Amtrak - Dining

[D854_Tiger]

I think that sharing a table with fellow travellers is very much intended to be part of the experience

I once shared a table with a friendly couple, both were cops, his main interests appeared to be guns and Doctor Who.

Thanks for the useful information.

I will have around 4 hours in Chicago so I intend to have a brief walk around downtown and probably a meal. I obviously can’t do anything too adventurous in that time.

Depending on your definition of adventurous, the Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower) and once the tallest building in the world is only about three hundred yards away from Union Station.

There's a viewing lounge at the top called Skydeck that has glass boxes you can walk into attached to the side of the building, yep glass floor included, safe enough rated in tonnes, although the glass floor has actually cracked twice in the past.

Apparently, on a windy day, you can feel the building swaying and Chicago is know as the Windy City.

The real novelty for me was the Skydeck express elevator with just two buttons one marked 1 and the other marked 103.

 

[the sniper]

Knowing that prominent rail photographer Richard Steinheimer, who came from LA, favoured the pass, I did in the last hour a search for his name/location, and have just been amazed to find, almost first hit, a downloadable pdf of that very magazine article, for, equally amazing, it had been written by Stein himself (as many called him). It was the September 1974 issue, which was when I was visiting the USA during university hols. Here it is :

https://www.trains.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/cajon-pass-revisited.pdf?la=en

This is a good map of Cajon Pass, showing the changes over the years - https://www.trains.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/trnm0811_acajonpass.pdf - 'CP Walker' is near the top left corner, not far from 'Stein's Hill' (named after photographer Richard Steinheimer, of course). Then further south is 'Sullivan's Curve', named after Herb Sullivan, another well known local photographer.

Good finds! Trains seem to have a fair amount of content they've put up free online that surfaces like this, I wonder if anybody has collated the links anywhere?

 

[OldandRambling]

This recent youtube video gives a good idea of current Amtrak SW Chief train food options. (Most of the western long distance trains have similar, if not identical menus)

 

[ac6000cw]

Good finds! Trains seem to have a fair amount of content they've put up free online that surfaces like this, I wonder if anybody has collated the links anywhere?

The Trains magazine website is searchable and has various sections with libraries of free articles and downloadable content e.g. :

Maps - https://www.trains.com/trn/railroads/maps/ (I find these quite interesting e.g. the 'before and after' ones showing the original railroads that make up today's mega-systems, how one-time rats-nests of competing lines in major urban areas have been drastically simplified today, or how traffic patterns have changed over the years).

History - https://www.trains.com/trn/railroads/history/

Train watching 'Hot Spots' - https://www.trains.com/trn/railroads/hotspots/

Locomotives - https://www.trains.com/trn/railroads/locomotives/

ABCs of railroading - https://www.trains.com/trn/train-basics/abcs-of-railroading/

One of the ABC's is quite pertinent to this thread - 'Riding, eating, or lounging in an Amtrak Superliner' - https://www.trains.com/trn/train-ba...g-eating-or-lounging-in-an-amtrak-superliner/

This recent youtube video gives a good idea of current Amtrak SW Chief train food options. (Most of the western long distance trains have similar, if not identical menus)

The basic menus can be downloaded from the Amtrak website - scroll down this page - https://www.amtrak.com/onboard/meals-dining/dining-car.html

 

[the sniper]

The Trains magazine website is searchable and has various sections with libraries of free articles and downloadable content e.g. :

Maps - https://www.trains.com/trn/railroads/maps/ (I find these quite interesting e.g. the 'before and after' ones showing the original railroads that make up today's mega-systems, how one-time rats-nests of competing lines in major urban areas have been drastically simplified today, or how traffic patterns have changed over the years).

Indeed, the maps section is great and the easiest Pdfs to find. Thanks.

 

[matacaster]

The Trains magazine website is searchable and has various sections with libraries of free articles and downloadable content e.g. :

Maps - https://www.trains.com/trn/railroads/maps/ (I find these quite interesting e.g. the 'before and after' ones showing the original railroads that make up today's mega-systems, how one-time rats-nests of competing lines in major urban areas have been drastically simplified today, or how traffic patterns have changed over the years).

History - https://www.trains.com/trn/railroads/history/

Train watching 'Hot Spots' - https://www.trains.com/trn/railroads/hotspots/

Locomotives - https://www.trains.com/trn/railroads/locomotives/

ABCs of railroading - https://www.trains.com/trn/train-basics/abcs-of-railroading/

One of the ABC's is quite pertinent to this thread - 'Riding, eating, or lounging in an Amtrak Superliner' - https://www.trains.com/trn/train-ba...g-eating-or-lounging-in-an-amtrak-superliner/


The basic menus can be downloaded from the Amtrak website - scroll down this page - https://www.amtrak.com/onboard/meals-dining/dining-car.html

Thanks, don't know how I missed that. I can be a bit of a fussy eater, but the chief menu looks good for me with several dishes I would like.

 

[Iskra]

A bit of a spanner in the works:

Hi PnrNumber X,

We wanted to let you know that the Sleeper Car has been removed from train #0005, the California Zephyr, from Chicago, Illinois on Saturday, September 17th. We've changed your reservation to standard Coach seating and will refund you for the price difference.

We're sorry for the inconvenience. Thanks for being a valued Amtrak customer - we'll see you onboard.

I don't think such a long journey to San Francisco in coach is viable. Do forum members agree with that conclusion?

When I log onto modify my trip, it shows the Zephyr as cancelled but the rest of my trip is present. It won't let me do any modifications online and says I must call, but I can't get through on their number (I'll try again midweek during US office hours).

 

[ac6000cw]

I don't think such a long journey to San Francisco in coach is viable. Do forum members agree with that conclusion?

When I was somewhat younger, I did that exact trip (and the Southwest Chief from LA to Chicago) in 'coach' all the way - so yes IMHO it's viable. When I did it they tried where possible to put the longer-distance passengers in different coaches to the shorter distance ones, to minimise the disturbance at night.

By UK standards the seats on Superliners are huge, recline and have foot-rests, plus there's loads of legroom. It's been too long ago to remember if there are any showers available to coach passengers.

 

[duncanp]

A bit of a spanner in the works:



I don't think such a long journey to San Francisco in coach is viable. Do forum members agree with that conclusion?

When I log onto modify my trip, it shows the Zephyr as cancelled but the rest of my trip is present. It won't let me do any modifications online and says I must call, but I can't get through on their number (I'll try again midweek during US office hours).

Amtrak are in the habit of opening reservations long in advance of the date of travel. (6 - 9 months in some instances)

Then if subsequent engineering works or other disruption happens, they have to modify or cancel existing reservations.

This contrasts with the UK practice of not releasing trains for reservation until the timetable has been confirmed, which takes account of planned engineering works.

Hope my trip on the City of New Orleans next May goes OK

 

[181]

I don't think such a long journey to San Francisco in coach is viable. Do forum members agree with that conclusion?

When I was somewhat younger, I'd did that exact trip (and the Southwest Chief from LA to Chicago) in 'coach' all the way - so yes IMHO it's viable. When I did it they tried where possible to put the longer-distance passengers in different coaches to the shorter distance ones, to minimise the disturbance at night.

By UK standards the seats on Superliners are huge, recline and have foot-rests, plus there's loads of legroom. It's been too long ago to remember if there are any showers available to coach passengers.

I think I'm a few years older than @Iskra, and in 2017 I did three Amtrak journeys of about 24 hours in Superliner coaches without a problem; although I might have thought twice about doing 48 hours in one go, I certainly wouldn't rule it out. (I don't remember there being showers, but perhaps I just didn't bother looking on a one-night journey).

If you're travelling on your own you'll likely be saving quite a lot of money by not using a sleeping compartment, as they seem to be expensive for the solo traveller (although I did find a cheap ticket for Pittsburgh-Chicago). And coach class is probably better for seeing out of both sides of the train.

Chicago is getting a lot of love here, I’m starting to regret only having a few hours there now!

But if your schedule allows you to travel a day or two later, and sleeping berths are available, then if you can manage to change your booking it would solve that problem.

Not railway-related, but two interesting things that I did in my just-over-24-hours in Chicago were the Field Museum of Natural History (lots of dinosaurs, and a tenuous railway connection in the shape of the Tsavo man-eating lions), and a walking tour to demonstrate the history of skyscrapers (https://www.architecture.org/tours/).

 

[FormerBritInMe]

Anyone like to comment on dining on southwest chief? Will be on it in August LA - >Newton.

My wife and I were on the SWC last September. All of the meals were excellent especially the steak. They did not do table sharing due to the pandemic, I don't know if that has changed. You can also get meals served in your room, the Sleeping Car Attendant will bring them.

 

[OldandRambling]

A bit of a spanner in the works:



I don't think such a long journey to San Francisco in coach is viable. Do forum members agree with that conclusion?

When I log onto modify my trip, it shows the Zephyr as cancelled but the rest of my trip is present. It won't let me do any modifications online and says I must call, but I can't get through on their number (I'll try again midweek during US office hours)

Gosh, that is bad news! I heard that Amtrak are having problems with shortage of equipment, especially after recent accidents there.
I know several people on various Amtrak trains have been "bumped" from sleeper to coach at very short notice, on the SW Chief and others too.
I used the Amtrak rail pass several times when I was aged about 55, and enjoyed 12,000 miles in coach seats in two weeks. I think coach seats turn it from a relaxing land cruise into more of an endurance.... Keep in mind that coach passengers get no meals included, and can't even enter the diner car. (Coach passengers can buy food from the cafe car, but it is mostly sh*tty food)!
Can you maybe re-route on the Empire Builder to Portland, with connection there to the Coast Starlight to Emeryville?
Or try to change your booking one day later, or one day earlier?
You have my sympathies, good luck!

The actual coach seats are very comfortable, more like a comfy armchair, but you will get a stranger sitting next to you if a solo passenger. They recline to a good extent for sleeping, and plenty of leg room too. I find the American coach passengers to be mostly friendly, and have enjoyed many interesting conversations. It's pot luck as to who you will be seated next to, of course...

 

[181]

Keep in mind that coach passengers get no meals included, and can't even enter the diner car.

That wasn't my experience in 2017 -- it seemed to be available to anyone willing to pay (and not particularly expensive).

All of the meals were excellent

I wouldn't go that far, but as far as I can remember they were reasonably good (although my diary notes that dinner on the California Zephyr was much better than the meagre breakfast on the Capitol Limited, which is consistent with what others have said above about the difference between east and west of Chicago).

(Coach passengers can buy food from the cafe car, but it is mostly sh*tty food)!

I wouldn't go that far either, but I wouldn't want to live on it for a long time. Maybe take your own food for the first day?

the only failing was the Amtrak obsession with squashing randoms around one dining table... either a blessing or a curse depending on who you got

I do like the communal dining, sharing tables with others, a great way to meet folk.

(Anecdote rather than travel advice: At breakfast on the Coast Starlight, I found when I came to pay that the gentleman who had left the table somewhat earlier had paid the bill not only for me and the third person at the table, but for the family across the aisle as well. No guarantee that you'll meet someone that generous, of course).

 

[yorkie]

That wasn't my experience in 2017 -- it seemed to be available to anyone willing to pay (and not particularly expensive).


I wouldn't go that far, but as far as I can remember they were reasonably good (although my diary notes that dinner on the California Zephyr was much better than the meagre breakfast on the Capitol Limited, which is consistent with what others have said above about the difference between east and west of Chicago).


I wouldn't go that far either, but I wouldn't want to live on it for a long time. Maybe take your own food for the first day?





(Anecdote rather than travel advice: At breakfast on the Coast Starlight, I found when I came to pay that the gentleman who had left the table somewhat earlier had paid the bill not only for me and the third person at the table, but for the family across the aisle as well. No guarantee that you'll meet someone that generous, of course).

Edit: coach class no longer has the option of full dining and cannot enter the dining car.

Coach passengers can use the observation lounge (where provided) / cafe, or can take good back to their seats; no food / drink is included and everything has to be paid for as you go.

Sleeper passengers have meals paid for (and in my experience it's generally too much food for a regular person to accept all courses, unless you go for lighter options e.g. salad for lunch etc) although service is not deemed to be included so the staff appreciate (and even expect) a small tip for each meal (for our group of 4 we generally did 10 dollars for breakfast, 15 for lunch, 20 for dinner for the group) however there is no compulsion to do so.

My wife and I were on the SWC last September. All of the meals were excellent especially the steak. They did not do table sharing due to the pandemic, I don't know if that has changed.

They certainly do now. However it didn't apply to us as there were 4 of us.

But if your schedule allows you to travel a day or two later, and sleeping berths are available, then if you can manage to change your booking it would solve that problem.

If I was in @Iskra's position I would do that. Or do part of the journey by rail and part by plane/hotel?

50+ hours in coach class would be too much for me, also consider sleeper passengers have meals, drinks, showers etc.

And expect a delay of anything between 2 hours (if you are lucky) and 8 hours.

 

[Flying Snail]

That wasn't my experience in 2017 -- it seemed to be available to anyone willing to pay (and not particularly expensive).

Sadly (for so many reasons) it isn't 2017 any more. Post-covid dining car meals are now only offered to sleeper passengers, I wouldn't be surprised if this remains so until they can finally bin off the expensive cooked meals permanently.

 

[Watershed]

A bit of a spanner in the works:



I don't think such a long journey to San Francisco in coach is viable. Do forum members agree with that conclusion?

When I log onto modify my trip, it shows the Zephyr as cancelled but the rest of my trip is present. It won't let me do any modifications online and says I must call, but I can't get through on their number (I'll try again midweek during US office hours).

The "coach" seats are very luxurious by UK standards (better than any of our First Class seats - all airline-style with curtains, huge legroom and reclining seats). But I'm not sure I'd be wanting to spend a two day journey in them!

Truth be told, the scenery east of Denver is not all that rateable. West of Denver it is spectacular basically the entire way to Emeryville.

So I would consider flying to Denver instead - domestic US flights are plentiful and generally very cheap, outside of holiday dates such as Thanksgiving. Then take the Zephyr in Coach from there, or possibly in a sleeper on a different date.

That wasn't my experience in 2017 -- it seemed to be available to anyone willing to pay (and not particularly expensive).

Unfortunately that seems no longer to be the case post Covid. It's for sleeping car passengers only, and you can't buy food there as a Coach passenger, even if you wanted to.

Coach passengers are limited to buying food from the Cafe, which is basically expensive microwave food only.

The one good thing (for Coach passengers!) is that everyone can access the Observation car (which also has the Cafe downstairs) If you want to guarantee a seat, be sure to get there very early in the morning. It gets very busy during the most scenic parts.

A few other pointers.

Amtrak trains generally, and particularly the Zephyr and other "long distance" (by their standards!) trains, have a very poor punctuality record. Long delays, even 5-10 hours, are commonplace. It's not a good idea to plan any tight connections - it's just not worth the stress. Ideally leave an overnight stay in between trains; at the very least, allow several hours.

Unfortunately generous tipping is quasi mandatory in the US. 15-20% is the usual figure. Obviously if you will never stay/eat somewhere again then you'll probably get away with tipping less than this, but it's definitely not a good idea if you're going to be served by the same person again!

If you're at a restaurant the usual way it works is for them to hand you a 'check holder' with the bill inside. You then put your card inside. They come back after swiping it and give you a new receipt with a pen and a space for you to sign and enter how much of a tip you want to pay.

It's a good idea to carry a decent amount of cash for other tips - $1 and $5 bills are best. ATMs almost invariably charge a large fee, so get your cash before you go.

 

[43066]

Unfortunately generous tipping is quasi mandatory in the US. 15-20% is the usual figure. Obviously if you will never stay/eat somewhere again then you'll probably get away with tipping less than this, but it's definitely not a good idea if you're going to be served by the same person again!

Seriously?

It’s worth considering that hospitality staff in the US earn a pittance and rely on tips far more than U.K. staff do to earn a decent living. In my experience they also work a lot harder for it than their U.K. counterparts.

(The intro to Reservoir Dogs/world’s smallest violin etc. inevitably springs to mind at this point!).

 

[Watershed]

Seriously?

It’s worth considering that hospitality staff in the US earn a pittance and rely on tips far more than U.K. staff do to earn a decent living. In my experience they also work a lot harder for it than their U.K. counterparts.

(The intro to Reservoir Dogs/world’s smallest violin etc. inevitably springs to mind at this point!).

Coming from our culture of tipping only for good or exceptional service, otherwise usually just rounding up, it rather sticks in the craw to have to tip (a lot, by British standards) in order not to be considered rude.

That the staff are paid a poor basic wage isn't really the customer's problem or responsibility. Indeed, by tipping generously for bad service you perpetuate the trend.

I can't say that US service is notably better than British service in my experience. Indeed I've experienced plenty of surly or indifferent service on Amtrak - but if you are on a sleeper and with the same crew for several days (quite how some of their 50+ hour shifts are accepted by the unions is another matter!) then you'd be a fool to tip badly.

 

[43066]

Coming from our culture of tipping only for good or exceptional service, otherwise usually just rounding up, it rather sticks in the craw to have to tip (a lot, by British standards) in order not to be considered rude.

That the staff are paid a poor basic wage isn't really the customer's problem or responsibility. Indeed, by tipping generously for bad service you perpetuate the trend.

I can't say that US service is notably better than British service in my experience. Indeed I've experienced plenty of surly or indifferent service on Amtrak - but if you are on a sleeper and with the same crew for several days (quite how some of their 50+ hour shifts are accepted by the unions is another matter!) then you'd be a fool to tip badly.

Admittedly I’ve never been on Amtrak (I need to do it) and I’m pretty quick to refuse to tip etc. so, on reflection, perhaps I was a little too harsh in my response above.

No idea whether you’ve been, but Mexico is even worse than the US in that respect. I can recall tipping what we thought was an acceptable % in Mexico City and quite literally being pursued outside by the waiting staff as we left the restaurant, asking us for yet more money.

Clearly they realised we were tourists!

 

[OldandRambling]

The dining car was open to all, pre-pandemic, now just for sleeper passengers. The tipping culture is a way of life there, although Amtrak train staff do earn a better basic salary than land based hospitality folk.
Beware in general (non- Amtrak related) terms that often the price shown does not include "purchase taxes". Another with hotels is the addition of a "resort fee", which is often more than the advertised cheap room cost!

I enjoyed meals in the diner and just tipped a few $ for each meal. At that time it was a much better exchange rate too...I do bring store bought food aboard if I am in coach overnight, and just grab a hot dog or coffee from the cafe car to supplement

I like both coach and sleepers aboard Amtrak, but they are both very different animals. I find Amtrak's casual way of changing folk from sleeper to coach, as if it was a minor blip rather than a major change, a bit hard to swallow.


I like Watershed's suggestion of flying to Denver and starting West from there in coach. Remember to modify your ticket to start from Denver, as otherwise it may be cancelled altogether if the conductor can't scan it leaving Chicago...

 

[ac6000cw]

Sadly (for so many reasons) it isn't 2017 any more. Post-covid dining car meals are now only offered to sleeper passengers, I wouldn't be surprised if this remains so until they can finally bin off the expensive cooked meals permanently.

Given how much of political football Amtrak food service (subsidy) costs have been at times over the years, neither would I...

Removing availability of dining car service from coach passengers is a serious downgrade (as far as I'm concerned).

Truth be told, the scenery east of Denver is not all that rateable. West of Denver it is spectacular basically the entire way to Emeryville.

I'd basically agree with that, but Chicago to crossing the Mississippi (at Burlington, Iowa) I found reasonably interesting.

 

[181]

Unfortunately that seems no longer to be the case post Covid. It's for sleeping car passengers only, and you can't buy food there as a Coach passenger, even if you wanted to.

That's a pity.

Truth be told, the scenery east of Denver is not all that rateable. West of Denver it is spectacular basically the entire way to Emeryville.

So I would consider flying to Denver instead - domestic US flights are plentiful and generally very cheap, outside of holiday dates such as Thanksgiving. Then take the Zephyr in Coach from there, or possibly in a sleeper on a different date.

To me it would seem odd to plan to cross a continent by train and then decide to take a plane for the middle bit -- part of the interest of travelling in a foreign country is seeing some of the 'ordinary' parts as well as the pretty ones. But of course it's not my trip we're discussing -- each to their own.

Another possibility, if @Iskra's schedule can accommodate an extra day en route, would be to do the journey in two stages, with 24 hours in Denver or somewhere in the Rockies. (You could probably get quite a good hotel room for the price of two nights in a sleeping car).

I'd basically agree with that, but Chicago to crossing the Mississippi (at Burlington, Iowa) I found reasonably interesting.

I was agreeably surprised by Iowa -- rather than being nothing but flat dull cornfields, it was quite pleasant in an unspectacular kind of way. The next morning I got to see the mountains getting gradually nearer as we crossed the plains of eastern Colorado.

 

[AlterEgo]

Sadly (for so many reasons) it isn't 2017 any more. Post-covid dining car meals are now only offered to sleeper passengers, I wouldn't be surprised if this remains so until they can finally bin off the expensive cooked meals permanently.

I can confirm this is indeed the case. However, full service dining on the western routes is secure and there is little prospect of further decline.

I like Watershed's suggestion of flying to Denver and starting West from there in coach. Remember to modify your ticket to start from Denver, as otherwise it may be cancelled altogether if the conductor can't scan it leaving Chicago...

The real attraction of the Zephyr - America’s most culturally significant train - is it follows the pioneer trails from Chicago and the Midwest. Skipping the first day is like missing out the first part of a best selling book because you can’t be bothered with plot exposition. The sheer vastness and scale of the trip is part of the attraction.

 

[barringtoncem]

If you have not already seen them Dylan's Travels Reports on You Tube Are Worth Viewing As He Has Done Several Usa Trips & Have A Great Time

 

[OldandRambling]

The real attraction of the Zephyr - America’s most culturally significant train - is it follows the pioneer trails from Chicago and the Midwest. Skipping the first day is like missing out the first part of a best selling book because you can’t be bothered with plot exposition. The sheer vastness and scale of the trip is part of the attraction.

How you interpret a journey may be different for me, or Fred Bloggs, etc. I have always ridden the full route myself, probably a dozen times, and it is my favourite Amtrak route.
Having said that, if a person does not feel able to endure 45 hours sitting in a coach seat, then the portion west of Denver is far more scenic than the portion from Chicago to Denver, which is mostly open farmland, and traversed at night...

 

[181]

The real attraction of the Zephyr - America’s most culturally significant train - is it follows the pioneer trails from Chicago and the Midwest. Skipping the first day is like missing out the first part of a best selling book because you can’t be bothered with plot exposition. The sheer vastness and scale of the trip is part of the attraction.

traversed at night

Although I knew it would be the case (unless the train was seriously late), part of the journey obviously has to be at night, and overnight travel is fun in its own way, I was still a little disappointed not to see any of the plains of Nebraska over which Robert Louis Stevenson's emigrant train famously 'toiled...like a snail', and pleased that I got to see Illinois, quite a lot of Iowa and something of the Colorado part of the plains.

You could see it as an advantage of coach class that you're less likely to miss any of the landscape by still being asleep after daybreak, although this could of course be counterproductive if you end up dozing off during the day.

If there's no-one next to you you can lie down across two seats, although if I remember rightly there usually was someone in the next seat.

 

[ac6000cw]

You could see it as an advantage of coach class that you're less likely to miss any of the landscape by still being asleep after daybreak, although this could of course be counterproductive if you end up dozing off during the day.

That's pretty much how I regard the pros and cons - I also quite enjoy an 'early hours of the morning' stroll along the platform if the weather is decent and the stop is long enough.

And hotel rooms sometimes aren't much better for sleep - 25 years ago I did a trip to ride on the Amtrak Desert Wind and Pioneer trains just before they were withdrawn in 1997 and visit the Grand Canyon. Slept as best I could on the plane to LA, then straight on the Southwest Chief overnight in coach to Flagstaff (visit Grand Canyon during the day), straight back to LA overnight in coach then up to Sacramento for a night in a hotel (first night in a bed for three days). Only to be woken up at 4am or so by guys next door who were driving the truck parked outside - aargh!

 

[yorkie]

My plan was to get plenty of rest in a quiet hotel the night before / after the sleeper and for the sleeper itself, try to go to sleep as early as possible after sunset and wake up before 6am to be at the first sitting for breakfast and avoid missing the daylight hours

I am not an early bird but that generally did work well. I will also add we did all trains westbound, so got an 'extra' hour each night. I'm only just on my way home from it now.

 

[Hadrian]

In the autumn of 2014 I travelled by train from Emeryville to New York - to sample the alternative to flying home to the UK overnight from San Francisco - after a few days in New York I then took a rare day flight.

Not being confident of my threshold of tolerance of three consecutive nights in sleepers I broke my Zephyr journey for 24 hours at Glenwood Spring and then stayed for a night between trains in Chicago - afternoon arrival and evening departure gave a reasonable opportunity to see a bit of Chicago - leaving plenty for a future longer visit.

It was an excellent trip - but I was glad I had broken up the journey and would certainly do something similar again.

Meals provided plenty of opportunities for interesting conversations and, sometimes, insights unavoidably overheard from adjoining tables. A high proportion of fellow passengers were from the US so the mealtime conversations were often illuminating.

 

[harri2626]

Sadly, things have got worse with Amtrak in recent years (outside the NE Corridor). Traditional food service has gone from some eastern and southern services, and even the cooked in-house meals are not as good as they were a decade ago. "Flexible Dining" was a Covid compromise which has now become the norm on many services, meaning microwaved food in your room. "Nothing could be finer than dinner in the diner" used to be true, but not any longer. The bean counters now rule Amtrak and "extras" like food are considered an economic burden because of the space needed and staff required to maintain meal services. Yes, sharing a table with others often is a pleasant experience, but can also lumber one with crashing bores or people with no wish to socialise. However, I have had some delightful meals with folks of all generations who, as others have stated, are free to tell you their life stories and intimate details which we Brits would otherwise normally avoid.

I love travelling on trains in the US, but my advice to anyone travelling by Amtrak (after many years of sometimes bitter experience) is to always build in lots of spare time between trains or other commitments because, once you step on board you are in the "Amtrak Twilight Zone" with frequent serious delays and no idea when you will arrive because freight still rule the rails.

I'm rather bitter at this moment as Amtrak have just "bumped" me out of my Roomette into Coach because of a faulty sleeping car needing to be taken off the "City of New Orleans" in October. I booked and paid for it last April and, needless to say, I asked for a full refund and am now flying.