Cardinal discussion

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Our last trip on the Cardinal was in 2021. At that time there was only one sleeper VL1 , the cafe/diner lite, a baggage car (don't recall a baggage dorm ) and three coaches. It was a small train with only six cars and only one engine. On a prior trip going back about 10 years, the diner lite served exactly the same menu as on the Western routes but less the steak. The food was apparently brought on board pre-cooked, reheated, arranged on a plate by the sole food chef and then served. While I cannot say that the food service was equal to the rest of the service at that time; it was certainly better than the Flex meals. I often wonder why Amtrak never kept this formula.
 
ptf18 said:
Will be traveling on the Cardinal on June 15ish with the wife and 2 Grandchildren (2 Roomettes). We will be going from Manassas, Va. to Chicago.

Anyone know the current consist of that train and what the current dining is like?

Thanks
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2 coaches, cafe car, VL2 sleeper, VL2 bag-dorm. Don't know what version of cafe car.

Meals are Flex dining. I've seen varying reports of whether meals can be eaten in the cafe car or only in the room.
 
Regarding the consist, the Cardinal usually comprises of two Amfleet coaches, one dining car, one sleeper, and a dorm car at the end (which I think the crew uses). I'll be on the Cardinal for the first time in July. I'll be headed to Chicago from Cincinnati.

Also, just as an update, it looks like the South Shore, KY Amtrak station redo is complete. I usually head down to South Shore a few times a year from Columbus to railfan the Cardinal coming through (as there are no Amtraks here in Columbus to railfan) and the station looks really nice. The last time I was there towards the end of last year, it was still under construction. It looks really nice.
 

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I noticed that tonight's (7/28) westbound Cardinal 51 is stopped in White Sulphur Springs, WV. According to TransitDocs, it states that it has encountered a service disruption, but I'm not seeing any reports on the AmtrakAlerts Twitter feed regarding its disruption.

Just curious, does anyone have any information on this?
 
chadamfleetrailfan said:
I noticed that tonight's (7/28) westbound Cardinal 51 is stopped in White Sulphur Springs, WV. According to TransitDocs, it states that it has encountered a service disruption, but I'm not seeing any reports on the AmtrakAlerts Twitter feed regarding its disruption.

Just curious, does anyone have any information on this?
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Silly question, we're planning to leave from Cincinnati with scheduled 3:37am departure. Amtrak lists station hours as 12am-4am. If the train is behind schedule, do they leave it open longer? Would really hate to have no restroom access if needed.
 
PatchesC said:
Silly question, we're planning to leave from Cincinnati with scheduled 3:37am departure. Amtrak lists station hours as 12am-4am. If the train is behind schedule, do they leave it open longer? Would really hate to have no restroom access if needed.
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Station staff are there until the scheduled train arrives and departs even if that goes past published hours.
 
PatchesC said:
Silly question, we're planning to leave from Cincinnati with scheduled 3:37am departure. Amtrak lists station hours as 12am-4am. If the train is behind schedule, do they leave it open longer? Would really hate to have no restroom access if needed.
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Pre-pandemic, the entire building was open at all hours, but the enclosed "businesses" like the museums and Amtrak station were closed except during their stated business hours. I'm pretty sure bathrooms were available in the overall package building because my sister has to go frequently and I think I would remember if there had been a problem in that department. We entered the building in the evening after the museums and such were closed, but before the Amtrak office opened.

They really need to get some better hours for Ohio.
 
Currently trying to book a bedroom suite and a roomette for Cardinal (5 of us). Agent mistakenly booked only a single bedroom and roomette. He insists Amtral does not offer suites. Trying to get it corrected, but as of now, we have 5000 B and 5009 room 4- are these different cars? He said now rooms won't even be together, trying to work with supervisor to get together.
 
PatchesC said:
Currently trying to book a bedroom suite and a roomette for Cardinal (5 of us). Agent mistakenly booked only a single bedroom and roomette. He insists Amtral does not offer suites. Trying to get it corrected, but as of now, we have 5000 B and 5009 room 4- are these different cars? He said now rooms won't even be together, trying to work with supervisor to get together.
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The Agent is incorrect/ there are only 2 Bedrooms ( A& B) in a Viewliner Sleeper ( plus the H Room for ADA compliance) They can be combined into a Suite as in Superliners, ( Double Deck Sleeper)but with only 2 Bedrooms per car your chances to snag both are on a par with Winning in Vegas!😄

5000 and 5009 are seperate Viewliner Cars on the Cardinal.( there are No Bedrooms in a Bag/Dorm Car, only Roomettes which is what 5009 is IINM!)

Good luck with getting the Agents to "Modify" ( don't let them Charge you more!)your Rez to get your Roomette(s) in the Same Car as the Bedroom!( You have B/ is A Booked on 5000??)
 
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PatchesC said:
Currently trying to book a bedroom suite and a roomette for Cardinal (5 of us). Agent mistakenly booked only a single bedroom and roomette. He insists Amtral does not offer suites. Trying to get it corrected, but as of now, we have 5000 B and 5009 room 4- are these different cars? He said now rooms won't even be together, trying to work with supervisor to get together.
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Alright straightened out now. Rooms all in same car, bedrooms A&B and roomette 2.
Guess we don't ask for the bedroom suites when we call then?
 
Bob Dylan said:
The Agent is correct/ there are only 2 Bedrooms ( A& B) in a Viewliner Sleeper ( plus the H Room for ADA compliance) They cannot be combined into a Suite, only Superliners ( Double Deck Sleeper)offer this feature!

5000 and 5009 are seperate Viewliner Cars on the Cardinal.( there are No Bedrooms in a Bag/Dorm Car, only Roomettes which is what 5009 is IINM!

Good luck with getting the Agents to "Modify" ( don't let them Charge you more!)your Rez to get your Roomette(s) in the Same Car as the Bedroom!( You have B/ is A Booked on 5000??)
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It's straightened out to 5000 A & B and roomette 5000 2. He was quite confusing because he said Amtrak only offers roomettes, bedrooms, and family rooms, which made no sense because they aren't listed as an option for Cardinal, but a suite is. They didn't charge more to get moved.
 

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Family rooms are a definite no on the Cardinal, they are at the opposite end of the car from the H room on the lower level of a Superliner. They do not exist on the VL. The question is whether the partition can be opened/closed between A&B on a VL in the same manner as B&C and D&E on a SL. I've seen it done on a SL but never on a VL so I'm just curious.
 
PVD said:
Family rooms are a definite no on the Cardinal, they are at the opposite end of the car from the H room on the lower level of a Superliner. They do not exist on the VL. The question is whether the partition can be opened/closed between A&B on a VL in the same manner as B&C and D&E on a SL. I've seen it done on a SL but never on a VL so I'm just curious.
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I found a video from 11 months ago posted on a Cardinal trip, Viewliner II. Looks like there is a divider that can be opened.
 
The VL1’s I have been on have definitely had a door. It made its presence known audibly over every single small bump and lurch. 🪇I tried shimming it with folded up paper and then a used towel, all with minimal effect.
 
Planning our 2024 trip now to the Grand Canyon North rim. Will drive up from Winslow once again. It always a tough decision deciding between two trains or three to get to Chicago to make the connection to the SWC. Usually the NER/Acela to WAS connecting to the CL is less expensive but not always. The Cardinal tends to be a longer trip at 26hrs vs 21 for the NER/CL but more convenient and the scenery is nicer. You need to depart PHL at 8am for the Cardnal as opposed to about 12:30 PM for the NEC/CL connection. At the same cost I would say the Cardinal is a better trip and you will probably ride in a VL2.
 

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