AMTRAK RESTORES TRADITIONAL DINING ON WESTERN LONG DISTANCE ROUTES.

[elleng]

Reimagined menu and enhanced service for Bedroom or Roomette private rooms customers set to debut June 23

– As part of its ongoing recovery following the coronavirus pandemic, Amtrak announced today the restoration of traditional dining service beginning Wednesday, June 23 on the California Zephyr, Coast Starlight, Empire Builder, Southwest Chief, Sunset Limited, and Texas Eagle (for service between San Antonio and Los Angeles). Travelers will experience a redesigned menu featuring chef-prepared meals for breakfast, lunch and a three-course dinner. This includes selections for the kids, a new array of appetizers and a complimentary alcoholic drink with dinner and table service offered in the Dining Car with glassware, cutlery and white linen tablecloths. Ceramic dishware is set to debut later this year.

“Amtrak is making many important investments to improve customer satisfaction, including restoring and reimagining our popular onboard dining experience with a service our customers will enjoy and our employees will be proud to offer,” said Robert Jordan, Vice President Customer Service Stations & Onboard. “As the summer travel season approaches and service on our long distance routes returns to pre-pandemic schedules, customers can continue to feel comfortable traveling with essential Amtrak health and safety protocols remaining in place.”

Traditional dining will be offered as an exclusive, complimentary offering for customers traveling in Bedroom or Roomette private rooms. Café service will continue to be available for customers in both coach and rooms with a variety of meals, snacks, and beverages available for sale. The Café menu is slated to be updated this summer with more fresh selections added. Additionally, eligible coach customers can now place a bid for an upgrade to a Bedroom or Roomette private rooms prior to their trip via BidUp.

https://media.amtrak.com/2021/06/amtrak-restores-traditional-dining-on-western-long-distance-routes/?

[AllaN01Bear]

1. good . love the vegtable lasagana and the traditinal pancakes at breakfast .

havent rode a train in 20 years . may never due to health concerns .

[demosincebirth]

2. I rode Amtrak coast to coast seven years ago. it was great. Plan to do it when I can, this year.

[OAITW r.2.0]

3. Boston to LA....could this be done? Time and cost?

It would be a fun trip, I think.

[left-of-center2012]

4. I love Amtrak

I've gone Coast to Coast several times and up and down the East Coast Boston to Florida.

I have gone by coach and by roomette.
I prefer the room but it is much more expensive.

[montanacowboy]

5. Yipee!!

Boy we have missed that. We do the Empire Builder when we don't feel like driving over to Montana and this makes it all the more enjoyable. Love trains!! if we only had the European system over here.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

6. Hooray!

I have taken Amtrak only a few times in recent years, but have loved it every time.

From Lamy, NM to Portland, OR via Los Angeles. From Lamy NM to Kansas City and back.

I was booked to go from Lamy NM to Seattle, WA, via Chicago in April, 2020. That trip, alas, did not happen because the thing I was planning to attend in Seattle was cancelled. But it would have been a WONDERFUL trip. New Mexico to Chicago. Overnight on the train. A nice hotel in Chicago. Then on the train with two, yes count them two! overnights to Seattle. Several nights in downtown Seattle including meeting up with a long-lost cousin there. Then transfer to the airport where the s-f con I was planning to attend would be held. Sigh. The con was cancelled. I cancelled my trip. With any luck at all it could happen next year, in 2022. I hope that trip can happen. I LOVE taking the train. I love the sleeper car. I love the meals. I love meeting new people. I love being able to be by myself in my small compartment. In short, it's the best of all possible worlds.

So if the s-f thing (Norwescon) happens next year, I hope to be there.

I'm a science fiction person, and I typically attend four to seven s-f things each year. All of them have been virtual since last year, but later on this year they seem to be going live. I am so glad. I love these things, love the people I see at them.

Being able to take Amtrak is just the frosting on the cake.

[summer_in_TX]

7. Wonderful!

A few years ago my husband and I got 30 day Amtrak passes so we could travel all through the west, getting off and exploring, and getting on. We had a fabulous time and the folks we met over meals were part of it.

We just wish sleeping accommodations had been in our price range. At the time such were $300 a night.

Instead we slept awkwardly in our coach seats. Still, a really memorable time.

[Trueblue1968]

8. THAT SALMON LOOKS DELICIOUS !!!