It's not the carpet but the ritual treatment ... and the reputation ... that matter.
Looked at one way, the high level of personal attention and 'little things' service ought to be encouraged, especially in training. I suspect many of the surly present crew of reputed attendants and so forth would never get this unless fully compensated, and perhaps not then, but you never know. Don't ask me to tell you how to design the incentive-driven program and training systems, though.
Looked at another way, any formal ritual of 'rolling out the carpet' is cost that could be better apportioned to better 'core performance' (providing transportation) or actual amenities the passengers recognize as benefiting their trip (better sandwiches, perhaps, or a couple of free drinks apiece).
Personally, I tend to balk at anything for a (quasi) government agency that smacks of elitism. Bad enough to refuse food service to coach passengers in the East Coast services (rather than charge them the marginal full cost per unit to get it, which accomplishes the same effect by far more 'acceptable' means). I was opposed to the whole 'they'll know you've arrived when you pull up in your new Ford' thing even when small, and the whole created-snobbery business that drove the Eighties permanently soured me on synthetic privilege. Again, I'd prefer quiet competence and better amenities to any particular degree of pomp and circumstance ... or, for that matter, better locomotive streamlining or even good exterior paint. I need to be proud of the INTERIOR, which is where over 99% of my practical interaction with the train occurs, and be concerned far less with the hoi wishing they could walk the red carpet themselves some day.
Now, as far as the railroad showing pride in every detail of its service -- there the red carpet was a good marketing symbol, both an introduction and a commonly-recognized symbol of 'the best' just like 'puttin on the Ritz' and before it 'dinner at Delmonico's' were. It's not the same thing to throw public money down to create the same ambience ... every cent has an opportunity cost, and there are far more appropriate places it could be wasted if wasted it is going to be. In case anyone hadn't figured out the 'teeth' behind the 2015 Congressional five-year mandate: that's a big part of it. Likely a bipartisan part, with great political 'legs' over times and different administrations ... even a prospective Biden administration, probably the best prospect for Amtrak in its overall history to date.
As I understand it, the "Red Carpet" still exists, not in pristine condition mind you, and is still rolled out on special occasions.
1950s era. Nostalgia. Go take the RMS Queen Elizabeth to Southampton. Private, for-profit ships and trains. Broadway and 20th. Expensive then. Taxpayers should not be expected to subsidize such stuff now. They didn't then, either.
Anything like it today?
https://www.newyorksocialdiary.com/the-20th-century-limited/
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