(The following story by Bob Withers appeared on The Herald-Dispatch website on March 7.)
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Amtrak will restore sleeping and dining car service to its New York-Chicago Cardinal next week, Amtrak announced Friday.
Viewliner sleepers will return to westbound train 51 on Sunday, March 14, and eastbound train 50 on the run that will leave Chicago on Tuesday night, March 16.
Dining car service will return also, but on bistro-style “horizon dinette” cars rather than standard diners. The main difference is that meals are prepared on the ground and reheated aboard the train rather than being cooked on the train. The meals will be available to coach passengers on a first-come, first-served basis once sleeping car patrons are fed.
Both services were temporarily dropped Jan. 29 because of the need for weather-related repairs stemming from record cold temperatures on the East Coast.
“Due to the outstanding efforts of Amtrak employees at our maintenance facilities, the necessary repairs have been made and we are able to get the cars back on the trains and servicing our passengers,” Amtrak spokesperson Marcie Golgoski said.
The Cardinal passes through Huntington and Ashland on Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays.