I'm taking a trip next week on the Southwest Chief and Coast Starlight. What is the food situation these days on these trains? I'm sure that it is still "simplified" dining, but are they offering the "all day" menu on the remodeled diners or is it still the traditional dining car and sightseer lounge?
Is the Pacific Parlor car a permanent fixture on the Starlight, or is it still hit or miss? I read in the new Amtrak timetable that they are planning a "relanuching" of the Starlight in the Spring as Amtrak's premier train. Have any of these improvements made their way to the train early?
smitty195 Member # 5102
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Hi JoeR,
The Chief and Starlight are still using Simplified Dining. The menus on both trains will either be identical, or VERY close. They have a rotation of menus that they use, but the offerings are along the same lines. Here is my friendly word of advice: AVOID THE CHICKEN FRIED STEAK!! It is the "special" on the menu at dinner. It has been the special for almost two years now. It's disgusting. Full of fat, full of sodium, and it's appearance is horrid. I love chicken fried steak---but Amtrak's version is YUCK!
And yes, both trains will have the normal dining car and the Sightseer Lounge car. The new "diner lite" concept has not been brought to these trains, AFAIK, there are no immediate plans to convert either of these trains to diner lite.
It is definitely hit-and-miss as to whether or not you'll get a Parlour Car on the Coast Starlight. None of the upgrades are on that train yet, so you will not be seeing anything new. The one "new' item they tried was giving DigEPlayers for free to all sleeping car passengers, but the company that handled them (Railway Media) has gone bankrupt.
If there is no Parlour Car, odds are there will not be a replacement car. However, when the upgrade is launched just before the next summer season, they will have a replacement car if the Parlour Car is not available (usually a Sighsteer Lounge).
Have a good trip! Don't forget, if you like ice cream, you will probably arrive EARLY into ABQ on the Southwest Chief. When you ext the train, walk towards the main street in front of the train station (away from the tracks), turn right, and walk for about 200 feet or so. Look on your left for a corner building with a large clock above the doors---this is Coldstone Creamery. You should have PLENTY of time to go get some ice cream before the train is scheduled to depart ABQ again. If you feel like it, offer to buy some for your attendant. They get tired of eating SDS all the time too.
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