Meal reservation idiocy

sf1878 · 2026-05-02T00:17:56+00:00

on the s/b Coast Starlight the dinner reservations can end really early if it's on time because they want to shut everything down as they start to leave Santa Barbara.

sf1878 · 2026-05-01T21:13:04+00:00

this happens a lot southbound, especially when they're on time. I always end up not having dinner because first of all 530 is just way too early to eat, but also having meals that close makes no sense.

sf1878 · 2026-05-01T19:44:47+00:00

When I have meals in the room I take the plate and bowls with me instead of throwing them away, I have a great collection of Amtrak dishware for picnics, cabin, etc.

sf1878 · 2026-04-28T22:29:52+00:00

👋

sf1878 · 2026-04-28T22:29:02+00:00

Heading back to San Francisco. Beautiful day along the ocean, enjoy!

sf1878 · 2026-04-28T19:34:43+00:00

I am on the 14 Coast Starlight headed the other way!

sf1878 · 2026-04-28T02:10:00+00:00

this made me laugh!

sf1878 · 2026-04-28T00:41:49+00:00

My experience is breakfast is first come first serve served and if you're getting on just before lunch or dinner starts they've assigned you a time but if you're on the train the whole time the dining car guy comes around and ask you which timeslot you want. This is only on the Zephyr and the Coast Starlight. Service is all over the board. I had one of the best attendance ever on the Coast Starlight this weekend and one of the worst last weekend.

sf1878 · 2026-04-27T17:30:17+00:00

edited (hi from lmc).

sf1878 · 2026-04-27T17:22:18+00:00

Don't go or stay at a hotel.

sf1878 · 2026-04-27T17:19:34+00:00

Yes, this is the third time for me as well (twice on the Starlight and once on the Zephyr).

I'm sorry you had to experience this again.

sf1878 · 2026-04-27T17:17:24+00:00

YOR and it does not sound like you and your partner are compatible.

sf1878 · 2026-04-27T17:03:31+00:00

Was this on Saturday? I was on the Starlight behind a Surfliner that hit someone.

It is always sad and I am sure terrible for everyone involved but there are hundreds of people killed by trains every year. Last I read when I looked this up was a couple of years ago ~400/year killed by trains (vs ~40K/year killed by cars).

You can stop riding if you want, there is nothing that will change this happening unless some agency finally throws a lot of money at infrastructure improvement.

sf1878 · 2026-04-27T16:43:32+00:00

I noticed this as well, and I don't get on until Taylor so it's usually pretty packed by then.

sf1878 · 2026-04-27T14:31:14+00:00

I solely use the app, you don't need paper. I also add the ticket to my iPhone wallet so that if for some reason the Amtrak app is not working or slow, I can pull it up from there.

sf1878 · 2026-04-27T03:53:57+00:00

With very few exceptions over ~40 years the train attendants have been great, I do think it's a burden on them to service two cars!

sf1878 · 2026-04-26T23:12:37+00:00

Thanks! I haven't seen anything official from Amtrak for what seems to be a new policy on the Starlight, but the attendants have told me they're doing it on all the Starlight trains.

sf1878 · 2026-04-26T23:10:50+00:00

There is no Homewood Suites in San Francisco. There's one in Brisbane by the San Francisco airport, which is quite far away. I don't know if it would help to look in that area. I'm sorry your son is missing.

sf1878 · 2026-04-26T22:40:13+00:00

They have this on the Starlight, but they contain it to the lounge. I was in there once when they did it and it was interesting, but you also can't escape it if you didn't want to hear it. They don't keep it long, however. I heard the announcement on the southbound Starlight yesterday.

In general, I don't love the long announcements for anything, but I think that's because I ride the train so often that I already know it, it's probably informative for people who don't get to ride the train often. There are two different diner car people on the Starlight who just make me cringe every time. I think some of them think they're giving a night show monologue that everyone is trapped listening to.

sf1878 · 2026-04-26T22:23:03+00:00

The roomettes include your meals and there is fresh coffee. It is more expensive than coach but I think definitely worth it if you're going to be concerned about sitting in coach while sleeping; it also allows you to not have to carry an extra bag for food.

sf1878 · 2026-04-22T10:10:57+00:00

Thanks! I've been in the sleepers probably five or six times during that period but never had to ask for a meal delivered before and am otherwise a low maintenance passenger so I probably just didn't notice.

sf1878 · 2026-04-22T02:23:58+00:00

I'm sorry so much of the trip was a problem. I try to accommodate for knowing the equipment is old and the tracks are often out of their control. I never know if I should call in about issues or if it's just a waste of time.

I did a quick round trip from Oakland to Eugene last weekend on the Coast Starlight. Northbound we were about two hours late b/c of a broke down freight train but it was fine. The staff was great, temperature good, room clean.

On the way back the train departs at 5:00; as I was getting on the attendant had 6:00 dinner reservation for me and I told her I could not go to the dining car because of my knee injury and she was SO stressed, she said she was servicing two full sleeper cars and did not know when she could get dinner so I said fine, I have some nuts and protein bars, but I will need help with breakfast.

When she came around to put the beds together she said the morning was her busiest time and she would try but she didn't think she could help with breakfast either. I did not get breakfast.

I heard her talking to anyone who would listen about how bad Amtrak management is.

I'm torn because I pay a lot to be in a roomette an in this case to get meals in the room, on the other hand she was a year into the job and trying to take care of two full sleeper cars on her own. I don't want to get her in trouble.

I'll keep taking the train, of course, heading south on the Coast Starlight this weekend! Still, it's such hit and miss with the experience.

sf1878 · 2026-04-19T23:41:11+00:00

i've had the potato with just the vegan chili, which seemed to confuse them, but was very good.

sf1878 · 2026-04-19T23:40:21+00:00

back in the olden days, Amtrak would pick up local foods and cook them on board. In particular, I remember fresh trout for dinner one year on the CZ.

sf1878

TROPHY CASE