8 replies to this topic

[KevinKorell]

Trains magazine,  3/15/23:

 

 

 

  Amtrak launches Silver Star traditional dining ‘pilot’      

 

 

 

Beginning with the northbound Silver Star of today (Wednesday, March 15), and the southbound train on Friday, March 17, Amtrak is returning full dining car meals to the Star’s Viewliner II diner. It will be the train’s first such food service since “traditional dining” was replaced by “flexible” meals in a bowl on two New York-Miami trains and the New York-New Orleans Crescent in October 2019.

 

Here is the story.

[KevinKorell]

And now moving from pilot to official implementation.

 

WPDE-TV, ABC-15 in Florence, SC, 6/27/23:

 

 

    Amtrak to offer first class traditional dining on Silver Star, Silver Meteor routes  

 

 

S.C. train lovers, the first-class experience is getting a little more premium, as Amtrak is set to new traditional dining options for its two Silver routes.

 

Full story

[KevinKorell]

Trains magazine, 6/27/23:

 

 

   Amtrak returns ‘traditional dining’ to Silver Meteor  

 

 

“Traditional dining” — with chef-prepared meals, glassware and linen tablecloths, and new meal options — has returned to the Silver Meteor, Amtrak announced today.

 

Article

[KevinKorell]

Amtrak press release 6/27/23:
 

 

     Amtrak Launches Traditional Dining on Silver Meteor and Silver Star  

 

New First Class offering includes reimagined menu and enhanced service

 

 

WASHINGTON – Amtrak today announced the introduction of traditional dining for First Class private room customers aboard the Silver Meteor and Silver Star.

 

The addition of this popular service will feature several dining enhancements—including chef-prepared meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner; table service with glassware, cutlery and white linen tablecloths; vegetarian and vegan menu options; selections for the kids and a complimentary alcoholic drink with dinner. The new menu offers a number of customer favorites, including:

• Amtrak Signature Railroad French Toast, Three Egg Omelet for breakfast
• Monte Cristo Grilled Sandwich, Natural Angus Burger, Vegan Chili Bowl for lunch
• Amtrak Signature Flat Iron Steak, Atlantic Salmon, Rigatoni Bolognese for dinner

A gallery of images of the menu items is at this link.

 

Traditional dining will be offered as an exclusive, complimentary amenity for customers traveling in First Class private rooms. Café service, also featuring a newly updated menu, will be available onboard for all customers—offering a variety of meals, snacks and beverages for sale.

 

This traditional dining launch follows the unveiling last month of a new, premium menu in Acela First Class by award-winning restaurateur Stephen Starr.

 

“We are making significant improvements throughout our network to create a modern and dynamic travel experience,” said Fred Gazzolo, Amtrak Vice President of Product Development. “Traveling by train offers a one-of-a-kind journey and the addition of this new service on two legacy routes is something we think our First Class customers will enjoy.”

 

The Silver Meteor and Silver Star each provide daily service between New York and Miami. The routes now join six others offering traditional dining: Auto Train, California Zephyr, Coast Starlight, Empire Builder, Southwest Chief and Texas Eagle (for travel between Los Angeles and San Antonio).

 

To learn more about the new service and browse the menu, visit Amtrak.com/traditionaldining.

[CNJRoss]

Railway Age, 6/28/23

 

Amtrak: ‘Traditional Dining’ Returns to Silver Meteor, Silver Star

 

Written by Marybeth Luczak, Executive Editor

 

Traditional dining will be offered as an exclusive, complimentary amenity for riders traveling in First Class private rooms on Amtrak’s Silver Meteor and Silver Star. (Amtrak Photograph of Rigatoni Bolognese, a Dinner Option)

 

Amtrak is now offering “traditional dining” to First Class private-room passengers of the Silver Meteor and Silver Star, which provide daily service between New York and Miami.

 

The train routes join six others with traditional dining service: Auto Train, California Zephyr, Coast Starlight, Empire Builder, Southwest Chief and Texas Eagle (for service between Los Angeles and San Antonio).

 

According to Amtrak’s June 27 announcement, traditional dining will be “an exclusive, complimentary amenity” for riders traveling in First Class private rooms.  . . .

 

 

Continue here.  

[KevinKorell]

Sounds like I need to plan a trip to try that Rigatoni Bolognese.... it looks good.    It is surprising that they will not offer dining to coach passengers (at a price), which would bring in more revenue.   Perhaps they did not want to eat later in the evening, while rightly so the first class passengers had to be fed.   Also with trains often running late, there has to be some extra food on board to feed sleeper passengers if another mealtime is required.

[CNJRoss]

Trains News Wire

 

Dining experience worthy of Viewliners is back: Trip review

 

By Bob Johnston | July 5, 2023

 

Amtrak should return sidelined equipment to service, invite in coach passengers

 

The northbound Silver Star‘s Viewliner diner Hartford looks inviting at 8 p.m. on June 22, 2023, but there are few customers. Coach passengers are not allowed to purchase meals on the Star or the Silver Meteor, which recently gained “traditional dining.” Bob Johnston

 

The northbound Silver Star‘s Viewliner diner Hartford looks inviting at 8 p.m. on June 22, 2023, but there are few customers. Coach passengers are not allowed to purchase meals on the Star or the Silver Meteor, which recently gained “traditional dining.” Bob Johnston

 

Dining car service for coach travelers on eastern long-distance trains ended in 2018 and 2019 when Amtrak furloughed staff and switched to “flexible dining” for sleeping car passengers, whose meals are included in ticket prices. That didn’t change when management began experimenting with a slimmed down full-service dining model on the Star [see “Amtrak launches Silver Star traditional dining ‘pilot,’” News Wire, March 15, 2023]. It had introduced such service on most Superliner-equipped western trains two years earlier [see “Review: Amtrak reinvents traditional dining …,” News Wire, July 26, 2021].

 

As the Star departed Orlando on time at 7:25 p.m. on June 22, Viewliner II diner Hartford presented a welcome sight: an inviting, spacious dining room with white tablecloths and crisp blue linen napkins. The interior remained bright despite threatening thunderstorm-laden clouds outside, thanks to the double row of windows, high ceilings, and inventive ceiling light fixtures.

 

What was missing at dinner? People. Only three of eight available booths were occupied at the height of the dinner hour; two additional tables next to the kitchen were either stacked with supplies or used by crew.

 

 

Continue here.  

[CNJRoss]

Trains News Wire

 

Coach passengers now can buy meals in Silver Star and Silver Meteor dining cars

 

By Bob Johnston | March 4, 2024

 

 

New York-Florida trains join Western Superliner long-distance routes in restoring diner option

 

WASHINGTON — Amtrak’s New York-Miami trains will begin offering “traditional dining” to “a limited number of coach customers” starting today (Monday, March 4), according to spokeswoman Kimberly Woods.

 

SNIP

 

Coach passengers were also allowed to purchase breakfasts at $20, lunches at $25, and dinners at $45 aboard Superliner-equipped western long-distance trains offering freshly-prepared meals since last March, but it has taken until now for Amtrak management to begin generating extra revenue on the Silver trains’ dining cars.

 

News Wire has yet to receive a response to inquiries whether that pricing will remain constant or how the “limited number” is determined.

 

 

More here.  

[KevinKorell]

IIRC lunch and dinner menu are identical, so why charge almost double the lunch price for dinner?