I mentioned a bit of this thought on another thread but think it might make a topic of discussion.
Does Amtrak need to rethink the way in which the diners operate toward the passengers. First of all I will say that some diner crews are great and doing a hard job, and that is no doubt an issue with the way in which they are trying to control the passengers.
However on the Southwest Chief we met at lunch a family going cross country the first time both ways. His immediate comment was that for the price he had to pay he expected something more "Luxurious" than the meals and appointments in the train. Its been my contention for a long time that the ever raising price of sleepers seems to be only met with reductions in services and amenities which if you spent that kind of money in a good hotel would be vastly different.
My real question here is in the way in which passengers have become something to "control", by the diner crew. Wouldn't it be nice to enter the diner and be ask "Where would you
to sit"? That would go a long way in its self to making it seem more like the crew was attuned to the passengers than trying to complete a job. We actually did have one lady on the Chief who did seat people in the center of the car instead of forcing the first passengers in to sit against the wall or facing the wall. In our case my mom had eye surgery and is sensitive to bright light. The Woman on the California Zephyr refused a request to be seated on the shady side of the car and her comment was "you can close the curtain". Well we wanted to enjoy the scenery, but didn't. She then proceeded to seat the next group in the shady side. How much of an effort would it have taken to let us sit there? It leaves a bad impression after spending well over a thousand dollars for the sleeper each to be treated like your just something to get in and get out.
No restaurant would stay in business long with that kind of attitude.
Does Amtrak need to rethink the way in which the diners operate toward the passengers. First of all I will say that some diner crews are great and doing a hard job, and that is no doubt an issue with the way in which they are trying to control the passengers.
However on the Southwest Chief we met at lunch a family going cross country the first time both ways. His immediate comment was that for the price he had to pay he expected something more "Luxurious" than the meals and appointments in the train. Its been my contention for a long time that the ever raising price of sleepers seems to be only met with reductions in services and amenities which if you spent that kind of money in a good hotel would be vastly different.
My real question here is in the way in which passengers have become something to "control", by the diner crew. Wouldn't it be nice to enter the diner and be ask "Where would you
to sit"? That would go a long way in its self to making it seem more like the crew was attuned to the passengers than trying to complete a job. We actually did have one lady on the Chief who did seat people in the center of the car instead of forcing the first passengers in to sit against the wall or facing the wall. In our case my mom had eye surgery and is sensitive to bright light. The Woman on the California Zephyr refused a request to be seated on the shady side of the car and her comment was "you can close the curtain". Well we wanted to enjoy the scenery, but didn't. She then proceeded to seat the next group in the shady side. How much of an effort would it have taken to let us sit there? It leaves a bad impression after spending well over a thousand dollars for the sleeper each to be treated like your just something to get in and get out.
No restaurant would stay in business long with that kind of attitude.