[?][?]Does anyone know why the Diner was removed from the City of New Orleans.
Where did you hear about this?
I just checked the Amtrak site and did not find any announcement or specific message on the diner and the timetable still lists dining car service. However I checked the reservation section of their site and the “Amenities” column for that train shows only “lounge” but not “diner”. I’ll see what I can find out.
Jay
The dining car was taken off the City of New Orleans concurrent with the cut back of service due to hurricane Katrina. Dining car patronage on the “City” was very low compared to other long distance trains and given pressure from Congress on the subject of dining car costs, this move had already been under consideration. Sleeping car passengers are provided with box meals and the charges for sleeping car accomidations are somewhat lower than other trains.
My contacts at NARP think that the car will not return anytime soon.
Jay
One idea they could consider is the meathod used on the Cascade Service. They offer a very limited meal service that consists of a couple of microwaves and refridgerated or frozen “TV Dinners” that is operated out of the Lounge car. Of course, they’s not cheep.
The Sightseer lounge is still run on the City. That service provides a rather extensive variety of microwavable items-hot sandwiches, soups, casserole items, pizza, and I think breakfast items. It’s not the same as dinner in the diner, but passengers don’t have to go hungry.
Jay
Well, Jay, then they are doing what I suggested. See how simply great my thoughts are? Don’t even have to think of them and all those folks out there just go ahead and accomplish my every desire. Oh…wrong TV addvert.
Eric-Nice call. There are 3-4 vacancies on the Amtrak Board of Directors. What the heck, send them a resume.[tup]
Jay