The Silver Star’s four equipment sets lost full dining service when previous Amtrak management under the late Joe Boardman decided to retire several heritage diners needing extensive repairs. The first of 25 long-delayed Viewliner II dining cars would not begin to replace the remaining serviceable cars on the Silver Meteor and Crescent until later that year and in 2017.
At the time, then-long distance VP Mark Murphy told Trains News Wire that another purpose of the move was to test customer demand for lower sleeper prices without meals included.
Early on, revenue managers made sure there was a noticeable differential by keeping the Silver Star’s accommodation fares lower even when roomette and bedroom inventory approached sellout. Now even though meals aren’t included, fares on the Star are sometimes higher if the Silver Meteor, which runs with three sleeping cars instead of two, has more available space.
Until September 30, 2019, the Meteor’s Viewliner II offered food for purchase by coach passengers. Now sleeper patrons, whose meals have always been included, get exclusive use of the car and coach travelers may only order food from the cafe.
This is similar to previous “buy one, get one” fare sales, which in various instances have included or excluded Northeast Corridor or state-supported service. The discount promo code V605 must be used when booking, or travelers can access promotional fares on a special web page.
In a separate companion fare promotion, passengers headed to or from Jefferson City, Mo., on St. Louis-Kansas City, Mo., Missouri River Runner trains until Feb. 29 can purchase “two-for-the-price-of-one” coach tickets using promo code V716 on the website. The sale was created to coincide with the opening on Tuesday of a new modular station; the waiting room in a historic building owned by the state was shuttered in October 2019, after the Missouri Department of Natural Resources abruptly closed the structure following a falling brick incident.
