Viewliner II Sleeper on the Cardinal

[SP1]

I think that’s the bag-dorm (crew car). It’s a VLII

Thank you!

 

[dlagrua]

We always enjoyed riding the Cardinal PHL-CHI as it is a very scenic ride. AFAIK, there has always been a single sleeper on this train and a single engine. The bag/dorm is new and gives them extra roomettes to sell. Not sure if they offer room service there. Years back the Cardinal offered "diner lite" food that was better than what they now have. Flexible, is the new norm on the Eastern routes so we recommend taking some of your own food onboard.

 

[Kbyrdleroydogg]

I'm on the Cardinal in a roomette and I have #11 and was wondering whether that was farther from or closer to the bathroom in my car.
I just want to get there easier on a moving train. Not saying I have any issues.

 

[AmtrakBlue]

I'm on the Cardinal in a roomette and I have #11 and was wondering whether that was farther from or closer to the bathroom in my car.
I just want to get there easier on a moving train. Not saying I have any issues.

It should be either next to the bathrooms or next to the shower (which is across from the bathrooms)

 

[WWW]

As you enter the car from the front - passing the first (handicap) bedroom H and the 2 bedrooms A & B in the car results in
odd numbered roomettes starting with 1 ending with 11 next to the shower at the end of the car - on the right beginning
with 2 ending with 12 and the car Attendant - on my recent travels number 12 was the attendant cabin followed by two
restrooms - - -

Best be noted that Roomettes are best used SOLO for creature comfort !
Also note that the ride is T-E-R-R-I-B-L-E - CSX has really done a number on the railroad road bed with heavy coal freight loads.
Fasten your seat belt and prepare for a very very bumpy ride - - -

Enjoy the scenery thru the newest National Park - New River Gorge -

The Flexible Dining service is nothing to write home about

For more information:

***** The Best version *****
https://www.bing.com/search?q=amtrak+sleeper+cars+layout&FORM=QSRE1
Others
https://history.amtrak.com/blogs/blog/welcoming-the-next-generation-viewliner-II
https://amtrakguide.com/2019/04/18/amtrak-roomette-vs-bedroom-what-you-need-to-know/
https://amtrakguide.com/2019/10/21/types-of-amtrak-train-cars/
https://www.amtrak.com/sleeper-car-accommodations
https://cruisemaven.com/amtrak-sleeping-accommodations/

This should give you a wide enough perspective of the View Liner

 

[railiner]

According to a couple of reports on FB Cardinal now has a full Viewliner II Sleeper in addition to the Viewliner II Bag-Dorm.

This also incidentally makes the Cardinal the only LD train capable of running at 125mph on the NEC! It is shown running at 123mph on a Speed App in one of the posts.

Imagine what a passenger riding Chicago to New York on the Cardinal, after riding most of the way at the Cardinal's, lets say "leisurely" pace, leaves Washington, and then looks out the window at the cars on the parallel highways appearing to be traveling backwards....

 

[overlycurious]

Hello - Are all Cardinal roomettes and bedrooms now Viewliner 2s or is it still a mix?

 

[Widfara]

I just was on the Cardinal a few weeks ago. I didn't think the roadbed was as bad as was just mentioned, except on the Buckingham Branch.
I do have other issues with it. A train hyped as passing some of the best scenery in the east (New River Gorge), but there is no place to go to enjoy it except from your sleeper cell. We were seriously discouraged from trying to go to the cafe car except to make purchases, but could not use the tables. No option but to eat in the cell. I didn't try, but going back to a coach, which would at least allow you to see both sides, probably would've been disallowed.
I'm big and tall, 6'6", and the bed was really too small. If I do an eastern sleeper again, I'll get a bedroom, regardless of the huge cost.
But, not likely to do another comprehensive train trip again until those fools in DC get their act together and find out that passenger satisfaction is a biggy. I've been riding Amtrak for fun since the 90's, but this last trip was not much fun.

 

[AmtrakBlue]

Hello - Are all Cardinal roomettes and bedrooms now Viewliner 2s or is it still a mix?

There’s only 2 cars on the Cardinal with rooms. The VLII sleeper and the VLII bag-dorm.
Of course there’s always a <low> chance a VLI will be used to replace a bad-ordered sleeper.

 

[ScottishAmtrakFan]

I just was on the Cardinal a few weeks ago. I didn't think the roadbed was as bad as was just mentioned, except on the Buckingham Branch.
I do have other issues with it. A train hyped as passing some of the best scenery in the east (New River Gorge), but there is no place to go to enjoy it except from your sleeper cell. We were seriously discouraged from trying to go to the cafe car except to make purchases, but could not use the tables. No option but to eat in the cell. I didn't try, but going back to a coach, which would at least allow you to see both sides, probably would've been disallowed.
I'm big and tall, 6'6", and the bed was really too small. If I do an eastern sleeper again, I'll get a bedroom, regardless of the huge cost.
But, not likely to do another comprehensive train trip again until those fools in DC get their act together and find out that passenger satisfaction is a biggy. I've been riding Amtrak for fun since the 90's, but this last trip was not much fun.

Thank you @Widfara for your informative post. I am travelling on the Cardinal later this month as part of a longer journey coast to coast from New York to Los Angeles.

I am concerned to read the points you have made about being confined to your roomette as Amtrak very much promote the Cardinal as having some of the best scenery in the North East and vising from Scotland this is one of the reasons that I chose to travel on this service over the Lake Shore Limited.

Whilst I am very much looking forward to travelling on the route and experiencing the scenery, not being able to see it all due to being in a roomette is a little disappointing. Amtrak promote a lounge area on this service and whilst I appreciate this is just an extension of the Cafe Car it still gives you the option of capturing the views from here on both sides of the train.

I also am not keen on eating in my roomette, preferring to sit at a table so fingers crossed this is an option available to me and other passengers. Amtrak really need to get their act together as they promote one thing and then deliver another.

All that aside I am very much looking forward to travelling on the Cardinal and being back on Amtrak again.

Thanks again for the info.

 

[trimetbusfan]

Thank you @Widfara for your informative post. I am travelling on the Cardinal later this month as part of a longer journey coast to coast from New York to Los Angeles.

I am concerned to read the points you have made about being confined to your roomette as Amtrak very much promote the Cardinal as having some of the best scenery in the North East and vising from Scotland this is one of the reasons that I chose to travel on this service over the Lake Shore Limited.

Whilst I am very much looking forward to travelling on the route and experiencing the scenery, not being able to see it all due to being in a roomette is a little disappointing. Amtrak promote a lounge area on this service and whilst I appreciate this is just an extension of the Cafe Car it still gives you the option of capturing the views from here on both sides of the train.

I also am not keen on eating in my roomette, preferring to sit at a table so fingers crossed this is an option available to me and other passengers. Amtrak really need to get their act together as they promote one thing and then deliver another.

All that aside I am very much looking forward to travelling on the Cardinal and being back on Amtrak again.

Thanks again for the info.

As with Amtrak, it is a game of luck.

When I rode the Cardinal in July, I had a very good SCA and Cafe attendant, both had no problem with me spending hours in the cafe at a given time. (I had walked into the trip expecting to be stuck in the room for the whole trip). In fact, one time I went in and the customer tables were full, without asking they let me sit on the crew side. But I realize not all crews are like that.

 

[joelkfla]

As with Amtrak, it is a game of luck.

When I rode the Cardinal in July, I had a very good SCA and Cafe attendant, both had no problem with me spending hours in the cafe at a given time. (I had walked into the trip expecting to be stuck in the room for the whole trip). In fact, one time I went in and the customer tables were full, without asking they let me sit on the crew side. But I realize not all crews are like that.

Maybe somebody read the Service Standards Manual where it says the crew may use a maximum of one table in active food service cars, and felt guilty.

 

[Widfara]

Thank you @Widfara for your informative post. I am travelling on the Cardinal later this month as part of a longer journey coast to coast from New York to Los Angeles.

I am concerned to read the points you have made about being confined to your roomette as Amtrak very much promote the Cardinal as having some of the best scenery in the North East and vising from Scotland this is one of the reasons that I chose to travel on this service over the Lake Shore Limited.

Whilst I am very much looking forward to travelling on the route and experiencing the scenery, not being able to see it all due to being in a roomette is a little disappointing. Amtrak promote a lounge area on this service and whilst I appreciate this is just an extension of the Cafe Car it still gives you the option of capturing the views from here on both sides of the train.

I also am not keen on eating in my roomette, preferring to sit at a table so fingers crossed this is an option available to me and other passengers. Amtrak really need to get their act together as they promote one thing and then deliver another.

All that aside I am very much looking forward to travelling on the Cardinal and being back on Amtrak again.

Thanks again for the info.

I hope you get a "good crew". Mine was not. The idea of eating in the cafe car was not ever offered as a possibility by the SCA. And, the crew was using all of the tables, either for their work/relaxation, of boxes of "stuff". Of course, these conditions on both the Cardinal and the Crescent saved me the tip money, because surly or non-existent service does not deserve a tip.
As to getting their act together, I don't think that people in the various departments at AMTRAK Headquarters ever get together and talk about how the customer/passenger will react to their decisions.

And their decisions certainly don't percolate down to the people running the train. The attitude of some of these people seems to be "You ought to feel lucky the train is running at all. Service? We don't need to provide no freaking service!"