Our family of four will be taking the Capitol Limited (with sleeper accommodation)this spring from Chicago to Washington (after arriving on the Empire Builder in Chi.). My question is this: will we get dinner on the Capitol Ltd. (which departs Chi. at 7:05pm) or should we eat during our layover in Chicago? Thx for any advice.
Posted by train lady (Member # 3920) on :
diner was always served but things have been changing so rapidly lately one never knows. I would suggest you call Amtrak and ask an agent. Being a long range worrier I would then call again just before I left.
Posted by Henry Kisor (Member # 4776) on :
I took the Lske Shore Limited a few weeks ago, and it left Chicago at 7:55 p.m. We in the sleepers were boarded at 7:30 p.m. and the diner was open right away for us. Probably is for the Capitol, but as Train Lady suggested, it'd be a good idea to call Amtrak just in case.
HOWEVER, I found the "simplified dining service" food, well, less than palatable. If you have reasonably high standards in what you eat, I'd dine elsewhere before departure.
Posted by cdnfan32 (Member # 4674) on :
Thanks for the advice. Will call Amtrak. As for our standards - fortunately, they're very low!
Posted by AHALL (Member # 3515) on :
I traveled on the Capitol Ltd. in January 2007, and sleeping car passengers were taken to the dining car shortly after departing Chicago. Coach passengers were given reservations and the dining car was open until about 10:00 pm.
I thought the meals were excellent.
Posted by wayne72145 (Member # 4503) on :
The diner is always a coin toss. Even on the Empire Builder, the train that touts a kitchen. As far as Im concerned it is the crew that makes the food excellent to poor. I have been served good food on all lines, Empire Builder, Silver Star, Capitol Limited, CZ and Coast Starlite in the past 18 months. It does seem that over all the quality it going down but by no means awful, of course an old GI is easy to please. In November the staff in the diner opened up just for the people who boarded in Tampa to serve lunch. Again I think its up to the crew.
Posted by Mr. Toy (Member # 311) on :
In all of my trips I've had good meals and not so good ones. But Amtrak has always served a great chicken dinner every time. For lunch the burgers are pretty decent, too.