Hi All,
I know this has been sort of hashed out before.. But in this day of ever increasing ridership, I am still irritated by the way in which some routes are chosen for extra service while the rest of us are downgraded. I received my notice from Amtrak about the newly remodeled Pacific Parlor Cars and new wine and cheese at the Los Angeles station along with other upgrades to attract passengers.
Now that is going on while our full sightseer lounges are being removed and the food service instead of being upgraded is made cheaper. What few small perks the sleeper passengers had, are now gone for the most part.. IE; on board welcome package, snack, ect..
My point as usual is what makes a government run system tilted towards providing service we all would like only to a few trains of their choosing.. It can't be the time of the run, many long distance trains run as far or longer with no lounge and very poor equipment, let alone a first class lounge and first class dining service. I think we all deserve those features when we all pay a similar charge for the accommodations. I am sure we will get the usual (it can't be done everywhere) responses and I agree that not every train may indeed be worth those services.. But when most are ignored at the improvement of one, especially one that seems to always get preferential treatment, then I have to wonder why? Is our travel or our money here in the midwest less deserving than those on the West or East coast? Well I better leave the East coast out of it.. The Cardinal and the Lake Shore are no beauties and I dare say the Lake shore most likely could or would haul many more than the CS does. Why wouldn't passengers between the two largest cities in the country deserve a full service diner, first class lounges ect? My opinion would be that if that kind of service is found to be a reason to attract passengers then we should all receive it!
I know this has been sort of hashed out before.. But in this day of ever increasing ridership, I am still irritated by the way in which some routes are chosen for extra service while the rest of us are downgraded. I received my notice from Amtrak about the newly remodeled Pacific Parlor Cars and new wine and cheese at the Los Angeles station along with other upgrades to attract passengers.
Now that is going on while our full sightseer lounges are being removed and the food service instead of being upgraded is made cheaper. What few small perks the sleeper passengers had, are now gone for the most part.. IE; on board welcome package, snack, ect..
My point as usual is what makes a government run system tilted towards providing service we all would like only to a few trains of their choosing.. It can't be the time of the run, many long distance trains run as far or longer with no lounge and very poor equipment, let alone a first class lounge and first class dining service. I think we all deserve those features when we all pay a similar charge for the accommodations. I am sure we will get the usual (it can't be done everywhere) responses and I agree that not every train may indeed be worth those services.. But when most are ignored at the improvement of one, especially one that seems to always get preferential treatment, then I have to wonder why? Is our travel or our money here in the midwest less deserving than those on the West or East coast? Well I better leave the East coast out of it.. The Cardinal and the Lake Shore are no beauties and I dare say the Lake shore most likely could or would haul many more than the CS does. Why wouldn't passengers between the two largest cities in the country deserve a full service diner, first class lounges ect? My opinion would be that if that kind of service is found to be a reason to attract passengers then we should all receive it!