Chicago, usa

The Empire builder, operated by Amtrak¹, has received fresh new look as a part of a major initiative to improve the onboard ambience on Amtrak’s fleet of long-distance trains.

First-class passengers - those with sleeping accommodations, which includes dining car meal service – are now welcomed abroad with complimentary² glass of sparkling wine or cider. They are also invited to attend onboard wine- and cheese-tasting events in the lounge car³, featuring Wisconsin and Minnesota cheeses and Washington State wines.

Several special menu items have also been created by the Amtrak culinary team to closely match the original recipes of the Great Northern Railway. At supper time, along with the delicious regular Amtrak menu items, passengers are invited to enjoy special entrées⁴ recalling the train’s history: braised⁵ salmon shank with horseradish⁶ and cauliflower⁷ purée, Great Northern baked ham with sweet citrus sauce and English beefsteak pot pie with braised tomatoes and white mushrooms.

As a final touch, train attendants encourage sweet dreams by offering a bedtime treat of a freshly baked cookie or a similar goodie to premium passengers who have returned to their carriages to sleep.

Coach passengers are also enjoying a higher level of service on board the Empire Builder, with a new at-seat food and beverage service. Meanwhile, in the lounge car, an upstairs snack bar has been added to serve light food and beverages. Passengers can also choose from a wide variety of popular games, including Monopoly, Trivial Pursuit, and Chutes and Ladders.

The interiors of the sleeping cars have also received extensive renovations, featuring a new blue and white colour scheme and Blossom Cherry wood grain laminates. Blue hues⁸ also adorn⁹ cushions, carpets and drapery. The bedrooms have newly designed and modern-looking toilet and shower units. These match the interior colour scheme and the sink vanity¹⁰ has a solid-surface countertop. The same colour scheme provides a much brighter room the new public area toilets on the lower level of the cars. The public shower has been redesigned to better address passenger needs. The new shower has a larger changing area that includes a large seat and vanity with mirror and a seat in the shower area.

In the lounge car, one end has been changed to create improved seat groupings. These more compact seat groups have new small drink tables positioned between them. Dining tables and booths have been added to the other end. The interiors of the coach and dining cars have also been refurbished.

Notes:

1 Amtrak – державна залізнична компанія США 2 complimentary - привітальний 3 lounge car – вагон-люкс з відкидними сидіннями 4 entrée – головне блюдо 5 braised - тушений

6 horseradish - хрін 7 cauliflower – кольорова капуста 8 hue – відтінок, тон 9 adorn – прикрашати 10 sink vanity – раковина з туалетним столиком