Amtrak dining and cafe service

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That’s a good point. Usually I see on most trips crews occupying two tables - which isn’t all that bad. But occasionally you see excesses.
...Or they take up an entire section for the entire trip - which is the norm on the Cardinal...

In addition to the Cafe Car Amtrak is also talking about providing Food and Drink Cart service on the NEC trains, sort of like Brightline does in Florida.
I'll say it again - I hate carts. Lousy selection never available when you want it. Europe and the rest of the world can keep that aspect of their onboard experience...
 
I'll say it again - I hate carts. Lousy selection never available when you want it.
While carts are a poor substitute for a cafe car or diner, there are occasions when they are actually quite good.

Around 2000 I took an early morning Hiawatha train. As I sat in my seat trying to wake up, a cart came through and served hot coffee and a pastry that was wonderful.

Another occasion on an evening trip on a Frecciarossa HSR train a cart came through serving complimentary snacks and Prosecco. So, I think there is a time and place for carts.
 
I'll say it again - I hate carts. Lousy selection never available when you want it. Europe and the rest of the world can keep that aspect of their onboard experience...
While carts are a poor substitute for a cafe car or diner, there are occasions when they are actually quite good.

Around 2000 I took an early morning Hiawatha train. As I sat in my seat trying to wake up, a cart came through and served hot coffee and a pastry that was wonderful.

Another occasion on an evening trip on a Frecciarossa HSR train a cart came through serving complimentary snacks and Prosecco. So, I think there is a time and place for carts.
Indeed! I have partaken of Cart Service that delivered hot drinks and cakes on many many rides in the UK.

So I suppose each can have their own opinion, I think carts can be pretty useful on many occasions. Those that do not like them do not need to use them, but hopefully will not stand in the way of letting others who like them be able to get the service.
 
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I spoke to an AGR agent last week who was freakin awesome! Not only did he really know his stuff, he rides trains!

Anyway, speaking of my trip mid April, he was confident the Texas Eagle would have full dining back by that time. He was 50/50 for Lake Shore Limited segment. I realize employees often have bad info, but at least it game me some hope.
 
I depart on The Eagle on April 10 and it would be awesome if it returns by then but Im still gonna expect the mediocre Flex Food. I return late April on that same train so a small chance if it does return on that one.
Meanwhile, bring a pizza from the best place in town. You'll be the envy of all you survey.
 
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I spoke to an AGR agent last week who was freakin awesome! Not only did he really know his stuff, he rides trains!

Anyway, speaking of my trip mid April, he was confident the Texas Eagle would have full dining back by that time. He was 50/50 for Lake Shore Limited segment. I realize employees often have bad info, but at least it game me some hope.
Don’t mean to sound negative but I would plan for flexible dining. Based on comments from executives at both the directors meeting and a recent webinar with the RPA the only thing Amtrak has committed to for this fiscal year is coach passengers returning to the dining cars out west and restoration of some form of more traditional dining on the silvers. I wouldn’t expect anything beyond that for this current fiscal year. They do refresh the flex meal menus about twice a year and in my opinion some of the newer options are better than the old.
 
Don’t mean to sound negative but I would plan for flexible dining. Based on comments from executives at both the directors meeting and a recent webinar with the RPA the only thing Amtrak has committed to for this fiscal year is coach passengers returning to the dining cars out west and restoration of some form of more traditional dining on the silvers. I wouldn’t expect anything beyond that for this current fiscal year. They do refresh the flex meal menus about twice a year and in my opinion some of the newer options are better than the old.

Furthermore Amtrak has only committed to restoring its stored revenue equipment and repairing viable wreck damaged revenue equipment. They have not made any commitments about restoration of non revenue equipment namely stored baggage, lounge, and food service cars. Amtrak has indicated that restoration of stored non revenue equipment would be based on business line decision making on a route to route basis regarding checked baggage and food service formats - this was indicated in their 5 year plan. So if they say decide say to bring back a sightseer lounge and traditional dining on the Texas Eagle only then will they put the required amount of stored sightseers in for refurbishment. Which means any decision like that would take a while to implement. Technically with the diner lounge car on the eagle they could do it without the SSL yes but I suspect they’d be connected. The Silver dining restoration is taking as long as it is and they already have the cars in the consist - decisions requiring the unstoring of cars will take longer.
 
I’m pretty certain cafe cars lose money as well.
I can't find the document right now, but Amtrak had stated that Cafe Cars in Corridor Services do not lose money. Admittedly that did not say much about Cafe Cars on LD trains though.
 
I can't find the document right now, but Amtrak had stated that Cafe Cars in corridor service do not lose money. Admittedly that did not say much about Cafe Cars on LD trains though.
Specifically the NEC? Or all corridor trains?

I could see NEC and maybe Surfliner getting into the black, especially on average. (Meaning some trains lose money but some make money and it evens out).
 
Specifically the NEC? Or all corridor trains?

I could see NEC and maybe Surfliner getting into the black, especially on average. (Meaning some trains lose money but some make money and it evens out).
Most likely it was about whatever falls under NEC BU, since they presumably account for F&B on state supported service is part of that specific contract. But who knows?
 
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I have long thought that Amtrak is missing an easy revenue source on LD trains by selling only lower-end wine--wine that would sell at the 6-7 dollar price point in a grocery store. I would bet that if they carried a few somewhat higher end wines--say, the kind that would sell for 12 - 15 dollars at a grocery store, they'd make a lot more money on wine.
I'd buy better wine on a LD train. The current offerings are the lowest possible. Enjoying a decent bottle with the scenery is an unforgettable no brainer.
 
Indeed! I have partaken of Cart Service that delivered hot drinks and cakes on many many rides in the UK.

So I suppose each can have their own opinion, I think carts can be pretty useful on many occasions. Those that do not like them do not need to use them, but hopefully will not stand in the way of letting others who like them be able to get the service.
If "in addition" to Cafe service - great - even if I'm not a fan, personally. But I feel like with the US's continuous efforts to minimize onboard labor - it would be an "either or" proposition...
 
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Same thing is happening on the Eaglette,CONO,Cardinal and Crescent, they're working the poor LSAs to death and Passengers pay High Prices to eat Heated TV Dinners that aren't as good as what we can buy @ the Stores!🤬

Glad yalls trip worked out,I too like the Top Bed in VL Roomettes, but won't be riding in one till Traditional Dining returns and they are fully Equipped and Staffed!
 
Same thing is happening on the Eaglette,CONO,Cardinal and Crescent, they're working the poor LSAs to death and Passengers pay High Prices to eat Heated TV Dinners that aren't as good as what we can buy @ the Stores!🤬

Glad yalls trip worked out,I too like the Top Bed in VL Roomettes, but won't be riding in one till Traditional Dining returns and they are fully Equipped and Staffed!
The mention of TV Dinners with the Texas Eaglette brings to mind the ZZ Top song by the same name:

TV Dinners
 
I’m pretty certain cafe cars lose money as well.
The sale of those sleeper tickets includes meals. Silver Service sleeper tix are crazy expensive. Maybe they are undervaluing coach tix if they are still losing money on the consist. I have seen coach tix priced crazy cheap and then they jam those cars to capacity. Its nasty and dirty in those restrooms and sometimes throughout the car. If you are selling an upgrade service, then you have to actually provide that upgraded service. This flex meal thing is essentially them just calling it in. The servers are undermotivated to get off their duffs and go pull that plastic tray out of the drawer and shove it at the customer who interrupted their video stream, only to provide them an inedible pile of slop. It's ridiculous. People paying the premium expect the premium. Servers will get more and better tips with traditional dining which should improve customer service there from a motivational point of view. Amtrak needs to stop looking at this as optional. It's not. The revenue issues are in coach.
 
I found it - the NEC specifically operates at a very small profit, state supported operates at a small loss, and LD F&B operates at a huge loss because of dining cars.

https://www.amtrakoig.gov/sites/default/files/reports/oig-a-2014-001.pdf
That report is from 2014, I wonder if anything changed after that.

Their biggest challenge is staff levels and staff salaries. Restaurant work is often low salaries, plus tips. Amtrak is paying an average of $50k/year per dining car staff member, plus railroad retirement and other benefits of $30k/yr. The Rocky Mountaineer (not the same, but similar) only pays $35k/yr total.
 
If "in addition" to Cafe service - great - even if I'm not a fan, personally. But I feel like with the US's continuous efforts to minimize onboard labor - it would be an "either or" proposition...
What is proposed on the NEC is in addition to Cafe.

In my opinion best is Cafe + Cart. But even if there is no Cafe, a Cart is still preferable to no food service at all. That appears to be quite common in the UK, and is currently the case on Brightline.
 
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