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OBS Chief
On the Amtrak Reddit page, a user shared that business class is unavailable to book on the Cardinal starting in October.
Last time we rode the Cardinal business class was full but since seating was not as abundant as in coach, the brain-trust at Amtrak probably determined the car is low revenue. So many cuts and few editions these days.
What trains presently use these split club cars besides the Cardinal and the Lake Shore (of course the Lake Shore isn't using one now)? Are they commonly used on the NEC?
Off the top of my head, I know the Vermonter, The Downeasters, most of the Empire Service ( I believe the Adirondack is an exception and with the combination Adirondack/Maple Leaf operating, I'm not sure about the Maple Leaf) and a great deal of the Michigan Service uses them.
The Lake Shore track work has concluded so they may indeed have their split cafe back.
Off the top of my head, I know the Vermonter, The Downeasters, most of the Empire Service ( I believe the Adirondack is an exception and with the combination Adirondack/Maple Leaf operating, I'm not sure about the Maple Leaf) and a great deal of the Michigan Service uses them.
The Lake Shore track work has concluded so they may indeed have their split cafe back.
Maple Leaf still has split Business/Cafe. I am sitting in one now awaiting departure from NFL after clearing customs.
One strangeness about the full BC cars is that those Amfleet I cars are actually considerably less comfortable than the Amfleet II Coaches, so are probably unsuitable for use on LD trains. What Amtrak needs is real LD BC cars which they currently do not have.
That would be nice but I assume that it is merely a table car serving contemporary dining.The supposed reason that the Cardinal is losing business class is that Amtrak is giving the Cardinal it's full diner back and replacing the split cafe car with a full cafe car.
Coast Starlight comes to mind as well, its business class has been rumored to be on the chopping block for sometime now.
You brought up another Guest Rewards pet peeve. 25 percent more points for business and I think it’s 50 percent for Acela first. Zero bonus points for sleeper travel. I’d think it would be on par with Acela first for point purposes and earn a 50 percent bonus as well.
It’s not like anyone’s getting rich on the new program. Another way Amtrak gives the one finger salute to people riding and spending good money on long distance trains.
And, most importantly of all, restrooms that are cleaned more often than weekly.I ride the Palmetto a couple times a year. I usually get BC but not for a couple small cans of soda or the bonus points. Rather, we like it because it’s less crowded as coach is often packed once it gets into NC and VA.
Of course this would not be the case if Amtrak opened the 4th coach to passengers. Apparently it’s against policy to let passengers spread out to be more comfortable. The 4th car is opened for the large crowd that boards at Richmond.
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