Services and accommodations on US passenger trains

Amtrak Services

A brief overview of what you can expect on Amtrak and some of its services.

Northeast Corridor Service - Boston, MA, New York, NY, and Washington, DC

Trains on this corridor run frequently with services divided between the following:

• NextGen Acela
• 1st Generation Acela
• Northeast Regional

On some stretches of track, the NextGen Acelas reach a top speed of 160 MPH, the firstGeneration Acelas 150 MPH, and Northeast Regional 125 MPH. Accommodations feature regular coach seating, business class (includes wider seats and seat selection), and snack and beverage service cars. Both versions of the Acela feature First Class service with wide, leather seats and a full meal service – time dependent – served at your seat. Amtrak owns and electrifies this segment of track, allowing for dependable and consistent on-time service.

Short Distance Corridor Service - Routes of 750 Miles or Less

Some examples of these routes include Chicago – St. Louis (Lincoln Service), Chicago – Milwaukee (Hiawatha), New York City – Montreal (Adirondack), and our very own St. Paul – Chicago Borealis service. Most of these trains operate with state financial sponsorship and support. Some run more than one frequency per day.

With freight railroads owning nearly all trackage outside of the Northeast Corridor, freight railroads dispatch and handle many of Amtrak’s trains. While the original legislation that formed and codified Amtrak in the 1970s gave passenger trains ‘preference,’ in practice freight trains, often take priority, causing delays to passenger rail. However, states supervise these services carefully and sometimes intervene if service issues caused by freight railroads occur.

Accommodations always include basic coach class and sometimes business class with amenities like the Northeast Regional trains described previously. These trains include food service/lounge cars that feature snacks, light meals, hot and cold drinks, and alcoholic beverages.

Long Distance Service – Routes of 750 Miles or Greater

Amtrak has 14 long distance trains and many operate over the span of two to three days. Trains in the eastern U.S. feature single-level sleeper, dining, coach, and baggage cars. Most equipment used on these single-level trains are Amfleet II, Viewliner, and Viewliner II families of rollingstock.

Trains in the western U.S. feature bi-level "Superliner" cars with coach, lounge, dining, and sleeping car variants. These trains still utilize single-level baggage cars. The Empire Builder – the only long-distance train passing through Minnesota – uses Superliner cars and has the distinction of being the first Amtrak long distance train so equipped, beginning in 1979. Superliner accommodations and services include the following:

Coaches

Coaches feature wide, reclining seats with leg rests, similar to first class seating on an airplane. In addition, these coaches have ample overhead luggage space and restrooms located on the lower level where you board the train. Coach attendants help make a journey comfortable. When moving from rail car to rail car through the train, passengers remain on the upper level. The lower level of these coaches include “accessible” seating for people with disabilities and others who don’t want to climb narrow stairs, as well as additional storage for luggage.

Lounge Car

Known as the "Sightseer" Lounge car, these cars feature low-backed swivel chairs in singles or pairs on the upper level. High side windows wrap around the roof of the car for a panoramic view of the passing scenery. One end of the car has tables with booths for four people to play games, snack, or read. On the lower level, the snack bar features light meals (pizza, burgers, etc.), snacks, hot and cold drinks, and alcoholic beverages. The lower level also includes more tables with booth seating.

Dining Car

The dining car features full sit-down meal service for breakfast, lunch, and dinner with booth and table seating on the car’s upper level only. Breakfast and lunch services operate on a first-come, first-served basis with reservation times announced over the train’s loudspeaker. A dining car steward will walk through the train talking dinner reservations.

While not the elegant, grand standard of dining car service of years gone by, Amtrak continues to serve well-prepared, hot meals with excellent service. Please remember to tip your server like you would at a restaurant.

The dining cars seat four people to a table. People traveling in groups sit together and parties under four are seated with smaller parties. This experience is a wonderful way to meet and converse with your fellow Amtrak travelers!

Superliner Sleeping Cars

Considered a premium product, sleeping cars feature four types of accommodations to suit different traveling needs. As a premium product, all sleeping car tickets include three meals a day in the dining car at no additional cost. An attendant, assigned to each sleeping car, will prepare the bed (lowering it down at night and raising it in the morning) and attend to passenger needs throughout your trip. Please remember to tip them at the end of your journey.

Complimentary coffee and water are provided in each car. Washrooms, along with a shower stall, are located on the lower level with one public washroom on the upper level. Towels and soap are provided for the shower. All sleeping rooms include a small closet for storage and lighting and climate control. Just like the coaches, passengers may utilize the lower-level storage space for over-sized or bulky luggage. The four types of sleeper accommodations include:

"Roomettes," the most common, and smallest, accommodation, sleeps and seats two. Two large seats face each other in the room with the seats folding into a bed with a second bed that folds down from the ceiling above.

Amtrak - "Roomette" Information

The "Bedroom", a larger accommodation than the "Roomette,” features larger beds and sleeps two adults. The “Bedroom” includes a long couch which folds down into a bed at night, along with a single chair. Unlike the “Roomette,” this accommodation includes a private wash basin and vanity and an enclosed toilet and shower. Some adjacent “Bedrooms” turn into “Bedroom Suits,” designed for parties of four adults traveling together.

Amtrak - "Bedroom" Information

Amtrak - "Bedroom Suite" Information

Each sleeper car includes one "Family Bedroom" which runs the full width of the car on the lower level. Designed for a family of four, the room includes two adult beds and two shorter beds for children. By day, the lower beds fold into two large sofas. This accommodation does not have its own shower, sink, or toilet facilities.

Amtrak - "Family Bedroom" Information

One “Accessible Bedroom” in each car sleeps two on the lower level and includes its own private facilities, including a wash basin, vanity, and enclosed toilet with an accessible shower nearby. A dedicated attendant tends to these rooms throughout the trip.

Amtrak - "Accessible Bedroom" Information

There are so many amazing ways to experience Amtrak no matter how far you travel or which level of service you book. Enjoy your trip on the train!