I must have missed the point where the AT was being reduced to "just one food car".... Anyway, my point is that those that "pay thru the nose" should be offered more than those that choose (for
whatever reason) to pay the minimum fare. I don't believe that the super-high sleeper fares should simply get you a flat bed, in a private room, with a very, very, mediocre meal, but it looks like I am in a minority here, and elsewhere in the world when it comes to expectations of service vs. price paid.
For me, "just riding the train" is not nearly enough. It needs to be clean, on-time, with friendly and helpful staff, and offer a selection of amenities. But again, I fear I am a dinosaur when it comes to those expectations.
But that's why the Adirondack, (sans [SIZE=13.63636302948px]dome-SSL-real lounge,[/SIZE] and real diner) the Cardinal, [SIZE=13.63636302948px](sans dome-SSL-real lounge, and real diner), the LSL, [/SIZE](sans real lounge), the Montrealer, [SIZE=13.63636302948px](sans real lounge and real diner), The Carolinian, the Piedmont, and any other train with a duration that extends past two meal periods, is a real BLAH for me. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.63636302948px]Just riding a train, and watching the scenery go by, sitting in a coach seat, subjected to AmCafe food, hold zero, nada, none, appeal. (unless surrounded by other AU'ers, then "sign me up"!) [/SIZE]
The AT still appeals to me, because of the convenience of "packing the auto full of crap" and getting a bedroom en-suite with my family. But when my wife, who really
almost dislikes trains, (she could care less how we get there, but
did like riding the AT, when they had the wine tasting, better food, and complimentary wine with meal), when my wife throws in the towel, to me, that's "John Q. Public" throwing in the towel too.
I'd not summarily dismiss a buffet line, as Tom mentioned the AT was
originally started with a buffet line, if the food selection was varied and of high quality. So
there, there's a constructive suggestion for ya!
It just seems to me that while squeezing more and more money out of sleeper fares, Amtrak is applying that "extra" revenue to help defray overall cost of the train,
instead of providing upgraded amenities to those who choose to pay more.