Passenger Trains > Palmetto at Fayetteville.

Amtrak 89, The Palmetto, departs station stop in Fayetteville NC exactly on time at 416pm, Saturday 9/6/25.  One coach in the new livery, 25030.  Cars are cleaner exterior wise than they've been in the past but look to have a trip or two of dirt on them.  Patronage was decent at Fayetteville with a couple dozen off, couple dozen on.  Several of the disembarking passenger walked a block down the street with their military packs and board a bus back to Bragg. 

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5 coaches, cafe, and a bag?   Im not that familiar with this train..  A day train I guess, even tho the run is about 16 hours long...

Thats the normal train. 4 coach, Northeast Regional Cafe, Business Class Coach, baggage on rear. 15 hour 20 minute run compared to 12 hour drive time on I-95 (barring typical I-95 issues), so a reasonable alternative to driving. Fair amount of checked baggage came off today. If 89 and 90 are both on time, they pass each other north of Rocky Mount NC. Prior to 2004(?) train was called the Silver Palm, had sleepers and diner, and originated/terminated in Tampa. When it lost sleepers and was truncated to Savannah is when Silver Star (now Floridian) began its trip in and out of Tampa.

Posted from iPhone



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 09/06/25 21:41 by scraphauler.

Thx for the info.  There is no way i would ever drive 12 hours anywhere. 

If this were an actual transportation company, theyd put a sleeper on it and sell it as  "day rooms"....a place to nap but no special dining service.  Just the cafe for food.  Other than the "dining experience" crowd, IDK why ppl just dont bring their own food.   Its that difficult? 

pdt Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Thx for the info.  There is no way i would ever
> drive 12 hours anywhere. 
>
> If this were an actual transportation company,
> theyd put a sleeper on it and sell it as  "day
> rooms"....a place to nap but no special dining
> service.  Just the cafe for food.  Other than
> the "dining experience" crowd, IDK why ppl just
> dont bring their own food.   Its that
> difficult? 


That's a good idea, the "day rooms" concept. I know that a lot of people will book a roomette even if their journey is all daylight hours. For example, I have made the trip between Omaha and Chicago many times, and the only option is the California Zephyr. I've talked to a number of people while waiting for the train at the station, or I'll overhear the conductor checking their tickets, and a suprising number of them will book a room for the same journey, even though the trip begins at 6 AM and ends at 3 PM. I guess people like the two free meals and prefer to have their own space, if they can afford it.

Tom Loftus
Omaha, NE

pdt Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Thx for the info.  There is no way i would ever
> drive 12 hours anywhere. 
>
> If this were an actual transportation company,
> theyd put a sleeper on it and sell it as  "day
> rooms"....a place to nap but no special dining
> service.  Just the cafe for food.  Other than
> the "dining experience" crowd, IDK why ppl just
> dont bring their own food.   Its that
> difficult? 

This seems like an outlandish request. Are there any day trains operated by a an "actual transportation company" anywhere in the world that operates a train with "day rooms?"



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/07/25 02:45 by DutchDragon.

The Palmetto was even an all-coach train in a 1989 timetable I have that extended to Tampa. Then cutback to Jacksonville, FL in the 1990s before being upgraded as the Silver Palm in the mid 1990s with sleeper car service to Tampa and on down to Miami!!! It would be HUGELY beneficial to get the current Palmetto restored as an all-coach train BACK to Tampa or at least to Jacksonville, FL, but there some train ops involved in that with crews and such that would cause an issue. 

And it's not the Amtrak is short on Viewliner Sleepers........just get some out of storage in Beech Grove. For people "going all the way" - it would be a nice premium product to book a "day room" on the Palmetto, and it had been advertised in the Amtrak timetables both up to and through the Warrington and Gunn years.....

I have ridden the Palmetto a couple of times.  For a year or so right before Covid, I could catch the old Night Owl in Boston to DC, then grab the Palmetto to Savannah.  I liked that, as much as the Meteor.  But alas, no more decent overnight train between Boston and DC.  The current arrangement has 66/67 sitting for a few hours overnight mid-route.  I assume that is a tunnel scheduling issue, but it makes the train even less attractive.  To anyone.

Perhaps one day Amtrak will see its mission as providing reliable transportant to as many people as possibe and try to increase revenue.  Speaking from experience, the sleeper was normally full.  

In the parlor car days, many of the cars had one or more drawing rooms. I am not sure if the bench sofa seating could be made up as a bed.

pdt Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Thx for the info.  There is no way i would ever
> drive 12 hours anywhere. 
>
> If this were an actual transportation company,
> theyd put a sleeper on it and sell it as  "day
> rooms"....a place to nap but no special dining
> service.  Just the cafe for food.  Other than
> the "dining experience" crowd, IDK why ppl just
> dont bring their own food.   Its that
> difficult? 

Europe has "compartments" that you can take for day trains. 

jp1822 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> pdt Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Thx for the info.  There is no way i would
> ever
> > drive 12 hours anywhere. 
> >
> > If this were an actual transportation company,
> > theyd put a sleeper on it and sell it as  "day
> > rooms"....a place to nap but no special dining
> > service.  Just the cafe for food.  Other than
> > the "dining experience" crowd, IDK why ppl just
> > dont bring their own food.   Its that
> > difficult? 
>
> Europe has "compartments" that you can take for
> day trains. 

Maybe 50 years ago but they are rare now. Most of the old equipment has long been retired. And unlike a room on Amtrak, compartments.in Europe were always shared space



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/07/25 20:14 by DutchDragon.

DutchDragon Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> jp1822 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > pdt Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > Thx for the info.  There is no way i would
> > ever
> > > drive 12 hours anywhere. 
> > >
> > > If this were an actual transportation
> company,
> > > theyd put a sleeper on it and sell it as 
> "day
> > > rooms"....a place to nap but no special
> dining
> > > service.  Just the cafe for food.  Other
> than
> > > the "dining experience" crowd, IDK why ppl
> just
> > > dont bring their own food.   Its that
> > > difficult? 
> >
> > Europe has "compartments" that you can take for
> > day trains. 
>
> Maybe 50 years ago but they are rare now. Most of
> the old equipment has long been retired. And
> unlike a room on Amtrak, compartments.in Europe
> were always shared space

Yes, they are getting a bit rare these days, but they ARE still available in Europe on some day trains. Lets also put in context..... Ccompartments offer more privacy and can have seats that face each other with a table, unlike the typical open seating on high-speed trains. Granted, they are on slower trains rather than on high-speed or long-distance international lines. But the key is Europe has a high speed rail system with OPTIONS. Amtrak doesn't have that. They are what Europe would classify as the slower older trains in comparison. And the reason they are on the slower trains - additional first class passenger comfort.   

jp1822 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> DutchDragon Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > jp1822 Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > pdt Wrote:
> > >
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> >
> > > -----
> > > > Thx for the info.  There is no way i would
> > > ever
> > > > drive 12 hours anywhere. 
> > > >
> > > > If this were an actual transportation
> > company,
> > > > theyd put a sleeper on it and sell it as 
> > "day
> > > > rooms"....a place to nap but no special
> > dining
> > > > service.  Just the cafe for food.  Other
> > than
> > > > the "dining experience" crowd, IDK why ppl
> > just
> > > > dont bring their own food.   Its that
> > > > difficult? 
> > >
> > > Europe has "compartments" that you can take
> for
> > > day trains. 
> >
> > Maybe 50 years ago but they are rare now. Most
> of
> > the old equipment has long been retired. And
> > unlike a room on Amtrak, compartments.in Europe
> > were always shared space
>
> Yes, they are getting a bit rare these days, but
> they ARE still available in Europe on some day
> trains. Lets also put in context.....
> Ccompartments offer more privacy and can have
> seats that face each other with a table, unlike
> the typical open seating on high-speed
> trains. Granted, they are on slower trains rather
> than on high-speed or long-distance international
> lines. But the key is Europe has a high speed rail
> system with OPTIONS. Amtrak doesn't have that.
> They are what Europe would classify as the slower
> older trains in comparison. And the reason they
> are on the slower trains - additional first class
> passenger comfort.   

Amtrak certainly does have OPTIONS on this route. If you're not satisfied with the OPTIONS offered on the Palmetto, you can take the full service Floridian which offers full service dining and private compartments.

That's more options than you find on routes in Europe. The only OPTIONS you have in Europe are for local trains or fast trains. They don't compete between those categories. You just get on the train that the railroad company offers.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 09/08/25 08:16 by DutchDragon.

> If you're not satisfied with the OPTIONS offered on the Palmetto, you can take the full service Floridian

Which runs a different route between Rocky Mount and Savannah. People could take the Silver Meteor unless they are traveling to/from Dillon, Selma-Smithfield, or Wilson.  

> Are there
> any day trains operated by a an "actual
> transportation company" anywhere in the world that
> operates a train with "day rooms?"

Perhaps not, dunno. But Chinese HST and Japanese Shinkansen both have three classes of service. Coach is 2+3, middle is 2+2, top (Business Class in China, Gran Class in Japan) is either 2+1 or 1+1, with lots of luxurious amenities. So while not a private room, it really is way better than coach. I don't think Amtrak business class is as nice. The only Amtrak comparible service is first class in Acela, and even that, not as nice. 

DutchDragon Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> jp1822 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > DutchDragon Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > jp1822 Wrote:
> > >
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> >
> > > -----
> > > > pdt Wrote:
> > > >
> > >
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> >
> > >
> > > > -----
> > > > > Thx for the info.  There is no way i
> would
> > > > ever
> > > > > drive 12 hours anywhere. 
> > > > >
> > > > > If this were an actual transportation
> > > company,
> > > > > theyd put a sleeper on it and sell it
> as 
> > > "day
> > > > > rooms"....a place to nap but no special
> > > dining
> > > > > service.  Just the cafe for food. 
> Other
> > > than
> > > > > the "dining experience" crowd, IDK why
> ppl
> > > just
> > > > > dont bring their own food.   Its that
> > > > > difficult? 
> > > >
> > > > Europe has "compartments" that you can take
> > for
> > > > day trains. 
> > >
> > > Maybe 50 years ago but they are rare now.
> Most
> > of
> > > the old equipment has long been retired. And
> > > unlike a room on Amtrak, compartments.in
> Europe
> > > were always shared space
> >
> > Yes, they are getting a bit rare these days,
> but
> > they ARE still available in Europe on some day
> > trains. Lets also put in context.....
> > Ccompartments offer more privacy and can have
> > seats that face each other with a table, unlike
> > the typical open seating on high-speed
> > trains. Granted, they are on slower trains
> rather
> > than on high-speed or long-distance
> international
> > lines. But the key is Europe has a high speed
> rail
> > system with OPTIONS. Amtrak doesn't have that.
> > They are what Europe would classify as the
> slower
> > older trains in comparison. And the reason they
> > are on the slower trains - additional first
> class
> > passenger comfort.   
>
> Amtrak certainly does have OPTIONS on this route.
> If you're not satisfied with the OPTIONS offered
> on the Palmetto, you can take the full service
> Floridian which offers full service dining and
> private compartments.
>
> That's more options than you find on routes in
> Europe. The only OPTIONS you have in Europe are
> for local trains or fast trains. They don't
> compete between those categories. You just get on
> the train that the railroad company offers.

The Floridan has different intermediate stops (let alone late 90%+ of hte time, and the Silver Meteor is designed to be an overnight train through the Carolinas (for the most part). The day train Palmetto DOES on the Silver Meteor route has limited options for the duration of the trip that it travels - the longest "day time" long distance day train. 

jp1822 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> DutchDragon Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > jp1822 Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > DutchDragon Wrote:
> > >
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> >
> > > -----
> > > > jp1822 Wrote:
> > > >
> > >
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> >
> > >
> > > > -----
> > > > > pdt Wrote:
> > > > >
> > > >
> > >
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> >
> > >
> > > >
> > > > > -----
> > > > > > Thx for the info.  There is no way i
> > would
> > > > > ever
> > > > > > drive 12 hours anywhere. 
> > > > > >
> > > > > > If this were an actual transportation
> > > > company,
> > > > > > theyd put a sleeper on it and sell it
> > as 
> > > > "day
> > > > > > rooms"....a place to nap but no special
> > > > dining
> > > > > > service.  Just the cafe for food. 
> > Other
> > > > than
> > > > > > the "dining experience" crowd, IDK why
> > ppl
> > > > just
> > > > > > dont bring their own food.   Its that
> > > > > > difficult? 
> > > > >
> > > > > Europe has "compartments" that you can
> take
> > > for
> > > > > day trains. 
> > > >
> > > > Maybe 50 years ago but they are rare now.
> > Most
> > > of
> > > > the old equipment has long been retired.
> And
> > > > unlike a room on Amtrak, compartments.in
> > Europe
> > > > were always shared space
> > >
> > > Yes, they are getting a bit rare these days,
> > but
> > > they ARE still available in Europe on some
> day
> > > trains. Lets also put in context.....
> > > Ccompartments offer more privacy and can have
> > > seats that face each other with a table,
> unlike
> > > the typical open seating on high-speed
> > > trains. Granted, they are on slower trains
> > rather
> > > than on high-speed or long-distance
> > international
> > > lines. But the key is Europe has a high speed
> > rail
> > > system with OPTIONS. Amtrak doesn't have
> that.
> > > They are what Europe would classify as the
> > slower
> > > older trains in comparison. And the reason
> they
> > > are on the slower trains - additional first
> > class
> > > passenger comfort.   
> >
> > Amtrak certainly does have OPTIONS on this
> route.
> > If you're not satisfied with the OPTIONS
> offered
> > on the Palmetto, you can take the full service
> > Floridian which offers full service dining and
> > private compartments.
> >
> > That's more options than you find on routes in
> > Europe. The only OPTIONS you have in Europe are
> > for local trains or fast trains. They don't
> > compete between those categories. You just get
> on
> > the train that the railroad company offers.
>
> The Floridan has different intermediate stops (let
> alone late 90%+ of hte time, and the Silver Meteor
> is designed to be an overnight train through the
> Carolinas (for the most part). The day train
> Palmetto DOES on the Silver Meteor route has
> limited options for the duration of the trip that
> it travels - the longest "day time" long distance
> day train. 

So just like Europe.