Amtrak - seating ??

[dskib]

Ok, this might be a dumb question(s) but when you're booking your train
( we're going from Philly to Kissimmee) are there assigned seats or do you just pick your own?

Also, are there seats that face backwards like there are on commuter trains? Because that would be bad

thanks
deb

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Did you check the Amtrak website? It has all the info you need about your train:

http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?c=AM_Route_C&pagename=am/Layout&cid=1237608339450

http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?c=Page&pagename=am/Layout&cid=1241267361985

 

[dskib]

Yes, I did. It says ,"Unless specific seats are assigned, seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. On unreserved trains, there are no guaranteed seats."

That statement says that sometimes specific seats are assigned, or sometimes it's first come first served. And that there is something called an unreserved train, which means there must be something called a reserved train??

And I must be missing the part that says whether or not seats face backwards. My apogies if I am.

So my original questions stand. Anyone from the Philly area able to answer them??

Thanks!!

 

[GrnMtnMan]

I travel on Amtrak's long distance trains pretty often.

Your train is reserved....I'm not sure there are any unreserved train routes left, but all long distance trains on the east coast are reserved, which just means that they only sell as many tickets as there are seats. I've never heard of a train on the east coast having assigned seats. Sleeper rooms are assigned, so that language could be apply to that type of seating.

On most long distance trains, conductors will give you a seat assignment as you board the train. You might be separated (by a few a seats/across the row) from a travelling partner for a little while on a busy train, but enough people get on and off that it might just be a few stops like that.

Generally there are no rear facing seats. But the thing with Amtrak is that they occasionally swap out/add cars that might not ordinarily be part of your train's usual route, so there could be a car that has a few conference table seats with some rear-facing. But this is rare.

My advice is to buy a sleeper if you can swing it. There's a world of difference between travelling coach and being in a sleeper.

Why are you taking the train, instead of flying from Philly?

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

That statement says that sometimes specific seats are assigned, or sometimes it's first come first served. And that there is something called an unreserved train, which means there must be something called a reserved train??

You are going on a train which travels overnight, thus it's a reserved train, just as explained on the Amtrak website.

I don't recall traveling on Amtrak with backwards facing seats, but I have only traveled on relatively short trips, under 250 miles. I cannot imagine taking a train from PA to FL rather than flying, but that's personal preference.

 

[DC7800]

Ok, this might be a dumb question(s) but when you're booking your train
( we're going from Philly to Kissimmee) are there assigned seats or do you just pick your own?

Also, are there seats that face backwards like there are on commuter trains? Because that would be bad

thanks
deb

Seats are generally assigned by the car attendant as you board, and cannot specifically reserved or chosen in advance. All seats will face forward.

There are rear facing seats in the dining car and lounge car, and Roomettes necessairily have one of the two facing seats to the rear.

Why are you taking the train, instead of flying from Philly?

It's the only civilized way to travel. When was the last time you heard the word "civilized" used to describe the experience of boarding an airplane?

 

[GrnMtnMan]

It's the only civilized way to travel. When was the last time you heard the word "civilized" used to describe the experience of boarding an airplane?

I'll agree that Sleepers are quite civilized and are a pleasant way to travel, though it would be nicer if the trains were smoother and faster.

But I vehemently disagree with regular coach seating. Yes, you have more leg room and can get up and move about. But given a flight from Philly is less than 3 hours, and you're talking well over 20 to Florida, at least the flight is over quickly.

The sheer number of bodily odors and sounds that you are subject to, the constant sleep interruption when you stop in the middle of the night, the cranky toddler, the inconsiderate person not using headphones with his laptop, the rush to make cell phone calls when you hit a coverage area (no matter the hour)....should I go on? Ok...the barely edible food in the dining car....the microwave vending machine quality food from the club car....then if you are so lucky you get the poorly latching restroom that hits its capacity mid-trip.

Then there's the homeless people that are welcomed with open arms at train stations and the barely decipherable train boarding announcements (though this may only be a problem in DC's Union Station). And the occasional ten hour delay in the middle of nowhere....at least in an airport the bathrooms don't run out of flushing fluid mid-trip.

So yes, travelling in a sleeper is civilized, but you have to be pretty scared of flying to take the long distance trains, since the train is usually a bit more expensive than flying from big cities.

 

[dskib]

Thanks so much! Long story short, 6 of us are going to wdw. My 83 yo MIL will not fly. So 4 of us are flying, and my dh and his brother are each taking a turn on the train.

Thanks again,
deb

 

[MdmMim]

I'll agree that Sleepers are quite civilized and are a pleasant way to travel, though it would be nicer if the trains were smoother and faster.

But I vehemently disagree with regular coach seating. Yes, you have more leg room and can get up and move about. But given a flight from Philly is less than 3 hours, and you're talking well over 20 to Florida, at least the flight is over quickly.

The sheer number of bodily odors and sounds that you are subject to, the constant sleep interruption when you stop in the middle of the night, the cranky toddler, the inconsiderate person not using headphones with his laptop, the rush to make cell phone calls when you hit a coverage area (no matter the hour)....should I go on? Ok...the barely edible food in the dining car....the microwave vending machine quality food from the club car....then if you are so lucky you get the poorly latching restroom that hits its capacity mid-trip.

Then there's the homeless people that are welcomed with open arms at train stations and the barely decipherable train boarding announcements (though this may only be a problem in DC's Union Station). And the occasional ten hour delay in the middle of nowhere....at least in an airport the bathrooms don't run out of flushing fluid mid-trip.

So yes, travelling in a sleeper is civilized, but you have to be pretty scared of flying to take the long distance trains, since the train is usually a bit more expensive than flying from big cities.

But there are some for whom the train is part of the vacation experience. I love the train! I fly only when I have to, but any chance I can hop on a train--I am there!

 

[RumpleMom]

We took the autotrain to WDW and the food was delicious with several apprealing choices.

 

[GrnMtnMan]

We took the autotrain to WDW and the food was delicious with several apprealing choices.

The OP is not riding the Auotrain....s/he's riding a regular one from Philly to FL.

I've heard the Autotrain is in a class of its own amongst Amtrak's long distance trains. Haven't done it myself, so I can't comment.

But I've done several other long distance ones, and have had lousy food on all of them.

 

[GrnMtnMan]

But there are some for whom the train is part of the vacation experience. I love the train! I fly only when I have to, but any chance I can hop on a train--I am there!

Do you usually get a sleeper?

 

[MdmMim]

Do you usually get a sleeper?

I travel sleeper and coach. I've been up and down the east coast many, many times, from Montreal to Miami, and I've traveled from NY to Chicago to Anaheim.

I just love the train, but I do realize it's not for everyone. For me, flying is just a mode of transportation, while the train is an actual part of my trip.

 

[GrnMtnMan]

I travel sleeper and coach. I've been up and down the east coast many, many times, from Montreal to Miami, and I've traveled from NY to Chicago to Anaheim.

I just love the train, but I do realize it's not for everyone. For me, flying is just a mode of transportation, while the train is an actual part of my trip.

As I said in an earlier post, sleeper is quite a nice way to travel...it's just slow.

I saw in one of your recent posts that you once stayed for 30 days at the BCVs, so I'm guessing that you're in a special/small group of people who have the time to enjoy a long train trip. At this point in my life, I can't dedicate that much time to the traveling part of a vacation. But I can see how doing a sleeper would be nice if you had the time.

But you have to admit that overnight in coach can be quite unpleasant....depending on the train staff and fellow passengers. Peopel shouldn't expect to get good sleep in there.....only if they're very lucky.