Check out this email I received from Amtrak

It says

"We have exciting news to share about your upcoming trip Train 50 from White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia on 12/27/2019.

Staring October 1, we will be debuting a new dining experience aboard your train—made exclusively available for Sleeping Car customers. Here is what you can expect when you are onboard:

A new dining menu with hot, ready-to-serve choices for breakfast, lunch and dinner
A wide selection of wine, beer and spirits (the first one is on us), plus unlimited soft drinks throughout your journey
Complimentary room service provided by your Sleeping Car attendant
Exclusive onboard lounge space for Sleeping Car customers to dine and socialize 24x7
Flexible dining times without the need for reservations

Sample menus can be found at Amtrak.com/flexdining. Information on special dietary requirements, including kosher meal requests, can be found at Amtrak.com/dining. To review your reservation, visit Amtrak.com.

We look forward to seeing you on board."

FWIW I got two of these, one for #51 and one for #50

Is this something to get excited about?

TCurtin wrote: ↑Mon Oct 28, 2019 1:09 pm It says

"We have exciting news to share about your upcoming trip Train 50 from White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia on 12/27/2019.

Staring October 1, we will be debuting a new dining experience aboard your train—made exclusively available for Sleeping Car customers. Here is what you can expect when you are onboard:

A new dining menu with hot, ready-to-serve choices for breakfast, lunch and dinner
A wide selection of wine, beer and spirits (the first one is on us), plus unlimited soft drinks throughout your journey
Complimentary room service provided by your Sleeping Car attendant
Exclusive onboard lounge space for Sleeping Car customers to dine and socialize 24x7
Flexible dining times without the need for reservations

Sample menus can be found at Amtrak.com/flexdining. Information on special dietary requirements, including kosher meal requests, can be found at Amtrak.com/dining. To review your reservation, visit Amtrak.com.

We look forward to seeing you on board."

FWIW I got two of these, one for #51 and one for #50

Is this something to get excited about?

Nothing to get excited about, but since you're on the Cardinal, it is probably an upgrade over what that train had.

Well, if you enjoy reheated microwave dinners served in even cheaper looking plasticware than before, you're all set.

Despite multiple protests, Amtrak insists on calling the new dining experience an upgrade. Well unless you're a coach passenger in which case you're not even allowed to buy dinner in the diner any more.

Interesting that it says you’ll have exclusive lounge space. Does the Cardinal get a V-II diner?

I think it did , starting October 1. Lost its business class at the same time. At least from memory of Facebook postings at the time.

It's a downgrade. The Cardinal had similar downgraded dining to the Lake Shore Limited before this change, which was still better than this.