When the train arrived in Lorton on May 16, all remaining china cups, plates, etc. were removed from the train. We are still using stainless steel flatware. The dishwasher position is now officially gone. New crew bids were held about 2 weeks ago, and the newly-constituted crews are making their first trips now. Previously, the dishwasher (actual title: "Food Service Specialist") served as a general assistant to the chefs, and his/her duties included making salads & other general help in addition to dish washing. Salads were supposed to disappear, but the word is now that they will be continued. One of the chefs will now make them. The chefs are now responsible for washing flatware, cooking pans & utensils, etc.
About a week ago, we were given "butcher block" paper to use as tablecloths. These are designed for butchers to use for wrapping raw meat, so they don't leak. That means they don't absorb anything that might be spilled. Spills ran all over the tables before we could stop them from flowing all over the place. On our last trip, the cloth table cloths were back, but I get the impression that they still want to replace the cloth table cloths with something disposable. We are generating far more trash than before.
Changes to the sleeper diner menu:
The steaks disappeared a couple weeks ago, replaced by short ribs of beef. Baked potatoes (and supplies of sour cream) are gone, replaced by mashed potatoes. The fish entree is now cod.
Serving size of the chicken dish is one very small chicken breast. Small pizzas have been added as an option for the kids. The Choo Choo Chewies are still with us, but the macaroni & cheese that was included, is now gone. Instead, the kids can have rice or mashed potatoes (have you ever heard of an American kid who preferred plain rice over mac & cheese? I haven't).
For breakfast, we have occasionally been receiving Raisin Bran again. This disappeared from the supplies several months ago, but has returned. Don't know whether it's permanently back or not. Bananas are no longer supplied to the diners for breakfast. Instead, oranges are substituted. Some say the breakfast tables look a bit strange with a bowl of oranges sitting next to a carafe of orange juice. A limited number of bananas is now supplied FOR SALE in the lounge car. Special K, Frosted Flakes, and warm bagels & corn muffins are still with us.
Lack of a lounge car to use as a waiting area continues to be a problem, especially on full trains.
Passenger counts have generally run as high as about 600 people. Future bookings appear to be very high, and management appears to be happy with the increased revenue from the extra coach and reduced costs because of the cuts.
There is talk of adding a seventh sleeper, probably as a test beginning in June. Various interests have claimed that this would put too much strain on the electrical system during summer months when air conditioning is running at peak levels. One plan is to take away the extra coach that was recently added, in order to allow this. Another is to keep both the extra coach AND the new sleeper.
