrooms in the second sleeper. Roomettes are not for revenue sale according to sources on said thread. Understandable on the surface considering no dorm but looking deeper there are only 3 or 4 onboard service crew members needing bedding. They could take the lower level roomettes still leaving 8 for sale upstairs.

 

[20th Century Rider]

Even worse and apparently going under the radar is the fact Amtrak is only selling Bedrooms in the second sleeper. Roomettes are not for revenue sale according to sources on said thread. Understandable on the surface considering no dorm but looking deeper there are only 3 or 4 onboard service crew members needing bedding.

As service declines, pricing goes up. Is there any 'silver lining' anywhere?

At least flex dining includes the 4 Amtrak food groups...
1 - fat
2 - sodium
3 - starch
4 - sugar

At least the lack of the sightseer car will have you appreciate the stretch stops more... and you can look at the scenery from promotional literature.

At least the higher pricing for sleeping accommodations still includes air to breathe.

 

[Rasputin]

As service declines, pricing goes up. Is there any 'silver lining' anywhere?

Yes, I am told by some that it is called "Southwest Airlines."

 

[frequentflyer]

Does anybody know the "thinking" behind the decision to not return the SSL car to the TE? Do the *****(s) who made that decision rationalize the scenery isn't as good as the other trains so passengers wouldn"t miss it,?

How much money can they be saving,?

When I first began riding in 1990,I was very impressed with the Sightseer car and have been ever since. This is a great disservice to both Coach and sleeper passengers.. This is close to the decision to eliminate traditional.dining on the Eastern trains. As that jerk Anderson stated...this will revolutionize how people eat on the train.

A coach and sleeper car carry revenue pax, the SSL does not, and really does not pay for itself accounting wise.

 

[MaisieM]

I'm now even more depressed than I was before. I think that even if President Biden decides to let us in to the US, I'll cancel our TE booking. Our favourite parts of our previous trip were sitting in the SSL and eating in the dining car. In fact, we did little else, apart from sleep. Drat.

 

[20th Century Rider]

I'm now even more depressed than I was before. I think that even if President Biden decides to let us in to the US, I'll cancel our TE booking. Our favourite parts of our previous trip were sitting in the SSL and eating in the dining car. In fact, we did little else, apart from sleep. Drat.

I love those UK trains! Compared to what's here in the USA, they are relatively modern, comfortable, and go fast. Am surprised when I see bloggers complaining about the service in the British Isles.

Comparatively you may be disappointed with our rail system. The food is pathetic, there are breakdowns and delays, the rooms can be very hot and stuffy, and one never knows what problem will happen next. Sorry we can't do better!

 

[Sidney]

A coach and sleeper car carry revenue pax, the SSL does not, and really does not pay for itself accounting wise.

That sucks. So if that is the reasoning why doesn't Amtrak get rid of all the SSL cars? Maybe they will...the SIghtseer car is an important part of the train and passengers love it. How much can they save by eliminating it and how much more can Amtrak do to piss off their customers who are paying sky high prices for sleepers?

 

[caravanman]

I'm now even more depressed than I was before. I think that even if President Biden decides to let us in to the US, I'll cancel our TE booking. Our favourite parts of our previous trip were sitting in the SSL and eating in the dining car. In fact, we did little else, apart from sleep. Drat.

I don't know what the Amtrak cancellation policy is in these Covid times? They may offer a voucher for future use, which is not great for us Brits. I hope you can get a full refund?
Although it is still a few months away, I am not too optimistic about travel to the USA being allowed by the summer. Good luck, anyway!