What should Amtrak change?

[Harmon Shay]

Yes, please bring back timetables or at least make the full timetable available online. Has one tried to make an itinerary of, let's say, Milwaukee to Santa Barbara and spend some layover time sightseeing in Hollywood on the way using the current system, which is a variation of hunt and peck?

I was curious about the new, changed Empire Service schedule and looked it up on the Amtrak Web site. I can't see how any non-railfan or non-computer person could get through what I had to get through to get the hard-to-understand, and I don't think entirely accurate, mess I got. By the way, as of yesterday, the RPA Empire Service timetable hadn't been updated yet.

 

[Sunrobber]

Do y'all think there is a chance Amtrak might ever upgrade all remaining routes still using flex dining, up to traditional dining? I wish they'd do that one day, but I wonder if that hasn't happened due to Amtrak only having so much funding. I mean it is nice that with the new temporary Floridan route, that the Capitol Limited part at least for now will have traditional dining once again. Wish I could see more upgrades to traditional dining, on other routes still using flex.

I have avoided taking the City of New Orleans fo exactly that reason! I fly to Chicago and then take the Empire Builder. I'm NOT going to pay for a bedroom on a train that serves Flex meals. I ‘ll fly every time before doing that. Hell, we don't even get traditional dining going from New Orleans to Washington DC. Flying every time.

Trains are for their experiences, including dining. I'm not going by train long distance ANYWHERE WITHOUT TRADITIONAL DINING!

Are you listening, Amtrak?