Amtrak appears to be poised to undertake a revamp of its food services systemwide.
The passenger carrier recently issued a request for information that seeks “transformational service models and industry best practices for managed food and beverage service.”
The information netted in response to that request will be used to draft a request for proposals to create a new model for providing food and beverages that is less costly.
That could be a first step toward turning over its food and beverage service to an outside contractor.
Submissions to the request for information are due by Oct. 16.
The request for information said that Amtrak is seeking models similar to the luxury service options offered on VIA Rail Canada’s Canadian and the Rocky Mountaineer excursion service based in Canada.
Amtrak said in the request for information it is reviewing its current service model and wants to hear how the respondents “might address food and beverage service onboard all trains through examples of similar services offered elsewhere or new and innovative approaches that might fit Amtrak’s environment.”
This will include proposals for operating café/lounge cars, dining cars, and Acela First Class service with and without Amtrak employees performing the work.
Tags: Amtrak, Amtrak food service
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September 14, 2018 at 11:04 am |
This sounds like another attempt to cut costs by cutting out living union wages for OBS food service employees. I can tell you that having worked as an Amtrak Lead Service Attendant for 14 years, that the only reason I stayed in that job for as long as I did is because it paid a decent living wage. Ask anyone who has ever worked as a crew member in any position on-board Amtrak and they will tell you that nobody works harder on Amtrak than the food service employees. Amtrak (or it’s subcontractor) will suffer increased recruitment and training costs for service workers if they think that they can get good people to work long-term for typical fast-food wages.