food on amtrak trains

[Anonymous]

Has anyone ridden a long distance train with the new "National Menu"?I've ridden 90 long distance trains in the last six years and this is the worst food I've had.The crews say they don't have cooks anymore,just button pushers to start the microwave.

[Anonymous]

no money...no food. I am a layed-off amtrak employee and knew the women responsible for intercity diners. They layed her off too.

[Anonymous]

I complained to Amtrak about the food and all I got back was a copy of the menu.

[Anonymous]

Well, let's see. We can't get any money from the government, We can't sell stock or issue bonds. Let's turn our backs on our only source of income.
(the passengers). YUP! makes sense to me! I have not ridden Amtrak for a couple of years now, and by the sounds of it, I wouldn't want too. I think the time has come to privatize Amtrak, while there is still something left.
Todd C.

[Anonymous]

I don't Think privatazation is the anawerLook at english rr since they went that way. Also if there was a dollar to be made on passenger rail the UP and the rest would still be in it. Since the airlines and highways are subsidized by the gov. why not rail?

[Anonymous]

Even if we do choose to privatize Amtrak, beofer anyone would buy it the federal government would have to spend billions fixing the track, buying new trainsets, and paying off Amtrak's debt.

We are better off doing all of the above and keeping Amtrak. Preferrably by eliminating the transcontinentals and concentrating building a high speed rail network of dedicated passenger tracks from New York to Chicago and Miami thru Atlanta, and from Texas (Dallas and Houston) to Chicago and Atlanta. When the parralegram is finished, then build lines to Minneapolis, Denver, Mexico City, Toronto, Montreal, and a slash of the parralegram from Chicago to Atlanta, thereby having a direct line from the Midwest to Florida. And yes, there should be a line from Texas to Mexico City! More than likely it will have the most passengers.....

[MikeSanta]

I thought the food on the Cardinal was pretty good(so did my wife) .We rode on July 5th and 10th from West Virginia to DC and back. Yes, the government should subsidize Amtrak: they already do the trucking and auto industry with road taxes as well as the airlines with taxes for airports. Amtrak should go for more midrange service and have it where if you want to go across the country you do it in 500 mile increments and stay awhile between increments.Face it $400 for a sleeping car is ridiculous: for that kind of$$$ you can get a limo to a penthouse suite! But anyway it was nice eating and looking out at the Virginia countryside as we dined.

[Anonymous]

Yes, the sleepers are a bit expensive. However, I found them useful during the daytime too. I like the privacy, the wider seats, and being able to face who I'm conversing with. In coach, I feel like I'm on a bus or on a airliner. As far as the food is concerned, the breakfast is always good, lunch okay, and the dinner is great.

[Anonymous]

hello,
as far as i know,texas high speed train and florida one have bee axed due to lack of investment from publi/private sector!
actually,if everything was done as scheduled,you will be able to go from Houston/Dallas/Austin whith hig speed train,exact copy from french TGV at 300/320 kmh-less than 200 mph-.
but politician have decided to see on short term view.
so bad,it will have been fun to see it relly smok'in every truck/car along the motorway,just like the one from Paris to Lilles/London.quite impressive when you drive at 100 mph already and be litterally smok'ed by a train!
just for finish,high speed train require high speed line dedicated to it,without,it's only a fast train.
all the best,
nicolas

[Anonymous]

Yes, private enterprise was there, but they wanted the state to to condemn the land and pay for the real estate. Private companies cannot force people to sell, only governments can......The main reason why it must be a government that builds high speed rail.....

But as Paul Harvey has said many, many times, you know the rest of the story.

[Anonymous]

My first experience with Amtrak was riding the Empire Builder from Seattle to Chicago. I personally found the food to be of pretty good taste and quality. I did find, however, that it was very overpriced, especially when I had to figure the Canadian $ in to it. Always had someone interesting to chat with while in the dining car.

[Anonymous]

I suppose if you pay the extra several hundred dollars for "first-class" you could expect some decent food. But in "coach", you'd be better off scrounging through the dumpster behind McDonalds.
I have never eaten in a Amtrak "diner", but I can say in all honesty, the "Amcafe" really sucks. 9 times out of 10, they are woefully understocked, and when they DO have all available items, you still wish you had packed your own lunch. As for prices, I think a new term is in order. "Railway-Robbery". $4:00 for a can of beer? come on now!
As for quality, I'd just as soon gather my "gourmet meal" at a vending machine, or better yet, a roadside gas station. I'd get it cheaper there too!

[Anonymous]

Like I said in my post, I thought it was pretty good....but not perfect by a loooong shot. I did pack food along for the trip, but one can only put up with cold sandwiches and chips for so long.

[Anonymous]

The food I had on my Capitol Limited trip was excellent. I don't mind the national menu as I like all the items on it, but I'm sure it can get boring if your taking a cross country trip. The food was definetly not microwaved and the chef came up to personally introduce himself and ask how everything was.

[Anonymous]

While the diner food is more expensive than what is sold in the lounge car, at least it isn't microwaved. But I have eaten at hotels too, and Amtrak prices are competitive if not cheaper than hotels. From my experience with New York City hotels, a small glass of orange juice costs $8.... We must keep things in perspective....Look at the airlines, they charge $20 more for a continental breakfast. The last time I flew the airline passed one bagel my way, and I had to beg for the cream cheese..... some continental breakfast......

[Anonymous]

I have ridden the long distance Amtrak train twice in the last seven years. In 1995, I rode the Empire Builder west from Chicago, riding in an economy sleeper. I thought the food was very good. The steak was especially good, with good selections of side dishes. I tried a different selection each time I ate and was never dissappointed.
Just two weeks ago, I rode the California Z. from Chicago to San Fransico (again in economy sleeper). The food was not near as good. The steak was mediocre, the potatoes were hard and the veggies seemed like they had been there for some time. The selections for each meal were not as varied, somewhat limited. There was no comparison between what I was served this time to what I had seven years ago. By the end of the trip, I was tired of the food whereas seven years ago, I wanted another meal or two.
Also, they ran out of food on this trip, and were unable to serve coffee or tea for the last meal.

[Anonymous]

I took a trip last March with my grandson (5) to Seattle on the Empire Builder from St. Paul to Seattle and back, and we had ssleeping car accomodiations that included food. Well if I would have had to pay the price they wanted for the food I would have been mighty disappointed.

The service was also lousy. You ate to accomodate the crew and train schedule.

I just retired after 43 years of railroad service and rode the old Great Northern Empire Builder, Western Star about 100 times and I don't think 10% of AMTRAK employees would cut the mustard under the old rules.

[Anonymous]

In July I rode the Southwest Chief and the Lake Shore Limited. I will disagree with anyone who thinks we should abandon long distance travel by train. Some are talking as if they want 18 karot gold service for copper prices. On four trains the food was good - not Four Seasons great- but it was wholesome, hot or cold when it should have been and the quantity was fine.

Lets face it, with the cut-backs at the end of spring during the funding crisis it's a wonder that there is any food service. Food service was always a money loser. It was provided as a draw to get more passengers to travel. Now every highway and Interstate has a cheap food joint at every opportunity and we think that the train is supposed to be different. They were sending the Chefs to the Culinary Institute of America not too long ago, it was then someone decided to try to put money into the service and it had results. Trains started getting individualized menus with specialty items and it started looking up. Then the cost of this better service started to show and the cost cutting started - with the final straw being the nationalized menu to help economize spending - thank the anti-Amtrak polititians

If you want a decent meal you can usually find it in the diner. For those of us who know what regular diner food is like on the road, then you'll know what you'll get. If it's better, then you have a better crew and you should say so. It 's all the thanks they usually hear unless it's the grumbling.

[Anonymous]

I wonder if you could tell me how the service in the Lake Shore was on your recent trip? We take the LSL from Bos. and had some bad experences with the dining car crew more times than not. We are going Bos.- Flg next and wonder if the attitude has changed since Mr. Gunn has come on board. Would like to hear your observations about this. Thanks and look forward to your opinion of the service you got on the Lake Shore. Jack M.

[cnatale]

I rode the Southwest Chief mid-May, immediately after the introduction of the new menu on that train. Myself and new-found travel companions (Strangers on a train) all enjoyed the food, and even thought it was reasonably priced--save alcoholic beverages, given the portions. The only complaint I have is that they ran out of the soup at lunchtime. Far better than anything on an airline--and better than all that fast-food at highway rest stops. To top it off, service was also quite good. Admittedly, however, the steak wasn't as superb as the New York Strip I had on the Broadway Limited before the Limited was discontinued.

[Anonymous]

Hi everyone! I live in the suburbs of Tokyo, Japan and used to live in South Carolina 1980-85. I've been a railfan ever since age 3 or 4, and have had the fortune to enjoy railroading on both sides of the Pacific.
It's a shame Amtrak seems to be having such a tough time these days, but from what little experience I have I think Amtrak has much to be proud of. The Amfleet II cars I rode Savannah-Florence (SC) on train 90, the Palmetto, back in 1985 were by far the most comfortable coaches I've ever rode. The first-class cars on Japan's Shinkansen bullet trains wouldn't compare to Amfleet II in terms of creature comforts.
As for the food service, I really cannot comment because I missed my opportunity on the Palmetto. But you may be interested to hear that Shinkansen trains---and 95% of all Japanese intercity trains---do not carry food service cars of any description. Yes, we do have minibar (food and beverage carts coming through the aisles) service, but we usually buy little box meals before boarding. They come in wide varieties and can be good, but still I doubt it would compare to a full-service diner (as Shinkansen used to have, and double-deckers at that). These days I ride Shinkansen trains and am worried about the total lack of "attractiveness"---The food is infinitely close to the convenience store, and the car interiors on the latest trainsets are dressed-up fiberglass.
So American railfans, maybe it's a good idea to take another look at what you've got---while it's still around!

[Anonymous]

My Brother-in-law just returned from a Holiday Travel tour, he was part of a group of 30. They left 9/10 on the CZ, Chi to Reno, and returned from LAX on 9/19 on the SW Chief to Chi. He said he would definitely take the train again, but the food at all 4 breakfasts was cold by the time it was served.

[Anonymous]

Lately I have ridden the Texas Eagle and the Capitol Limited, not to mention my first ride on the Acela from DC to Philadelphia and back to DC.

The food on the diners were okay, not great, but good. About as good as any Dennys. However, on the return trip on the Capitol Limited the diner was put out of service by the health inspectors:the refrigerators were not keeping the food cold enough. Nevertheless, Amtrak provided the sleeping car passengers a chicken dinner provided by a local take out chicken restaurant in Cumberland, Md. At least the fried chicken provided a different selection.

I must add that the Acela train ran on time both ways, and the speed was fast compared to the slow speeds of the Superliners. It is strange how the Capitol Limited ran mostly on time while the Texas Eagle is still having Union Pacific dispatcher problems. How a passenger train can lose 2 hours in North Little Rock, the mainbase of the old Missouri Pacific railroad, in the middle of long stretches of double mainline track is beyond me? I counted six freight trains that got the green light before we did.