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[quote user="blue streak 1"] here is an interesting quote from deggesty on the wash union station thread. " Columbus Circle is also being completely redesigned and rebuilt to accomodate buses, taxi/livery, and the hugely popular tour buses that originate from the front of Union Station." Now I know why Columbus Circle appeared as it did when I was in Washington in April and May this year. I trust that work will have been finished when I next expect to be in Washington (2014?) I have no quarrel with the current first class accomodations in the station, but I wish there were a little more variety in the snack food available." there has been much argument about getting food at stations instead of on trains. If the above  opinion is prevelant at our second busiest train station what can we expect at many of the smaller stations ? SANTA FE was sucessful with their harvey houses because of their mostly on time operation and frequency of trains. That in anyone's opinion is not the case with just a single pair of AMTRAK trains on most long distance routes ( exceptions part of the routes of florida trains and empire service using a 7 hrs break point ) .  [/quote] If the future for passenger trains in the U.S. is in relatively short, high density corridors, such as NYC to Washington, where the end points trip takes approximately three hours, the need for on-board food is minimal at most. It could easily be gotten in New York, Newark, Trenton, Philadelphia, Wilmington, Baltimore, and Washington. If the future for passenger trains in the U.S. includes continuation of the existing long distance trains, which is a mistake, the operator will have to include on-board food service. In that case, I would discontinue the traditional dining car and upgrade the offerings in the lounge car.  I would also discontinue the sleepers and substitute 2 and 1 across business class with deep hollow, nearly fully reclining seats.  Works on the Tilt Train in Australia.    In regards to the compensation packages for Amtrak's train employees, it is the total compensation package, not just wages, that is important.  Most employees get a shift and an away from home differential.  Whether Amtrak's employees, who receive tips, should have a compensation package that is two to three times what a ground based wait person gets is debatable.   When Amtrak's employees are away from home, their room and board is covered.  Last year, I took the Crescent from Washington to New Orleans.  The Amtrak crew stayed at the same hotel where I stayed. I can assure you it was not Motel 6.   On board crews don't give up their home life. It is true that they are away for several nights on end, but they are compensated by more nights at home.  For example, the Chicago based crew for the Texas Eagle is away from home for four nights. But when they clock off the train they are home for six or seven nights, unless they are commuting from outside of the Chicago area.  I met one wait person who commutes from Pittsburgh to Chicago to work the Eagle or one of the other trains crewed out of Chicago. Job can't be too bad if he is willing to do that.
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