Can anyone sit in the quiet car on Amtrak?

Can anyone sit in the quiet car on Amtrak? Unless your trip is on Acela, seating in the Quiet Car is on a first-come, first-served basis and cannot be reserved. There is no additional charge to sit in the Quiet Car, but passengers are asked to occupy only one seat per person.

What are quiet cars on trains?

To give passengers some peace and quiet during their commute, Metra has designated Quiet Cars on all morning inbound and evening outbound rush-hour trains. The cars are designed to give riders a space free of some common nuisances such as cellphone calls, loud headphones and loud conversations.

Is it loud on an Amtrak train?

It can be very quiet in your car as you cruise along, or it can be noisy if the door between cars is left open or people around you are making noise (conversation, music, movies). If you're near the engine, in the front of the train, the sounding of the horn can be a significant and recurrent source of noise.

Can I sit in any seat on Amtrak?

In almost all cases, Amtrak seats are not assigned. The exception is Acela Express route seats and business class seating on the Northeast Regional, Carolinian, Palmetto, and Vermonter. Otherwise, Amtrak has a first-come, first-serve seating policy for coach seats.

Do they turn the lights off on Amtrak?

A: On double-decker trains, upstairs spaces (coach seats and some of the sleeper rooms) are quieter, because they are farther from the rails. In terms of noise from other passengers, Amtrak's conductor declares quiet hours from around 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., and lights are dimmed overnight.

How quiet is the Amtrak quiet car?

No cell phone use is allowed, no audible noise is supposed to emerge from devices and there is no talking in anything above a whisper. Riders in the Quiet Car are told to maintain a “library-like atmosphere,” and technically speaking, you're not really even supposed to talk in a library voice for very long.

Can you sit where you want on a train?

Can you sit anywhere on a train? If the train company does not offer seat reservations on the train you are travelling on, the reservation ticket will specify the date and time of travel. In this case, you may sit in any available seat on the specified train, appropriate to the class of your ticket.

Where is the quiet car on a train?

Typically, the Quiet Car is the second passenger car located from the locomotive. Ask train personnel if assistance is needed locating the car.

Can anyone sit in the observation car on Amtrak?

That's because when you're in one you're actually on the second floor of the train. Meanwhile, back upstairs there's no assigned seating and anyone can hang out in the observation car. There's single seats, family seats for groups up to five and even tables for card games and laptops.

Is Amtrak more comfortable than flying?

Train travel is much simpler, as there is no TSA PreCheck® or CLEAR equivalent for Amtrak. Amtrak trains offer private rooms, more legroom, more space from your fellow passengers, more comfortable seats, and more food & beverage options.

Is it better to ride Upper or Lower Amtrak?

The best place to sit in Amtrak Coach Class is on the upper level. It's all about the view on the upper level. This is the biggest advantage of sitting in the upper level. You can also move from car to car more freely as there is access from each car on the upper level.

What is quiet car etiquette on Amtrak?

Guests are asked to limit conversation and speak in subdued tones. Phone calls are not allowed and all portable electronic devices must be muted or used with headphones (passengers using headphones must keep the volume low enough so that the audio cannot be heard by other passengers).

Should I tip Amtrak sleeping car attendant?

Come prepared with a stash of small bills. Leave the tip in cash on the table, and hand your sleeping-car attendant the tip at your final destination. There's no obligation that you tip, of course, and you should feel free to adjust the amount, depending on the service. If you have a question about travel, ask us.

Is it rude to talk on the phone on Amtrak?

Just Say No to Speaker Phone Privacy is a good thing and when you're on speaker phone all that privacy is well…all gone. In order to avoid other riders listening to both sides of your chat, avoid all speaker phone conversations at all times.

Can you talk in the quiet coach?

If you're in the quieter coach, please keep the noise down. Music through headphones should be kept quiet enough as to not disturb other passengers and conversations should be conducted quietly. If you do have to make or take a call, please move into the end of the coach through the doors before dialling or answering.

Does Amtrak have cameras inside?

Amtrak, though not required by law or regulation, started installing inward facing cameras in its cabs in 2015.

Where is the safest place to sit on an Amtrak train?

When choosing a seat on a train, try to get one in the center-most car, or one of the central cars. This will put you as far as possible from the most common points of issue for collisions or derailment, namely the front and end of the train.

Can you bring food on Amtrak?

You may bring your own food and beverages onboard for consumption at your seat or private Sleeping Car accommodations. However, you can only consume food and beverages purchased in Dining and Lounge Cars in those cars. Personal food and beverages are allowed in the upper level of Superliner Sightseer Lounges.

Is Amtrak safer than airplane?

Trains also are safer than planes, in part, because many train stations have open-air platforms where travelers board, Dr. Aaron Rossi told USA Today in October. That's far less risky than the indoor settings of airport security lines and waiting areas where passengers gather and sit before boarding.