Amenities Being Eliminated from Long Distance Routes

[Now_you_cant_see_me]

They can't take away the scenery

Glass can break, and expensive to replace.

Plus, it needs to be maintained/washed.

Amtrak could, next, board up all the windows, and with that, there goes the scenery.

 

[rickycourtney]

These amenities need to be provided on all trains, or don't bother.

Agreed. That means they should have been ADDED to all trains not removed from the few that had it.

The wine and cheese tasting, and the champagne and cider... not needed.

I feel like this was eliminated because it was a target of criticism. I would have been supportive of a small fee (they had a $5 fee for a while) to cover the cost of the wine and cheese. The costs could also be recovered through pushing wine sales not only at the end of the tasting, but at dinner time.

The cranberry juice... This is a cost/usage decision that management should make, and be respected.

I agree. This should be a decision made based on how many passengers are using the amenity (hopefully it was).

Newspapers are nice, but one or two copies in the lounge(s) would be all thats needed... Picking up local papers at intermediate stations would be a nice, inexpensive touch.

On the San Joaquin complementary newspapers are provided for all passengers. They just leave a stack of them in the café for passengers to grab. I feel like they could go to a system like this and just leave a few copies in the sleeping car for passengers to grab. They could also sell papers in the lounge car. Heck, I think it would be nice if they would sell paperback copies of popular books in the lounge (similar to the newsstand service provided in the golden era of train travel.)

Amenity kits most likely go to waste as most people have there favorite brands of toothpaste/shampoo, etc. HOWEVER the lounge car should have a basic inventory of toothpaste, toothbrushes, floss, shampoo, soap, cough drops, and other essential hygiene products for sale.

I guess I the only one on this forum that liked the Amenity Bags. I enjoy trying the different brands of shampoo and conditioner provided by hotels (especially when it's a better brand). I always thought the stuff Amtrak provided was pretty good.

I'm a HUGE advocate of Amtrak installing Shampoo and Conditioner dispensers in the shower rooms and lotion dispensers in the sleeper bathrooms. That way the amenity is provided... without the "shrink" of tossing the stuff that is partially used.

But if left with no other choice, I like the idea of offering these items in the lounge car.

Most hotels (3 star and up) proudly offer a service where if you forget a toothbrush or a razor they will happily provide one for free (I think they are provided by the manufacturers as a measure of goodwill. I once had to shave using a woman's Venus razor that said "Complements of Gillette" and had a coupon to buy my own inside. I passed on that offer.) Maybe Amtrak can work out a similar arrangement.

Vases should be provided by Amtrak, but as an option for the OBS diner staff.

Flowers and chocolates should be an option for the OBS diner/sleeper staff to provide, make it THEIR decision if it increases tips to make it worthwhile (and the costs should be tax deductible as an unreimbursed expense). On the lines of this specifically allow crew members to provide extra “little things” at their expense, though rules/guidelines of what NOT to do would be needed.

On my last trip on the California Zephyr we had an awesome SCA who provided his own cookies, candy and chocolates to passengers (he admitted that the extra tips he gets for providing this extra service more than covers the cost of all of the items items).

 

[SarahZ]

They can't take away the scenery

Glass can break, and expensive to replace.

Plus, it needs to be maintained/washed.

Amtrak could, next, board up all the windows, and with that, there goes the scenery.

And this is where the argument officially jumps the shark...

 

[VentureForth]

These amenities need to be provided on all trains, or don't bother.

Agreed. That means they should have been ADDED to all trains not removed from the few that had it.

The wine and cheese tasting, and the champagne and cider... not needed.

I feel like this was eliminated because it was a target of criticism. I would have been supportive of a small fee (they had a $5 fee for a while) to cover the cost of the wine and cheese. The costs could also be recovered through pushing wine sales not only at the end of the tasting, but at dinner time.

The cranberry juice... This is a cost/usage decision that management should make, and be respected.

I agree. This should be a decision made based on how many passengers are using the amenity (hopefully it was).

Newspapers are nice, but one or two copies in the lounge(s) would be all thats needed... Picking up local papers at intermediate stations would be a nice, inexpensive touch.

On the San Joaquin complementary newspapers are provided for all passengers. They just leave a stack of them in the café for passengers to grab. I feel like they could go to a system like this and just leave a few copies in the sleeping car for passengers to grab. They could also sell papers in the lounge car. Heck, I think it would be nice if they would sell paperback copies of popular books in the lounge (similar to the newsstand service provided in the golden era of train travel.)

Amenity kits most likely go to waste as most people have there favorite brands of toothpaste/shampoo, etc. HOWEVER the lounge car should have a basic inventory of toothpaste, toothbrushes, floss, shampoo, soap, cough drops, and other essential hygiene products for sale.

I guess I the only one on this forum that liked the Amenity Bags. I enjoy trying the different brands of shampoo and conditioner provided by hotels (especially when it's a better brand). I always thought the stuff Amtrak provided was pretty good.

I'm a HUGE advocate of Amtrak installing Shampoo and Conditioner dispensers in the shower rooms and lotion dispensers in the sleeper bathrooms. That way the amenity is provided... without the "shrink" of tossing the stuff that is partially used.

But if left with no other choice, I like the idea of offering these items in the lounge car.

Most hotels (3 star and up) proudly offer a service where if you forget a toothbrush or a razor they will happily provide one for free (I think they are provided by the manufacturers as a measure of goodwill. I once had to shave using a woman's Venus razor that said "Complements of Gillette" and had a coupon to buy my own inside. I passed on that offer.) Maybe Amtrak can work out a similar arrangement.

Vases should be provided by Amtrak, but as an option for the OBS diner staff.

Flowers and chocolates should be an option for the OBS diner/sleeper staff to provide, make it THEIR decision if it increases tips to make it worthwhile (and the costs should be tax deductible as an unreimbursed expense). On the lines of this specifically allow crew members to provide extra “little things” at their expense, though rules/guidelines of what NOT to do would be needed.

On my last trip on the California Zephyr we had an awesome SCA who provided his own cookies, candy and chocolates to passengers (he admitted that the extra tips he gets for providing this extra service more than covers the cost of all of the items items).

And there I actually see a liability. What if he spiked his cookies with some Washington or Colorado growth? Unlikely, but more plausible is what would happen if someone did get sick? The SCA can get into serious trouble offering something for consumption without a license.

 

[yarrow]

we were on the cs and eb last week. quite a few fellow travelers who had taken the routes before expected the amenities (especially the wine tasting and newspapers) based on what i heard. going to be an uncomfortable few months for the obs crew to explain the amenities are no longer offered. especially as the wine tasting is listed as a perk for the cs in the new timetable. but obs folks are probably used to explaining idiotic amtrak management decisions to customers

 

[tonys96]

I think the days of being pampered are way over. All these things are just perks, not many people get perks anymore, anywhere. How many passengers actually purchased a bottle of wine. People like the wine and cheese because its free. I have never received chocolates and give the amenity kits away at Christmas, flowers are nice but not necessary. Everything is about money and being cost efficient and that is the way it goes. Have not received newspapers in many trips , so I won't miss them. None of these affect passenger service. One gets a room and a meal, which is what one is paying for.

What does one get in the First Class cabin on an airplane, a bigger seat and maybe a meal. No difference, unless going across the pond or to Asia. That is what one pays for and that is what one gets. American Airlines once cut the olives from coach salads and saved 4 million bucks a year. Oh yeh, F/C Flight Attendant to hang up your coat and say Thank You Mr. Zepherdude! That's it!

Think about the barzillions Amtrak looses each year, then decide if you really miss the a small glass of California wine, cheese square and stale cracker.

I agree that one pays for transport from here to there, and in a sleeper, pays for a bed. That is all.

In a top notch hotel, one pays for a bathroom and a bed, that's all. But one gets lot's more.....fold down service, cookies (DoubleTree) evening social events (Marriott Residence Inn and others)...the "extras" are what sets one property apart from another, and attracts a lot of repeat business. Amtrak must have repeat business to survive.

If all you want/need is transport from here to there, take coach. I do that nearly every trip, and when I spend the (big) extra $$$ for a sleeper, the "extras" are not really free...they are included in the cost. Just like the hotel cookies, and evening socials.

 

[leemell]

The only thing of any significance for me was the newspaper. I did read the paper while traveling. It was a USA today and it was good to have that newspaper. Now if they were to get wi-fi on ld trains, this would be a completly mute point for me.

Nothing on the list is that significant. In the entire scheme of things, these things probably have minimum value, but it looks like a good faith effort to the public and our elected officials that Amtrak is cutting waste.

Very little wifi on long distance western trains.

 

[tonys96]

I think the most concerning part of the notice is trend it now resumes. People are talking about how they couldn't care less about this or that specific amenity, and that's fine, but I think they may be missing the bigger picture. Ask yourself this question. If Amtrak focuses on recovering costs by cutting services where does this process end? Does it end with substantially cheaper tickets? Does it end with politicians of a certain mindset burying the hatchet and supporting Amtrak? Does it end with Amtrak becoming so profitable it can make up for ever more severe budget cuts? I'm having a hard time seeing the positive side of these changes. The explanations people are giving for these cuts could be applied to virtually everything Amtrak offers. If you compare the golden era of train travel to the level of service we have today the differences are stark, but none of that happened overnight. It was a long series of cuts that each took away only a few seemingly insignificant services at a time. For those who say they crave consistency over all other considerations, perhaps you'd consider the Supermax vacation service for your next family holiday. It's 100% consistent in every possible way with no chance of any surprises.

THIS.

 

[SarahZ]

To be fair, those hotels with the cookies and such also cost more than other hotels. If the EB and CS cost more than the SWC and TE, then I could understand being ticked off. If the prices are relatively the same, though, then it doesn't make any sense to have perks on one train and not the others. (I realize the buckets make it hard to compare; I'm just offering this as something to consider.)

 

[tonys96]

To be fair, those hotels with the cookies and such also cost more than other hotels. If the EB and CS cost more than the SWC and TE, then I could understand being ticked off. If the prices are relatively the same, though, then it doesn't make any sense to have perks on one train and not the others. (I realize the buckets make it hard to compare; I'm just offering this as something to consider.)

Sure...but since that argument is not quantifiable, it, IMHO, is moot.

These amenities are not offered on the Texas Eagle, my "home" train, but that does not mean they should be eliminated from all trains that do offer them as an extra, anymore than cheerleading should be eliminated as an extra activity at a school because a different school does not offer it.

In fact, the PPC and wine/cheese things were the "extra" enticement that got my g/f to agree to taking the CS and following it up with two more nights on the EB...she would not have done three nights, without that as an enticement....now she is hooked on Amtrak!

 

[montana mike]

Not that I will ever get a reply, but I did send a fairly long missive to Amtrak about this, including asking them how much the cost per person was for these amenities in the sleeper cars. It would have been interesting to see this number. Looking at wholesale costs for very similar items I don't think we were talking about very much $$. And as stated by several forum members, perhaps this could have just been added to the fare anyway. Just some "ballpark numbers" would indicate the cost per person would have been under $10 each for a one way trek from SEA to CHI on the EB. That is assuming a "full house" of sleeper pax on the three cars, and a generous amount of wine consumed and given away at the W&C tasting. We know this event is limited anyway, but I wanted to look at a worst case scenario. The W&C event was the most expensive part of this estimate. Oh, well..........

 

[tonys96]

To be fair, those hotels with the cookies and such also cost more than other hotels.

So, and I mean this nicely, are you advocating that Amtrak "First Class" be equivalent to Motel 6?

 

[Ryan]

There's a huge gap (filled with other hotels) that fall between "fancy hotel with cookies" and "Motel 6".

 

[tonys96]

There's a huge gap (filled with other hotels) that fall between "fancy hotel with cookies" and "Motel 6".

There sure is, I agree!

Never said DoubleTree or Marriott's were "fancy hotels with cookies", though...did I?

 

[fairviewroad]

So, and I mean this nicely, are you advocating that Amtrak "First Class" be equivalent to Motel 6?

Interestingly, Motel 6 offers:

Amenities Available at Every Motel 6 Location:

Kids Stay Free** [Half price on Amtrak]

Pets Welcome [Not on Amtrak, though the occasional hamster is okay]

Free Expanded Cable [Not on Amtrak]

Free Local Phone* [Amtrak operates on a "bring your own phone" basis]

Free Morning Coffee [The one and only amenity that Motel 6 shares with LD trains ]

Wi-Fi Internet Access*** [Not on Amtrak LD trains, except spotty service on the PPC]

 

[tonys96]

So, and I mean this nicely, are you advocating that Amtrak "First Class" be equivalent to Motel 6?

Interestingly, Motel 6 offers:

Amenities Available at Every Motel 6 Location:

Kids Stay Free** [Half price on Amtrak]

Pets Welcome [Not on Amtrak, though the occasional hamster is okay]

Free Expanded Cable [Not on Amtrak]

Free Local Phone* [Amtrak operates on a "bring your own phone" basis]

Free Morning Coffee [The one and only amenity that Motel 6 shares with LD trains ]

Wi-Fi Internet Access*** [Not on Amtrak LD trains, except spotty service on the PPC]

:giggle:

 

[KC Ghost Rider]

Firstly, I want to say I read some rather astute observations about this situation. I for one could not just sit still and wait for it to happen. I called Amtrak Customer Relations and voiced my displeasure. I stated I paid for a promised amenity and I expect it or to be compensated for its loss. I also said I would be okay, in the case of the wine and chess reception, to pay for that amenity...a sort of a opt in for a reasonable price. Long story short, I was assigned a case number and the nice lady(who did not have any amplifying information) said she would investigate and get back to me within 24 hours. I will post the results of this...if I ever hear back :unsure:

 

[OlympianHiawatha]

Next time I'm booked on a train with Diner I guess I could run down to the Dollar Store or Hobby Lobby and pick up a few inexpensive plastic flowers in vases and leave them in the Diner. If enough of us did that we could repopulate all the Diners system wide :unsure: ^_^

 

[yarrow]

Firstly, I want to say I read some rather astute observations about this situation. I for one could not just sit still and wait for it to happen. I called Amtrak Customer Relations and voiced my displeasure. I stated I paid for a promised amenity and I expect it or to be compensated for its loss. I also said I would be okay, in the case of the wine and chess reception, to pay for that amenity...a sort of a opt in for a reasonable price. Long story short, I was assigned a case number and the nice lady(who did not have any amplifying information) said she would investigate and get back to me within 24 hours. I will post the results of this...if I ever hear back :unsure:

excellent move. let us know what comes of it. although amtrak used to give a voucher if one took the cs and the ppc was missing i have heard in the past few years they no longer will. even though it is an advertised amenity

 

[tonys96]

Firstly, I want to say I read some rather astute observations about this situation. I for one could not just sit still and wait for it to happen. I called Amtrak Customer Relations and voiced my displeasure. I stated I paid for a promised amenity and I expect it or to be compensated for its loss. I also said I would be okay, in the case of the wine and chess reception, to pay for that amenity...a sort of a opt in for a reasonable price. Long story short, I was assigned a case number and the nice lady(who did not have any amplifying information) said she would investigate and get back to me within 24 hours. I will post the results of this...if I ever hear back :unsure:

excellent move. let us know what comes of it. although amtrak used to give a voucher if one took the cs and the ppc was missing i have heard in the past few years they no longer will. even though it is an advertised amenity

That is true. However, since the PPC is only offered on one route, there might be some here who think it should be eliminated, since it is not on all the other routes. Myself, no way.....it is an enticement to try the CS and it is a great amenity on that train.

 

[Ryan]

There's a huge gap (filled with other hotels) that fall between "fancy hotel with cookies" and "Motel 6".

There sure is, I agree!Never said DoubleTree or Marriott's were "fancy hotels with cookies", though...did I?

I cannot fathom how you're claiming that she's advocating for Motel 6 otherwise.

 

[chakk]

Isn't the most important line in the notice this:

This Food Service Notice is fulfilled on April 1, 2014.

Until I hear something official, I'm taking this to be an April Fools Joke.

Yep. This has the distinct odor of a hoax.

Two words:

Foghorn Leghorn

 

[benjibear]

Not everyone has a smart phone. I for one, think it is a waste of money.

 

[tonys96]

There's a huge gap (filled with other hotels) that fall between "fancy hotel with cookies" and "Motel 6".

There sure is, I agree!Never said DoubleTree or Marriott's were "fancy hotels with cookies", though...did I?

I cannot fathom how you're claiming that she's advocating for Motel 6 otherwise.

I did not claim that, did I? I simply asked a sincere question, in a nice manner. Please refrain from misquoting me. Thanks in advance for that consideration, kind sir.

 

[tonys96]

Not everyone has a smart phone. I for one, think it is a waste of money.

True, this!

My g/f has an IPhone and she calls my very old Nokia (that lets me see my email and get phone calls only) a "middle school dropout phone"