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.
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Each passenger paying a fare will be entitled to a seat, to the extent coach seats are available. Passengers are entitled to one seat per fare, to ensure other paying passengers are not excluded.
Coach class is offered on every Amtrak train and features wide, reclining seats with ample legroom, no middle seat option and at-seat trays, reading lights and electric outlets. Restrooms are located in each car.
Our wide reclining seats with tons of legroom and adjustable footrests will take you to Snoozeville (population: you) in no time. Here are 10 tips for overnight sleeping in Coach.
When you travel with us, you can carry-on two free pieces of luggage. Each item should not exceed 50 lbs.(23 kg) and needs to be 28 x 22 x 14 inches in size. For those Amtrak families traveling with infants under the age of two, your baby items (strollers and diaper bags) will not count towards your carry-on limit.
Your seat will be automatically assigned when you complete your reservation. You may change your assigned seat at any time after your booking is complete using interactive seat maps on the Amtrak app or on Amtrak.com. There is no fee to change your seat.
Room to RoamInstead of being confined to a cramped, uncomfortable seat for your entire trip, a train lets you get up to stretch your legs and walk around to other parts of the train. That's not even an option when you fly, ride a bus or drive a car.
It depends on what your main purpose is. For the smoothest ride, get a seat equidistant between the trucks (wheels). This way a hard bump will be only half as bad. If you want to watch the train ahead going through curves, get a window seat near the rear of the coach.
There are a few ways to sleep comfortably on a train. Try booking a private cabin, bringing comfortable sleepwear, and using earplugs or noise-canceling headphones to block out noise. Bringing a travel pillow and blanket and avoiding caffeine and alcohol before bed can also help.
Many of the lines don't make any money or are operated at a loss. To accommodate the money-losing routes, Amtrak uses profits from its popular lines, such as the Northeast Corridor. Since this is one of the most popular routes, Amtrak can charge higher prices and send those profits to other, less profitable lines.
Airline seats are far narrower. Seat pitch on a train is about 40 inches +/- while on an airliner (economy) the pitch is around 32 inches or less on most short hauls.
For a truly unique experience when traveling in First Class, Amtrak offers private rooms on many routes across the country. A private room is the perfect option for customers seeking privacy and space on a short trip and added comfort and amenities when traveling overnight.
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.
Bring a Travel Pillow and BlanketWhile Amtrak does provide bedding in the Sleeping car rooms, you may wish to have your own pillow and an extra blanket for warmth. You may also ask your Sleeping car attendant for an additional blanket when they come to turn down your bed for a cozier night's sleep.
Sit at the Front of the SeatSit at the front of the chair with your pelvis rolled a little forward so that you sit on your “sit bones” (the bony protuberances at the bottom of your pelvis). Have both feet clearly in contact with the floor.
You can upgrade your seating from Coach to First Class and Business Class seats on Amtrak.com, through our mobile applications, at a staffed station or over the phone at 1-800-USA-RAIL. On trains with First Class private rooms, you may be able to upgrade to a Roomette or Bedroom, availability permitting.
If you can stand up or walk inside the vehicle, use “on.” If you can only sit in the vehicle, use “in.” You cannot stand inside of a car, for example. Here is another way to remember: For private transport, such as cars and trucks, use “in.” For public transport, such as trains, buses and planes, use “on.”
Being on the lower level is indeed closer to the restrooms, and you'll have less foot traffic going by. There will be less sway, but more noise from the track, since you're closer to the track. The view will be better from the upper level and you must be on the upper level to pass from one car to the next.
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.
Only sleeper car passengers have access to the showers. They are located in the sleeper cars on the lower level in Superliner train cars on down the hall on the Viewliner train cars. Amtrak provides a few items for you and the room attendant keeps the shower clean.
To ensure you stay connected while traveling, we offer free basic WiFi service in select trains and stations throughout the country. Stay productive, or simply sit back and have some fun while en route to your destination.