Passenger Trains > Coach Dining Car being removed on the Auto Train

Effective January 2020

https://media.amtrak.com/2019/07/amtrak-investing-in-the-auto-train-customer-experience/

Passengers will have the choice of a food truck at the station, or the cross country cafe onboard. I wish I was joking.

At least breakfast will still be included (for now).

Posted from iPhone

Does anyone have first hand information on how many coach passengers used the dining car?

jst3751 Wrote:
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> Does anyone have first hand information on how
> many coach passengers used the dining car?

On the Auto Train, coach passengers have their own dining car as meals are included. This will no longer be the case.

Posted from iPhone

Exactly how does a food truck qualify as a "dining option?"  I love how they try to pass all this garbage off as "enhancements." 

I wish this was a low season only change.

In very low travel periods, like now, one seating is sometimes offered in the coach diner.

In peak season, three settings are usual.

Posted from Android

chrsjrcj Wrote:
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> jst3751 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Does anyone have first hand information on how
> > many coach passengers used the dining car?
>
> On the Auto Train, coach passengers have their own
> dining car as meals are included. This will no
> longer be the case.
>
> Posted from iPhone

Maybe try re-reading the question and provide an answer to the question, not an answer that you want to give?

jst3751 Wrote:
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> Does anyone have first hand information on how
> many coach passengers used the dining car?

Almost all of them!

All coach passengers used the dining car.  There are either 2 or 3 seatings for the coach dining car.  

jst3751 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> chrsjrcj Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > jst3751 Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > Does anyone have first hand information on
> how
> > > many coach passengers used the dining car?
> >
> > On the Auto Train, coach passengers have their
> own
> > dining car as meals are included. This will no
> > longer be the case.
> >
> > Posted from iPhone
>
> Maybe try re-reading the question and provide an
> answer to the question, not an answer that you
> want to give?

Why do you think that because someone is traveling in coach, they are less likely to have a meal in the dining car when it is included in the fare?

chrsjrcj Wrote:
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> jst3751 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > chrsjrcj Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > jst3751 Wrote:
> > >
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> >
> > > -----
> > > > Does anyone have first hand information on
> > how
> > > > many coach passengers used the dining car?
> > >
> > > On the Auto Train, coach passengers have
> their
> > own
> > > dining car as meals are included. This will
> no
> > > longer be the case.
> > >
> > > Posted from iPhone
> >
> > Maybe try re-reading the question and provide
> an
> > answer to the question, not an answer that you
> > want to give?
>
> Why do you think that because someone is traveling
> in coach, they are less likely to have a meal in
> the dining car when it is included in the fare?

I WAS ASKING A QUESTION!

DevalDragon Wrote:
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> jst3751 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Does anyone have first hand information on how
> > many coach passengers used the dining car?
>
> Almost all of them!

Thanks.

Is Amtrak headed towards all coach passengers needing to ‘brown bag’  their train trips-?

cozephyr Wrote:
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> Is Amtrak headed towards all coach passengers
> needing to ‘brown bag’  their train trips-?

The segregation of long distance coach passengers into their own dining arrangement, as shown on the Silver Star, would suggest the answer is YES.

I'm sure people with dietary issues, medical conditions, or religious concern already do so.

WHERE in the Amtrak announcement does it say the coach class diner will be removed????

seaboardc30-7 Wrote:
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> WHERE in the Amtrak announcement does it say the
> coach class diner will be removed????

I believe it is implied here:

"Coach customers will continue to take advantage of low fares and can choose from new dining options with the debut of the Cross-Country Café. Beginning on Jan. 15, 2020, the new menu will offer more meals, snacks and beverages for sale. At that time, Coach class tickets will no longer include complimentary dinner service. Coach customers will receive a complimentary continental breakfast prior to arrival at the Amtrak stations in Lorton, Va., or Sanford, Fla."

I read that as to mean that the coach diner will be replaced by a cross country cafe.

Duane Witte
Holt, MO



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/15/19 13:46 by DWitte.

Bring on the Kimchi Pots and stink up the rest of the train.

For those who don’t know. Auto Train Coach dinner seatings require two dining cars, and half a lounge car. I’ve been on trains with four seatings. This is a disaster in the making.

Nick

Posted from iPhone

Guess I’m a glass half full guy. This sounds like an improvement for sleeper passengers:
“Customers in the Sleeping Car will notice enhancements such as upgraded towels and bed linens and other pleasantries in each room. The dining car will feature a new menu and the addition of complimentary wine to the dinner service.”

And, coach passengers are in coach because they’re on a tight budget. I would much prefer grabbing something from a food truck that offer diverse, well prepared food and then a beer from the CCC rather than endure mediocre Amtrak food. I think this is a good idea. Food trucks are good for those on a budget, in fact, on a upcoming Sunset trip although in a bedroom I think we’ll dine courtesy of the El Paso burrito lady rather than Am food.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/15/19 14:55 by palmland.

chrsjrcj Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Effective January 2020
>
> https://media.amtrak.com/2019/07/amtrak-investing-
> in-the-auto-train-customer-experience/
>
> Passengers will have the choice of a food truck at
> the station, or the cross country cafe onboard. I
> wish I was joking.
>
> At least breakfast will still be included (for
> now).
>
> Posted from iPhone

Nice job burying the lede on the improvements that are on the Auto-Train:

• Upgraded towels and bed linens in each sleeping room
• Expanded availability of every sleeping accomodation type
• New menu in dining car for sleeper customers (menu not attached) but it includes complimentary wine

So the ONE thing this board screams about constantly is the death of the LDT. Yet here Amtrak is INVESTING in the LDT, and in particular the sleeper service which is the class of service most of you claim is being cut off at the knees. And here Amtrak is expanding all sleeper options (that reads as more options for customers and customers with familities) and is improving amenities for those customers.

What else is Amtrak doing? Right-sizing the coach product to match what those customers are willing to pay for. NE to Florida is a leisure game pure and simple. The dollar is king and customers are intensely price sensitive. These changes make sense.

And why is having access to a food truck a bad thing? It's yet another option that Amtrak has no obligation to facilitate.

Y'all can't ever be happy unless we roll things back to 1957.

How long will these improved bed linens and towels last? Remember the amenity kit that sleeping car passengers supposedly received when the LSL and CL went to contemporary dining? When I rode the CL this past March, no amenity kit was to be found. I also seriously couldn't care less about a glass of wine that I'll never drink. And why does it have to come at the expense of meals for coach passengers, that they're already paying for with their ticket? 

Expanding the quantity of rooms available on the train is supposed to be a big deal because??? Amtrak should be doing this on all trains, for all classes of service depending on season and demand. 

I am not going to defend the meals served on Amtrak. I've ridden the AT twice and came away less than impressed regarding the food, but Amtrak is going to remove meals that are included in the fare for coach passengers without reducing prices. How is this improving the product?

That's not burying the lead. That's just cutting through marketing BS.

EDIT TO ADD: It does appear that Amtrak reduced coach prices. In 2018, the average fare in coach was $123 (https://www.railpassengers.org/site/assets/files/3449/63.pdf), so it does appear that the new $89 fare reflects the meals not being included.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/15/19 15:21 by chrsjrcj.