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In reading the April issue of Trains, which focuses on food service, I noted some interesting information regarding the conversion of Sightseer Lounges and diners to combined lounge/diner cars. There has been some discussion on this here, with many of us expressing the view that a single diner/lounge combo would not be adequate to handle demand for either food or lounge space.
It took me two readings of the article on Amtrak food service to make an interesting discovery. According to the report, not all lounge and diners will be converted. Nor will all trains be subject to the diner/lounge combos. Only Suuperliner I lounge and diners will be converted to dual use. Evidently Superliner II lounges and diners will remain as single purpose cars.
Certain trains will be designated as "basic" service trains. These, and only these, will receive the combined lounge/diner cars. Apparently all other trains will continue with separate lounge and diner cars.
The article does not mention which trains will be designated as "basic" but one might make an educated guess that the Sunset, Texas Eagle, City of N.O. and maybe the Chief will be among them. I'm guessing that the Starlight, Zephyr and Empire Builder will not.
The article does say that "basic" service will first be tested on a single level train with a converted Amfleet diner/lounge. It will either be the Crescent or the Silver Star.
The article indicates that there will be five phases of food service conversion: 1. (already done) introduction of "diner lite" on the Eagle, City, Sunset and Capitol Limited.
2. "Bulk boarded" meals that require minimal preparation on full service trains, plated on board and served on china. I think this phase is in progress.
3. "Basic" service will be tried on one of the aforementioned eastern LD trains.
4. "Basic" Superliner trains to be converted to a single lounge/diner car. Plans call for three different configurations of these cars designated A B or C, offering slightly different levels of service. A & B conversions would involve existing S1 diners, and C would be existing S1 Sightseer Lounges.
5. Trains with B or C conversions will begin to offer meals at any time from 6:30am-11:30pm.
I don't know if I've clarified much here. Probably muddied the waters a little. But I thought the info was worth passing along.
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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quote:The article does say that "basic" service will first be tested on a single level train with a converted Amfleet diner/lounge. It will either be the Crescent or the Silver Star.
It would appear, Mr. Toy, that this will be "adios', and in all likelihood "goodbye", to the Heritage Diners, as there are surplus A-I Food Service cars stored about the System. I'd place my wager there are 25 such out there, which is the number needed to replace all Heritage Diners. A number of these cars were extensively rebuilt (known as Capstone Cars) during the Warrington era.
SunsetLtd Member # 3985
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Again the Sunset is one of the guinea pigs for this. I'm getting tired of them stripping the Sunset apart piece by piece. First the schedule, then the "Diner Lite" service, now this! If they are on the road to discontinuing it, just do it and let it have its last run with SOME services!
Mr. Toy Member # 311
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I think the idea is to keep these trains running, by keeping costs under control. Whether it will work remains to be seen, but I think it wise not to jump to conclusions.
CoastStarlight99 Member # 2734
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I never saw that in the article about it only being for Superliner I's...That is really good news if they do not make Diner/Lounges on all Superliner LD's. It would make the dinner lite concept a bit more "appetizing".
SunsetLtd, I have never rode the 1/2, but I can deffinetly see what you mean. Is it running with a lounge again now?
SunsetLtd Member # 3985
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Still no Lounge I beginning to wonder if it will ever be back.
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I'm getting tired of them stripping the Sunset apart piece by piece.