Has Amtrak considered showers for coach passengers?

[BCL]

Showers would be nice and are on my wish list... But they might end up costing Amtrak money! The tipping point for my wife between coach/sleeper is her morning shower. For me, if I were do be planning on doing something during the day a shower would be important.
The previous comments indicate some of the logistical challanges for on board coach showers. Having a shower available at or close to stations might work. I have used truck stop showers which consisted of a toilet and small sink and a small shower and were fully functional though not much larger than most rest rooms. They had a towel deposit and the clerk gave you the key.

Dear Santa...

I believe the concern with showers at stations is that stations that already have issues with the homeless are going to be an even bigger magnet for the homeless if they've got showers (even pay showers), and that problems with cleanliness are going to be magnified if the homeless start using them. Once you've got showers, it would be tough political goings to maybe have someone check for tickets as I remember at the Amtrak waiting lounge at NYP.

Personally - I remember waiting to use the men's room at the Richmond (CA) BART station before heading for the unstaffed Amtrak station in the same complex. I briefly saw someone going in so I figured a few minutes and it would be OK. I checked my watch and the guy didn't get out for 15 minutes (our train was scheduled to arrive 30 minutes from the time I started waiting) and had a noticeable stench. When I finally got in to do my business, I noticed some abandoned (and disgusting looking) clothes left on the floor. Now if Amtrak allows for something like this in their stations but with showers, I expect similar complaints.

Truck stops were mentioned. However, they probably charge a lot and their typical locations off the freeway and away from downtowns makes them unlikely places for the homeless to attempt to take a shower. Not only that, but as private businesses, they're far more vigilant about keeping out people with poor hygiene.

 

[Devil's Advocate]

Yep, us Amuricains shore ar dum. Trash talk us some more.

Dumb? No.

We're just completely clueless when it comes to putting our seemingly vast knowledge to beneficial use in practical and effective solutions for everyday problems.

Kind of like an idiot savant.

 

[guest]

Maybe I'm not the norm, but I like riding in LD coach and smelling the various odors along the way, day by day. It takes me as close as I can get to the glory days of railroading, when no one bathed daily and everyone was fine with natural body odors, the way humans lived for thousands of years. I just don't understand why there is such a fear of sitting next to someone who hasn't showered for three or four days. It's not dangerous; it's not infectious; it's natural!! If someone doesn't like the smell of my sweat on the second or third day of the trip, then they can move. I make no apologies. It's MY personal hygiene. Personally, I think the smell of sweaty feet when people take off their shoes is quite pleasant.

 

[Alexandria Nick]

Just because its natural doesn't mean its good or enjoyable.

Getting mauled by a bear and dying of plague are perfectly natural and things that have happened for a hundred thousan years.

 

[sitzplatz17]

Maybe I'm not the norm, but I like riding in LD coach and smelling the various odors along the way, day by day. It takes me as close as I can get to the glory days of railroading, when no one bathed daily and everyone was fine with natural body odors, the way humans lived for thousands of years. I just don't understand why there is such a fear of sitting next to someone who hasn't showered for three or four days. It's not dangerous; it's not infectious; it's natural!! If someone doesn't like the smell of my sweat on the second or third day of the trip, then they can move. I make no apologies. It's MY personal hygiene. Personally, I think the smell of sweaty feet when people take off their shoes is quite pleasant.

Not sure if trolling or serious... :wacko:

 

[SarahZ]

I do the same thing June does. Granted, our longest coach trip is just one night, but I still use the same techniques.

There is a changing room (on the Superliners; not sure about the Viewliners) near the bathrooms in Coach. It's quite large, like a dressing room, and it has two sinks, a couch, and a restroom (with door). The changing room door does not lock, so I put my suitcase against it to prevent surprises.

I keep a small bar of soap in a Ziploc bag with two washcloths and use one washcloth to take a sponge bath and the other to wipe myself off with clear water (since I can't "rinse" the soap off). I only wash my hair every other day, so I never need to worry about that, but there are all sorts of recipes for dry shampoo if you do a quick Google search. I've heard they work quite well. If your hair is short, you could probably even wash your hair in the sink if you bring a travel shampoo. As for drying off, some people bring a towel with them, like a beach towel, that can double as a blanket at night.

It's nothing like a real shower, but it's better than nothing and better than camping wipes.

 

[BCL]

Just because its natural doesn't mean its good or enjoyable.
Getting mauled by a bear and dying of plague are perfectly natural and things that have happened for a hundred thousan years.

I wouldn't say getting mauled by a bear is perfectly natural. As a camper and hiker in areas with lots of black bears, it's actually rather unnatural. The American black bear has an inherent fear of humans and will generally avoid humans. However, the unnatural temptation of human food sources (improperly stored food and/or unsecured garbage) can condition them to fear humans less and associate humans with food. It's typically the bears that have less fear of humans via access to foods (that humans eat) that will spend more time around human encampments, fear humans less, and occasionally attack people.

Now brown bears are another matter. They do tend to also have a healthy fear of humans. Grizzlies and other brown bears that go into human encampments looking for food tend to respond to the same aversion techniques as American black bears. However, a mother brown bear with cubs is a completely different matter. When a mother brown bear attacks people when they perceive a threat to its cubs, that's pretty much accepted as a natural reaction.

 

[chakk]

I do the same thing June does. Granted, our longest coach trip is just one night, but I still use the same techniques.
There is a changing room (on the Superliners; not sure about the Viewliners) near the bathrooms in Coach. It's quite large, like a dressing room, and it has two sinks, a couch, and a restroom (with door). The changing room door does not lock, so I put my suitcase against it to prevent surprises.

I keep a small bar of soap in a Ziploc bag with two washcloths and use one washcloth to take a sponge bath and the other to wipe myself off with clear water (since I can't "rinse" the soap off). I only wash my hair every other day, so I never need to worry about that, but there are all sorts of recipes for dry shampoo if you do a quick Google search. I've heard they work quite well. If your hair is short, you could probably even wash your hair in the sink if you bring a travel shampoo. As for drying off, some people bring a towel with them, like a beach towel, that can double as a blanket at night.

It's nothing like a real shower, but it's better than nothing and better than camping wipes.

I believe this room in Superliners is designated for female use only.

 

[SarahZ]

Really? I've never seen a sign on the door saying so. (Not being argumentative; I've just honestly never seen a sign.) I figured anyone could use it. Why would it be females only? Is it meant to be used by more than one person?

 

[sitzplatz17]

Really? I've never seen a sign on the door saying so. (Not being argumentative; I've just honestly never seen a sign.) I figured anyone could use it. Why would it be females only? Is it meant to be used by more than one person?

I believe that room is supposed to be the "powder room" for the ladies. The signage has been pretty inconsistent, but i think on some of the unrefurbished superliners it's still there and has the "ladies only" symbol.

And yes, there are two sinks so i believe it's for two women to use. Then again, I'm not a lady so i don't quite understand the strange bathroom chatting ways of the opposite gender :giggle:

 

[crescent2]

I'm just not understanding a changing room with a door that doesn't lock. ???

 

[Alice]

It's a powder room, as in touching up makeup, that is why it has sinks, a mirror with good lighting (originally, some are gone), and no lock!

 

[crescent2]

But it's now called a "changing room." I guess we ladies "change" from morning look to presentable look?

 

[Alexandria Nick]

Just because its natural doesn't mean its good or enjoyable.
Getting mauled by a bear and dying of plague are perfectly natural and things that have happened for a hundred thousan years.

I wouldn't say getting mauled by a bear is perfectly natural. As a camper and hiker in areas with lots of black bears, it's actually rather unnatural. The American black bear has an inherent fear of humans and will generally avoid humans. However, the unnatural temptation of human food sources (improperly stored food and/or unsecured garbage) can condition them to fear humans less and associate humans with food. It's typically the bears that have less fear of humans via access to foods (that humans eat) that will spend more time around human encampments, fear humans less, and occasionally attack people.

Now brown bears are another matter. They do tend to also have a healthy fear of humans. Grizzlies and other brown bears that go into human encampments looking for food tend to respond to the same aversion techniques as American black bears. However, a mother brown bear with cubs is a completely different matter. When a mother brown bear attacks people when they perceive a threat to its cubs, that's pretty much accepted as a natural reaction.

What about European bears?

I can imagine that the environment that produced whatever kind of bear they have in Europe had frequent and not great encounters with European Early Modern Humans around 35,000 years ago. We were competitors for resources back then and I'm sure one forage party somewhere met an untimely end! Plus, as recently as antiquity, the Eurasian bear was largely a carnivore.

 

[SarahZ]

But it's now called a "changing room." I guess we ladies "change" from morning look to presentable look?

Yes, I go from a neutral look with lip gloss to a smokey eye with bold lipstick.

Just kidding. My "day" to "evening" is more like "ponytail" to "okay, I brushed my hair, we can go to dinner now".

 

[BCL]

Just because its natural doesn't mean its good or enjoyable.
Getting mauled by a bear and dying of plague are perfectly natural and things that have happened for a hundred thousan years.

I wouldn't say getting mauled by a bear is perfectly natural. As a camper and hiker in areas with lots of black bears, it's actually rather unnatural. The American black bear has an inherent fear of humans and will generally avoid humans. However, the unnatural temptation of human food sources (improperly stored food and/or unsecured garbage) can condition them to fear humans less and associate humans with food. It's typically the bears that have less fear of humans via access to foods (that humans eat) that will spend more time around human encampments, fear humans less, and occasionally attack people.

Now brown bears are another matter. They do tend to also have a healthy fear of humans. Grizzlies and other brown bears that go into human encampments looking for food tend to respond to the same aversion techniques as American black bears. However, a mother brown bear with cubs is a completely different matter. When a mother brown bear attacks people when they perceive a threat to its cubs, that's pretty much accepted as a natural reaction.

What about European bears?

I can imagine that the environment that produced whatever kind of bear they have in Europe had frequent and not great encounters with European Early Modern Humans around 35,000 years ago. We were competitors for resources back then and I'm sure one forage party somewhere met an untimely end! Plus, as recently as antiquity, the Eurasian bear was largely a carnivore.

The Eurasian bear is ursus arctos arctos - a brown bear subspecies. Down in the lower 48 we'd typically refer to them as their subspecies (pretty much grizzly down here) but in Alaska they'd likely just use the phrase "brown bear" even though there are 4 different subspecies.

However, what I was getting at is that natural aversion can be attenuated by conditioning. They learn and overcome their inherent fears if there's some sort of reward.

 

[D.P. Roberts]

The Eurasian bear is ursus arctos arctos - a brown bear subspecies. Down in the lower 48 we'd typically refer to them as their subspecies (pretty much grizzly down here) but in Alaska they'd likely just use the phrase "brown bear" even though there are 4 different subspecies.
However, what I was getting at is that natural aversion can be attenuated by conditioning. They learn and overcome their inherent fears if there's some sort of reward.

So, we're saying that if they were conditioned properly with the appropriate reward, both brown bears and black bears could be taught to use a shower in an Amtrak coach car, if such showers existed?

 

[OBS]

The Eurasian bear is ursus arctos arctos - a brown bear subspecies. Down in the lower 48 we'd typically refer to them as their subspecies (pretty much grizzly down here) but in Alaska they'd likely just use the phrase "brown bear" even though there are 4 different subspecies.
However, what I was getting at is that natural aversion can be attenuated by conditioning. They learn and overcome their inherent fears if there's some sort of reward.

So, we're saying that if they were conditioned properly with the appropriate reward, both brown bears and black bears could be taught to use a shower in an Amtrak coach car, if such showers existed?

Thank you, that was the conclusion I was drawing as well.

 

[BCL]

The Eurasian bear is ursus arctos arctos - a brown bear subspecies. Down in the lower 48 we'd typically refer to them as their subspecies (pretty much grizzly down here) but in Alaska they'd likely just use the phrase "brown bear" even though there are 4 different subspecies.

However, what I was getting at is that natural aversion can be attenuated by conditioning. They learn and overcome their inherent fears if there's some sort of reward.

So, we're saying that if they were conditioned properly with the appropriate reward, both brown bears and black bears could be taught to use a shower in an Amtrak coach car, if such showers existed?

If Russians can train them to ride clown bikes, then anything is possible.

 

[D.P. Roberts]

Caption: A grizzly bear en route between California and Washington (Ursus Coastus Starlighticus) enjoying the new shower in a Superliner coach car.

 

[SarahZ]

^^^^ lol...

 

[the Other Mike]

And the sing-a-long for this would be...splish splash I was taken a bath ?

OR

Should we all stand and hit our fist to our heart and shout

I "AM" Starlighticus !

 

[Alexandria Nick]

You could probably install a bear shower in the big luggage space in the coach baggage Superliners. I've never seen those rooms used for anything more than storing a very lonely empty box.

 

[the Other Mike]

Was that a brown box, native to North America ?

Or was it a box native to Italy known for it's marking of fra-gile on it's sides ?