Amtrak To Eliminate The Dining Car
Sept 22, 2019 20:13:25 GMT
staggerstag, nutsberryfarm 🏜, and 1 more like this
Post by divtal on Sept 22, 2019 20:13:25 GMT
"Iconic" has become an overused word, recently. Perhaps that's because so much seems to change so fast. But, I think that the dining car on American trains fits the definition. Amtrak has announced that it is streamlining its dining options, to do away with table service, and to offer pre-cooked meals (and, who doesn't love airline food?? 
).
There's a certain "romance" about the dining car, with white tablecloths, shiny service ware, and a fresh flower in a tiny silver vase. The food is prepared on board. And, most people who like trains enjoy the experience of meeting strangers ... and making friends ... at the table. The article below, contends that enthusiasm for that is fading.
In July, I took Amtrak (round trip), from Emeryville, Ca., to Seattle, which is almost 24 hours, each way. It had been 20 years since I had done that. I still enjoyed making friendly conversations with table mates, and running into them later, in the "club car." But, there seemed to be a tension among the workers in the dining car. They were short tempered in the allocation of seating, even when the passengers were exactly on time for their scheduled meal.
It occurs to me, now, that those employees probably knew that this change was coming, and may have been out-of-sorts, fearing for their livelihood. I'm sorry for that.
European trains seem to do very well without formal dining. Of course the Orient Express is an exception, and does it to a fare thee well. (Dream on!)
Air travel is efficient. Rail travel is relaxing/scenic. Each has its strong points. And, you can take your own food/drink on Amtrak, which is nice. So, this may work out, for the best. I hope so.
www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/the-end-of-an-american-tradition-the-amtrak-dining-car/ar-AAHE3Xs?li=BBnb7Kz
).There's a certain "romance" about the dining car, with white tablecloths, shiny service ware, and a fresh flower in a tiny silver vase. The food is prepared on board. And, most people who like trains enjoy the experience of meeting strangers ... and making friends ... at the table. The article below, contends that enthusiasm for that is fading.
In July, I took Amtrak (round trip), from Emeryville, Ca., to Seattle, which is almost 24 hours, each way. It had been 20 years since I had done that. I still enjoyed making friendly conversations with table mates, and running into them later, in the "club car." But, there seemed to be a tension among the workers in the dining car. They were short tempered in the allocation of seating, even when the passengers were exactly on time for their scheduled meal.
It occurs to me, now, that those employees probably knew that this change was coming, and may have been out-of-sorts, fearing for their livelihood. I'm sorry for that.
European trains seem to do very well without formal dining. Of course the Orient Express is an exception, and does it to a fare thee well. (Dream on!)
Air travel is efficient. Rail travel is relaxing/scenic. Each has its strong points. And, you can take your own food/drink on Amtrak, which is nice. So, this may work out, for the best. I hope so.
www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/the-end-of-an-american-tradition-the-amtrak-dining-car/ar-AAHE3Xs?li=BBnb7Kz
