Capitol Limited meals

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NukeTim

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What meals are available on the Capital Limited for sleeper passengers on the run from Chicago to D.C.? I know breakfast would be available, but is dinner available on departure from Chicago and is lunch available before arrival into D.C.?
 
Dinner is served soon after you leave Chicago, but I don't think you get lunch the next day
 
If you are riding sleeper you have the option of eating before it leaves the station.
 
I've heard they serve a "brunch". Breakfast straight into lunch, so if you get up early enough, you can have breakfast and if you're hungry before you get to DC (or when they close the diner), you can have lunch.
 
I've heard they serve a "brunch". Breakfast straight into lunch, so if you get up early enough, you can have breakfast and if you're hungry before you get to DC (or when they close the diner), you can have lunch.
I think I have had breakfast and lunch on the CL every time I have traveled on it. Many times, they do not announce that they are serving lunch and it is very early.

If you are waiting in the CHI lounge, a lounge attendant usually will take your dinner reservation.
 
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Almost every time I've ridden the Captiol the meal options have been different. Brunch, Express Lunch, Full Lunch, No Lunch, I've seen it all.

Just ask your attendant to keep you informed, and take what you can get. Ha.
 
Almost every time I've ridden the Captiol the meal options have been different. Brunch, Express Lunch, Full Lunch, No Lunch, I've seen it all.
Just ask your attendant to keep you informed, and take what you can get. Ha.
I can even remember a dining car LSA saying "Don't listen to what other crews say about there being no lunch..." This is really a YMMV.
 
We have ridden the eastbound CL #30 many times and the customary announcement is that lunch will be served until the train gets to Martinsburg, WVa. After that point, the diner will be closed. You will always have breakfast from around 6:30am or so and if you choose to come back for the limited "burger" menu, you must do so, usually before 10:30am which is when the CL is expected into Martinsburg. We have usually opted to eat in Washington but it is possible to have a small lunch if you want to eat that early.
 
We rode the CL a couple of weeks ago and were told that for the included sleeper meal we could get breakfast or lunch during that 6:30-10:30 window, but not both. Jamming two meals into that time frame would be a lot.
 
We rode the CL a couple of weeks ago and were told that for the included sleeper meal we could get breakfast or lunch during that 6:30-10:30 window, but not both. Jamming two meals into that time frame would be a lot.
You were told an Untruth, but the Crew on #30 (and all other LD Trains) are anxious to Clean up and hit the platform soon as the Train hits the Stop @ the Terminal Station! Next time just go have Breakfast early and if still Hungry have a light Brunch, or was said, if not hungry consider eating in WAS, lots of good places there!
 
Lunch on the eastbound CL is always clouded in mystery. The staff does there best to hide the availability of this meal. As other posters have said lunch is an official offered meal and sleeping car passengers are entitled to both a breakfast and lunch seating.

About the worst infraction I have witnessed, on more than one occasion, is the refusal of lunch service to coach passengers after 10:30AM or so when the train is running late. They are told in a stern manner that lunch is for sleeping car passengers and coach travelers wanting lunch purchase food in the cafe section of the lounge car.
 
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We had lunch on the CL coming into DC last year but I recall it was very abridged. They were out of most options, but did have the item we wanted.
 
So what happens if 30 is running 1 or 2 hours late? Lunch is still over by 10:30, or is meal serviced extended?

For you, Steve, they will cut it off at 10:30. :lol: Honestly, I do not know the answer, I do not recall being on the CL when it was really late. I do recall being told that lunch will be before Martinsburg, WV.

I guess I am an "oinker" since I can eat 2 meals in a short period of time (in fact, I wanted dessert after the second meal but it was not offered).
 
I was on the eastbound CL in March that was a couple hours late.

Normally (which they do not advertise), service is between 6:30 and 10:30-11:00 am. Sleeping car passengers are entitled to TWO (2) meals that morning. (You also receive dinner the night before.) When the CL is running very late, they shut down service early (like at 9:30) to prepare for lunch. I think in March only the sleepers received lunch in the Dining Car. Then we were served lunch between like 10 am and noon.
 
I was on the eastbound CL in March that was a couple hours late.
Normally (which they do not advertise), service is between 6:30 and 10:30-11:00 am. Sleeping car passengers are entitled to TWO (2) meals that morning. (You also receive dinner the night before.) When the CL is running very late, they shut down service early (like at 9:30) to prepare for lunch. I think in March only the sleepers received lunch in the Dining Car. Then we were served lunch between like 10 am and noon.
That is my experience also on more than one occasion. As other have said also, service in the dining car concludes once it arrives Martinsburg.
 
Lunch on the eastbound CL is always clouded in mystery. The staff does there best to hide the availability of this meal. As other posters have said lunch is an official offered meal and sleeping car passengers are entitled to both a breakfast and lunch seating.
About the worst infraction I have witnessed, on more than one occasion, is the refusal of lunch service to coach passengers after 10:30AM or so when the train is running late. They are told in a stern manner that lunch is for sleeping car passengers and coach travelers wanting lunch purchase food in the cafe section of the lounge car.
Why doesn't Amtrak include on their schedules which meals are provided on each train?
 
Last trip Eastbound on the CL on June 5th, 2013. Dinner began as soon as we left the station and it was served until 8PM or so. Breakfast the next day was taken at 7 AM and we were somewhere in western Md. We got off the train at HFY at 11:45 AM so we didn't have any time for lunch but we also did not hear it offered. At that point the train was only two stop away from DC so it was unlikely that the kitchen was still open.
 
From discussions here, it sound like the CL eastbound is not good if you want to eat in the diner. With an after 6 departure from Chicago, you lose an hour pretty quick changing time zones so it is almost like you are leaving after 7 so there is not much time in the diner.

Then if you are going to PGH to transfer to Pennsy, you get off much earlier than they start serving breakfast.

If you are going all the way, you have this whole breakfast-lunch issue that has been discussed here.
 
The Capitol Limited westbound isn't any better for eating in the diner. If are going all the way to Chicago, and get on in Washington, you only get supper and breakfast, while if you board at Pittsburgh you get only breakfast. At least eastbound there's the possibility of lunch (not that it's so great).

My big problem with both the Capitol Limited and the Lakeshore Limited is that when I'm traveling eastbound, I usually leave Chicago Saturday night. That means that I wake to the crash of the Sunday New York Times, which I feel honor-bound to finish before leaving the train.
 
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