Photo: blog.amtrak.com
Cross-country train travel is just not the same without a dining car: that’s the general reaction to the news that rail carrier Amtrak will eliminate dining cars on 3 of its routes as of October 1.
In a statement to The Washington Post, Peter Wilander, Amtrak’s head of customer experience, explained the decision, but chose to focus on the needs of the modern passenger, instead of the economics behind it.
The bottom line is that Amtrak needs to cut costs, and doing away with the dining car and everything that it entails (kitchen, fresh supplies for the freshly cooked meals, the likes) will save an estimated $2 million. However, Wilander says that the decision was mostly influenced by millenials’ behavior, because they, apparently, don’t like having to sit down at a table with strangers.
“Some people, especially our new millennial customers, don’t like it so much,” Wilander explained. “They want more privacy. They don’t want to feel uncomfortable sitting next to people.”
He also said words about millenials being “on the go,” which means standing in line for a table and then actually sitting at the table was not something they would fancy doing. So, as of October 1, 3 routes will include a more “flexible” dining service, which involves serving pre-made food, and no dining car. The food won’t come in boxes, Amtrak is quick to say.
The 3 routes to see the dining car go are the Cardinal (New York – Chicago), Silver Meteor (New York – Miami) and Crescent (New York – New Orleans). Silver Star (New York – Miami) will also do away with the dining car in 2020.
Reactions to the news vary from welcome (the dining car was only open for a few hours and a table came with a long wait, and the food wasn’t that good, either way) to outraged. While most agree that this is an effective cost-cutting strategy, Amtrak could at least have been honest about it and not blame it on the millenials. If they’re willing to part with the tradition behind the dining car, they should at least have the courage to say why they’re doing it.
The bottom line is that Amtrak needs to cut costs, and doing away with the dining car and everything that it entails (kitchen, fresh supplies for the freshly cooked meals, the likes) will save an estimated $2 million. However, Wilander says that the decision was mostly influenced by millenials’ behavior, because they, apparently, don’t like having to sit down at a table with strangers.
“Some people, especially our new millennial customers, don’t like it so much,” Wilander explained. “They want more privacy. They don’t want to feel uncomfortable sitting next to people.”
He also said words about millenials being “on the go,” which means standing in line for a table and then actually sitting at the table was not something they would fancy doing. So, as of October 1, 3 routes will include a more “flexible” dining service, which involves serving pre-made food, and no dining car. The food won’t come in boxes, Amtrak is quick to say.
The 3 routes to see the dining car go are the Cardinal (New York – Chicago), Silver Meteor (New York – Miami) and Crescent (New York – New Orleans). Silver Star (New York – Miami) will also do away with the dining car in 2020.
Reactions to the news vary from welcome (the dining car was only open for a few hours and a table came with a long wait, and the food wasn’t that good, either way) to outraged. While most agree that this is an effective cost-cutting strategy, Amtrak could at least have been honest about it and not blame it on the millenials. If they’re willing to part with the tradition behind the dining car, they should at least have the courage to say why they’re doing it.
Frustrated Amtrak is blaming the death of dining cars in part on millennials. On my train trip last summer “breaking bread with strangers at a communal table” — a thing Amtrak apparently thinks is anathema to millennials — was my favorite part of the trip. https://t.co/NVujH924dX
— Megan Messerly (@meganmesserly) September 22, 2019
I know I'm in the extreme minority, travelling when I can in the US by train, especially going from the Midwest to LA and back. But the dining car was part of what made it magical. Sad to see it go. https://t.co/3tH7ivWEX0
— Neil Gaiman (@neilhimself) September 22, 2019
The new Amtrak business model is turning trains into very slow planes. pic.twitter.com/4he1j2oM3P
— Osita Nwanevu (@OsitaNwanevu) September 22, 2019
Google News