Acela Cart Service (2023)

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AmtrakBlue

AmtrakBlue

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https://www.amtrak.com/onboard/meal...b2023-FebruaryeStatement-AcelaCartService-AGR
https://www.amtrak.com/content/dam/...ents/menus/routes/Acela-Cart-Service-Menu.pdf

Acela Cart Service​

Available for Business Class Customers on Select Departures​

Stay comfortable in your seat and enjoy a bite to eat. We're excited to offer an option to purchase a selection of food and beverages at your seat with our new Acela Cart Service. From February through April, customers in Acela Business Class on select departures between Washington, DC, and New York City will have the ability to purchase exclusive new food items, wine by the glass, beer and other alcoholic beverages directly from a roving cart. Cart service can be found on these trains:
  • Wednesday - Friday: Trains 2168, 2169, 2159 and 2122
  • Saturday: Trains 2252, 2253, 2249 and 2218
  • Sunday: Trains 2252, 2253, 2213 and 2222
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AmtrakBlue said:
https://www.amtrak.com/onboard/meal...b2023-FebruaryeStatement-AcelaCartService-AGR
https://www.amtrak.com/content/dam/...ents/menus/routes/Acela-Cart-Service-Menu.pdf
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You’re welcome. *cough cough* Lol!
Bob Dylan said:
Something New on the NEC!!!
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Nothing new here. This was tried before and went away after a short period of time. Amtrak is using this as a pilot program until May. Amtrak wants to determine if this would be a feasible option for the new high speed sets.
 
Acela150 said:
You’re welcome. *cough cough* Lol!

Nothing new here. This was tried before and went away after a short period of time. Amtrak is using this as a pilot program until May. Amtrak wants to determine if this would be a feasible option for the new high speed sets.
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Thanks Steve, as an AC you don't have to push the Cart!😄
 
We all now how this works on airplanes during 1, 2 or more hour flights, the only issue being for those who want to use the restroom. But is there enough room in the aisle to do this on a train with frequent stops, constant movement and people up and down constantly? I am skeptical. Then again, I it is done on Via Rail corridor service and in Europe. So, I guess it can work.
 
PaTrainFan said:
We all now how this works on airplanes during 1, 2 or more hour flights, the only issue being for those who want to use the restroom. But is there enough room in the aisle to do this on a train with frequent stops, constant movement and people up and down constantly? I am skeptical. Then again, I it is done on Via Rail corridor service and in Europe. So, I guess it can work.
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The Hiawathas between Milwaukee and Chicago used the Carts too; now there is no food and drink offered on this route. Same for the Empire Service Trains between NYP and Albany.
 
PaTrainFan said:
We all now how this works on airplanes during 1, 2 or more hour flights, the only issue being for those who want to use the restroom. But is there enough room in the aisle to do this on a train with frequent stops, constant movement and people up and down constantly? I am skeptical. Then again, I it is done on Via Rail corridor service and in Europe. So, I guess it can work.
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Each of the runs listed has at least a 40-minute stretch with no stops, generally north of Philly. That may be enough time.
 
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Interesting point about the aisles. People already bring suitcases that are far too large to fit comfortably or safely on Amfleets, not to mention when traversing up and down the aisles trying to find a seat when there are only 62 seats out of 600+ that are reserved.

I wonder how it works on the Hiawathas. I know they make fewer stops and carry fewer passengers, but I don't believe there's any more room on the Horizons. As it stands, it's difficult for just two able-bodied people to pass each other in an Amfleet aisle.
 
So, does the Acela cafe still function as usual on the runs that have cart service? Personally I like being able to go to the cafe for a change of setting, but the cart would be a welcome service for people with limited mobility or those who just don't feel that comfortable hiking back and forth while the train is rocketing along at full speed.
 
joelkfla said:
Each of the runs listed has at least a 40-minute stretch with no stops, generally north of Philly. That may be enough time.
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Run time between BAL and WIL is 45 minutes and between NWK and PHL 50. So most likely those times.
fdaley said:
So, does the Acela cafe still function as usual on the runs that have cart service? Personally I like being able to go to the cafe for a change of setting, but the cart would be a welcome service for people with limited mobility or those who just don't feel that comfortable hiking back and forth while the train is rocketing along at full speed.
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Yes indeed it does.
 
I'm pretty sure there were a couple of Boston-New York runs that Amtrak called Metroliner service for a year or two in about 1984 or '85. These trains ran on an expedited schedule with Amfleet cars, as did most or all of the Washington Metroliners at that point, and of course an engine change was required at New Haven. The New England Metroliner also offered sit-down "dining service" in an Amfleet lounge. I don't believe it had food-cart service, however.
 
fdaley said:
I'm pretty sure there were a couple of Boston-New York runs that Amtrak called Metroliner service for a year or two in about 1984 or '85. These trains ran on an expedited schedule with Amfleet cars, as did most or all of the Washington Metroliners at that point, and of course an engine change was required at New Haven. The New England Metroliner also offered sit-down "dining service" in an Amfleet lounge. I don't believe it had food-cart service, however.
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This sounds about right. The original Metroliner cars had issues when being run as EMUs, so eventually they were slapped onto locomotive-hauled trains. There was at least one New Haven Metroliner from relativeley early on, but it was eventually extended to Boston (it might have been a renamed Merchants Limited?).
 
I think it was for about a year in the 1980s that one limited-stop train between Los Angeles and San Diego was called a Metroliner (or San Diegan Metroliner or something like that).
 
Anderson said:
This sounds about right. The original Metroliner cars had issues when being run as EMUs, so eventually they were slapped onto locomotive-hauled trains. There was at least one New Haven Metroliner from relativeley early on, but it was eventually extended to Boston (it might have been a renamed Merchants Limited?).
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The extended Metroliner equivalent service for most of its existence was called "New England Express". They used the same equipment and consist as Metroliners used south of New York, except that of course they changed motive power at New Haven. I remember riding this service several times during the brief period they existed.

The Metroliners that were just extended to New Haven were still called Metroliner AFAIR.
 
fdaley said:
I'm pretty sure there were a couple of Boston-New York runs that Amtrak called Metroliner service for a year or two in about 1984 or '85. These trains ran on an expedited schedule with Amfleet cars, as did most or all of the Washington Metroliners at that point, and of course an engine change was required at New Haven. The New England Metroliner also offered sit-down "dining service" in an Amfleet lounge. I don't believe it had food-cart service, however.
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jis said:
The extended Metroliner equivalent service for most of its existence was called "New England Express". They used the same equipment and consist as Metroliners used south of New York, except that of course they changed motive power at New Haven. I remember riding this service several times during the brief period they existed.

The Metroliners that were just extended to New Haven were still called Metroliner AFAIR.
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There was a period in the 90s when they ran Metroliners to Boston with only 4 cars IIRC and had an electric + diesel locomotive on the train so they didn't have to do an engine change at NHV.
 
NSB (Norwegian State Railways) had cart service in the 80s. Even on trains with full service dining cars - which I think may have been discontinued.

(Edit: yes, full service dining replaced with cafe - SJ did it years earlier on day trains, while OBB still had traditional dining in the late 80's)
 
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