Silver Star sleeping cars gone?
#2
Join Date: Jun 2014
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Big Discussion going on here:
http://www.railroad.net/forums/viewt...?f=46&t=159220
My money is on an IT glitch, but we'll see...
http://www.railroad.net/forums/viewt...?f=46&t=159220
My money is on an IT glitch, but we'll see...
#3
Ambassador, New England
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Location: Maineiac, USA
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Here's some more discussion: http://discuss.amtraktrains.com/inde...pers-sold-out/
#5
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I'll have to keep an eye on this. I was looking at taking the Silver Star from CYN to WAS in December and I was confused that the sleepers were sold out. Here's hoping on it being an IT issue.
#6
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: FLL
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Posts: 1,212
Looks like this isn't an IT glitch but a six month "trial" running without a dining car:
http://discuss.amtraktrains.com/inde...ld-out/page-10
This will be interesting. Not going to go over very well, I hope, because if it does go over with pax and costs fall faster than revenue, it could become permanent. Too bad they aren't trying to increase revenue instead.
http://discuss.amtraktrains.com/inde...ld-out/page-10
This will be interesting. Not going to go over very well, I hope, because if it does go over with pax and costs fall faster than revenue, it could become permanent. Too bad they aren't trying to increase revenue instead.
#7
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: DTW/FNT
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Amtrak has made a major change to this train -- sleeping car fares will no longer include meals, but will be lower and the train will no longer have a full diner.
No telling how long this will last
Bob H
No telling how long this will last
Bob H
#8
Join Date: Sep 2010
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#9
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Thanks for posting the statement, I personally think this is pretty awful. There are two trains between Raleigh and Washington and I've gone out of my way to take the Silver Star so I can enjoy the diner. I've also taken the Silver Star to Miami in a sleeper.
I'll be avoiding it from now on, it would be so bad if the food in the cafe car was edible but it's really not
I'll be avoiding it from now on, it would be so bad if the food in the cafe car was edible but it's really not
#10
Join Date: Jul 2004
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Someone leaked additional details on the AU forum. With no improvement to the bleak cafe menu (and no apparent ability to bulk up inventory provision of the existing items), this experiment is sure to be short-lived in its announced form.
It's too bad there couldn't at least be cold boxed meals boarded for the sleepers for one or two of the meal periods (as is done on the Empire Builder PDX section). Or, heck, monetize cold meals in the cafe car. Where's the creative entrepreneurship?
It's also a shame that a diner or cafe couldn't be retained as a table car for sleeper pax. The Amfleet II cafe car tends to be very crowded even when the full diner is also in service.
We can only (perversely) hope that CSI scores will drop fast enough to force a course-correction on this plan once reality hits.
It's too bad there couldn't at least be cold boxed meals boarded for the sleepers for one or two of the meal periods (as is done on the Empire Builder PDX section). Or, heck, monetize cold meals in the cafe car. Where's the creative entrepreneurship?
It's also a shame that a diner or cafe couldn't be retained as a table car for sleeper pax. The Amfleet II cafe car tends to be very crowded even when the full diner is also in service.
We can only (perversely) hope that CSI scores will drop fast enough to force a course-correction on this plan once reality hits.
#11
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Very true. The last time I waited in line on the Silver Star in the cafe car I think I had to wait a half hour just to get a soda and a coffee. Not to mention that by the time the train gets from Miami to North Carolina, they're usually out of a bunch of stuff.
#13
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Long-term, Amtrak needs to invest in something like reverse-herringbone sleeper seats for a subset of Amfleet coaches to achieve a middle-ground "slumbercoach" level of service. This should be in addition to, not in lieu of, real sleepers and a real diner.
#14
Join Date: Apr 2003
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On the other hand, the applicable redemptions for sleeper space, as described on the AGR website, are simply called "Bedroom" and "Roomette." Strictly speaking, you'll still be getting a "Bedroom" or a "Roomette" on the Silver Star. As with all things, it's buyer (or redeemer) beware. Hopefully the AGR phone agents will alert people to that if they seek to use points for sleeper space on the Silver Star. But I wouldn't count on it.
#15
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No changes to sleeping car redemption requirements are planned in response to the Silver Star "un-bundled" fare offer. If the member wishes to instead redeem on another route with dining car service, the member may modify the reservation by contacting the Amtrak Guest Rewards Service Center.
Anthony
Anthony