Autotrain family bedroom question

[thisismyusername]

I'm considering the auto train for our May vacation. Besides my husband and I, we have three teens, so I'd be looking to get a family bedroom. I realize these only sleep 4, but I was considering having one of us sleep in coach so that we wouldn't need more than one room.

When I go to book this, it says I need 3 family bedrooms. If I book one traveler in a family bedroom and then four coach tickets, is there anything that would prevent the coach-assigned people from accessing the family bedroom? I think we'd all use the bedroom for the bathroom and to hang out in. Can 5 people sit in the room? (We're all average-sized people.)

Thanks!

 

[Pooh2]

I Would call and talk to an Amtrak agent to ask your questions and book over the phone.
It's been a couple years since we've been in the family bedroom and we only had the bunks set up, but I am wondering if there might be enough space on the floor to put a sleeping bag pad with the smallest teenager?
The family bedroom spans the width of the train so I think you could all sit comfortably.
You can also hang out in the lounge car if it feels too tight.

 

[thisismyusername]

Thank you! I have a call in with Amtrak. I read elsewhere you can get a connecting roomette and family bedroom, so I'm hoping to do that so we can open up the space a little.

 

[GrnMtnMan]

I'm considering the auto train for our May vacation. Besides my husband and I, we have three teens, so I'd be looking to get a family bedroom. I realize these only sleep 4, but I was considering having one of us sleep in coach so that we wouldn't need more than one room.

When I go to book this, it says I need 3 family bedrooms. If I book one traveler in a family bedroom and then four coach tickets, is there anything that would prevent the coach-assigned people from accessing the family bedroom? I think we'd all use the bedroom for the bathroom and to hang out in. Can 5 people sit in the room? (We're all average-sized people.)

Thanks!

A few corrections:

No bathroom in the 'family bedroom'. Only 'bedrooms' and 'accessible bedrooms' have in-room bathrooms.

Sleeper car attendants know how many people are supposed to be in a room and their names. I don't think you can sneak extra people in. Plus conductors and attendants are on the lookout for coach passengers trying to sneak into the sleeper car section.

No rooms connect to 'family bedrooms', but you could ask to have a roomette near a family bedroom. You can connect two 'bedrooms' together to make a bedroom suite.

I don't think there's enough space for someone to sleep on the floor. Once the couches are converted into beds, there is very little floorspace in the family bedroom.

I think you need either 2 bedrooms or three roomettes. The capacity for a family bedroom is 4, with 2 of the four being children up to age 12.

Here's the layout of the superliners used on the auto train:

My advice (after taking the AT once with my family): 4 of you fly, one of you takes the AT. This is what we've been doing since that first family bedroom trip.

Video of a family bedroom:

 

[Bound and Rebound]

We traveled on overnight Amtrak trains before with our 2 teenagers. We usually get 1 roomette and 1 bedroom; everyone has a bed and we all share the bedroom’s bathroom. That being said, if your kids are on the small side, the bottom berth in the bedroom is wide enough to share; it’s wider than twin, not sure if it’s a full-full though. You may be able to book the 2 rooms with all accounted for, it will depend on if Amtrak will allow you to do so.

The way that Amtrak charges is everyone is billed for a coach fair then they add on the bedroom/roomette charge, as that includes the meals. If you have to book one person a coach only fair keep in mind you will have to pay for their meals.

I hope this helps you a little. It may work differently for the auto train, but this is our experience. Have a great trip!

 

[jormom1030]

I don’t think someone can access the sleeper cars from the coach cars.