Passenger Trains > Bye-Bye new diners???

" Word on the street" is that the Delta Dick team has decided to convert 6 of the new dining cars to "lounges" after completely stripping ALL the food prep appliances out of them ( so there's zero chance that they can be used for food prep) and they are in final stage discussions to sell the remainder of them to Via at very " attractive prices".

   If true this will eliminate the threat of a movement starting to force them to offer traditional food service on any of the low level equipped trains.

   I have not been able to confirm this with my sources so at the moment it's only a strong rumor. It does have the ring of truth to it as we all know that the Delta Dick Master Plan is to eliminate all off corridor service asap.

   Ross Rowland

Wasn't the CAF USA order financed with via the RRIF program--and the cars themselves are collateral for the loan? In that case, the lender (Uncle Sam) might have something to say about their partial dismantling or hasty disposal at "attractive" prices.

Paul Wilson
Arlington, VA

https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?4,4673851

Posted from Android

I’m more worried about the rest of the order being cancelled. I have no knowledge of it happening but I’d be surprised if Amtrak takes anymore cars at all. Anderson/Gardner are dangerous and disingenuous. I’ve started my emails and calls again. I hope RPA is prepping Congress to expect skewed facts and outright lies during Amtrak’s upcoming reauthorization. The plan seems be right out of Mulvaneys and Trumps budget plan for Amtrak. Cancel all service outside of NEC and some state run corridor.

Dcmcrider Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Wasn't the CAF USA order financed with via the
> RRIF program--and the cars themselves are
> collateral for the loan? In that case, the lender
> (Uncle Sam) might have something to say about
> their partial dismantling or hasty disposal at
> "attractive" prices.


If the loan is repaid, they won’t have a say.

Posted from iPhone

They do have a big say if you owe $500k on your home mortgage and want to sell the home for $400k. You'd better have a "plan" for the missing 100k. The feds could call in the entire CAF RRIF package if Amtrak disposes of part of the collateral. It depends on how the deal was structured.

Paul Wilson
Arlington, VA

Why does everybody think that Via has money laying around to buy Amtrak equipment?

This guy has to go.. And NOW...

And where would VIA use the diners?  They just announced plans to completely refurbish 4 Budd diners complete with new kitchens. Those would cover the Canadian but with only one diner per train (currently there are two diners used in peak season per consist). The Viewliner diners would also look quite strange in the Canadian's consist. 

bluesboyst Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> This guy has to go.. And NOW...

Seems to me the ENTIRE Top floor of Amtrak senoir management must be DISMISSED.
This is ALL  Amtrak BOD and Anderson. Delta Dick.
We need a ROLL BackNOW  to 2017 and Earlier Amtrak policy. 
REPEAL ALL Negative 2018 Amtrak policy  OR else the nation wil have NO surface transport options to whatever crumbs of greyhound bus service is stil lrunning.
DO  wahtever is necessary to Bring Back ALL PV cars and meke their owners more Than WHOLE.
NOw more than ever the USA needs Excelelnt surface trrnasport Choices for the Brightest possible future.
 -----Daniel


 



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 11/20/18 08:44 by daniel3197.

DevalDragon Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Why does everybody think that Via has money laying
> around to buy Amtrak equipment?

From what I have read, no.

Diners are largely obsolete. The trend will be to serve passengers at their seat. That’s a lot more convenient for the elderly, an increasing share of Amtrak’s ridership.

Posted from iPhone

Baggage Cars and diners at the top of the new car order was ??????

Bob

If the food is as terrible as everybody claims it is, why do we need new diners?

Posted from Android

Doug Wetherhold
Macungie, PA

reindeerflame Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Diners are largely obsolete. The trend will be to
> serve passengers at their seat. That’s a lot
> more convenient for the elderly, an increasing
> share of Amtrak’s ridership.

With one LSA, who do you think is going to serve passengers at their seat ? 85% of the people on LD trains sit in coach, and yes they eat in the diner, or we would not have 3 or 4 seatings and wait lists for meals. The whole point was to lay off as many OBS as possible, reduce sleeping car patronage and revenue to worsen farebox recovery,

I would have instead retained the diner with a staff of 4, left open for service all day, and gotten rid of the coach attendants.



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 11/20/18 09:46 by joemvcnj.

ALCO630 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> If the food is as terrible as everybody claims it
> is, why do we need new diners?
 
The food on the Meteor and Crescent is fine.

Besides a few railfans, who cares about "looks" as long as they function as intended. 

andersonb109 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> And where would VIA use the diners?  They just
> announced plans to completely refurbish 4 Budd
> diners complete with new kitchens. Those would
> cover the Canadian but with only one diner per
> train (currently there are two diners used in peak
> season per consist). The Viewliner diners would
> also look quite strange in the Canadian's
> consist. 

reindeerflame Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Diners are largely obsolete. The trend will be to
> serve passengers at their seat. That’s a lot
> more convenient for the elderly, an increasing
> share of Amtrak’s ridership.
>
> Posted from iPhone

Where did you get your statistics to base this claim. My observation is the exact opposite.

Posted from Android

Good decision, Dick. Keep going. 

ctillnc Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Good decision, Dick. Keep going. 

Really ? Throws 23 states off the map, where do you think Congressional support goes for Amtrak after that is done, especially the NEC  ?
Your anemic, 3 car Piedmont puddle jumpers with horrid farebox recovery and 55 year old cars are not getting extended to VA, SC or GA.

Amtrak was created to operate inter-city passenger trains throughout the US, not be the NEC.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/20/18 11:10 by joemvcnj.