Silver Star vs. Silver Meteor

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TrainLoverJoy

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This question has probably been asked a million times...but on a trip from Chicago to Miami in February is there a general preference for one over the other?
 
Depends on your price range/preferences. The Silver Meteor (SM) has a dining car which has "better" food options (steak, omelettes, french toast, etc) but costs more than the Silver Star (SS). If you are getting sleeper accommodations, you will pay more for your room on the SM that the SS but the food from the diner car is included in the cost. If you are traveling by coach, you pay for food on your own and the cafe car food is cheaper (although if you are on the SM you can still get food from the diner car if space is available, sleeper car passengers have priority, and you are willing to pay for it). If you are going to Miami, the SS only gets you in less than an hour earlier. If you want a room but a cheaper cost, take the SS. If you want steak and omelettes (well Amtrak quality steak and omelettes) and are willing to pay for them, take the SM. One problem is that on the return trip the SS-Capitol Limited (CL) same day connection is not guaranteed so you don't have a choice there and have to take the SM northbound.
 
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On my last Amtrak trip, I took the SM from Richmond to Orlando in coach, and I was able to have breakfast in the diner. I did have the option of getting food from the cafe car (SM has both) but I wanted to have the diner experience. On my return, I took the SS back to Richmond (also in coach), only because the SM's schedule has it arriving at RVR in the wee hours of the morning. My thing was, as long as I got to experience a diner meal at least once, I'd be happy.

As an aside, the northbound SS was 3 hours late arriving in Orlando, and by the time it got to Richmond, it had lost another 50 minutes. So I had about an hour in Richmond before I took the Northeast Regional to NPN.

And yes, sleeper accommodations on the SS are cheaper than on the SM, because the former has no diner. Plus you have to pay for your food separately on the SS.
 
To me, it all boils down to the preferences previously mentioned, outside of food options. I took the Silver Meteor to ORL last year and had a perfectly lovely experience (including the diner). On my return, I took the Silver Star(vation) back. I had an early dinner (or late lunch) before I departed and bulked up on snacks, so I didn't miss not having a diner car. There are entree items which the Cafe Car can prepare which looked pretty decent and which are a concession to not having a diner. Quite frankly, if there were other single overnight trains where this was an option and the operational decision came down to running the route with just sleepers (no diner) and no sleepers no diner, I would happily ride the ones with the former.

My choice of the SS on the return trip boiled down to economics. I made the return reservation later and even had a date change after I made the initial reservation. So the SS came in cheaper than the SM, and at one point, the SM was simply sold out. Likewise, if you're making a connection, timing is everything. Then there's the other advantage where, after the route convergence, if you happen to miss one train, the other one can be an option. The Silver Service is one of the few routes where this is possible. It's unfortunate that such a big deal is made over the fact that one train has a diner and one does not. For those accustomed to long distance train service, this can be an initial shock, but in reality it isn't that bad once you experience it.
 
I am astounded by the sanity in the responses to this thread! I would have expected many more disparaging comments by now implying that the Silver Star isn't worth riding because it doesn't have a full service dining car.

This is really the only difference for your purposes. The train does take a different route for portions of it (Inland South Carolina and Tampa, FL) and it takes longer to get there. The cafe is decent you require a high class meal while traveling, in which case you should fly first class and go to a 5 star restaurant after you land. If I were you, I'd probably do the Meteor since you'd have some padding between your arrive in DC and when you get on the train without worrying much about a missed connection.
 
I am astounded by the sanity in the responses to this thread! I would have expected many more disparaging comments by now implying that the Silver Star isn't worth riding because it doesn't have a full service dining car.

This is really the only difference for your purposes. The train does take a different route for portions of it (Inland South Carolina and Tampa, FL) and it takes longer to get there. The cafe is decent you require a high class meal while traveling, in which case you should fly first class and go to a 5 star restaurant after you land. If I were you, I'd probably do the Meteor since you'd have some padding between your arrive in DC and when you get on the train without worrying much about a missed connection.
To be honest, I DO wish that the SS had a diner car, but it doesn't dissuade me from riding it. No dealbreaker there. :)
 
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