Charter Train Travel Tips

Safety First: Trains are very safe places to be, but some simple safety steps should be considered. Train cars move around (juggle, sway) when in motion and particular when stopping and starting, so keep a hold on something as you walk or be prepared to grab a seat back or handrail. Use extra caution when passing between cars; always wear shoes in this case; always used the red/white stripped handrails; be careful not to step directly on the joint between the cars. Be careful of sliding doors which may not easily spring back if you are caught in them; if they are moving wait till they close and then press or kick the marked "Press" plate; be careful where you put your fingers. When you stow your luggage, especially in overhead racks, ensure that it cannot easily fall out of the storage space.

More about Safety: Watch your step when boarding and leaving the train. Use handrails when boarding, detraining, and climbing stairs. Don't run, especially on the train -- and be sure your children don't run also. Take time to review the Amtrak Passenger Safety Instruction card in the seat pocket, or on the table in sleeping compartments. If this card is missing, ask a Train Attendant (one will be assigned to your car).

Pack sensibly: Carry-on no more luggage than absolutely necessary; no more than you would or could carry on an airplane. Amtrak STRICTLY requires that individual bags (carry-on or checked) weigh no more than 50 pounds (federal requirement), and mandates no more than 2 carry-on bags per person. See Amtrak's Carry-on Baggage Policies page for more info, including what constitutes exceptions. Shoulder straps are suggested.

Additional baggage of up to 50 pounds each (up to 3 bags/passenger) can be checked on most trains at and to major stations (but not between all stations, call Amtrak about that); checked baggage is definitely NOT available to you during your trip (just as on an airliner). Properly pack checked items. Do not check delicate items. They will not be handled as fragile! Be sure checked baggage is properly tagged. Baggage to be checked must be brought to the originating station more than 30 minutes before the scheduled departure time (we suggest allowing even more time at the busier stations).

Hint: On return portions, some people like to pack all dirty clothes in one bag and check that bag all the way home.

Baggage Security: Prior to 9/11/2001 baggage could be checked before the date of departure; it sometimes was routed differently to beat you to the destination; it could be held at your destination for up to 5 days at no charge (minimal charge after that). However the rules may have change at some, or all, Amtrak baggage checking facilities, and may change again on short notice. Be sure to check with Amtrak about this before traveling.

More about packing: If you have a sleeping compartment, carry only a small overnight bag as there is very little room in sleeping compartments for luggage, except for some under-seat room for fairly flat items and a small shelf above the folding seat in Bedrooms and a small shelf above the passageway in Viewliner rooms (see the Accommodations section of these Amtrak Travel Tips). Small roll-on-board airline cabin bags just fit under the Bedroom couch on Superliner II's (but you can't plan to definitely be traveling in a Superliner II). Superliner sleepers and coaches have a luggage rack downstairs, with no special security (but we've not heard of significant problems). Coaches have overhead racks for an overnight bag or two and some have a small area for hanging bags.

Bicycles: Call Amtrak at 1-800-USA-RAIL if you would like detailed info about Amtrak's policies concerning transporting bicycles; the rules vary by route and can be complex.

What to do on a train: Relax! Watch the scenery; that seems obvious but many folks forget to look out the window and miss some of the best parts of the ride. Take a pair of small binoculars if you have them; you'll find a use for them. Take reading material, particularly for evening use. During the day you can expect to be looking out those windows and "schmoozing" with those around you, but things quiet down after dark. AM-FM/Cassette/CD players are desirable, but earphones/headphones MUST be used, and volume should be kept low in any case. A deck of cards is a good idea if traveling with others (some Amtrak snack bars stock cards). Avoid the urge to nap in the daytime -- you'll regret it about 1:00am when you're staring at the night light unable to sleep. Most important thing to do: Relax! That's what train travel is all about.

Keep a journal: It really helps to pass the time constructively and you'll be glad to have the info later. Some people like to use a micro-cassette recorder for this as they can dictate while doing almost everything else. Some like to record the day's events on a laptop computer. Some write up their adventures in a post-trip report. See our Trip Reports section for many of these reports -- we will be pleased to publish your comments too.

Maps and Guides: Knowing where you are and villages you're passing through adds to the enjoyment. Take a good road atlas with you, even if it doesn't show the rail lines; e.g., the Rand McNally "Road Atlas and Travel Guide". You may wish to try aviation Sectional Maps which do show rail lines; you'll find them at a local general aviation airport, but they are rather expensive. The Amtrak Web Site has basic route guide information for every Amtrak route.

TrainWeb has Amtrak route information on-line here.

Also, some trains may have paper route guides on board, though these aren't actually maps. Be sure to ask for one if you don't see them. See our tips about books in these Travel Tips for more route guide suggestions.

If you plan to use a Global Positioning System receiver to keep track of your location, see our GPS Train Tracking page.

Sleeping in coach: If traveling overnight by coach, definitely take a light blanket (we suggest a dark color as it may get a little soiled over several days); an "army blanket" is ideal; a heavy beach towel may be a fair substitute and may be useful at your destination. Amtrak will usually sell you a small blanket for about $10 on board. The train often gets a bit cool at night, even in summer. Many people suggest that you take a pillow as well. Amtrak will provide small airline type pillows on most routes, but larger ones or the inflatable type may prove useful. Some suggest taking a pillowcase and asking for two of the small pillows. Another pillow for the lumbar region is desirable, but the car attendant is likely to balk at providing two or three pillows!

More About Sleeping: Especially in coach, take disposable foam rubber or silicone ear plugs -- they'll help in a variety of social and sleep situations. Those who have trouble dozing off may wish to take some over-the-counter medication with sleep inducing side effects, such as Benadryl. Discuss the use of any such medication with your Physician and/or Pharmacist. You may wish to try using Breathe RightTM nasal strips (available in pharmacies and drug stores) which are said to improve night time breathing and reduce breathing noise (snoring).

Bathing and Grooming: The ability to wash up varies from the private facilities including a shower in a Bedroom on a Superliner or Viewliner (see the Accommodations section of these Tips), to the unisex, closet sized rest rooms in some coaches. Don't plan on taking a shower too often! Take a wash cloth for sponge bathing (and a zip-lock bag to store it in), and flip-flops for your feet. You can usually get a towel from the train attendant, but a super absorbent backpacker towel might work better. Take a bar of soap (in a sealed up soap dish); larger hotel soaps are ideal, though similar soaps are usually available on the train. Some people like to take a small can of Lysol spray for the restrooms and shower. For a long trip, a bottle of skin moisturizer is a good idea. And you'll find a travel pack of moist towelettes invaluable. Frequent travelers have suggested taking a small tote bag with toothbrush, floss, toothpaste, razor, shaving cream, hair brush/comb, aspirin, etc.

Walking the train: Don't stay glued to your seat. Walk around. Meet people. Enjoy your travel mates. "Schmooze!" This is a "required" part of the Amtrak Experience! Generally you can safely leave your possessions on/above your seat while you wander. We always carry our cameras and scanner radios with us, even to the rest room, unless we have someone to watch them (or they are well packed away). You don't have to be paranoid, but simple security considerations should be followed. Of course, considerably more caution is called for at stations and terminals, off the train.

Traveling with Children: You will be able to devote much of your attention to the kids because someone else is doing the "driving". Kids do very well on trains. If old enough to wander on their own, they will quickly meet other kids their age and "socialize" as only kids can do. Usually the Lounge Car will become their social center, particularly on Superliner trains. You may not see your kids for hours at a time. One trick to traveling with children is to have them pack a small carry-on case with their books, game-boy, tapes, tape player, simple non-noisy toys and games, etc. Children quickly tire of just looking at scenery, no matter how spectacular you find it, though they will flock to windows to see wildlife that they would yawn over at a zoo. Small children may wish to bring along a favorite stuffed animal and/or blanket, which will often help them sleep better. A sleeping compartment provides a place for quiet time (or time-out if needed). More about sleeping compartments in the Accommodations section of these Tips.

Clothing: Wear comfortable, casual clothes, the sort you would wear around the house. Most of your fellow travelers will be dressed the same. A jogging outfit is perfect, particularly at night. Comfortable shoes are a must. You can take off your shoes while in your seat or sleeping compartment, but shoes are required when passing from one car to the next. Some like to take soft hard-sole moccasins, which meet the requirements but are the next thing to no shoes at all.

Dining: Long distance trains will have a snack bar and almost always a dining car; the Timetable shows this info at the bottom of the page for each route. Eat at least one meal in the dining car if your train has one. Its fun, no more expensive than the snack bar (for equivalent items), good food -- and an "obligatory" part of the Amtrak Experience. Amtrak full service dining car food is prepared on board; no airline-style meals. Steaks and eggs and various other things are cooked to order by a graduate of the American Culinary Institute. Don't be in a rush. Eating in the dining car is often going to be leisurely. Patience is really a virtue here. Seating is 4 to a table so you'll be meeting new friends at each meal unless you are a part of a fixed four-some. By the way, the staff will request that couples sit alongside, not across from each other since many people are uncomfortable sitting side-by-side with a stranger. Reservations will be taken for some meals, especially dinner -- listen carefully for these announcements; usually sleeping car (first class) passengers get first choices. Also, sleeping car passengers receive meals as part of their accommodation -- no charges in the dining car except for alcoholic beverages.

Dining Car Food: Amtrak has posted their latest Dining Car menus on-line here. Adobe Acrobat Reader is required; it can be downloaded free here. There are currently 3 menus in use, so you are not likely to encounter the exactly same menu on a multiple train trip. The listed prices are subject to change of course.

Snacks, etc.: Almost all Amtrak trains have a Snack Bar with typical snack bar food such as sandwiches, drinks, candy, and so on. For a sample menu, see our Amtrak Snack Bar Menus page. Exact items vary considerable by the region of the country, but our list is generally representative. Prices will vary a bit from train to train, and are also subject to change of course.

You can also bring your own food aboard. However, you may not consume your brought-aboard food in the dining car or lounge car -- only at your seat or in your sleeping compartment (this is not just policy; federal regulations apply). There is room for a small ice chest/cooler between coach seats; this will save quite a bit on drinks and food; but remember that you have to carry it around with you when off the train.

Soft drinks are sometimes cheaper in depot vending machines than in the lounge car, so be alert for the longer stops with correct change (do not detrain at the short stops!). Lounge attendants will sometimes give you a little of their limited supply of ice -- if you ask nicely (i.e., beg well). Bottled spring or drinking water is nice to have and will often taste much better than Amtrak's tap water, and the bottle will be convenient to have at your seat. For those who enjoy an occasional glass of wine and are traveling by sleeper, take a cork screw and your own bottle of wine. And everyone should bring along some non-perishable munchies as well for those late night, or just about anytime, snacks.

If you are traveling during the busier holidays (e.g., Christmas or Thanksgiving) on normally unreserved trains such as the Northeast Corridor Regional or California corridors, then certainly consider bringing your own food with you. The lines for the snack bar can be very long and the wait can be 30 minutes or more.

Special Meals/Diets: With 72 hours advance notice, some Amtrak trains can accommodate certain dietary needs, including kosher and vegetarian meals, as well as reduced-sodium or reduced-cholesterol selections. Such meals are pre-plated prior to train departure and held until serving. More details can be found on Amtrak's Special Dietary Requirements portion of their general page about meals. Special meals cannot be provided on all trains, nor on connecting Amtrak Thruway buses, nor on buses substituting for trains when such substitution is required. Check with Amtrak for the more specific information.

Entertainment: Movies (G or edited-PG) that have been recently released on video are shown in lounge cars in the evening and sometimes in the afternoon, on TV monitors; sometimes cartoons are shown too. Announcements will be made. Other entertainment events will be announced on some trains. A few of the long distance trains have Park Service or other guides that give a talk during the day as you travel through certain areas. A service crew member may organize games in the Lounge car also.

Smoking: Amtrak has announced that effective November 1, 2004, smoking was eliminated on board all Amtrak trains other than designated areas on the Auto Train. Occasional longer "smoking stops" on overnight trains will be announced (except during sleep time at night). Persons caught smoking on a non-smoking train will be at least threatened with expulsion at the next stop -- and some conductors we know will give no warnings.

The indoors area of all Amtrak Stations and all dedicated Amtrak "Thruway" buses are also non-smoking.

First aid: First aid kits with all the routine items can be found in most drug stores for less than $5.00. The train crew has first aid materials too, but you may wish to take a small kit for those little cuts or bruises that you don't want to make a big deal about.