Auto Train Question

[laurieny]

Doing the autotrain in Aug. Is there a certain seat/section we should request or doesn't it matter?We are travelling with 2 adults and 3 kids aged 11,8,8. Thanks!

 

[njDISNEYnut]

Did you get a stateroom or are you trying to wing it with kids sitting in regular seats???

I did the train once in the family stateroom ( holds 5) Not a bad trip, but I found it easier just to fly the two hours or so.

 

[laurieny]

We didn't get the stateroom because we would have needed 2 according to the Amtrac people.With the great sales they are having, it is significantly cheaper for us to use the train than fly from Roch. NY

 

[njDISNEYnut]

IF that is the case, I would strongly suggest bringing alot of busy work, coloring, etc. with you. There is a lounge car that you can goto. but that is the smoking car and it was a little thick in there the time I went. So basically you are pretty much restricted to your seat, just like being on an airplane.

Good Luck!!

 

[DC7800]

The Superliner Family bedroom is designed to accomodate two adults and two children. You could squeeze three kids in, but it would be cramped. Standard and deluxe bedrooms hold two passengers each, but the deluxe bedrooms include a chair in addition to the two bunks. Two deluxe rooms can be combined into one suite - this is likely what the Amtrak sales rep was suggesting (and quite expensive).

You will be assigned a specific car to sit in, but individual seats are not assigned (your choice). You can request a lower-level seat (the passenger cars on Auto-Train are double-deck Superliner equipment) near the restrooms if necessary; these seats are ordinarily reserved for mobility impaired guests, but are open to everyone.

The smoking room is in the lounge car, but it's supposed to be enclosed and sealed off from the rest of the car (njDISNEYnut's car might have been an older lounge). Feel free to get up and stroll around the train whenever you like - to the lounge, dining car, or just to take a walk (and meet other passengers). I understand that Amtrak tries to group families with children together (same coach), so there may be other children to play with.

Have a great trip!

 

[gofenmom]

We have done Autotrain once or twice a year since 1994. At the beginning we did coach seating and were assigned a car and a certain seat in the car. If the train wasn't crowded, we did change seats so we each had more room. My two children were 13 and 8 when we started using Autotrain.
Now we do a sleeper. I have had two adults and three children ages 14, 18, and 18 in the family sleeper. There is a 3/4 bed on the bottom where two adults can sleep, a bunk that holds an adult, and two smaller beds (one upper and one lower) that will each hold a child. My 18 can pull up their legs and sleep in the space. I just tell the ticket agent that we will be fine and I want the family sleep. This time we are doing a deluxe each way.
There are several other threads about the Autotrain back a few days. They contain lots of info.
When my son was younger (8) we played lots of games and he brought along hand held games. We also bring pillows and a throw for each person. (In coach they will give you a small pillow and blanket.) We still bring a cooler with ice and drinks, snacks, CD players, and books to read.
Please email or pm us if you have any other questions.