Although it has received little publicity, Amtrak has been testing a new dining service aboard the Lake Shore Limited.
However, it has not been the full-service dining that vanished from Nos. 48/49 in June 2018.
Instead it is what Amtrak has termed “flex plus” dining.
It is still meals prepared off the train but without the cardboard and plastic packaging that has accompanied the flexible dining service being offered on most long-distance trains in the East.
The “flex plus” service features a slightly different menu and portion sizes compared with the flexible dining service. Meals are served on plates and tablecloths.
Nos. 48 and 49 have featured a Viewliner dining car for the past few years but meals have not been prepared onboard.
It is not clear if the Lake Shore Limited will be receiving the “flex plus” service permanently anytime soon.
Amtrak is apparently planning to offer that service aboard the New York-New Orleans Crescent, which is slated to receive Viewliner dining cars on June 1.
Amtrak is reported to be hiring and training additional staff for the Crescent, but those efforts are not expected to result in upgraded dining service until sometime later this year.
It also remains to be seen when or even if the “flex plus” dining service will be made available for sale to coach passengers.
Currently, only sleeping car passengers on the Lake Shore Limited, Capitol Limited, Cardinal, City of New Orleans, and Crescent have onboard meals. Coach passengers must purchase food and beverages from the café car.
Only on western long-distance trains can coach passengers purchase dining car meals. All of the western long-distance trains except the Texas Eagle now have traditional dining with meals prepared onboard.
The Chicago-Miami trains, Silver Star and Silver Meteor, went to full-service dining last year although with a menu that varies slightly from that offered onboard the western long-distance trains.
The Lake Shore Limited operates with two food service cars, but the Capitol Limited and Cardinal have just one such car, which also doubles as a lounge car.
Tags: Amtrak, Amtrak dining service, Amtrak flexible dining service, Amtrak Lake Shore Limited, Amtrak onboard service, Amtrak's Crescent
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May 21, 2024 at 1:12 am |
If you’re traveling in coach on Amtrak through Chicago and want a decent meal, since you’re not going to get one on either the Lake Shore Ltd. or Capitol Ltd. I would recommend Lou MItchell’s Restaurant, a couple of blocks from Chicago Union Station for Breakfast or Lunch (closes early afternoon). For dinner, Chicago is known for their specialty hot dogs, Italian beef sandwiches and deep dish pizza. Until Amtrak can come up with a better plan for all passenger dining needs, those will have to do.