Coach Travel Questions

[jebb]

My upcoming trip to Oklahoma is going to be a long one. 11 hours on the LSL, and 24 on the TE from CHI to Ft. Worth. I reserved a coach seat in the interest of saving some money. How bad is it to sleep in coach class? Generally I can't sleep well except in my own bed. The LSL departs ROC at 11pm, and I imagine I'll be too hyped up about my trip that I wont sleep for a good while (I plan on sleeping during the day prior to leaving). I've seen some people say they've spent 50+ hours in coach... I'm just wondering if I'll have a difficult time sleeping or being comfortable in general for that long.

Also, in Mid to late August what is ridership on the TE like? College kids heading back to school? Is tourist travel winding down yet? And if I am going all the way to Ft. Worth will I be assigned a specific seat/car based on my destination? How many coach cars are there on the TE generally?

Thanks for the info!

 

[Joel N. Weber II]

My upcoming trip to Oklahoma is going to be a long one. 11 hours on the LSL, and 24 on the TE from CHI to Ft. Worth. I reserved a coach seat in the interest of saving some money. How bad is it to sleep in coach class? Generally I can't sleep well except in my own bed. The LSL departs ROC at 11pm, and I imagine I'll be too hyped up about my trip that I wont sleep for a good while (I plan on sleeping during the day prior to leaving). I've seen some people say they've spent 50+ hours in coach... I'm just wondering if I'll have a difficult time sleeping or being comfortable in general for that long.

Different people have different answers to this.

I did not sleep much in coach on the Regional formerly known as the Twilight Shoreliner, whereas I've slept quite well once I've finally gotten to sleep in roomettes on the Lake Shore Limited. Then again, there are certainly people who post here who are quite happy sleeping in coach. It's hard to be certain which category you're in, but the comment about not sleeping well except in your own bed isn't especially promising for you being comfortable in coach.

How important is it that you be well rested when you get to your destination? Taking that whole trip in coach is not likely to kill you, but it sounds unlikely to me that you'll be well rested when you get to your destination if your last night is in coach.

 

[OlympianHiawatha]

Typically there are 3 coaches on the Eagle, and hopefully you will still have the sanctuary of the Sightseer Lounge.

 

[the_traveler]

I'm one of "those people who have different answers"!

As Joel said, he did not sleep well on #66/67. That is not very surprising, as #66/67 use Amfleet I coaches. These have seat pitch similar to coach in a plane (tight). The LSL and TE (and most other LD trains) use either Amfleet II (if a single level train) or a LD Superliner coach (if a Superliner train). The coach seating's pitch is more like that found in business class on a plane (roomy). The seats also recline MUCH more than on an Amfleet I coach!

I personally do not mind coach for sleeping.

To save money, and also get a taste of both, you may do what I have done in the past - split your trip between coach and sleeper on different days. For example, years ago when the Desert Wind went to Las Vegas, NV, I went coach ALB-CHI (the 1st night), had a roomette CHI-DEN (the 2nd night) and again went coach DEN-LAS (the 3rd night).

 

[Joel N. Weber II]

As Joel said, he did not sleep well on #66/67. That is not very surprising, as #66/67 use Amfleet I coaches. These have seat pitch similar to coach in a plane (tight). The LSL and TE (and most other LD trains) use either Amfleet II (if a single level train) or a LD Superliner coach (if a Superliner train). The coach seating's pitch is more like that found in business class on a plane (roomy). The seats also recline MUCH more than on an Amfleet I coach!

On neither #67 nor #449 has coach struck me as anything like airline coach in terms of seat pitch. Then again, while the coach I was in on #449 had an Amfleet I safety card, it also had curtains, which may imply it was one of the rare long distance pitch Amfleet I cars.

 

[Everydaymatters]

I am too pumped up to sleep at all the first night, either in coach or sleeper. The 2nd night I could sleep on a picket fence, so I sleep pretty well in coach. However, if the price was right, I would definitely choose a sleeper for the amenities.

 

[Dan O]

Re sleeping in coach. I just made a trip from LA to Chicago and back in one week. So four nights on the train. I slept pretty well. I think I got about 6 hours sleep each night plus probably dozed off for an hour or so each afternoon. But I can fall asleep and or nap rather easily. I was surprised how rested I was when we got to Chicago. We spent about 6 hours out and about (train arrived at 3 PM) doing things and I was not that tired when we came back to hotel room. I woke up at about 5 AM each morning and it appeared to me that just about everyone else in coach was asleep so I was not the only one that got some sleep those nights.

Dan

 

[the_traveler]

On neither #67 nor #449 has coach struck me as anything like airline coach in terms of seat pitch. Then again, while the coach I was in on #449 had an Amfleet I safety card, it also had curtains, which may imply it was one of the rare long distance pitch Amfleet I cars.

I've been on #66 and #67 between KIN and BOS - at totally separate times and months apart (so I would not say it was untypical). Each time I rode in coach (it's only 1 hour), and they were the "normal" NEC Amfleet I coaches with the tight pitch. I personally would be uncomfortable sleeping in them to WAS!

And with a 5 car train arriving KIN ~6:30 AM northbound, I hardly think they "just" added that car on - especially since the last place they likely could have could added it would have been at NYP at ~3 AM! And the southbound arrives in KIN ~11 PM - so I hardly think they would tell the pax boarding in BOS that they will be adding another car with more space in NYP ~2 AM, but until then, you can sleep here in this car!

 

[ray828]

I would choose the sleeper because that way in the middle of the night you won't be awaken by the sounds of others getting up to get off the train at stops like Little Rock which are at 3 10 in the morning.

 

[Rail Freak]

I would choose the sleeper because that way in the middle of the night you won't be awaken by the sounds of others getting up to get off the train at stops like Little Rock which are at 3 10 in the morning.

My 1st trip & I'm a little curious how much of that traffic I'll hear from the H - room?

 

[AlanB]

I would choose the sleeper because that way in the middle of the night you won't be awaken by the sounds of others getting up to get off the train at stops like Little Rock which are at 3 10 in the morning.

My 1st trip & I'm a little curious how much of that traffic I'll hear from the H - room?

Well I think that part of that answer lies in just how heavy a sleeper you are while on the train. But that said, I suspect that you'd hear a bit more noise on the Viewliner as people must walk right by your room to board or disembark, whereas on the Superliner they'll be further away from your room.

 

[GG-1]

I would choose the sleeper because that way in the middle of the night you won't be awaken by the sounds of others getting up to get off the train at stops like Little Rock which are at 3 10 in the morning.

My 1st trip & I'm a little curious how much of that traffic I'll hear from the H - room?

Well I think that part of that answer lies in just how heavy a sleeper you are while on the train. But that said, I suspect that you'd hear a bit more noise on the Viewliner as people must walk right by your room to board or disembark, whereas on the Superliner they'll be further away from your room.

Aloha

Seems when I leave hear I am always on the Red eye flights. I have always found it easier to sleep on the trainn than the plane. It has to do with more space. I hope I get enough next week as I don't want to miss even one second on the Acela, and the time with Alan. One week 3 hours till departure, this time next week I get in line for "The TSA Check"

 

[jebb]

I'm one of "those people who have different answers"!
As Joel said, he did not sleep well on #66/67. That is not very surprising, as #66/67 use Amfleet I coaches. These have seat pitch similar to coach in a plane (tight). The LSL and TE (and most other LD trains) use either Amfleet II (if a single level train) or a LD Superliner coach (if a Superliner train). The coach seating's pitch is more like that found in business class on a plane (roomy). The seats also recline MUCH more than on an Amfleet I coach!

I personally do not mind coach for sleeping.

To save money, and also get a taste of both, you may do what I have done in the past - split your trip between coach and sleeper on different days. For example, years ago when the Desert Wind went to Las Vegas, NV, I went coach ALB-CHI (the 1st night), had a roomette CHI-DEN (the 2nd night) and again went coach DEN-LAS (the 3rd night).

I took your advice and upgraded to a roomette on the CHI-FTW legs of my trip. The rest I kept at coach. I figure that'll be enough to get me at least some privacy, sleep, and some meals without having to pay too much extra. Does anyone know where rooms 18 and 13 are located in the superliners? Thanks again for all your help!

 

[AlanB]

I took your advice and upgraded to a roomette on the CHI-FTW legs of my trip. The rest I kept at coach. I figure that'll be enough to get me at least some privacy, sleep, and some meals without having to pay too much extra. Does anyone know where rooms 18 and 13 are located in the superliners? Thanks again for all your help!

Room 13 is downstairs by the family room, 18 is in the Trans/Dorm upstairs.

 

[jebb]

I took your advice and upgraded to a roomette on the CHI-FTW legs of my trip. The rest I kept at coach. I figure that'll be enough to get me at least some privacy, sleep, and some meals without having to pay too much extra. Does anyone know where rooms 18 and 13 are located in the superliners? Thanks again for all your help!

Room 13 is downstairs by the family room, 18 is in the Trans/Dorm upstairs.

Thanks Alan!