What'll it be this time?

Without a doubt the fate of long distance American rail service is in trouble. The powers that be, those now in charge of Amtrak, have already made changes in the food service. No longer meals to be served on china with suitable implements with which to eat a meal; it's down to plastic. Certain foods will be prepared ahead of time and it looks as though we've seen the end of what was one of the lines best meals--the strip steak. This is supposed to save Amtrak "tens of millions of dollars" annually.

I suppose the next step will be an attempt to eliminate sleeping car service. Let them eat cake--let them ride in coaches.

What short-sightedness. How can we attract tourists, home-grown or from abroad, if we cut back on the very things which appeal to those who prefer to see our country at ground level? It has not penetrated the thick heads of those advocating saving money that the very things they're proposing will do nothing to save but will act to cause the system to lose money as travelers will opt for some other means of travel. Airlines? Good luck. As more and more of them go into bankruptcy their services are faltering, too. How about paying for your pillow, your blanket, your water? And traveling by car won't be any picnic, either, with the way gasoline prices are heading.

Go ahead, Mr. Laney. You and your fellow mis-handlers of Amtrak, cut off your noses to spite your faces. In the meantime, there are plenty of us calling curses on your deeds.

I'm about to sample some of the above as I take off on a trip to Indianapolis-Chicago-Washington and home. I'll sample the new meal service, find out how the sleepers are doing and try to talk to some of the railroad employees.