On board meals

[Nick Stone]

I'm from London, UK and we travelling on Amtrak April 16-May 3 and using sleeper accommodation. I know meals are included, but exactly what meals?

For instance, we are travelling from Washington DC to New Orleans on the Crescent. The train leaves Washington DC about 7pm, is evening meal included.

We are also travelling from LA to Chicago on the South West Chief leaving LA at 6:45. Is evening meal on the first evening included? Thanks for your help. We're looking forward to the trip.

BTW, this is great web site and I've learnt a lot and ready for my trip across the Atlantic!!

 

[AlanB]

Nick,

Yes you will get dinner on both the Crescent out of DC and the Chief out of LA. The Chief's menu that first night is limited, but you will still get dinner. Basically the rule is, if you are on the train by 7:00 PM you'll get dinner that night. Breakfast will usually be served each day, provided that the train isn't due to arrive before 8:00 AM. And lunch is typically served, as long as the train isn't due to arrive before noon.

 

[battalion51]

Building on what Alan said, if a train is running hours late to where a meal could be served many times they will have a short meal period primarily for the sleeping car passengers.

 

[Nick Stone]

Thanks for catering information. Besides the 'Crescent', we're going on to take the Sunset from NOL to LA. Coming from the UK, I've never taken a train trip of such length. We're booked into deluxe/bedrooms accommodation for this trip. I hope the recently changed schedules on the Sunset, we'll improve the train's performance. I notice this train arrives in LA sometimes 10 hrs late! Not sure what to expect!

 

[Bill Haithcoat]

Hopefully you will enjoy both trains. Wave to me out the right hand window of the Crescent as you go through Atlanta, as that is where I live.

The Sunset Limited is a beautiful double deck train, a type of equipment model which is called "superliner".

Nothing wrong with the Sunset Limited in itself, or its scenery or anything else. But Amtrak does not own the tracks and, especially on that line, does frequently get horrendously side tracked by freights. Perhaps the new schedule will help that.

Take the trip with that knowledge, and not planning to do much of anything that first arrival day in LA, and you should be fine.

 

[Guest]

Do pack food to be prepared. We were to arrive in Lafayette before supper. The train was delayed 10 hours in Houston and we did not make it to Lafayette until 4 in the morning. We were NOT given supper because there was only enough food for those that were suppose to be on the train, not those held over due to the delay.

 

[Bill Haithcoat]

Mr. Stone, the last thing I would want to do is give you false hope. But I myself have been checking the Sunset's performance the last day or two(you will see it on this forum) and it SEEMS, for the moment, to be doing rather well. So keep your fingers crossed!

And give us a report when you return.

 

[railfangns]

Even if your train is hours late getting to your final destination you will get a meal.It happened to me on the city of new orleans 2 years ago we sat in cairo Il 6 hours due to a tornado that put trees down on the ic tracks.2 freight trains were stuck there also. We got into memphis Tn around 1230pm instead of the scheduled dawn arrival time.They fed all the passengers including coach a free dinner because we were so late getting into new orleans. They had beef tips and rice. We arrived in new orleans around 9 pm. when you come through Gainesville Ga where i live wave at me i love to walk over to the tracks and wave at the crescent.If the crescent is on time it stops here at 738 am est daily.The viewliner sleepers are excellant on the crescent and the food is great.Even if you go coach on the crescent the amfleet 2 coaches are comfortable plenty of room to stretch out.I miss the F40ph diesels they had that distinct loud roaring sound. The genesis units AMD103 are quieter but they take longer to get going after a stop.All amtrak trains have headend power so you can plug in your computer,cd player,scanner,radio or other electronic device and run it from the locomotives generator (saves money on batteries).Sometimes the hep goes off but they fix it asap.

usuall crescent consist

2 AMD103 locomotives

1 baggage car

1 crew dorm made from former 10-6 sleeper

2 viewliner sleepers

1 diner

1 amfleet lounge cafe car

4 amfleet 2 coaches

the entire consist goes from newyork to new orleans amtrak doesnt handle us mail anymore so the train lost 2 mail handleing cars recently.

 

[Nick Stone]

Again, thanks ever so much for your all your information. I should tell you all that we're doing a lot more Amtrak travel than my earlier messages indicated. We've bought US Rail Passes. With the current dollar exchange rate, they're a total bargain for us Brits!

We're arrive New York City on April 16th. On 19th April, we'll take a morning train to Washington DC for a few hours stop over. I know we can't take the Acela with our US rail passes. Instead, we'll take a 'Regional' service. Is it necessary to make a reservation for this type of train? After a few hours in DC, we take the 'Crescent' to New Orleans. We've booked 'Viewliner Roomette' for this leg. On April 22nd, we take the Sunset from New Orleans to LA and we've have 'Superline Bedroom' for this service.

Then on April 27th we take the South West Chief to Chicago using Superliner Roomette. Then finally on April 30th, we thought we'd try coach class when we take the Lake Shore Limited from Chicago back to NYC before flying back to London. Will we need to book coach class in advance for the Lake Shore Limited?

Exactly how does checked baggage service work. Does it work like the airlines? It doesn't exist here in the UK. You take all your luggage with you at all times.

Thanks for any further advice. Very eager to do this trip.

I've done a few Amtrak some time ago and was impressed!

Will do a report when we get back to the UK.

 

[AlanB]

Again, thanks ever so much for your all your information. I should tell you all that we're doing a lot more Amtrak travel than my earlier messages indicated. We've bought US Rail Passes. With the current dollar exchange rate, they're a total bargain for us Brits!

The rail pass is a bargin in its own right, even before you look at the exchange rate. Glad to hear that you brought that and are taking such a selection of trains.

I know we can't take the Acela with our US rail passes. Instead, we'll take a 'Regional' service. Is it necessary to make a reservation for this type of train?

Some regional trains do require reservations, while others are unreserved and you could just pick up a ticket that morning or even the night before. Regionals that you won't need reservations for are #'s 183, 185, 141, 125, & 171. Note that some Regionals can be quite crowded and that there is no checked baggage on Regionals. Of course you may be able to show both your Regional tickets and your Crescent tickets in NY and get them to check your bags through for you.

After a few hours in DC, we take the 'Crescent' to New Orleans. We've booked 'Viewliner Roomette' for this leg. On April 22nd, we take the Sunset from New Orleans to LA and we've have 'Superline Bedroom' for this service.

I hope you've been to DC before, cause a few hours isn't going to let you do too much.

Next, your sleeper tickets qualify you as a First Class passenger on Amtrak. As a first class passenger you are entitled to utilize Amtrak's first class lounge in DC. These lounges are a nice quiet refuge in the often-bustling train station. They have nice plush chairs, conference rooms, computer terminals, newspapers, TV's, free soft drinks, juices, coffee, tea and clean safe bathrooms. They also allow you to board your train before the rest of the masses.

In DC the Club Acela Lounge is located behind the information kiosk, which is in the center of the waiting areas between gates D & E. There are two large wooden doors there, ring the bell to the right of the door and the attendant will let you in. Show your tickets and you’re in. They will escort you to your train when it’s time.

There is also a lounge in New Orleans, called the Magnolia Room. It however isn't as fancy nor as large as the one in DC. There is a TV, coffee, and water in this lounge, but that it. Ask at the ticket counter for access to the Magnolia Room.

Finally, I'll mention that Chicago has a Metropolitan Lounge. In theory, since you'll be arriving in a sleeper you are supposed to be given access to the lounge, even though you are departing in coach on the Lake Shore. However, you may find an attendant who doesn't know the rules and denys you access. But it's worth a try.

The Metropolitan Lounge is located on the lower level of Union Station, which is also the track level. If you are standing in front of the Amtrak ticket windows, then the Amtrak waiting area is to your left. When you enter the main Amtrak waiting area through a sliding glass door, just walk forward and slightly to the left. There should be another sliding glass door along with a sign, unless they've changed the entrance in the last few months. Again, just show your tickets (in this case both the LSL tickets and the stubs from the Chief) and relax. Note the Chicago lounge can be very busy and it sometimes can be hard to get a seat, but you still get the free stuff and priority boarding. Note: They will make you leave your carry-on bags in the luggage room inside the lounge, you cannot take them to your seat due to the crowded nature of the lounge.

Will we need to book coach class in advance for the Lake Shore Limited?

Yes, you will. This is an all reserved train and it requires a reservation.

Exactly how does checked baggage service work. Does it work like the airlines?

More or less, yes. You show up at the luggage counter at least 30 minutes before departure (I'd recommend an hour to be safe), in many stations it is seperate from the ticket windows. In New Orleans it's all in the same area. Show your tickets and they'll take your bags as long as they conform to the size specifications. As I mentioned you may get lucky and be able to check your bags from NY to New Orleans, so that you don't have to carry them onto the Regional.

Additionally you can check your bags in at LA for NY, so that you don't have to move them at Chicago. Again just show both tickets at the counter in LA.

Thanks for any further advice. Very eager to do this trip.

If you haven't already, make sure that you check out On Track On Line's Hints & Tips.

Have a great trip.

 

[Nick Stone]

Thanks for all of this. I hope the various staff will understand the UK issued Amtrak sleeper reservations which accompany our US Rail Passes. They've been printed on airline tickets and have 24 hr clock (used througout Europe).

One more question, I once rode Superliner Roomette/Standard sleeper and much prefer downstairs, which has more privacy and than through corridors of upstairs. Can I call Amtrak and ask for us to be allocated downstairs?

 

[musher]

Exactly how does checked baggage service work. Does it work like the airlines?

One big difference from the airlines, at least in the bigger stations: They actually check your checked-bag stub against the tag on your luggage to make sure you've got the right bags. With the airlines, its a free-for-all!

So make sure you have your baggage claim stubs handy when you go to collect your bags!

 

[AlanB]

Thanks for all of this. I hope the various staff will understand the UK issued Amtrak sleeper reservations which accompany our US Rail Passes. They've been printed on airline tickets and have 24 hr clock (used througout Europe).

That shouldn't be a problem for the crew.

One more question, I once rode Superliner Roomette/Standard sleeper and much prefer downstairs, which has more privacy and than through corridors of upstairs. Can I call Amtrak and ask for us to be allocated downstairs?

If you've already got the tickets, then the rooms have already been assigned. They were assigned at the time of booking. I'm not sure where on the ticket the room is listed, but it must be there. For your first trip in a sleeper, the DC to NOL leg, look for a 6 digit number, perhaps with a - or a / after the first 2 digits. The second group of 4 should start with the number 19. The train # is 19 and the two digits following are your car #. The first two digits should be your room number.

Yes a request can be made, but it would require obtaining new tickets. If your travel agent doesn't charge for changing the tickets, then you may want to consider it. However if they're going to charge you, then you'll have to decide is it worth it.

If you want to try to change the room, here's the car layout, from Friends of Amtrak, to help you in your efforts.