Auto-Train service cutback, capacity increase

Seems reasonable to me.

The wine & cheese was a good way to meet other travelers & socialize.  Without the lounge car, no place to have it, even pay-as-you-go. 

Dropping the lounge car means they can add a coach, which produces more revenue.  CSZ limits the train length, as does HEP limitations.

There might be another issue.  This would give the Superliner pool two more lounges.

Also, there might be a decrease of sleeper car passengers, and increase of coach.

Has there been a spike in wine prices?

The thing Amtrak was giving away was higher class booze, which can turn off more people than tea party types.   Some people are begining to ask why one has to have booze at an event for it to be "complete" or to "have fun". 

Amtrak did not give away booze.  That had to be paid for, in the lounge car.  It served wine, which is not booze as commonly defined.  The wine was not an unusually expensive wine.  At the wine & cheese, it was Barboursville, a Virginia wine which I would call moderately priced.

Wine prices have not spiked.

I doubt that sleeper occupancy will drop.  Depending on the season, it usually sells out one way.

What isn't explained is that sleeper passengers already pay the highest fare and contribute the most revenue to the route. The wine was never "free", it was always built into the sleeper ticket price. Amtrak enjoys a high profit on sleeper fares but things like a flower in the table bud vase were also eliminated.  Now a $1 rose that sits on a table for four and used for at least 4-6 seatings comes out to a savings of maybe 10 cents per passenger ticket. On a $300-$800 Autotrain ticket it is an insignificant cost savings and it is asinine to believe so.

Dennis, stop trying to apply logic to politics.  Congress wants Amtrak to cut its expense on meal service, or even more, eliminate it.  Yet no one complains about the billions which subsidize airline travel.

Note that the MC from the Orlando area is always attacking Amtrak, but also has fought to get rail service into his district,

The auto train lounge is a converted diner, not a sightseer, they were not the most comfortable things, but it did give a place to socialize and get out of your cabin, buy snacks/drinks, and watch the movie after dinner. I guess that means the one lounge car will now be premium space on the train.  The wine they were "giving away" was no high class stuff, it was standard sub $10 a bottle stuff, and undoubtedly included in everyone's ticket price. Eliminating the wine and snacks is a shame... it was just one of those things equated with going "first class" as opposed to coach... its a shame they're eliminating it, but I guess another 100 or so butts on the train helps the bottom line, even though the train is already one Amtrak's most popular routes and is or nearly is, profitable.

But with 100 more butts on the Auto-train you'll have about 25-50 more cars to transport which still makes a longer train.

My wife and I traveled the Autotrain many times from 2008 to 2012.  We always got a room and were pleased with accommodations.  We could get a decent night's sleep and a somewhat shaky but effective shower before leaving the train in the AM.

As far as what's being removed.... we really enjoyed the happy hour.  Met many nice people and it helped kick off the trip in the right direction.  And while we had decent rooms we also liked being able to stretch our legs and get a different view from the tables in the lounge.  You could also meet and converse with other travelers there.

I looked at taking the train the last two times we went to Florida but the prices were getting prohibitive.  We drove for much less and visited some friends along the way.

I couldn't envision making the trip in coach.  But it's a good option if you're staying for a long time and prefer your own vehicle.  

It was sunny & 75 today.

Dominic, shortly after the United States was established, Congress debated extensively and voted to fund the National Road, in order to enhance commerce with the West. Since then, the view has been that construction of roads, then railroads, and then air facilities and enhanced commerce, creating employment and wealth worth far more than the governmental investment.were it not for the roads that have been built, few people could go far from their residences, and since they would purchase less, there would be fewer employment opportunities.

You may or may not agree, but that is the way things are, and have been for ages.the ancient kingdoms and empires built roads to connect the various portions of the realms.

Maybe it is time to change course.  We used to have slavery.

And I thought the National Road was a toll road!

I don't know what is so hard about bringing your own snacks for a day-long (overnight?) ride to Florida. Same for any flight under three hours or so. We are leaving literally trillions of dollars of debt to the next generations. Must they also subsidize our treats as we prepare to spend money in the fun and sun?