Auto Train Room 14

[cpl100]

Wondering if this is a good seat/cabin/car/roomette. If not, is there anything I can do about it. Keep reading about people being downgraded and losing their bed and trying to avoid that scenario as I couldn't manage a whole night sitting in a seat.

Here it is: Car 5242 Room - 14

Thank you to all who take the time to respond!

 

[n3rdg1rl]

Here's a layout of the car. You'll be downstairs. I haven't heard of any sleeper cars being removed from the Auto Train. It's kinda Amtrak's favorite thing (besides NEC obviously.)

 

[cpl100]

Thank you! That is so helpful. Is downstairs or upstairs generally considered better? And why?

 

[Just-Thinking-51]

I like downstairs roomettes, but I also think Bedroom “A” is the best when traveling solo.

Your mileage may vary.

So try both at some point, then you can decide for yourself.

 

[Stremba]

https://www.craigmashburn.com/amtrakcardiagrams.html
Look at the deluxe sleeper on this link. This is the layout on the Autotrain. All upper level sleepers are bedrooms; if you have a roomette you will be on the lower level

 

[Qapla]

All upper level sleepers are bedrooms; if you have a roomette you will be on the lower level

Are you sure?

Is that saying that all sleepers on the AT are deluxe - or is it saying that only the AT has the deluxe sleepers along with other sleepers?

I have never traveled on the AT - maybe someone who has can clear this up ???

 

[Stremba]

The deluxe sleeper refers to a sleeper car configuration, not another type of sleeper. The AT has bedrooms and roomettes, just like all other Superliner trains. The Superliner sleeper car on the AT, though is modified to have only bedrooms on the upper level — the roomettes normally on the upper level have been converted to bedrooms. The only roomettes in these sleepers are the four on the lower level.

I have travelled on the AT. This most definitely is how all sleeper cars are configured. It allows for a much greater supply of bedrooms on the AT than what is available on any other LD train. All roomettes are lower level.

 

[cpl100]

The deluxe sleeper refers to a sleeper car configuration, not another type of sleeper. The AT has bedrooms and roomettes, just like all other Superliner trains. The Superliner sleeper car on the AT, though is modified to have only bedrooms on the upper level — the roomettes normally on the upper level have been converted to bedrooms. The only roomettes in these sleepers are the four on the lower level.

I have travelled on the AT. This most definitely is how all sleeper cars are configured. It allows for a much greater supply of bedrooms on the AT than what is available on any other LD train. All roomettes are lower level.

Are you saying there are only four roomettes on the AT? Thanks for your insight.

 

[jis]

Auto Train carries two Deluxe Sleepers with all bedrooms upstairs. It also carries several regular Sleepers with both Roomettes and Bedrooms upstairs. I was a regular on Auto Train for several years when I lived in NJ. Anyone who thinks Auto Train has only Deluxe Sleepers is just plain wrong

 

[pennyk]

Auto Train carries two Deluxe Sleepers with all bedrooms upstairs. It also carries several regular Sleepers with both Roomettes and Bedrooms upstairs. I was a regular on Auto Train for several years when I lived in NJ. Anyone who thinks Auto Train has only Deluxe Sleepers is just plain wrong

Exactly, I have traveled on the AT many times and either have had an upstairs roomette or bedroom in a "regular" sleeper car.

 

[n3rdg1rl]

Are you saying there are only four roomettes on the AT? Thanks for your insight.

That's completely wrong. If that were true, you couldn't have a roomette with the number 14. The layout I posted is for the type of car you will be in. Some people seem to be confused.

 

[Stremba]

It has been a few years since I travelled on the AT, but when I did it had only the deluxe sleepers. It is possible that the consist has changed since then. I also only have ridden during the summer. Perhaps the consist changes seasonally.

 

[Stremba]

That's completely wrong. If that were true, you couldn't have a roomette with the number 14. The layout I posted is for the type of car you will be in. Some people seem to be confused.

Look at the diagram on the link I posted earlier. The deluxe sleeper contains ten bedrooms upstairs (A-E and J-N) and four roomettes, numbered 11-14. a family bedroom (15) and the handicapped bedroom (H) downstairs. Roomettes 1 through 10 simply do not exist on the deluxe sleeper. Roomette 14 absolutely does exist on a deluxe sleeper. There are indeed only four roomettes on the deluxe sleeper. If the AT is running regular sleepers, they would have the standard 14 roomettes. There is no way to tell from the fact that OP is in roomette 14 whether his/her sleeper is a deluxe or regular sleeper.

 

[SteveSFL]

Regarding whether upstairs or downstairs roomette is better (I prefer upstairs 3-6 because they are not too close to bathroom/coffee/stairs noise and not to close to end door noise or directly over the trucks)

Upstairs:
Better view (pro)
Don’t have to climb stairs so much (pro)
Less track noise (pro)
More side to side sway (con)
Less bathroom noise (pro, unless you’re in 2-4) but only one close bathroom (con)

Downstairs:
Worse view (con)
More track noise (con)
Less side to side sway (pro)
Closer to more bathrooms (pro) but more bathroom noise (con)
Less thru traffic past your door (pro)
Could be kids close by in family room (con)
Can wash your own window at station stop if you’re on the correct side (n/a on auto train of course)
Edit: it’s also less disappointing when you find out there’s someone in the shower and you don’t have to carry all your clothes and crap back upstairs.

I was once in roomette 9 on a car that had a flat-spotted wheel directly below me. On top of that the car-end door did not stay shut and as we were going thru mountain curves overnight every time we turned the car end door would slowly slide open with a jangly squeal and then back shut when we went back the other way. And the icing on the cake was this slightly off-rhythm tapping noise that I didn’t discover until morning was caused by the plastic hanger in the closet tapping against the wall!

 

[joelkfla]

It has been a few years since I travelled on the AT, but when I did it had only the deluxe sleepers. It is possible that the consist has changed since then. I also only have ridden during the summer. Perhaps the consist changes seasonally.

Amtrak only has, and has ever had, 6 Deluxe Sleepers. There are usually more than 6 sleepers on a single Auto Train. The train out of Sanford on 8/17 had 7.

You can view the roster here:
On Track On Line - Amtrak Passenger Equipment Roster - Rolling Stock

 

[BarbW]

I use the Autotrain on a regular basis. I have traveled in roomettes both upstairs and downstairs on the Autotrain. I agree with the pros and cons listed by Steve SFL. The summary for me is view vs. bathroom proximity and selection. Upstairs you share one bathroom with 9 roomettes. Downstairs you have multiple bathrooms and the one shower for the car right there.