by Bob Roberts
I'll offer one (and only one) data point.
Next week I have a trip from CLT to NYP on the Crescent. I am not a big fan of the diner on 'short' trips like this, Getting on in the middle of the night means I'll likely sleep through breakfast and I have late lunch plans in NYC. I would have really benefitted from a cheaper dinerless booking in this case. (Sleeper space out of CLT is never cheap due to the schedule in both directions)
I also have a CLT Tampa trip planned, being an introvert and solo traveller I am not a fan of the conversation required for polite dining in community seating. Given that I'll happily BYOF and spend some money in the cafe on the Silver Starvation.
I am also a fan of booking sleeper space for long day trips, I have done so from Minneapolis to Chicago, Oakland to LA, NOL to San Antonio and KC to Chicago. I naver saw the diner on any of these trips and still felt like it was money well spent. But if an even cheaper day sleeper option were available I would jump on it. Despite that, eating and sitting in the Pacific Parlor Car on a beautiful day remains an Amtrak highlight for me.
Despite all that, I could not imagine a long trip (Chicago - West Coast) without a diner.
Long story short, I am very pleased that I have a cheaper sleeper option to Florida, from my perspective The Silver Starvation is a welcome amenity. An Empire Dieter, not so much.
Next week I have a trip from CLT to NYP on the Crescent. I am not a big fan of the diner on 'short' trips like this, Getting on in the middle of the night means I'll likely sleep through breakfast and I have late lunch plans in NYC. I would have really benefitted from a cheaper dinerless booking in this case. (Sleeper space out of CLT is never cheap due to the schedule in both directions)
I also have a CLT Tampa trip planned, being an introvert and solo traveller I am not a fan of the conversation required for polite dining in community seating. Given that I'll happily BYOF and spend some money in the cafe on the Silver Starvation.
I am also a fan of booking sleeper space for long day trips, I have done so from Minneapolis to Chicago, Oakland to LA, NOL to San Antonio and KC to Chicago. I naver saw the diner on any of these trips and still felt like it was money well spent. But if an even cheaper day sleeper option were available I would jump on it. Despite that, eating and sitting in the Pacific Parlor Car on a beautiful day remains an Amtrak highlight for me.
Despite all that, I could not imagine a long trip (Chicago - West Coast) without a diner.
Long story short, I am very pleased that I have a cheaper sleeper option to Florida, from my perspective The Silver Starvation is a welcome amenity. An Empire Dieter, not so much.