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News Wire: Cold-meal service coming to 'Capitol Limited,' 'Lake Shore Limited'

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Posted by SD70Dude on Monday, June 25, 2018 5:32 PM

PJS1
Samuel Johnston

........Now a Subway franchise nearby in walking distance or in station might do good for an evening meal.  

I ride the Texas Eagle between San Antonio and Dallas 8 to 12 times a year.  The Eagle has a significant dwell time in Fort Worth. 

A seemingly large number of veteran coach riders appear to get off the train to grab their eats at the Subway inside the Fort Worth Intermodal Transit Center.  

Meal stops!

Just like before dining cars were invented.

Greetings from Alberta

-an Articulate Malcontent

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Posted by charlie hebdo on Tuesday, June 26, 2018 11:09 AM

Most Amtrak passengers ride on the NEC or State-sponsored corridors.  Consequently most are riding less than 6 hours and not needing meal service. According to some "experts" on here, the bulk of Amtrak riders on LD trains are not riding from end point to end point, so even there many of the rides are under <8 hours.  Additionally, the LD diners are mostly used by the sleeper passengers, perhaps only because they think the meal is free.  Coach passengers only lightly use dining services, prefering the snack bar.  So it seems likely that Anderson is saying who is actually using a traditional dining car service?  And how many?   Is that really needed?

[My error in dealing with defenders of subsidized dining cars  I should have said most sleeping car passengers know they have actually already paid for the food.  But that misses the point.  If the meals were not a forced choice,i.e., they had to pay only if they ate, would sleeping car passengers partake of the menu?  Maybe some would have some of the meals, but I doubt if they would choose all the offerings.  And thus the subsidy for dining would have to be even higher, unless the actual cost were charged.] 

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Posted by Deggesty on Tuesday, June 26, 2018 1:40 PM

I eat in dining cars because I want something better than snacks at mealtimes. I know--and I expect many others who have sleeping accomodations know--that the cost of the accomodation includes meals in the diner, and that the meals are not free. Most of those with whom I have shared tables seem to be people who are aware that they have paid for their meals when they bought their tickets or exchanged points for their tickets.

I never had any thought about asking others about their understanding of the cost of the meals.

Johnny

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Posted by BaltACD on Tuesday, June 26, 2018 2:14 PM

Sleeping car passengers that don't use the diner when it is included in the ticket price are just throwing money away.

Of course Amtrak could advertise their trains without diners as 'low calorie diet specials'.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by oltmannd on Wednesday, June 27, 2018 10:10 AM

Something like this https://www.greatjourneysofnz.co.nz/assets/food-menus/scenic-trains-menu.pdf would be okay for Amtrak eastern LD trains, I think.  

Maybe convert the kitchen of Viewliner diners into cafe counter...

-Don (Random stuff, mostly about trains - what else? http://blerfblog.blogspot.com/

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Posted by Deggesty on Wednesday, June 27, 2018 10:19 AM

oltmannd

Something like this https://www.greatjourneysofnz.co.nz/assets/food-menus/scenic-trains-menu.pdf would be okay for Amtrak eastern LD trains, I think.  

Maybe convert the kitchen of Viewliner diners into cafe counter...

 

Don, you just reminded me of the meal service that the L&N provided on the Pan American between Cincinnati and Montgomery for a few years--a counter-lounge. I do not remember just what I ate in those, but I found the offering to be superior to what Amtrak offers in its lounge and cafe cars. Perhaps the tastes of travellers have changed in the past 50 years?

Johnny

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Posted by Electroliner 1935 on Wednesday, June 27, 2018 3:39 PM

BaltACD
Of course Amtrak could advertise their trains without diners as 'low calorie diet specials'.

Don't give then ideas.

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Posted by Deggesty on Wednesday, June 27, 2018 3:53 PM

Electroliner 1935

 

 
BaltACD
Of course Amtrak could advertise their trains without diners as 'low calorie diet specials'.

 

Don't give then ideas.

 

Yes, pleaase do not.

Johnny

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Posted by BaltACD on Wednesday, June 27, 2018 4:53 PM

Deggesty
 
oltmannd

Something like this https://www.greatjourneysofnz.co.nz/assets/food-menus/scenic-trains-menu.pdf would be okay for Amtrak eastern LD trains, I think.  

Maybe convert the kitchen of Viewliner diners into cafe counter... 

Don, you just reminded me of the meal service that the L&N provided on the Pan American between Cincinnati and Montgomery for a few years--a counter-lounge. I do not remember just what I ate in those, but I found the offering to be superior to what Amtrak offers in its lounge and cafe cars. Perhaps the tastes of travellers have changed in the past 50 years?

On a family vacation we rode the Gulf Wind from New Orleans to Jacksonville.  Had dinner in the diner shortly after departing NOLA - the car's was 'Square Key Tavern' in reality it should have been named 'Square Wheels Tavern' I have never ridden such a rough riding car (even a caboose).  The only times there weren't waves in the water was when we were stopped.  The car was switched out of the train at Flomaton, AL so it could be used on the breakfast run back to NOLA on the other side of the run.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by Deggesty on Wednesday, June 27, 2018 7:38 PM

Balt, I am sorry that you had that horrible experience in the New Orleans-Mobile (the TT indicated that that was the run) diner. Altogether, I ate in the diner on 33 & 34 six times (1960-1966), and the car rode smoothly each time. I do not recall the name on the car.

My only experience with a flat wheel was 15 years ago when we had seats in the Vermonter's business car from Washington to New York. I noticed the flat wheel right after we left Washington, and the car was taken out in Philadelphia. The problem was not anywhere as near as bad as the problem was in your case--but the man who provided refreshments had to pack up and hope there was a replacement in New York City.

Johnny

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