The Equipment
What does a ticket for the dinner train cost?
The cost is $79.95 per person for evening dinner trains and $59.95 per person for Sunday brunch trains, tax and gratuity not included.
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What does the price include?
The price includes a four course meal and an approximate 2 1/2 to 3 hour train trip on evening dinner trains and approximately 1 1/2 hour train trip on Sunday brunch trains.
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Are senior citizen discounts available? (Pricing)
Not at this time.
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Do you offer group pricing? (Pricing)
There is a 10% discount for a group of 20 or more.
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Can I pay when I get there, or do I need to pay in advance? (Pricing)
Payment is due in advance at the time of your reservation. Master Card, Visa and Discover are accepted. All cards will be processed at the time your reservation is made.
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Can we put our gratuity on our credit card after the meal is served? (Pricing)
Yes, you can. In addition, you may pay your gratuity for your meal portion at the time you make your reservation. As a guideline, we recommend a minimum $5.00 per guest meal service gratuity. Bar service gratuity may be paid onboard the train (15-18% of the bar tab is recommended).
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Do I have to have reservations to ride the train? (Reservations)
Yes, as most of our trains are booked well in advance, and you are required to make your meal selection at the time of booking. top
Do I need to make a reservation? (Reservations)
Advance reservation and payment are required to guarantee seating.
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How are guests seated? (Reservations)
Following rail dining tradition, we offer Pullman style seating on board. Each table has a window view and accommodates four persons. Parties of three (3) or less may be seated with other parties, in order to maximize seating capacity. Parties of five (5) or more will be seated at adjacent tables. Large parties may be seated in more than one car. Columbia Star Dinner Train reserves the right to adjust seating arrangements at its sole discretion until time of departure. When seated at a table with another party, it is considered proper train etiquette to sit on the same side as your guest, facing the other diners at the shared table. As a courtesy, ladies are afforded the window seat, and we encourage gentlemen to take the aisle seats. The train does not provide booster seats or high chairs. A limited number of private tables may be available for an additional fee. However, we reserve the right to sell all seats, so this option may not be available on certain dates.
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Can I reserve a specific table? (Reservations)
Yes, any table can be reserved. Most Fridays and Saturdays sell out. As a result most parties of two WILL BE seated with another couple at a four top table. We presently have no two top tables. A four top table can be reserved for two people for an upcharge (see below). At no time will any of our reservationists ever tell a guest that they are guaranteed a four top table for just the two of them unless they have purchased the upgrade. When we are not sold out, that situation MAY somtimes occur.
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Can I pay extra to reserve a four top table for just the two of us? (Reservations)
Yes you can. By paying for one extra ticket at $69.95 plus tax (no meal provided), we will insure no one else is seated at your table. Contact us for details.
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How are seats reserved? (Reservations)
Seats are reserved at the time of ticket purchase.
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How do you accommodate parties of 5, 6, and 7? (Reservations)
The majority of our tables seat 4. We will seat everyone as close together as available seating allows. In the case of a party of 5 we would seat 3 people at one table and 2 at an adjacent table. Parties of 6 are seated 4 at one table and 2 at an adjacent table. In both cases there is a chance a party of 2 will be seated with the remaining party of 2. In the case of 7 we will seat 4 at one table and 3 at an adjacent table.
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What is your cancellation policy? (Reservations)
Cancellations are permitted up to 72 hours prior to trip departure. Cancellations made AT LEAST 72 hours prior to departure will incur a full-fare refund, or may be rescheduled for a future date. Any cancellations not made in this time frame will be charged full fare amount and will be given the option to re- book their reservation (ten dollar re-booking fee) for a future date within the next ninty (90) days.
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When do I have to let you know my meal selection? (Reservations)
Ideally, at the time time of your reservation; however, if you are undecided and forced to call back we MUST have your selection no later than 5:00 PM three days before the day of your trip. NOTE: If we do not hear from you by then, you will be served a chicken entree.
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When does the train run?
The dinner train departs each Friday and Saturday night at 7:00 PM and the Sunday Brunch train departs at 11:30 AM.
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Do you run year around? (Schedule)
Yes, the Dinner Train will run every month out of the year.
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What days are trips offered? (Schedule)
The Columbia Star Dinner Train is scheduled to run every Friday and Saturday night as well as a Sunday Brunch run.
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What are the menus offered? (Menu)
Our menu is available here. We will ask you for your entree selection(s) when you make your reservation.
NOTE: We do not prepare our meals on order as you board, so it is imperative you do not change your original menu selection.
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Are vegetarian meals offered? (Menu)
Yes, please call for more details.
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Will the meals be prepared on the cars? (Menu)
Yes. All of our food is prepared right onboard the train in our fully equipped kitchen car.
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Is a children's menu available and is there a children's discount? (Menu)
No, there is one menu available for all ages and the cost for children is the same as an adult.
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Is there a bar on the train? (Beverages)
We have two fully equipped service bars to provide you with drinks at your table. top
If I purchase drinks on-board how may I pay? (Beverages)
Credit cards are the preferred method; however we also accept cash. Bar service is seperate from your meal gratuity and we recommend an appropiate tip of 15-18% of the bar tab. Remember, you may pay your meal gratuity at the time of the reservation but bar service and bar service gratuity must be paid on the train.
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What sort of selections are available from the bar? (Beverages)
The bar offers a wide variety of beers, wines and cocktails. Wine can be purchased either by the glass or by the bottle. Alcoholic beverages can be purchased anytime throughout the trip.
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Can we bring our own wine or liquor? (Beverages)
Our liquor lincense strictly prohibits bringing your own liqour on board. Please do not bring your own liquor aboard the train.
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Where do we board and pick up tickets? (Arrival and Boarding)
You can pick up your tickets as you board the train at 6501 North Brown Station Road in Columbia.
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How many steps would I have to negotiate to get on the train? (Arrival and Boarding)
We accommodate many elderly passengers. To board the train you must use a step box and then go up four steps. There are handrails in the entry way and our conductors are there to help you on and off the train. Walkers can pass through the hallways.
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Is the dinner train handicap accessible? (Arrival and Boarding)
The Columbia Star Dinner Train cars were constructed in the 1930’s and therefore are not handicap accessible. Guests who require special assistance are required to inform the reservation or ticket agent at time of reservation.
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What is the dress code? (Arrival and Boarding)
The Columbia Star is a fine dining establishment and we therefore ask that passengers dress appropriately. Gentleman are requested to wear shirts with collars. Ladies should dress appropiate for fine dining. We suggest avoiding wearing high heels or any other type of open-toe shoe or sandal for safety reasons when boarding the train and walking between cars.
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Are pets allowed? (Arrival and Boarding)
No, pets are not allowed. However, service animals assisting guests with disabilities are permitted.
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Where does the train go? (The Trip)
The train travels from the terminal on Brown Station Road and heads north towards Centralia. Once our train reaches Centralia or approximately 1.5 hours out, the locomotive on the opposite end then pulls us back to the terminal on the same route we came.
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What is the length of the trip? (The Trip)
The dinner train trip is approximately 2 1/2 to 3 hours in length and runs approximately 27 miles round trip. The Sunday Brunch trip is about 1 1/2 hours. The Columbia Star Dinner Train makes every effort to maintain our schedule, but reserves the right to alter schedules or equipment as operating conditions demand.
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How fast will we go? (The Trip)
The train will travel approximately 10-25 mph.
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Is smoking permitted onboard? (The Trip)
No, smoking is not permitted.
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Does the train stop anywhere along the route? (The Trip)
No, there are no stops along the route except a short stop when we turn around to go back to Columbia.
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Can I travel between the rail cars? (The Trip)
We ask guests to refrain from walking thru the cars to the restrooms when entrees are being served.
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Are there restrooms on the train? (The Trip)
Yes, there are four uni-sex restrooms located onboard.
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Is the train air conditioned and/or heated? (The Trip)
Yes, all dinner train cars have a climate controlled environment.
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Can the air conditioning and/or heat be moderated? (The Trip)
Please keep in mind, that the dining cars are over 70+ years old and regulating the temperature to an exact degree is impossible. If anything, cars tend to be more cool than hot. If you are cold natured please dress accordingly.
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What kind of engine will be pulling the train? (The Equipment)
Two 1950's era streamlined F-7 Diesel Locomotives will be pulling the train.
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What kinds of rail cars are used? (The Equipment)
The dinner train consists of two 1938 built Pullman table cars built for the Southern Pacific Railroad as coach cars. These cars are quite unique as they are articulated meaning the share a set of wheels between the cars. In addition our kitchen car is a converted CB&Q baggage car.
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