Railroad Forums
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arthur d. wrote:Was about to book travel on 448/449 today when the agent informed me that the trains have lost their baggage cars. Checked bags between BOS and CHI will now be routed through WAS. Can anyone confirm this?Confirmed, and in another typical Anderson-era initiative, several of the tables and chairs in the cafe car have been removed and replaced with bike racks due to elimination of baggage car storage.
Matt Johnson wrote:Funny you say that, I was planning for a bicycle event in Illinois, and the agent told me no way was I bringing a bicycle on the LSL.arthur d. wrote:Was about to book travel on 448/449 today when the agent informed me that the trains have lost their baggage cars. Checked bags between BOS and CHI will now be routed through WAS. Can anyone confirm this?Confirmed, and in another typical Anderson-era initiative, several of the tables and chairs in the cafe car have been removed and replaced with bike racks due to elimination of baggage car storage.
arthur d. wrote:I've seen pics on another website. Yes, they have replaced some tables in the cafe with bike racks so the agent was incorrect.Matt Johnson wrote:Funny you say that, I was planning for a bicycle event in Illinois, and the agent told me no way was I bringing a bicycle on the LSL.arthur d. wrote:Was about to book travel on 448/449 today when the agent informed me that the trains have lost their baggage cars. Checked bags between BOS and CHI will now be routed through WAS. Can anyone confirm this?Confirmed, and in another typical Anderson-era initiative, several of the tables and chairs in the cafe car have been removed and replaced with bike racks due to elimination of baggage car storage.
bostontrainguy wrote: I've seen pics on another website. Yes, they have replaced some tables in the cafe with bike racks so the agent was incorrect.My original picture aboard LS #449 on April 7 somewhere east of Pittsfield, MA. Resized down to meet attachment requirements.
bostontrainguy wrote:Still seems ridiculous to me. Doesn't look like a very comfortable environment to enjoy your meal or drink. And also why didn't they remove the seats at the end of the car instead of towards the center?When you lose money on food service and can’t feasibly make it up through volume, removing cafe/lounge functionality and using it for another profit center (? Do they charge for bikes?) is a feature for Amtrak, not a bug.
mtuandrew wrote:It's a "CAFE/LOUNGE" car, not a baggage car. Keep taking away the niceties of train travel and people will just drive themselves to where they have to go.bostontrainguy wrote:Still seems ridiculous to me. Doesn't look like a very comfortable environment to enjoy your meal or drink. And also why didn't they remove the seats at the end of the car instead of towards the center?When you lose money on food service and can’t feasibly make it up through volume, removing cafe/lounge functionality and using it for another profit center (? Do they charge for bikes?) is a feature for Amtrak, not a bug.