Amtrak makes service upgrades on several trains
Red Wine Braised beef on Amtrak will be part of the menu October 1
Amtrak will introduce a flexible dining service for Sleeping Car passengers traveling on the Cardinal, City of New Orleans, Crescent and Silver Meteor starting on October 1 and the Silver Star in 2020.
“Traveling on one of our trains has never been just about the destination – the journey is part of the adventure,” Amtrak President and CEO Richard Anderson said in the September 13 release. “We continue to evolve our onboard accommodations and dining experience to meet the needs of today’s customers.”
Sleeping Car passengers aboard the routes will have more choice in onboard dining and several enhancements:
- A new dining menu with hot, ready-to-serve choices for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
- A selection wine, beer and spirits (the first one complimentary), plus unlimited soft drinks throughout the journey.
- Complimentary room service provided by the Sleeping Car attendant.
- Exclusive onboard lounge space for Sleeping Car passengers to dine and socialize throughout the entire trip.
- Flexible dining times without the need for reservations.
The new flexible dining menu offers a selection of entrees. Lunch and Dinner menus will feature an Asian Noodle Bowl, Red Wine Braised Beef, Chicken Fettuccini with Broccoli, Creole Shrimp and Andouille. Pasta and meatballs option available for children. There will be a Deluxe Continental Breakfast served buffet style from a selection of muffins, yogurt, fresh fruit, hard-boiled eggs, cereal, oatmeal, breakfast sandwich. For dessert, Amtrak will serve Blondies and Brownies.
The service is also offered aboard the Capitol Limited and Lake Shore Limited trains. Amtrak’s traditional dining service will continue to be offered on the seven remaining overnight routes (Auto Train, California Zephyr, Coast Starlight, Empire Builder, Southwest Chief, Sunset Limited, Texas Eagle).
The new dining service is major part of an Amtrak evolution strategy for long-distance trains. In the coming months, passengers can also expect the ability for sleeping cars on routes with flexible dining service to browse their menu and pre-select meals online prior to departure. Amtrak will also have a refreshed Amfleet II cars for Coach class along the East Coast, including new seating cushions, carpets, curtains and LED reading lights—projected for completion by the end of this year. There is an upgrade planned for bedding, towels and linens for sleeping cars — beginning with the Auto Train.
