Amenities Being Eliminated from Long Distance Routes

[andersone]

i can remember getting a paper on the CZ in the 80's in those years i was taking it six and seven times ,,,, god i miss that job

 

[D.P. Roberts]

The news is official. Amtrak is going to cut the aforementioned amenities and that is from Amtrak Customer Relations. I already have my case # over the promised wine and cheese tasting on the LSL that was supposedly offered because there is no dinner service (That is how is was told to me when I bought the ticket). The Customer Relations agent was real nice and said "if anything goes wrong on your trip just call back with your case # and you will received a voucher". I rather have what was promised, but this will be good too.

Amtrak's website still mentions all those things. For example, the description of the CS states that "Each sleeping car passenger will receive ... a special welcome gift and a personal amenities kit that includes shampoo, soaps and lotions. A daily tasting of local wines and artisan cheeses is available in the refurbished Pacific Parlour Car."

So, if we've purchased tickets with the expectation that we're going to receive these things, and they're going to be gone by the time we ride the train, we can get something back from Customer Relations?

I'm curious as to what sort of compensation they're offering, and whether this is worth the effort or not.

 

[amtkstn]

Last few times I have rode sleeper there was almost always a paper in the morning. It really is not a thing I really need. I spend about five minutes on it and I am finished with it. Most news I get on my iphone

 

[MiRider]

I'm not okay with any one of these eliminations.

As crappy and non-first class like as the sleeping car experience is, the original amenities should have been on every LD route from the beginning.

For the prices they charge, they should be adding additional amenities - not removing anything.

Oh, and the only juice I ever drink on the train is cranberry - OJ and Apple are just too sweet and sticky for my liking.

On my 2 trips last week, it was already unavailable in the sleeper.

I don't read actual newspapers anymore so getting one on the train has always been a little treat.

 

[rrdude]

The news is official. Amtrak is going to cut the aforementioned amenities and that is from Amtrak Customer Relations. I already have my case # over the promised wine and cheese tasting on the LSL that was supposedly offered because there is no dinner service (That is how is was told to me when I bought the ticket). The Customer Relations agent was real nice and said "if anything goes wrong on your trip just call back with your case # and you will received a voucher". I rather have what was promised, but this will be good too.

Amtrak's website still mentions all those things. For example, the description of the CS states that "Each sleeping car passenger will receive ... a special welcome gift and a personal amenities kit that includes shampoo, soaps and lotions. A daily tasting of local wines and artisan cheeses is available in the refurbished Pacific Parlour Car."

So, if we've purchased tickets with the expectation that we're going to receive these things, and they're going to be gone by the time we ride the train, we can get something back from Customer Relations?

I'm curious as to what sort of compensation they're offering, and whether this is worth the effort or not.

Same question I asked, when I talked to CR today. She was very nice, didn't know about the "cuts", asked where I heard, (I told her I was a died-in-the-wool-foamer, nah, mentioned that I saw a FB post on Amtrak's FB page) She looked up an email, and confirmed the dates / cuts. Said she'd open a case, and could tell that CR dept has received "quite few other phone calls" on this subject. Really, really, professional. Said if i had any complaints about my trip, even if it was something as little as no flowers or no Wine & Cheese reception, to call CR afterwords, and discuss with them.

 

[OlympianHiawatha]

Hopefully it will not get to the point we have to bring our own dishes to the Diner. Or worse yet a pocketful of change in the sense of the Southern Pacific Automatic Buffet Car.

http://www.mhodistributors.com/buffet-car.jpg

 

[leemell]

Removing the wine and cheese thing on the LSL is an error, and probably due to overreaction to the idiocy from Mica. This "reception" exists only because the LSL lost its dinner, and the diner employees are otherwise being paid, but doing absolutely nothing, that evening. The cost is trivial.

When will the LSL schedule get fixed to restore dinner? Amtrak was trying to do that in the LSL PIP and in the Capitol Limited PIP and it needs to happen ASAP. And if the schedule change doesn't happen, Amtrak needs to start offering dinner east of Albany, where the situation is unsatisfactory.

I don't have a problem with dropping any of the special things on the Empire Builder or Coast Starlight. I've been on both trains, and managed to not get several of the items (the chocolate square etc.), while the wine tastings seemed to encourage drunkenness, which wasn't good. (The LSL event, anyone who got drunk promptly slept it off.)

The cranberry juice looks like a practical measure; it was probably being underused and having to be tossed due to being expired.

The newspapers were obsolete thanks to wireless Internet news.

The flowers, sitting on paper tablecloths next to plastic dishes, always felt a bit too much like putting lipstick on a pig. If we could get real dishes and cloth tablecloths, I'd value that a lot more.

I've been on the CS 6 or 7 times and have yet to anyone get drunk at the wine tasting. Internet on the EB, you've got to be kidding.

 

[EB_OBS]

By the way, does anybody know when the amenity kits and chocolate squares were implemented? I know the wine and cheese receptions and complementary champagne have been a thing for a while, and I think the paper has as well.

I believe it was around three years ago or possibly even four that the little suede amenity bag and chocolate were introduced.

 

[fairviewroad]

The newspapers were obsolete thanks to wireless Internet news.

Good luck pulling up the internet on your smart phone heading west out of Minot or north out of Klamath Falls (two locations

where morning papers are typically loaded). At any rate, millions of Americans still read a daily paper. By your logic, the entire

train itself is obsolete thanks to the invention of commercial aviation.

By the way, does anybody know when the amenity kits and chocolate squares were implemented? I know the wine and cheese receptions and complementary champagne have been a thing for a while, and I think the paper has as well.

I'm guessing the concept of providing a daily newspaper to first class passengers has existed for more than a century. And yes, many travelers read

the news on their smartphones (when service is available) but of course those passengers are expected to provide their own device.

 

[Al_Gore]

Newspaper business has been dead quite some time now. Radio is barely hanging on.

 

[VentureForth]

The newspapers were obsolete thanks to wireless Internet news.

Good luck pulling up the internet on your smart phone heading west out of Minot or north out of Klamath Falls (two locations

where morning papers are typically loaded). At any rate, millions of Americans still read a daily paper. By your logic, the entire

train itself is obsolete thanks to the invention of commercial aviation.

Commercial Aviation? Heck - rail travel started being a novelty with the affordable family car. That was what really drove the spikes. Commercial aviation didn't become affordable until deregulation in the late 70's.

 

[yarrow]

The news is official. Amtrak is going to cut the aforementioned amenities and that is from Amtrak Customer Relations. I already have my case # over the promised wine and cheese tasting on the LSL that was supposedly offered because there is no dinner service (That is how is was told to me when I bought the ticket). The Customer Relations agent was real nice and said "if anything goes wrong on your trip just call back with your case # and you will received a voucher". I rather have what was promised, but this will be good too.

Amtrak's website still mentions all those things. For example, the description of the CS states that "Each sleeping car passenger will receive ... a special welcome gift and a personal amenities kit that includes shampoo, soaps and lotions. A daily tasting of local wines and artisan cheeses is available in the refurbished Pacific Parlour Car."

So, if we've purchased tickets with the expectation that we're going to receive these things, and they're going to be gone by the time we ride the train, we can get something back from Customer Relations?

I'm curious as to what sort of compensation they're offering, and whether this is worth the effort or not.

Same question I asked, when I talked to CR today. She was very nice, didn't know about the "cuts", asked where I heard, (I told her I was a died-in-the-wool-foamer, nah, mentioned that I saw a FB post on Amtrak's FB page) She looked up an email, and confirmed the dates / cuts. Said she'd open a case, and could tell that CR dept has received "quite few other phone calls" on this subject. Really, really, professional. Said if i had any complaints about my trip, even if it was something as little as no flowers or no Wine & Cheese reception, to call CR afterwords, and discuss with them.

so, amtrak is willing to give in travel voucher form probably initially more than they save on their cute little cuts. not to mention the loss of customer goodwill which seems to be a concept most amtrak management doesn't have time for

 

[Larry H.]

I'm not okay with any one of these eliminations.

As crappy and non-first class like as the sleeping car experience is, the original amenities should have been on every LD route from the beginning.

For the prices they charge, they should be adding additional amenities - not removing anything.

Oh, and the only juice I ever drink on the train is cranberry - OJ and Apple are just too sweet and sticky for my liking.

On my 2 trips last week, it was already unavailable in the sleeper.

I don't read actual newspapers anymore so getting one on the train has always been a little treat.

I think the rail traveling public for some time has been split between those who are somewhat older and recall when quality and service were the norm, not the exception, and those who simply are happy to have nearly anything that moves on rails..

For starters the entire premise that Amtrak could make a profit was a mistake at the start. Our nation as some have pointed out never worries about covering their expenses at nearly any point any longer. Now we have laws that even may encourage people to live off others and get free health care and just about everything else. Balance that on the other end where Amtrak has constantly increased the cost of sleeper service while downgrading the service over many years. Not to mention the poor quality of the cars them selves at this point. The days of the high grade service of the Santa Fe or Panama Limited, Twentieth Century have been completely lost. Pride in operation is a thing of the past. Perhaps the Congress should try eliminating their private subsidized food service, lounges and barber shop. Not to mention the airline service and limousine service paid for by the public.. Then there are the million dollar conferences with fancy entertainment and outrageous expense for meals. But on Amtrak, well the public should just be grateful for subpar service at huge cost..

Larry

 

[rrdude]

I'm not okay with any one of these eliminations.

As crappy and non-first class like as the sleeping car experience is, the original amenities should have been on every LD route from the beginning.

For the prices they charge, they should be adding additional amenities - not removing anything.

Oh, and the only juice I ever drink on the train is cranberry - OJ and Apple are just too sweet and sticky for my liking.

On my 2 trips last week, it was already unavailable in the sleeper.

I don't read actual newspapers anymore so getting one on the train has always been a little treat.

I think the rail traveling public for some time has been split between those who are somewhat older and recall when quality and service were the norm, not the exception, and those who simply are happy to have nearly anything that moves on rails..

For starters the entire premise that Amtrak could make a profit was a mistake at the start. Our nation as some have pointed out never worries about covering their expenses at nearly any point any longer. Now we have laws that even may encourage people to live off others and get free health care and just about everything else. Balance that on the other end where Amtrak has constantly increased the cost of sleeper service while downgrading the service over many years. Not to mention the poor quality of the cars them selves at this point. The days of the high grade service of the Santa Fe or Panama Limited, Twentieth Century have been completely lost. Pride in operation is a thing of the past. Perhaps the Congress should try eliminating their private subsidized food service, lounges and barber shop. Not to mention the airline service and limousine service paid for by the public.. Then there are the million dollar conferences with fancy entertainment and outrageous expense for meals. But on Amtrak, well the public should just be grateful for subpar service at huge cost..

Larry

I've pretty much come to the same conclusion Larry. However, I guess I'm just stoopid and old-fashioned, as I hate to see these further cuts just "silently slip away into the night...." Damn I wish i could trade, even at a deep discount, my AGR points for ViaRail points.

Having worked for Amtrak as a kid, I know what "above and beyond" service can mean, to the customer, the company, and the employee. It just boggles my mind that someone in Amtrak LD management doesn't "get" it these days. I guess I think Amtrak ran the LD's better when they had the Vertical Business Units for LD, and gave a great deal of autonomy to the Route or Brand Managers. Now everything seems to just come down from corporate.

I "get" that uniform standards would be the ideal, but it's never really been that way at Amtrak, AFAIK. Some things have to be standardized, like security, loss-prevention, accounting, etc., but others, such as the topic of this thread, could really flourish with regional or brand differences.

I'm 'bout to stop kicking this dying horse, and roll over, and join the new "mainstream" of America, and lower my standards to the "I don't care about that" crowd...... If only....

 

[the Other Mike]

I find it interesting that the same people who make a 30 item list of things to pack ( like duct tape, paperclips, strip cord etc) are so upset by not getting their piece of candy, cheap wine, shampoo and newspapers with 12 to 24 hour old news.

I always worry about my train being canceled or the dreaded bus. Other than that, do these other things really matter ?

Maybe because I once spent 69 days in the hospital or because I rode out Katrina and it's aftermath ?

I'm thrilled to have a place to sleep and take a shower. :hi: While I wouldn't be thrilled with the beef stew and potatos, if I had to "endure it for 2 days, so what ? On the other hand I'd be really pissed if my train was canceled :angry:

I can see getting upset if they were taking the lounge cars or diners out of service, but old newspapers and cheap wine ?

Seriously ? I'd hate to be on a train with some of you who complain so much.

( edit to add ) FLAME SHIELDS UP :blink:

 

[fairviewroad]

newspapers with 12 to 24 hour old news.

Have you ever read a book? Because the material in there is sometimes years, even decades old.

Reading a newspaper (a good one, that is) isn't a way to simply find out "what has happened in the past 24 hours" but rather to

enjoy a good read, interesting perspectives, feature stories, etc.

 

[Randy]

newspapers with 12 to 24 hour old news.

Have you ever read a book? Because the material in there is sometimes years, even decades old.

Reading a newspaper (a good one, that is) isn't a way to simply find out "what has happened in the past 24 hours" but rather to

enjoy a good read, interesting perspectives, feature stories, etc.

COMICS!

 

[rrdude]

I find it interesting that the same people who make a 30 item list of things to pack ( like duct tape, paperclips, strip cord etc) are so upset by not getting their piece of candy, cheap wine, shampoo and newspapers with 12 to 24 hour old news.

I always worry about my train being canceled or the dreaded bus. Other than that, do these other things really matter ?

Maybe because I once spent 69 days in the hospital or because I rode out Katrina and it's aftermath ?

I'm thrilled to have a place to sleep and take a shower. :hi: While I wouldn't be thrilled with the beef stew and potatos, if I had to "endure it for 2 days, so what ? On the other hand I'd be really pissed if my train was canceled :angry:

I can see getting upset if they were taking the lounge cars or diners out of service, but old newspapers and cheap wine ?

Seriously ? I'd hate to be on a train with some of you who complain so much.

( edit to add ) FLAME SHIELDS UP :blink:

OtherMike, I don't think it's so much as complaining about not ever getting these, hell they were few and far between in my travels. But when I DID get them, it really added a bonus to the trip.

I'm an active backpacker myself, so I am more than used to "roughing it". But when one is paying the fees that we do for a sleeper, I just thing it should be more than a flat bed and an average meal. Period.

 

[Train rider]

I find it interesting that the same people who make a 30 item list of things to pack ( like duct tape, paperclips, strip cord etc) are so upset by not getting their piece of candy, cheap wine, shampoo and newspapers with 12 to 24 hour old news.

I always worry about my train being canceled or the dreaded bus. Other than that, do these other things really matter ?

Maybe because I once spent 69 days in the hospital or because I rode out Katrina and it's aftermath ?

I'm thrilled to have a place to sleep and take a shower. :hi: While I wouldn't be thrilled with the beef stew and potatos, if I had to "endure it for 2 days, so what ? On the other hand I'd be really pissed if my train was canceled :angry:

I can see getting upset if they were taking the lounge cars or diners out of service, but old newspapers and cheap wine ?

Seriously ? I'd hate to be on a train with some of you who complain so much.

( edit to add ) FLAME SHIELDS UP :blink:

 

[leemell]

Newspaper business has been dead quite some time now. Radio is barely hanging on.

I think the local 7-11s, grocery stores would that novel since all still carry at least four different papers.

 

[RalphCT]

Andersone makes very good points that we all should read and heed.

A Montanan who enjoys train travel.

 

[jebr]

While I'm sad to see these things go, too, I'm frankly not that worried about most of them. While I think there should be some meal for the LSL, a lot of these removals will probably help Amtrak survive in this political climate. It's a lot easier for Amtrak to justify a subsidy when anti-rail opponents can't sling the "wine and cheese reception" and the "champagne for passengers when they board" as ammunition on Amtrak's "wasteful government spending." Right, wrong, or indifferent, that's political reality today, and only new representatives in Congress will change that.

I'm also surprised by the outrage over this versus some of the other issues Amtrak has, especially when it was brought up on this board that they're pulling all tickets on the NEC at once and not pulling each individual ticket, thus rendering useless someone's ticket should they want to actually use Amtrak's refund policy after-the-fact. That's something that will not only turn a passenger off for quite some time (if not life,) but it could get them to a point of calling their Congressperson and putting Amtrak in a very negative light. Amtrak would have no defense in that case, either, unlike some other issues Amtrak has (such as when trains are perpetually delayed due to freight traffic.)

 

[rrdude]

None of these "niggling issues" will make one bit of difference on saving or not, any Amtrak train, route, or service.

It's just a short-sighted, feeble attempt, IMHO, to kow-tow to someone who they think has political "pull".

It's a game of checkers per se

 

[D.P. Roberts]

Reading a newspaper (a good one, that is) isn't a way to simply find out "what has happened in the past 24 hours" but rather to enjoy a good read, interesting perspectives, feature stories, etc.

It would be interesting to read those things in a newspaper, but unfortunately Amtrak provided USA Today, so your point is moot.

And yes, newspapers are dying. I have sold newspapers (among other items) for the last 15 years, and the dropoff in newspaper sales has been dramatic.

Think of it this way. Your local convenience store, bookstore, grocery store, etc. makes maybe 5 cents on every newspaper it sells. Demand is down to 3-4 papers per day at most outlets. That's 15 cents per day in profit - is it really worthwhile to devote your floor space to something like that?

Then, think about the delivery. A driver has to go to your location to drop off those 5 papers. His company probably also makes a little more per paper, but even if he was collecting all the money from that delivery - say, a dollar per paper, for 3 papers - how worthwhile is it to make that delivery stop for only three bucks?

Do you think Coke delivery drivers make a stop to deliver one case, or a beer delivery driver stops to drop off a six pack? No way.

So, delivery companies have come and gone over the years. Even stores that want to provide newspapers (basically as a customer convenience) often can't find a distributor willing to take the time (and expense) to deliver them.

I imagine Amtrak is in a similar boat - not just with newspapers, but with these other conveniences (flowers, amenity bags, etc.) The items themselves are of such a low dollar value that MOST (non-AU) customers won't notice or care that they're gone, but the cost savings in making contracts, gathering them, etc. might actually be substantial.

 

[dart330]

I will say I am sad to see these go. These little things really do leave an impression on the non-rail advocate. Nearly everyone I have introduced to Amtrak thought the wine & cheese and champagne was one of highlights of the trip and the main perk they tell their friends and family about.

I will always remember my first overnight trip on the SWC. Waking up and having a newspaper slide under the door as we departed Flagstaff. Just one of the things that really made this mode of travel special.

I only recall having cranberry juice available once or twice in the sleeper. It is the best of the three juices for mixing with your private stock.

Only received the chocolate and amenities bag on the CS, but they were very welcome.