There are no reservations required for lunch on the TE ( or any other LD route I'm aware of)...I'd say no. I'd think the biggest issue would be getting reservations, even if the train is early and you can board early.
I was on the Coast Starlight a week and a half ago, and got a 1 PM lunch reservation. The California Zephyr also requires reservations for lunch according to several reviews.There are no reservations required for lunch on the TE ( or any other LD route I'm aware of)...I'd say no. I'd think the biggest issue would be getting reservations, even if the train is early and you can board early.
I sometimes suspect that Amtrak does this in order to make sure that the dining service loses as much money as possible. After all, they have to pay the workers the same amount, and pay the same amount for car maintenance, but they sell less food. See also dinner, or lack thereof, on the Eastbound LSL to NY.The trains near me are often scheduled to leave their origin just after the first meal would have ended and are scheduled to arrive at there termination just before the last meal would have started. Not that I would ever accuse Amtrak of intentionally restricting their perpetually inefficient dining service in order to save money
Any idea on the rate of use of the dining car? I would expect that nearly all sleeper passengers would take advantage, but that coach passengers might pass in favor of their own meals or something cheaper from the cafe.I sometimes suspect that Amtrak does this in order to make sure that the dining service loses as much money as possible. After all, they have to pay the workers the same amount, and pay the same amount for car maintenance, but they sell less food. See also dinner, or lack thereof, on the Eastbound LSL to NY.The trains near me are often scheduled to leave their origin just after the first meal would have ended and are scheduled to arrive at there termination just before the last meal would have started. Not that I would ever accuse Amtrak of intentionally restricting their perpetually inefficient dining service in order to save money
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