Amtrak ?'s

[BarryCF]

Hey everyone...just a couple more amtrak questions? On the amtrak website I get the same rate for reserved coach and lower reserved coach. What's the difference? Are the trains 2 levels and is one better than the other? Also, I gather in coach I'll be sleeping in my seat if I sleep at all. Do I need to bring my own pillow and blanket? Thanks in advance.

Cheers....

 

[DC7800]

I assume you are asking about Auto-Train, the only train to WDW with bi-level (Superliner) equipment.

Yes, there are two levels to the coaches on Auto-Train, but the seats are exactly the same. The lower level is much smaller and often less full, so some people prefer it since you sometimes have more room to spread out. Car-to-car passageways are all on the upper level, which might be marginally guieter and with slightly better views, but it's really a matter of personal choice, if it matters at all. Mobility-impaired persons may have to reserve the lower level, hence the option for reservations.

You do sleep in your seat, and most people like to bring their own pillow and blanket (Amtrak can supply a small pillow, though it's not exactly known for comfort).

 

[BarryCF]

Actually I'm booking a regular Amtrak train. It may not apply but when I start going through the reservation process it asks whether I want Coach, Lowerlevel Coach, Standard room, Deluxe room, or Family room(or something to that effect ) and I was just wondering. I see a lot of Amtrak trains because I live 2 miles from the Amtrak station and I've never seen a multilevel Amtrak train before. I don't think the Auto-Train runs through here, but I could be wrong. I live about 80 miles east of Houston and the Train runs twice a week(Ah....Life in the big city)

Cheers!

 

[DC7800]

Houston is on the route of the triweekly Sunset Limited. It actually is a bi-livel train, though it may not appear as such, since is not really two complete levels, and most accomodations are on the upper deck. However, the coaches are identical to the Auto-Train coaches, so any advice on seat selection applies to both trains.

Again, you can specifically reseve the lower level as necessary, so that option has to be there. Individual seats are not specifically assigned.

I really hate to say this, but the Sunset Limited has the worst on-time performance rating in the Amtrak system. You can thank the Union Pacific railroad for that. I'd expect some improvement over the coming months, but you should verify the train's status before heading off to the station (if it's running late, no need to be down at the station "on-time"). The eastbound train to Orlando has to come all the way from Los Angeles and has plenty of opportunities to fall behind schedule. Westbound from Orlando is much better; departure should be on time, and most of the delays will be west of Houston.