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Kev’s Trip Planning: September 2019

by Kev
written by Kev

September 2019 Trip

Soon I will be back on the rails for my first train trip in months. I have been taking some train trips, but they were to Milwaukee or Chicago. If you have been following me on the socials, you can probably guess my destination. Yup, I am going back to Nebraska.

Why Nebraska, again?

My sister et al. moved to Nebraska a few months ago, and I have to admit, I like the area more than I anticipated. They are coming back to Wisconsin for a visit, and I am helping to drive back. But that is not without chilling out there for a while. If you follow on Instagram, you probably know I am going to the zoo again, and if Little Mack want, we can ride on the carousel again; maybe this time we will ride the tiger if she is brave enough, If she isn’t ready we can ride on the bench, and that is cool.

Little Mack and Abby

My two nieces, Abby the Newfie and Little Mack aka Mackenzie)

Why I can’t wait

I am looking forward to this trip for a few reasons. The first reason is, I haven’t made a solo trip in a while, and I miss that.  The past few journeys to my sister’s included transporting one or both of my parents. Don’t get me wrong; I love helping family and my folks, but I miss solo trips. The second reason is, I am not driving out there, and I can enjoy the journey. Well, I am driving back with my sister and family (Abby too), but I still a long-awaited solo train trip out there.

Taking the train is a nice change to driving. The drive is not bad, although the stretch of Illinois seems to take forever. Very few waysides and many of the gas stations are not that close to the road.

The best part about the drive out to Nembraks is the Iowa section of I-80 for it has many convent waysides and several easy on and off places to fill up with gas and a snack.

The Hiawatha arriving in Sturtevant, WI

The Hiawatha arriving in Sturtevant, WI

Getting to Nebraska

Because driving was not practical for this trip, I needed to find a way to get out there. I looked at both air and land choices. I chose rail, as I hinted to before. Cost, comfort, and convenience lead me to Amtrak, plus it is one of my favorite way to travel.

Amtrak cost and breakdown

Here are my trip breakdowns

The Hiawatha: getting to Chicago

This Hiawatha transports me to get to Chicago, and from there, I transfer to my next train. My other options are two Metra trains, either Fox Lake, IL or Antioch, IL. I didn’t want to leave my car at a station because I am not taking the train back. I did look at riding the train to Milwaukee and then a bus down, I have done that before. The best part of that is the ability to stop at Stone Creek for coffee before leaving, but either the times didn’t work out, or there weren’t any cost savings.

The Mighty Hiawatha takes me from Sturtevant (WI) Depo to Chicago Union Station, from there the California Zephyr will whisk me off to Omaha, NE.

CUS Enterance

Outside entrance to Chicago Union Station’s Great Hall

Layover at Chicago Union Station

Often when I take trips like this, I use the Metropolitian Lounge of off the Great Hall, but this time I will not have access to that room. The lounge is for sleeper car and business class passengers, or those who are Amtrak  Guest Rewards Select Plus members. Sadly I do not qualify for any of those.

The layover comes at an excellent time for lunch and maybe a brew, I could save time and do both at the same place. I am excited new food places are coming to Union Station, but I’ll have to wait for another trip to go to those since they are not open yet.

California Zephyr take me away

I have a soft spot in my heart for the Califonia Zephyr because it was the first long-distance train I ever made.

The Zephyr will take me 500 miles from Chicago to Omaha. With the train leaving at 2:00 pm I will get a chance to see most of the scenery as we roll through.

As a coach-class passenger, I have access to the Sightseer Lounge Car, and my food options include the dining car and the cafe car. If you have not been on a Superliner train before, the Sightseer Loung is the upper level of the cafe car and has large windows on the sides and also window that curve in the ceiling. This windowed car is a great place to get out your seat and see the country go by, and maybe enjoy a treat from the lower level cafe.

Milwaukee Intermodal Station

Milwaukee Intermodal Station

My other non-road trip choices?

By air or sea

Traveling by water was not a choice for this trip, and that is okay.

Flying is possible, but not practical. Many of the “affordable” flights cost three times that of Amtrak and took longer.

Bus

Most of the bus options I looked at were out of Chicago, although there are a few out of Milwaukee. The Milwaukee option didn’t work in my schedule get ule.

Outside of the cost of taking a bus from Chicago, there is the cost of getting to Chicago. If I take Metra to Chicago, that adds $9.50 and $22- $25 (with a discount) for Amtrak. The Metra line and Amtrak both take me to Union Station, and the bus stations or loading areas are not far from there.

Megabus

Watching traffic while taking Megabus to Chicago

Megabus

Megabus runs a daily bus to Omaha operated under Windstar Bus Company. The bus leaves a few blocks south of Chicago Union Station. The “bus station” if I remember right, is a sign on a poll (I took Megabus from Milwaukee to Chicago once). If I were to book early, it would be $39.99 to $49.99  plus the cost of going to Chicago. Don’t forget with Megabus there is a $2.50 service fee for every transaction.

Greyhound

Me on a bus

Taking the bus on a trip

Greyhound gives some flexibility for travel. I have the option of taking Amtrak up to Milwaukee Intermodal Station from Sturtevant and then leave from there and take buses for the rest of the trip.

The other option is to take a train to Chicago and go from there.

The Greyhound stations or pick up spots (that I know of ) in Chicago:

When I was shopping for deals, I found that something unusual. If I booked a trip from the central bus station in Chicago to Omaha, it was around $116. By starting my bus journey at the 95th and Dan Ryan stop, it was $62. Okay, let me break this down by, taking L ride (a $2.50 added cost), and adding a bus from the 95th and Dan Ryan stop to the central bus station, I can save almost half on tickets. I am not for sure why, but I am cheap enough that I would do that.

Burlington Trailways runs the bus from Chicago to Omaha for Greyhound. I could book the trip through Burlington Trailways, but with the 95th stop “discount” I probably would book through Greyhound.

Wrap up

This year has not been a significant travel year for me, at least not for train travel. Looking back, so far, I have traveled more than I thought.

Introspective part

A year ago, I was in Charleston, S.C., and Brunswick, GA, with my family. I took my dad out to visit my mom because she was out by my sister, helping her after the birth of Mackenzie. On that trip, we had to evacuate to GA due to a Hurricane Flow.

A year later, I discovered that being an uncle is not just a title that a sibling gives you when birth a kid, but it is truly a gift and a bond. Being an uncle is like traveling, there is no one right way to be an uncle or how to go, but there are a few wrong ways. Plus the memories from traveling and those of being an uncle are cherished forever.

Safe Travels!

Kev

If you are interested in following along with my journeys, check out how you can find me here! If you are interested in how you can travel with Amtrak as well, get started on that path here.

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Top 21 Questions About Rooms On Amtrak Trains

by Kev
written by Kev

Top 21 Questions About Rooms On Amtrak Trains

Thinking of booking rooms or accommodations for an Amtrak Adventure but not for sure if they are right for you? I hope this article will help you out. This article covers the top question I get asked about rooms on Amtrak.

After traveling around the United States via Amtrak and I found a room on the train is my happy place. I enjoy the privacy, being able to sleep horizontally, and showering in the morning.

Viewliner

Amtrak Viewliner Sleeper Care on the Silver Meteor

Terms you should know

  • Accommodation: For this article, accommodations are any room in a sleeper car
  • Assessable Room: This room is for those with limited mobility and a helper
  • Bedroom: A bigger room with a sofa, chair, sink, and bathroom/shower combo
  • Car Attendant: Amtrak employee whose job is to assist you while you travel in a sleeper car. Car Attendant replaces the term porter.
  • Family Room: These rooms, only on Superliner Trains, are designed for two adults and two small humans.
  • Roomette: A small room that is comfortable for one and cozy for two. These rooms have two chairs that fold into a bed and an upper pulldown bed
  • Sleeper Car: A car containing roomettes, bedroom,  accessible and family room
  • Superliner: Two-level trains that are on all long-distance routes that do not go to New York Penn Station.
  • Viewliner:  Single-level long-distance trains set, only found on east coast routs.
Amtrak Superliner Train

Amtrak Superliner Train

1) What’re the advantages of booking accommodations on Amtrak?

  • Privacy: Rooms have a sliding door with a window, but if you want to block out the world, close the drapes.
  • Sleep Horizontally: At night, the lower seat becomes a bed, and a pull-down upper bunk is available if there are two in your party.
  • Shower: There is a shower for everyone to use, but bedrooms have a one in the room.
  • Use of lounges: with a sleeper ticket, you can use these spaces if the station you are leaving from has one.

2) How do you book a room on Amtrak?

  • Over the phone by calling Amtrak 1-800-USA- Rail
    • Agents can help modify existing trips
    • Answer questions and can also work to find rooms together
  • Staffed station
    • Station attendants can also work to find accommodations together
    • If you are new to train travel, a trip to the station is an excellent opportunity to get to know the station, parking, and what is around before your first trip
  • Amtrak App or Website
    • An easy way to book your adventure anywhere and at any time.

After booking your trip, Amtrak emails your tickets, that can be scanned from your phone or printed at some stations or from home.

3) Are the displayed room prices per person or for the pair (if booking for two)?

The price you see on the screen is the total price. Ticket prices include your rail fare (what you pay to ride the train) and fee to reserve the room. If two people are on your ticket, both pay rail fairs, but there is only one room fee.

4) How do discounts work when booking on Amtrak?

If one or both people qualify for a discount, it only applies to the rail fare and not off the room price.

For example:

Let’s say rooms are $200 and rail fare is $100:

A single person would be $300, and two people are $400. If a solo traveler qualified for an Amtrak discount, the price is now $290, because the reductions come off the rail fare and not off of the room price.

For information on saving money on Amtrak check out this page.

5) When do I know what room I have?

As soon as your payment is processed, Amtrak emails you a ticket like below, but if you buy them at a station, it will look different but have the same information. The information includes your sleeper car number, accommodation number, and equipment type.

Most trains have more than one sleeper, so each sleeper has a four-digit number. The first two digits represent the route number, and the second two are the consist or location number.

For example, sleeper 3000 is on the eastbound Capitol Limited bound for Washington, D.C. The car number you need should be close to where you enter your sleeper.

Here is an example from one of my last trips to Charleston, S.C. (part of the ticket I redated for my privacy)

Amtrak TIcket

This ticket shows what type of equipment I will be on, the car number and my room number.

6) What comes with your Amtrak room?

  • Meals (But for the Palmetto and Silver Star Routes)
  • Coffee service
    • Coffee and juice in the morning
  • Shower
  • Turndown service
  • A place to hang-up clothing (either a small closet or wall hook)
  • Comfortable chairs with a fold-out table, some rooms have a sofa
  • Large windows to watch the country go by
  • Use of lounge cars and dining car or sleeper-lounge
    • Sleeper lounges are only on eastern trains
  • Lighting options such as night light and reading lamps on the wall
  • An outlet

7) Would I share a room with strangers?

No, you share a room with the person who’s on your ticket.

8) How big are accommodations on the train?

The rooms are small and cozy, like a camper.

A roomette around 3’6″ by 6′ 6″ (the Viewliner roomette is a little bigger). I am around 6’2″ 190 pounds and fit comfortably in the room. Bedrooms are around 6’6″ by 7’6,” but part of that space is taken up by the bath and shower room.

Superliner Bed

Superliner Bed made up for the night.

9) Beds: Are they comfortable, and how are they made?

For me the beds comfortable, but your mileage can vary,

Train have bunk beds, the lower bed is a mattress on lays top of flattened seats, and the upper bunk pulls down. If two people are sharing a room, someone will need to climb to the top bed. Roomettes have steps to get up there, while bedrooms have ladders.

10) Is it hard to sleep on the train?

I tend to sleep well on the train, but sometimes I need a little help, such as melatonin or sleep aid. The motion of the train relaxing me as I sleep, but sometimes I wake up if the train stops because I miss the movement.

I wish Amtrak had bigger pillows because I am a side sleeper. To help with this problem, I pack a blowup pillow plus a small blanket in case I get chilled at night.

Superliner door

The door between Superliner Sleepers

11) How do I get around the train once aboard?

Trains are linear, meaning to go from one section to another your journey includes walking through other cars.  On some trains, it can be a hike from the sleeper to the dining car.

To go between cars, push either the upper or lower (foot) buttons to open the door to a small vestibule. The doors will slide open for you and close behind you.

If you are on a Superliner, the upper level contains the walkways to go to the next car. On Viewliners the vestibule allows you to go between cars or get off the train as instructed by Amtrak employees.

Texas Eagle

My Sleeping car on the Texas Eagle. We are out enjoying a fresh air break.

12) Can I hop on and off of the train during my trip?

There are select stops where you can get off and get fresh air. Most stops are quick for boarding and un-boarding. If the train arrives early, Amtrak often allows passengers to stretch. Smoke stops are usually crew changes and refueling stops.

If you do get off the train, don’t wander too far from the train. When the train is ready to leave, the conductors alert the crew and passengers. The engineer blows the horn (two quick toots), and it’s time to board. If you do not make it on the train, the train WILL LEAVE WITHOUT YOU!

13) What are my food options on the train?

Trains traveling west of the Mississippi the choice are the Dining Car (the meals come with your sleeper car ticket), the cafe car, and whatever you bring aboard. For the other trains, you get a pre-packaged meal in the sleeper lounge, plus the cafe car as well.

Amtrak California Zephyr

A view of Amtrak’s California Zephyr from my roomette

14) Can I have a drink on the train?

You sure can, I often do! If you are on an eastern long-distance train, Amtrak gives you your first one free (staring October 1st, 2019)!

Amtrak sells drinks in the cafe and dining cars, or you can bring your own. IF YOU BRING YOUR OWN, YOU CAN ONLY CONSUME IT IN YOUR ROOM. If you get out of hand, the next stop is your stop even if it is not your destination, and could include local and federal fines.

15) How many bathrooms are in a sleeper car?

All bedrooms have a private restroom.

Superliner trains have one restroom up stares for and two to three more on the lower level.

Viewliners do not have public restrooms in the cars, but every accommodation has a toilet. The toilet in the roomettes is in the room. If two people are in the roomette, one will have to leave while the other “goes.”

16) Are there showers for sleeper passengers?

Amtrak Shower

A Viewliner Shower for sleeper car passengers

Yes, there are showers in Amtrak Sleeper! It’s fun taking a shower at 79 mph. Bedrooms have a small room that houses the toilet and shower area. Roomettes and other accommodations share one shower room that includes a dressing area.

17) What does Amtrak provide for showers?

Amtrak provides washcloths, towels, and soap for your shower, but not shampoo.

A soap like Dr. Brohhners works well for travelers, for it works well to clean you and your clothing.

18) Can I smoke on the train and or transport marijuana (if it is legal for a state you are traveling through)?

All Amtrak trains are non-smoking, including e-cigarets and vapes. If caught smoking on the train, the next stop will be your stop (even if it is not your destination) and include will have federal fines.

There are “smoke breaks,” but they are not guaranteed. If you are a smoker, it would be wise to find something to curb your habit.

As of now, you cannot transport marijuana on Amtrak trains even if it legal in the state you come or going to visit.

19) Can my pet travel with me?

No, Amtrak does not allow pets on trains that travel longer than seven hours. Click here for Amtrak’s policy on service animals. IF YOU HAVE A WORK ANIMAL, CHECK THE POLICY BEFORE BOOKING YOUR TRIP.

View from an Amtrak Viewliner roomette

View from an Amtrak Viewliner roomette

20) Do I tip the car attendant?

Tipping is not necessary but a great way to reward excellent service. I have tipped great car attendants and do not tip for unsatisfactory service. The average tip is around $10 per day, but if that is not possible, a heartfelt thank-you works well whatever you can afford.

21) Can I contact Amtrak for compliment or complaint?

Constructive criticism is helpful, and praise of an employee is even better. To contact Amtrak for these with these comments, click here.

Kev’s top tips

Getting ready for the night:

Once your room is made up for the night, there is not much room left. What you can do is either get dressed before your room is made up for the night or as your attendant is getting set up for the night you can use a bathroom or shower room to change,

What else you need to know:

At fresh air stops, take advantage of them, take a step of the train, get a breath of fresh air, stretch, for it breaks up the trip.

Do not plan on WI-fi, and even your cell phone will not have service from time to time.

Train manners

Viewliner Hallway

Looking down the hallway of a Viewliner Sleeper car.

Be respectful of others. Talking to fellow passengers is a fun way to meet new train buddy, but not everyone wants to hear your conversation, keep your voice down.

When going walking to other parts of the train, remember there are other riders. If the lounge car is busy, it’s kind of rude to claim a whole table to yourself. With that said, if you are a night owl, and there is no one around feels free to take up the entire area.

Walkways are tight quarters, and you may get bumped into, or have to let others pass by so you can get through. It is a great time to practice your manners and say hi to your fellow riders.

Gear to improve your stray in an Amtrak Accommodation

From my experience, these are the essentials I pack when I have a sleeper.

  • Tablet (iPad mini for me),
    • Subscription apps like Netflix and Amazon Prime will allow you to download select shows that you can watch without wi-fi
  • Smartphone (I use an iPhone X)
    • Map apps are cool for seeing where you are at
    • Great for listing to music and podcast
  • Other Electronic accessories
    • Headphones
      • Bluetooth or corded, make sure they are comfortable
    • Extension cord
      • One with a few outlets works best depending on your needs because there is often just one outlet in the room.
    • A backup battery
      • Just in case. I have used one to charge my phone overnight because it was easier.
    • Chargers and cords
      • Don’t pack that spare cord that mostly works either, one that always works
  • Comfort items
    • Snacks are a good idea
    • Amtrak’s Comfort Kit, available in some stations and cafe car
      • The kit comes in a bag and contains: a small blanket, eye mask, neck pillow, and earplugs
      • You could always make your own
    • Blow-up pillow
    • A water bottle
    • Wet wipes
      • They work to keep you fresh and cleaning up around you
    • Sleep aids
    • Pain relief and a small first aid kit (not train-related, we are all getting older, and we need these things)
    • Shampoo or a multi-use soap like Dr. B’s
    • PJ’s or something to sleep in (just in case)
If I missed something, let me know in the comments below or message me.

Safe Travels!

Travesl with Kev

Kev is enjoying a beverage in a Superliner Roomette

Kev

If you enjoy this article, join the mailing list,  so you know when new ones are published. That link also lets you know how to get ahold of me.

For more information about taking your own Amtrak adventure, check out this page to get started!

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Train TravelLonger TripsTravelTravel GuideTravel Hints and Tips

Amtrak Dining Car

by Kev
written by Kev

What you need to know about Amtrak Dining Cars

Over my years of traveling on Amtrak, many great memories and “interesting” conversations happened over a meal in the Amtrak Dining Car.

Even a long-term friendship started aboard the in the combined Sunset Limited/ Texas Eagle train over lunch in the dining car. (Hi Sean and David)

Amtrak food update

Amtrak is modifying all Eastern long-distance trains to the new contemporary meal service starting on October 1st, 2019. For information on the latest changes, check out this article.

The dining car is the heart and soul of the train, where people gather for a common goal, food!

Topics Covered

  • What Amtrak trains have or do not have Amtrak dining cars
  • Links to dining car menus
  • The type of dining cars used on Amtrak trains
  • Mealtimes
  • How to make meal reservations
  • Car etiquette

Diner on the Silver Meteor

What Amtrak Trains Have Dining Cars & What Trains Do Not?

Trains that do not have dining cars

Amtrak Silver Star

Amtrak’s Silver Star in Orlando, FL

  • Regions trains (trains that travel less than 750 miles)
    • Examples of regions trains routes include the Midwest Corridor or the Northeast Corridor ( and there are others)
    • These trains have cafe cars instead of dining cars
    • Short-run regionals, like the Hiawatha and others, often do not have food service
  • Silver Star (long-distance train) Dining car service in returning in 2020
  • Palmetto (long-distance train but not an overnight train)

Amtrak Trains that have modified meal services

Soon these train will all have the Amtrak’s Contemporary Meals

You’ll find more information on the modified meal service is further down in the article under the sections  of Trains that are exceptions, part

Amtrak trains that have standard dining cars

Amtrak's Capital Limited

Capitol Limited at a station stop in Cumberland, Maryland

Wait, let’s back up for a second, what is a dining car?

A dining car is where Amtrak serves meals in a restaurant-style; a cafe car sells grab and go food, beverages, and snacks.

Amtrak Dining Car Menus

The menus seem to change quarterly, and some trains have off-menu specials, but not all. Occasionally some meal choices run out along the way, but other options are usually are available if your first choice isn’t. Sidenote: trains are stocked with food at the endpoint and not restocked er route.

If you have special food requirements or questions on special meals, click here.

The Four Types of Amtrak Dining Cars

Amtrak runs both bi-level and single-level trains and single-level trains on routes in and out of New York Penn Station. The bi-level trains do not fit in the tunnels.

  • Viewliner
    Viewliner Dining Car

    An inside view of an Amtrak Viewliner dining car

    • Newer single-level cars
    • The kitchen is on one end and booth and accessible seating on the other
    • Found on the Silver Meteor, Cresent, and used as a Sleeper Car Loung on the Lake Shore Limited
  • Sleeping Car Lounge
    • These lounges are either Viewliner or Superliner dining cars
    • Amtrak uses these for sleeping car passenger to relax
    • The “contemporary meals” are served out of these cars
  • Superliner
    Capitol Limited Sleeper Lounge Car

    Capitol Limited Sleeper Lounge Car

    • Bi-level cars
    • The dining area in on the upper level while this kitchen is on the lower lever in Superliner dining cars
    • Booths seating on the top level with the kitchen below
    • Found the long-distance train that does not go through New York Penn, but the City of New Orleans and Capitol Limited use a modified version of this car (see below)
  • Superliner Cross Country Cafes
    • Refurbished Superliner Diner Cars
    • The cafe is on one side and dining area on the other
    • Booth seating on both sides with the kitchen below
    • Found on
      • City of New Orleans
      • Capitol Limited used as a sleeping passenger lounge
    • For more information on Cross-Country Cafes click here
Amtrak Signature Steak dinner served on the Silver Meteor

Amtrak Signature Steak dinner served on the Silver Meteor

Mealtimes for Amtrak Dining Car

Meal services operate during the local time, but for the Eastbound Cardinal and Capitol Limited. The meal times on these trains star and continue on Central time even after it crosses over to Eastern Time,

General dining car note

  • Abridged or omitted meal services may occur if the train reaches its final destination during the typical meal service
    • Ask onboard staff if you have questions
  • The cafe car is available to purchase food from early in the morning to late at night but does close for the attendance breaks

Breakfast

  • Breakfast services time is from 6:30 am – 10:00 am
  • Last boarding time to receive breakfast service is 9:30 am
  • Reservations are usually not needed
  • There are no announcements for the start of this service; you may go for breakfast anytime after  6:30  am

Lunch

  • Lunch Service is from 11:30 am – 3:00 pm
  • Last boarding time to receive lunch service is 2:30 pm
  • Reservations could be required

Dinner

  • Dinner service is from 5:00 pm – 9:30 pm
  • Last boarding time to receive dinner service is 8:30 pm
  • Reservations are required

Be advised, all this can change at any time and can vary from train to train.

Amtrak's salad and dinner roll

Amtrak’s salad and dinner roll

Info on Meal Reservation

You need a reservation for supper, possibly for lunch (depending on the train), but never for breakfast.

Sleeping car passengers

There are times when your car attendant will make the reservations for you; an example is if you are not on board during the time reservations are being made.

For sleeper car passengers, making reservations is easy. The dining car makes an announcement stating that they are coming around to take reservations, and during that time have at least one person in the room to make the reservation. Often when you make your reservations, they give you a reservations reminder slip.

Coach passengers

For passenger in coach class, after they take the sleepers reservations, the dining car steward walks through the coach cars to make reservations for those passengers, wait at your seat till after they come through if you want a ticket. There is a chance that you could catch them in the observation car, but your reservation choice could be limited. If you board the train after they take reservations you can ask in the dining car if there are any openings or wait and see if they have the last call. The cafe is always available for food as well.

If you miss booking a reservation

If there are open seats at the end of the service, they may announce that seating is available for people without reservation. During that time, if the diner becomes too full, they take names in order of that you arrive and call you back as seats open.

Ask your car attendant if meal services the announce reservations or if you should walk to the dining car at your reservation time.

Be aware at times the dining car is busy, and 6:30 reservation could get called at 6:45, but they still call it a “6:30.” This congestion can be due to passengers lingering too long after their meal or not coming at their scheduled time.

When You Enter The Amtrak Dining Car

Skip this section if you plan on riding the Capitol Limited, Lake Shore Limited, and Silver Star and go the next section for more about the services on those trains

Below is common practice for eating in an Amtrak Dining Car

The exceptions are the Capitol Limited and Lake Shore Limited, more on those later.

  • When arriving in the dining car, wait to be seated
    • The steward will often tell you where to sit
  • Amtrak practices community seating mostly when they are busy
    • If there are fewer than four people in your party, others may join you
  • Sleeping car passengers
    • Before you order your meal, the staff will hand you a piece of paper fill in your sleeper car number, room number/letter (this info is on your ticket), and then sign the staff will fill everything else out for you
    • All scheduled meals come with the price of your room ticket (so pick what you want), a meal includes one entree, plus meal appropriate extras such as breakfast meat, cheese, desserts with lunch and dinner, and salad and dinner roll
    • Meals include beverages but not alcohol (except for the Capitol Limited and Lake Shore Limited)
  • Coach passengers
    • You will not have to sign a slip
    • You are responsible for paying for your meal
    • The experience is similar to that of a restaurant

The trains that are the exceptions to the ones above ~ The Capitol Limited, Lake Shore Limited, Silver Star, and Palmetto

Silver Star and Palmetto

  • These trains do not have any dining cars and only have cafe cars
  • The Palmetto is not an overnight train, thus no sleepers
  • You can use the cafe car to grab food whenever you want, providing it’s open
Capitol Limited Dinner

Dinner aboard the Capitol Limited

The food offered on the Capitol Limited and Lake Shore Limited

  • Dining car service is not available to coach passengers on these two trains
  • Amtrak offers a “contemporary” food selection
    • The “Limited” trains meals are pre-made meals
      • Dinner comes in a wood box
      • Offerings include both hot and cold meals
      • Breakfast is similar to a hotel set up with a heated up sandwich and drinks available from the attendant
    • Amtrak is still working on these new meal programs last updated on January 2019
  • On these two trains, the diner cars are now lounge cars and only for sleeper car passengers
  • Meals include your first alcoholic beverage
  • Unlimited non-alcoholic beverages throughout the whole trip
  • Menu for these trains
Lake Shore Limited

Amtrak’s Lake Shore Limited in Albany.

Sleeping Car Passengers Meals Aboard The Capitol Limited & Lake Shore Limited

The following is from my experience and can change at any time:

Capitol Limited

  • When it is time, head to the dining car, aka the “Sleeper Lounge Car.”
  • After walking into the “Sleeper Lounge” head to the counter to order your meal (there could be a line)
  • After placing your order find a place to sit
  • The attendant will bring your food to your table in a green bag
    • If you want, you can take your meal back to your room and eat it there
  • Enjoy your food
  • Clean up and head back to your room when you finish

Lake Shore Limited

  • Walk to the “Sleeper Car Lounge” and find a place to sit unless assigned seating
    • If you are in one of the 448 or 449 sleepers, you need to walk through the cafe car and the coach cars to get to the “sleeper lounge.”
  • The attendant will come to the table and take your order
  • When your food is ready, they will bring it to your table
    • You may bring your meal back to your room if you want
  • Enjoy your food
  • The attendant may bus your table
Listen to the car attendant for instructions on getting your meal, for the rules could have changed.
Box meal on the builder

This meal was handed out after leaving Portland, OR.

Trains That Split ~ Empire Builder & Lake Shore Limited

A few trains like the Empire Builder and the Lakes Shore Limited that split or join another train with the same name en route. During your part of your trip, there may not have a dining or cafe car. Often your section of the train will have one or the other.

For example, the Portland section (28) of the Empire Builder joins the Seattle section (8) in Spokane, WA. The Seatle section has the diner, and the Portland section has a cafe car. If you are a Portland sleeper passenger, you are handed a meal soon after you leave, and after the two trains combine, you will enjoy the rest of your meals in the dining car.

Tipping

Tipping is appreciated, and many passengers base the tip amount off the menu prices.

Safe Travels!

Kev

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