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

[CTANut]

I heard that Amtrak may resume dining car service on December 15th, according to their website. I am not sure whether the suspension may be extended or not.

 

[LinPhil]

It's a revenue issue (Since It's available on the Auto Train). They didn't put Flexible Dining on their new tri-weekly timetables which makes me think they expect the tri-Weekly service to last longer...

 

[Maglev]

I expect Flexible Dining will be extended beyond Dec. 15.

 

[Bob Dylan]

I expect Flexible Dining will be extended beyond Dec. 15.

This one seems to be a "no brainer" since so many OBS have been Furloughed!

 

[Sidney]

With no end in sight to this pedemic,I doubt full service dining will return on December 15,or ever. Since we are stuck with flex dining,some variety would be most welcome like sandwiches and burgers.

 

[me_little_me]

The real question is "Will traditional dining EVER come back?".

Possibly, if the new administration can get enough Amtrak funding and shoves a requirement for traditional dining down Amtrak executives' throats.

 

[BoulderCO]

My best case scenario for conventional dining returning is 2Q 2021 - but only IF Amtrak gets more support and $$ from the new administration.

 

[Acela150]

I expect Flexible Dining will be extended beyond Dec. 15.

I sadly agree with this.

This one seems to be a "no brainer" since so many OBS have been Furloughed!

This is a very accurate statement Jim.

With no end in sight to this pedemic,I doubt full service dining will return on December 15,or ever.

While their "isn't end in sight" these things do NOT last forever!

I'll also add that with a new administration incoming. I fully expect some big names to be removed from their positions at Amtrak. I can tell you that many a railfan and Amtrak supporters are almost begging for Stephen Gardiner to be kicked to the curb and then some. Simply cause he along with the Board are behind some of the horrific decisions that have taken place at Amtrak over the past 4 years.

 

[Ferroequinologist]

Outdoor dining could be set up on the roof of trains.

 

[tonys96]

With no end in sight to this pedemic,I doubt full service dining will return on December 15,or ever. Since we are stuck with flex dining,some variety would be most welcome like sandwiches and burgers.

Heartbreakingly, I doubt the return also.

 

[tgstubbs1]

Outdoor dining could be set up on the roof of trains.

They could have outdoor lounge car.

 

[railiner]

They could have outdoor lounge car.

Ultradomes on ARR have open sided ends...

 

[Acela150]

Outdoor dining could be set up on the roof of trains.

This is hilarious!

 

[tim49424]

Outdoor dining could be set up on the roof of trains.

On the California Zephyr, there is a SCA that "tries" to convince his passengers there is an elevator to the top of the car where a swimming pool is located. I'll bet that the outdoor dining is in above an adjacent car next to the pool.

 

[Charles785]

C'mon, it's a little too cold this time of year for that outdoor dining and swimming on top of the car; I'd rather retire to my sleeping car bedroom and enjoy the built-in fireplace.

 

[west point]

Regular dining may return 4Q calendar year 2021 . That is based on most everyone who is willing has taken inoculations for covid-19 protection. Hopefully the immunity will last several years. Sort of like some inoculations need renewal ?

 

[tim49424]

C'mon, it's a little too cold this time of year for that outdoor dining and swimming on top of the car; I'd rather retire to my sleeping car bedroom and enjoy the built-in fireplace.

Would it help if I told you my trip with him on the CZ was in March and we were headed into a blizzard (bomb cyclone) just west of Omaha, which included 90 mph winds near Colorado Springs? He said the pool was heated. Speaking of pool, the alternative entertainment was in the far lower part of the car, with pool tables and a casino....also accessible via the elevator.

 

[me_little_me]

C'mon, it's a little too cold this time of year for that outdoor dining and swimming on top of the car; I'd rather retire to my sleeping car bedroom and enjoy the built-in fireplace.

That's not a fireplace! That's your wife smoking in bed. Call the FD and have them use their water as they run along with the train.

 

[tim49424]

That's not a fireplace! That's your wife smoking in bed. Call the FD and have them use their water as they run along with the train.

See that might be true for him, but I’m not married. How do you explain the fireplace that was in my room?....and it was a tight squeeze being I was in a roomette.

 

[Bob Dylan]

See that might be true for him, but I’m not married. How do you explain the fireplace that was in my room?....and it was a tight squeeze being I was in a roomette.

I had a Bedroom that had a Jaccuzi and a Satelite TV to go along with the Fridge and Convection Oven.

 

[user 14106]

December 15 doesn’t sound realistic at this point. Until the pandemic ends its hard to even argue for this. If the pandemic ends and Amtrak continues to extend the date then is a good time to have the argument, but like it or not pre packaged food is the rule in a lot of places right now with the pandemic and something like this may have happened even if we hadn’t already had the flex dining program on the eastern trains - look at the crap they are serving in Acela first right now (I’ll take flexible dining over Acela first right now any day.). If they are indeed sincere about this being temporary I can’t blame them for doing it during this situation for a number of reasons. I do hope they resume traditional dining along with Acela first dining when it is safe and fiscally feasible to do so.

 

[LinPhil]

I called Amtrak and the agent said they are extending it to May 21
They could at least serve some new items on the menu.

 

[tim49424]

I called Amtrak and the agent said they are extending it to May 21
They could at least serve some new items on the menu.

This shouldn’t surprise anyone. I’m sure that if we see it return, it’ll be after the vaccine is in widespread distribution. I do agree, a better variety would be nice and I would wish more nutritious and healthy choices would be available.

 

[caravanman]

Outdoor dining could be set up on the roof of trains.

I think it important from a safety point of view to watch out for low bridges on some routes...

 

[Sidney]

I doubt full service dining will ever return. I wish they would add sandwiches cold and hot,burgers and those pizzas they serve in the cafe car. Eating that same food for a two or three day trip gets old fast.