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Congress examines Amtrak’s food and beverage losses

I’m a fan of Amtrak but I have to admit their food car is a joke. To pay almost 10 bucks for a hamburger to be reheated in a microwave is outrageous. What’s even more outrageous is that it costs Amtrak $16.15 for that same pathetic burger.

Time to require some accountability for Amtrak. Replacing the food car with a car of vending machines would be a good start.

Amtrak loses millions on its food and beverage service, and a congressional committee wants to know why.

The company’s food and beverage cars have lost $833.8 million over the last decade, including $84.5 million in 2011, according to testimony at a congressional hearing Thursday.

The reason: the difference between Amtrak’s costs and what it charges passengers. For example, taking overhead into account, each cheeseburger costs Amtrak $16.15 and each can of soda costs $3.40. But Amtrak charges passengers only $9.50 and $2 for those items.

via Congress examines Amtrak's food and beverage losses – USATODAY.com.