Will dining cars resume 12/15/20?/Flexible dining extended to May 2021?

[crescent-zephyr]

I’d be perfectly content with something like they do on Via Rail’s Ocean.

Which is the same staffing as Amtrak’s “full diner” operation.

 

[jiml]

Careful... the next post will be “I mean if you care about garnishes that’s fine but I’m just paying for transportation.”

Or my favorite...

“I was raised to not expect such things like garnishes on my plate.”

Garnishes are serious business. Google the "American Airlines Olive Story".

 

[Night Ranger]

Garnishes are serious business. Google the "American Airlines Olive Story".

That is a fascinating story and reminded me of one about John D. Rockefeller and his attention to detail and penny pinching. It is a story I heard in a college class on the topic "Robber Barons or Captains of Industry." I cannot find any documentation to verify its accuracy but it certainly sounds like John D. at his parsimonious best.

Rockefeller was inspecting one of his plants one day and noticed the number of drops of solder being applied to kerosene cans. He suggested using fewer drops to save money and management quickly did. There were savings over time and no one seemed to notice the difference.

 

[Dakota 400]

I’m thinking $2,000 for a bedroom is enough of a premium to pay for a plate of scrambled eggs.

A high bucket Bedroom on the EB from CHI to PDX for two adults would be $2464 - maybe juuuust enough for a sprig of parsley with those scrambled eggs!

Plus a choice of Bacon, Sausage, Turkey Sausage, or Ham. And, I want my croissant or biscuit warmed!

 

[crescent-zephyr]

Plus a choice of Bacon, Sausage, Turkey Sausage, or Ham. And, I want my croissant or biscuit warmed!

Remember “if you give a mouse a cookie?” Someone should write “if you give a railfan a dinner roll”

 

[niemi24s]

Rockefeller was inspecting one of his plants one day and noticed the number of drops of solder being applied to kerosene cans. He suggested using fewer drops to save money and management quickly did. There were savings over time and no one seemed to notice the difference.

I've heard that same yarn told about Howard Hughes.

 

[me_little_me]

“I was raised to not expect such things like garnishes on my plate.”

We were so poor, the only thing on our plate was the garnish and a slice of lima bean. Just like Mickey.

 

[user 14106]

Having the seat next to you vacant the entire trip is the only reason I 'm not driving or flying.

I've never tried coach overnight how hard is it to sleep? As nice as the convenience of flying is as far as getting somewhere quick I hate everything else about it so much I'd rather ride in the P42 motor room or the baggage car than fly. Of course it limits where one can travel.

 

[railiner]

I've never tried coach overnight how hard is it to sleep? As nice as the convenience of flying is as far as getting somewhere quick I hate everything else about it so much I'd rather ride in the P42 motor room or the baggage car than fly. Of course it limits where one can travel.

The ability to sleep overnight in coach seats varies individually. When I was much younger, I could do it very well. But back in the streamliner era, the seats on the Western trains reclined to a greater angle than they do today. There were no seat back tray tables to allow for....

 

[tgstubbs1]

I've never tried coach overnight how hard is it to sleep? As nice as the convenience of flying is as far as getting somewhere quick I hate everything else about it so much I'd rather ride in the P42 motor room or the baggage car than fly. Of course it limits where one can travel.

Well, there are more freight trains than passenger trains if you don't mind the accommodations
I didn't have much trouble sleeping in coach, at least for 5-6 hours. Then hopefully the next night would be better.

 

[TRoberts]

I've never tried coach overnight how hard is it to sleep? As nice as the convenience of flying is as far as getting somewhere quick I hate everything else about it so much I'd rather ride in the P42 motor room or the baggage car than fly. Of course it limits where one can travel.

There are quite a few variables when traveling in coach. Depending on where you are sitting, the noise, light, and even air levels can be dramatically different. I've had nights where I've slept quite well in coach and others where I hardly slept at all and felt exhausted the next day, which is not a fun way to begin a trip.

 

[Sidney]

When I was younger I did Coach three nights in a row on cross country trips. Now that I've aged a bit,I find even one night can be tough. As I mentioned in an earlier post,as long as I am guaranteed the seat next to me is vacant,I ll do Coach. I do have a Philly-Fla. trip coming up. I m doing Coach on the way down and to save $130 on the return I'm in a roomette from Okeechobee to Raleigh,the two farthest points for the cheapest price and Coach from Fort Lauderdale to Okeechobee and Raleigh to Philly.

 

[BoulderCO]

Yes, having the empty seat next to you in coach is HUGE in terms of comfort. Not only the extra space to find a comfortable sleeping position, but also avoiding the awkwardness of having someone next to you. I always take a window seat and, at my age, need to get up at least once during the night to attend to business (if you get my drift). I would feel terrible about waking someone else up so I could get out of my seat.

I'm in my 70s and have done several overnights in coach. But only one night per trip. Think I would be pretty strung out if it were more than one night. Probably average about 4 hours of actual sleep if I'm lucky.

 

[Asher]

There are quite a few variables when traveling in coach. Depending on where you are sitting, the noise, light, and even air levels can be dramatically different. I've had nights where I've slept quite well in coach and others where I hardly slept at all and felt exhausted the next day, which is not a fun way to begin a trip.

Yeah, I'll agree. I can put up with not much sleep, it's the after effect of One not to mention Two nights of disruption.

 

[MrNews]

I’m thinking $2,000 for a bedroom is enough of a premium to pay for a plate of scrambled eggs.

LOL. I do remember what we paid 10 years ago- it seemed astronomical at the time (compared to plane fare), about $1150. That was for two people, round trip, and a total of two dinners, two breakfasts, and two lunches, all served by friendly attendants. And I think it included a full-size bedroom on the return. In retrospect, it was money well-spent for a wonderful adventure...

 

[tgstubbs1]

I m doing Coach on the way down and to save $130 on the return I'm in a roomette from Okeechobee to Raleigh,the two farthest points for the cheapest price and Coach from Fort Lauderdale to Okeechobee and Raleigh to Philly.

When you do that I guess it affects your meal plan, but from what I read here I guess that's maybe a good thing. I guess you can grab something from the lounge?

 

[Sidney]

I am still getting lunch,dinner and breakfast and an overnight in a bed. All I'll need is something from the cafe car for lunch the next day..I just couldn't justify paying $468 for a roomette the entire journey. It's,$279 for over 18 hours and with the half price coach sale I'm paying $59 for the remainder.

I'm doing something similar in January. I'm taking the Texas Eagle from LA to Chicago. It's $600 for a roomette the entire trip. By vacating my room in Bloomington about three hours shy of Chicago and paying $13 for Coach the remainder of the trip I'm saving $139.

I love riding,but the sleeper prices are high enough and these are low bucket fares and with the flexible dining on all trains I'm not missing any great meals.

 

[Maverickstation]

it's official, Traditional Dining is on hold through May 21, 2021.

Service Change
Traditional dining service has been temporarily suspended on all routes with the exception of the Auto Train. Through May 21, 2021, customers in private rooms will be offered flexible dining service; Coach customers will be offered Café service.

 

[Ziv]

You think you were poor, mlm? You need to hear how poor the 4 Yorkshireman were. This is one of Monty Pythons best bits ever. Sorry for going OT, but it is a classic.

We were so poor, the only thing on our plate was the garnish and a slice of lima bean. Just like Mickey.

 

[Dustyroad]

I found this on the Amtrak site. I am not surprised at all with the Covid as bad as it is. It will not be unheard of if the 3 day schedules for the LD trains will be here for a long time as well.
If this has already been posted, sorry for the repeat. I have not kept up on the site for a while.

Traditional dining service has been temporarily suspended on all routes with the exception of the Auto Train. Through May 21, 2021, customers in private rooms will be offered flexible dining service .

 

[AmtrakFlyer]

Even before this management the Auto Train was always considered an extension of the NEC. Amtrak’s darkest days under Norman Minetta saw the Auto Train as the only LD train that was to survive before Gunn got the last minute bailout.

Somewhat off topic but shows how this management thinks the same keeping Auto Train daily and with traditional dining to boot.

 

[tgstubbs1]

I found this on the Amtrak site. I am not surprised at all with the Covid as bad as it is. It will not be unheard of if the 3 day schedules for the LD trains will be here for a long time as well.
If this has already been posted, sorry for the repeat. I have not kept up on the site for a while.

Traditional dining service has been temporarily suspended on all routes with the exception of the Auto Train. Through May 21, 2021, customers in private rooms will be offered flexible dining service .

In time for the summer season anyway.

 

[Bob Dylan]

it's official, Traditional Dining is on hold through May 21, 2021.

Service Change
Traditional dining service has been temporarily suspended on all routes with the exception of the Auto Train. Through May 21, 2021, customers in private rooms will be offered flexible dining service; Coach customers will be offered Café service.

I'm Shocked! Shocked! Who coulda seen this coming???

 

[tgstubbs1]

I'm Shocked! Shocked! Who coulda seen this coming???

Well, it follows. Everyone in Colorado is now under 'alert' til Jan 1 and then there's the Christmas surge

 

[Sidney]

How many times has the return of traditional dining been postponed? I doubt it will ever return,regardless of the pedemic. Why can't there be a wider selection of offerings?..sandwiches and burgers would be most welcome