Thrillist obtained complaint records via Freedom of Information Act request. Let’s dive into the worst ones.
take the train is , without a doubt , the morally superscript way to travel . Planes , cruises , and elevator car are significantly worse for the environs , and let ’s be honest , buses just are n’t that .. exciting . Plus with the return ofwhimsical and luxury train servicing , taking the railroad train does n’t even need to be a purely economical determination . The most popular geartrain in the US , by far , isAmtrak . In 2023 , Amtrak had 28.6 million passengers , an increment of24 % in ridershipcompared to 2022 .
But even if trains are the cooler way to go , not everything is hunky dory , 100 % of the time . This can be testify by the nearly 10,000 customer complaint that Amtrak received in 2023 , accord to records obtained by Thrillist via FOIA postulation . One of the grown intestinal colic for customers ? The food on Amtrak caravan . Amtrak ’s book show that last class , 2,933 dining service complaints were filed .
The most common Amtrak food complaints
The majority of Amtrak dining service complaint were under the pretty general " Food Service Unsatisfactory " family .
These include issues with taste ( " The pancakes ( microwaved ) were very ruffianly and tasted terrible , " one ailment detailed ) , or the fanciness of the repast service ( " We were VERY disappointed to find that there was only a cafe car . I make up for first course of instruction and expected to have a dining car , " another ill said ) .
Another significant portion of dining service complaint ( 245 complaints ) fell under the umbrella of " Food Selection . " These complaint typically let in details pertaining to cafe cars that were either totally sell out or unexpectedly unopen . " Third trip . possibly it will be my last , " one charge read . " No food or drinks ; cafe motorcar closed through most of the trip . Quality and handiness of solid food is marginal . Not what I experienced in previous trips . Bragged about Amtrak . Will not so much any longer . Disappointing head trip . Can not even get water . "
Jacob Silberberg/Getty Images
But 54 of the dining service complaints were a scrap more serious — these complaint detailed possible typesetter’s case of listeria and E. coli contamination . Several of these complaints were related to adocumented FDA recallof sandwiches and yield cups that were betray on Amtrak in January 2023 . Here ’s one such complaint from January 26 , 2023 : " I recently booked a slip from Sanford , Florida to Virginia on Amtrak , " the charge say . " I have never been so brainsick in my entire life from eating the food offer on your train . I just received an e-mail from [ an ] Amtrak congressman explaining that the food had listeria in it . "
But not all of the food toxic condition complaints were link to a documented outbreak ; for example , the one below was mail in regard to a trip-up taken in February 2023 : " I eat up your key signature steak dinner party at 6:15 premier yesterday eve . No appetizers , no afters . I want to inform you that I got food toxic condition and was up most of the night with vomiting and diarrhea . The grain of the steak was different from before , like it had been over tenderized . "
What Amtrak is doing about its food
Amtrak , for its part , denied that the food intoxication complaints were connected to food sold on the power train .
" Amtrak has Public Health Standards and Standard Operating Procedures in place , which top FDA demand , to safeguard public wellness and preclude foodborne illness , " an Amtrak voice say in a statement to Thrillist . " We investigated all 54 intellectual nourishment poisoning complaint from last year and did not find any illustration where an proceeds was relate to food purchased onboard any of our train . In add-on , the Amtrak Public Health Team regularly conduct national audits and trainings to fend for uninterrupted improvement across our interior internet , admit Certified Food Protection Manager Certification Training . "
It is important to mention that the 54 nutrient poisoning complaints made in 2023 calculate for just 0.00019 % of all riders last class . And while , ideally , there would be zero food for thought poison complaints — seriously , who desire to experience the oncoming of looseness of the bowels and vomiting in the Northeast Regional — those are still pretty humble betting odds . Even the overall number of ill is somewhat miserable — the file complaint only describe for 0.034 % of Amtrak ’s ridership . Plus , Amtrak ’s got plenty of convinced reviews , alongside the customer charge .
The dining car aboard an Amtrak train.|Alexandra Marvar/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service/Getty Images
" The onboard nutrient and beverage experience is an essential constituent of customer satisfaction , " the Amtrak representative state Thrillist . " In FY24 YTD , 70 % of on - time customer rat our food for thought and potable avail between 8 - 10 on a 10 - point graduated table . These Customer Satisfaction Index scores drive us to continuously evolve and invest in our card offerings to delight our customer . With that objective in thinker , we ’ll be unveiling three new upgrades later this springiness , include a Cafe Acela carte refresh , a new , splay menu for the Metropolitan Lounge at Moynihan Train Hall in New York City and new STARR Restaurant items for the Acela First Class computer menu . "
So , while ridingAmtrak is n’t totally perfect , it ’s still a pretty commodious and reliable experience . But if you ’re peculiarly fearful of foodborne illness , maybe compact your own sandwich . And clearly , Amtrak is going to use its$2 billion in new fundingto spruce up the cafe cars in the coming years .
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