Amtrak Crescent Discussion

[west point]

Meridian has an unused platform to the west of the present tracks. That location has room to restore 2 station tracks that would ideal for combining / splitting trains for NOL and DAL / FTW.

Jackson station has a problem in that the KCS station line toward Shreveport is west of the CNO station platform about 4 CN yard tracks.. Those CN tracks (once IC platforms ) travel over a filled in passageway from the station to the KCS platform location. Now what the KCS platform locaation state of disrepair is like is unknown. Also what kind of transportation would be available and necessary for ADA persons is also unknown.

[prokowave]

In an ideal world we'd see a twice daily service between Ft Work and Meridien. This would allow for an overnight and daytime trip in both directions and connectivity to the City of New Orleans and Texas Eagle, maybe even the Heartland Flyer, in both directions. If Amtrak were to ever get serious about restoring the Sunset Route to Florida as an extension of the City of New Orleans, I'm sure there would be a significant amount of traffic that could be captured from DFW to the Gulf Coast/Orlando

[STrRedWolf]

In an ideal world we'd see a twice daily service between Ft Work and Meridien. This would allow for an overnight and daytime trip in both directions and connectivity to the City of New Orleans and Texas Eagle, maybe even the Heartland Flyer, in both directions. If Amtrak were to ever get serious about restoring the Sunset Route to Florida as an extension of the City of New Orleans, I'm sure there would be a significant amount of traffic that could be captured from DFW to the Gulf Coast/Orlando

Given past history, I cannot see any train getting extended out of New Orleans and onto the panhandle of Florida. It would kill what on-time performance there is. I'd rather see a separate Gulf Sunset train, Miami to New Orleans, and force an overnight layover for the Sunset Limited or any other train.

[prokowave]

Given past history, I cannot see any train getting extended out of New Orleans and onto the panhandle of Florida. It would kill what on-time performance there is. I'd rather see a separate Gulf Sunset train, Miami to New Orleans, and force an overnight layover for the Sunset Limited or any other train.

I think we'll have to see how the NOL-MOB service turns out. Looks like an agreement was reached to finally get it moving. I think the beauty of doing Florida as an extension of the City of New Orleans, is that the CONO is already one of the best on-time performers. Plenty of padding can be added to the schedule in NOL since Amtrak owns the tracks and has crew and maintenance bases there. Plus the CONO otherwise sits for 20+ hour in NOL before turning around, so they'd only need at most one addition trainset to extend to Florida.

Being able to offer a one-seat ride from Chicago to Florida and shaving 8-10 hours off the next best option would be pretty huge for Amtrak's network.

[jp1822]

Even before Katrina, there were supporters who were looking to restructure "passenger rail east of New Orleans." Sunset could terminate in New Orleans and the City of New Orleans be the train that went "all the way" to Orlando/Tampa or Miami. Just has to be timed to allow some sort of good inter-connectivity. Given what's left, east of New Orleans, the City of New Orleans I think would be the better train that could help bring Midwesterners to Chicago and those on the West Coast to/from Florida (via connection with Sunset Limited). Could even do a through coach/sleeper to allow for more efficient use of the equipment. City of New Orleans would just take one extra train set. Would kinda be a mini Chicago hub. Considering all the passengers that flock to the Capitol Limited and Silver Star combo for their seasonal trek to Florida, it'd probably pay off.

The "Crescent Star" was proposed a few times - that is the Crescent train set would split at Meridian with a section heading to New Orleans (as happens every day) and then a section heading due West to Dallas or even Ft. Worth. The LD trains that "split" to serve other markets are using their assets a bit more efficiently. Overnight European sleeper trains have reprised this.

[Jeff Smith]

Discussion of a possible Meridian-DFW section: amtrak-crescent-section-between-meridia ... 75178.html

[Jeff Smith]

Viewliner Diner added: Trains

Viewliner diner serving ‘flexible’ meals to be added to Crescent June 1: Analysis

WASHINGTON — Beginning June 1, Amtrak plans to restore a dining car to the New York-New Orleans Crescent. However, initially only sleeping car passengers will be allowed to use it, and the food served will continue to be reheated “flexible” meals.

As reported in the Rail Passengers Association’s weekly Hotline email, Amtrak senior leadership confirmed those details, adding, “the railroad is in the process of identifying, hiring, and training additional on-board service crew so that within a few months, or perhaps next year, coach passengers on the Crescent might be able to enjoy a dining car meal.”

At Amtrak’s public board of directors meeting last December, president Roger Harris said the diner’s return was planned for 2024 [see “Amtrak officials outline new goals …,” Trains News Wire, Dec. 2, 2023]. Harris told News Wire after the session that a number of the sidelined cars — Amtrak has 25 Viewliner II diners on the active roster — needed mechanical work to fix water leaks and repair kitchen flooring.
...

[Greg Moore]

About time. That said, I still am against restricting coach passengers from the diner. When I used to ride this annually, this is one reason I took the train (coach) versus flying.

[Tadman]

Seems crazy to restrict coach passengers from the diner if there is space available. We all know the diner is a money loser. Unless they lose money on every meal they serve, it would make sense to serve 20 more meals and pocket a little dough.

[STrRedWolf]

Seems crazy to restrict coach passengers from the diner if there is space available. We all know the diner is a money loser. Unless they lose money on every meal they serve, it would make sense to serve 20 more meals and pocket a little dough.

I think the plan here is that it's going to be new "green" staff in the diner when it goes back to semi-full service, and they want to ease them into the job. They'll open the coach passengers up for dinner later.

[jp1822]

Lake Shore Limited had its staff ramped up in the later part of 2022. There had been just one person taking care of orders and heating the flex meals. But for at least the past year and a half, there's been two LSA's working the VIewliner II Diner (or sleeper/lounge - whatever it's being called these days). No more staff is on the hiring list for the Lake Shore Limited, and hasn't been, and it still doesn't have coach passengers welcomed in the Viewliner II Diner. The Crescent will mirror what's going on and has been going on for the Lake Shore Limited's Viewliner II Diner operations, including the new white linen service for lunch/dinner, flowers on the table, and plating the food coming from the flex meal containers. But still all plastic disposable silverware and plates, which means a TON of trash is still generated.

It's a good move to get the Viewliner II Diner restored to the Crescent, but it's taken way too long. It's also good that the "presentation" of the Viewliner II Diner ops in the Lake Shore has improved, and traditional dining in the Meteor and Star has been restored. So lets give Amtrak some credit where credit is deserved.

Nonetheless, better or varied meal options for the lunch/dinner is still needed. Amtrak can do better and has done better. The Viewliner Diners are really great assets to the single level LD fleet.

Some Viewliner II Diners needed repairs - in the kitchen galley and from water penetration? What's that all about. Amtrak received and accepted the Viewliner II DIners and then parked/stored or made over half the fleet in unassigned service.

Restoring a Viewliner II Diner on the Crescent, now puts 15 of the 25 Viewliner II Diners in "active/assigned" service, with the remaining 10, including one rebuilt Viewliner I Diner prototype in storage/reserve/"unassigned" service.

Would be nice to see the Cardinal get two Viewliner II Diners. That would still leave enough for the Capitol Limited if Amtrak reverts that to single level LD equipment, as has been rumored.

Amtrak only needs at most 5 (20%) of the Viewliner Diner fleet in reserve and for rotational maintenance. 20% is the standard that was applied to Viewliner I sleepers for the past 20 years.

End Rant.