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Dec 10, 1970.
AMTRAK DINING CAR PRICES RISING Trains 21, 22, 58, 59, 421 and 422 now have a different menu than the rest of the long-distance trains. These trains use preplated meals prepared off the train and the prices appear substantially higher than rail travelers are accustomed to paying. This change is no doubt part of the DOT effort to increase Amtrak income, but could have the effect of reducing train patronage. On one of the two rotating menus, breakfast items consist of three choices with meat, each priced at $10, and one cereal choice at $6.75. At lunch, a cheeseburger is $7, a sandwich (type varies) is $7.25, barbecue chicken with potato wedges, corn and salad is $12, and soup (minestrone or chicken noodle) is $4. At dinner, a beef entree (braised or tenderloin) is $18; a chicken entree is $17.50; cod fillets are $16.50; cheese tortellini is $11; and an "evening special" is $12.50. |
Amtrak Cascades Talgo trains 513 &
516 will temporarily use Superliner equipment:
EFFECTIVE ON THE DATES SHOWN BELOW, TRAINS 513 AND
516 WILL OPERATE WITH SUPERLINER EQUIPMENT, AND NOT TALGO EQUIPMENT.
THE PURPOSE OF THIS CHANGE IS TO ALLOW AMTRAK, THE FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION AND TALGO TO PERFORM TESTING ON THIS PARTICULAR TALGO TRAINSET. DURING THIS TIME TRAINS 513 AND 516 WILL
OPERATE WITH A SUPERLINER ACCESSIBLE COACH (34000 SERIES, WITH LOWER
LEVEL
A TIE REPLACEMENT PROJECT BETWEEN STOCKTON AND FRESNO WILL AFFECT SERVICE ON TRAINS 702 AND 711 ON THESE DATES: JANUARY 11-12, 15-19, 22-26, JAN. 29-FEB. 2, FEB. 5-7. TRAIN 702: TRAIN 1702 SAC-SKT
TRAIN 711: TRAIN 711 BFD-FNO
PACIFIC SURFLINER TRACKWORK NORTH OF LOS ANGELES IN JANUARY UNION PACIFIC WILL BE REPLACING RAIL
BETWEEN MOORPARK AND SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIFORNIA. THE WORK
WINDOW WILL BE 0700-1200 MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, BEGINNING TUESDAY,
JANUARY 3 THROUGH
As the work progresses north, various trains will be cancelled or operate late from day to day. For Jan 4 and Jan 5, Train 768 annulled GTA-LAX, 763 Terminates LAX. Train 784 annuled GTALAX 785 Terminates at LAX\ Trains 798-799 annulled both days. Anyone traveling on the Coast, should check with Amtrak
Call Center to see if your train is operating the day that you wish to
travel.
DAVID GUNN HIRED BY THINK TANK Former Amtrak president David Gunn has been hired by the conservative Free Congress Foundation, chaired by Paul Weyrich. Weyrich has been an effective advocate for Amtrak and public transit, although many conservatives express opposition to these transportation modes. It would appear that Gunn, himself a Republican, has an
opportunity to generate further support for Amtrak among conservative lawmakers.
AMTRAK AND THE THREE DAVIDS The three Davids are on the minds of most rail advocates these days: the fired Amtrak President David Gunn, Amtrak Board Chairman David Laney, and Gunn's temporary replacement as President, David Hughes. They form a big question mark in advocates' minds because of lack of outside information about their activities, plans and motives. The first question is why was David Gunn fired? It was widely recognized
that he was the best thing that had happened to Amtrak in its existence.
Even if his firing would not have an effect upon the future course of Amtrak
operations, it seemed unwise from a public relations standpoint because
of the appearance of Amtrak being cavalier in discarding such an effective
leader.
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