Amtrak, the National passenger railroad service, is taking a hint from millennials about what they want in a train.
By Benyamin Davidsons
It seems millennials prefer privacy to the social, cozy seating arrangements in the traditional dining cars. So, beginning October 1st, Amtrak will implement changes to several routes to better suit the needs of their new younger customers. The changes will come in the form of completely removing the on-board kitchens and table sharing dining cars with white-linen tablecloths. Instead the trains will offer a more “contemporary” experience.
“Some people, especially our new millennial customers, don’t like it so much,” said Peter Wilander, Amtrak’s head of customer experience. “They want more privacy. They don’t want to feel uncomfortable sitting next to people.”
As reported by the NY Post, the changes will be saving the company, which is strapped for cash, roughly $2 million a year. The modifications will affect the following routes: the Cardinal from New York to Chicago, the Crescent from New York to New Orleans) and the Silver Meteor from New York to Miami. The Silver Star, another New York-to-Miami service, will also be changed, but not until next year, officials said.
As for meals on the modified trains, warm kitchen-made foods will be replaced by choices of pre-packaged meals such as an Asian noodle bowl, chicken fettuccine or a buffet-style breakfast with hard-boiled eggs and muffins. The sleeping-car customers will receive “flexible dining service”, with the ready-made food options available for delivery to the rooms.
“We continue to evolve our onboard accommodations and dining experience to meet the needs of today’s customers,” said Amtrak CEO Richard Anderson, in a statement.
For some passengers, who have been riding the medium to long-distance train service since it was founded 48 years ago, in 1971, it may seem like the end of an era. There is a certain nostalgia about the dining cars that will be lost. But “people just don’t like talking to each other the way they used to”, admits Josh Ingram, 54, a passenger on a train from Penn Station to Miami, on Sunday.
For many, however, the dining option is something that won’t be missed. “The dining car is only open for a few hours, and when it is open, the lines are long and the food is questionable,” said Nathan Sieminski, 25, who commutes with the train once a month. “I was basically given a microwave pizza last time. It’s not something people will miss.”
