Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
sation started: “Where are you from?” “How far are you travel-
ing?” “Are you enjoying your trip?” I always look forward to
mealtimes on the train, because I've met some very interesting
people in Amtrak dining cars. Besides, the alternative is to sit in
an uncomfortable silence for the better part of an hour.
Kids are welcomed in the dining car. Booster seats are not
always available, although they're supposed to be. In some (but
not all) of the Superliner dining cars, the top portion of the seat
lifts off and can be used for youngsters to sit on. For whatever
reason, most dining-car crews either don't know about this fea-
ture or don't volunteer it, so you'll have to ask.
Ten or twelve years ago, individual chefs were given a fair
amount of latitude in what they serve and how it was prepared.
More recently, Amtrak has standardized the menus, and you'll
see many of the same dishes offered on different trains. There will
be different specials, however.
Nevertheless, here's an idea of what you can expect when you
enter an Amtrak dining car. Remember, coach passengers pay for
their meals while sleeping-car passengers pay out of pocket only
for beer or wine. (See page 90 later in this chapter for tipping
protocol.)
Breakfast
The dining car is usually open for breakfast from 6:30 A.M.
(double-check the exact time with your train attendant) until
about 9:30 A.M. There are usually no PA announcements from
the diner for the first hour in consideration of passengers who
may still be sleeping. The busiest times are usually between 7:00
and 8:30. You'll be seated on a first-come, first-served basis. To
avoid a wait, get to the diner just when it opens or wait until 8:30
or 9:00. The usual breakfast fare is served: cereal; fried or scram-
bled eggs or an omelet of some kind; French toast (a tradition of
train travel) or pancakes; bacon or sausage; toast, a biscuit, or a
Search WWH ::
Custom Search