printman2000
Engineer
Did not see this posted anywhere after a search so here is a report from Gene Poon...
Amtrak Southeast Deputy General Manager Tom Kirk and Auto Train route director Kathy Brewer have announced service cuts and changes on Auto Train as detailed:
1. Remove First Class Lounge, all pax to use one Lounge Car.
a. Eliminate LSA, $550,000 labor cost reduction
b. Eliminate complimentary wine and cheese
c. Removing Lounge to add 5th coach for revenue passengers
d. Target date - 3/14
2. Eliminate complimentary wine in diner
a. Sleeper and Coach diner @ $275,000 ($221,500 and $54,000
respectively)
b. Target date - 3/14
c. Also an OIG report item (named in Inspector General report on
food and beverage costs -GP)
3. Add 5th Coach
a. Increase revenue $1,500,000
b. Target date - 3/14
4. Realign consist to have food service cars together and centered in
train
a. Sleeper diner
b. Table car
c. Coach diner
d. Coach Lounge
e. Start staggered seating in Sleeper Diner
5. Move to single menu for all diners
a. Target date - May menu change
b. Incremental savings on F&B (TBA i.e.: linen elimination cost
savings)
c. Eliminate Sleeper Diner Food Specialist (no china) $550,000 labor
savings
d. Initiate at room beverage service (revenue) for sleeper
passengers in lieu wine
e. Initiate alcohol sales promotion in diner
6. Pass rider fee initiative
a. Revenue
i. Average 8050 annual pass riders @ $30 fee = $214,000 (use
as F&B transfer)
ii. Average 4600 vehicles @ $75 fee = $345,000
iii. Total revenue generated = $586,000
b. Also an OIG report item
c. Need to work with Marketing to implement
[SIZE=11pt]Total cost savings initiative $1,564,000 Total P&L impact $3,650,000 (F&B P&L impact $1,777,000)[/SIZE]