What foods can you bring on Amtrak?

We encourage bringing food on board, including to-go meals from restaurants near stations, if you have special diet needs, like to eat large amounts of fresh fruit and vegetables or don't want to purchase food in the café or dining car (note that meals are included if you book sleeping accommodations).



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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.

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A small cooler counts as a carry-on bag, and you can bring snacks, meals, take out food from nearby restaurants and even alcohol on Amtrak (note that to consume alcohol, you must be in a roomette or bedroom).

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They do random bag checks sometimes, but they don't make everything go through security like at the airport. I've never had my bag checked on Amtrak, and they only do that at places where they have Amtrak police permanently stationed, like in New York and Chicago.

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With due respect to passengers' privacy, the random and unannounced screening and inspection of passengers and their personal items is completed as quickly as possible - usually in less than a minute.

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“If you're planning on working on Amtrak, you need to bring your cellular-connected device, because that's more likely to be reliable than the onboard WiFi,” Key said. WiFi on planes has improved in recent years, but why does Amtrak's service remain so frustrating?

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Trust us: You need a phone charger. And you're going to love the fact that every seat has an outlet for charging!

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Amtrak Comfort Kits (containing a polyester blanket, inflatable neck pillow, eye mask, and earplugs in a portable travel pouch) are available for purchase on the train or via the Amtrak store if you want an all-in-one solution for your Coach sleeping travels.

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Warm Layer or Blanket Many riders have had uncomfortable rail journeys due to being cold on the trains, even in summer. Be sure to pack a sweatshirt, fleece jacket, sweater or small blanket. Some people recommend a hooded sweatshirt as it can also provide some privacy and padding if you're trying to sleep in coach.

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If you're traveling in coach on some of Amtrak's long-distance train services, you'll now have the opportunity to use the dining car onboard. Coach passengers will now be able to enjoy full-fledged meals for an additional cost in the dining car, which was a beloved service removed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Exclusive to First-Class Passengers Once onboard, you'll enjoy complimentary at-seat meal and beverage service provided by our onboard staff of First Class attendants. Selections include freshly prepared chef inspired entrees as well as alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.

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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.

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Flexible dining A wide selection of wine, beer, and spirits (the first one is on us), plus unlimited soft drinks throughout the journey. Complimentary room service provided by the Sleeping Car attendant.

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Talk on the Phone on Amtrak Don't talk on your cell phone for extended periods while sitting in your seat. And by extended periods, I mean more than 2 or 3 minutes. No one wants to hear your personal stories.

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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.

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Room to Roam Instead 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.

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Carry-on and personal items must be kept with you, stored in overhead racks, under seats or designated baggage areas. Most buses have baggage storage bins under the bus floor, and the bus driver will assist you.

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Carry-on and personal items must be kept with you, stored in overhead racks, under seats or designated baggage areas.

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Excess Bags A $20 excess baggage fee will be charged for each carry-on and personal item above the quantity and size limits. A maximum of two excess bags are permitted per passenger. Fees will be collected at the station or onboard the train if the station is unstaffed.

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