How Is LD Coach These Days?

[Everydaymatters]

I haven't ridden in long distance coach in a long time. The last several times I was in coach, I encountered many broken seats and foot rests. Seats would not recline, foot rests would not work. Are things any better now?

 

[KmH]

I rode the CZ in coach last week (Superliner, upper level) overnight from OTM to DEN.

I had 2 seats to myself and all the features of both - recline, foot rest, thigh support - worked just fine.

I didn't notice if the car was a Superliner from the batch built in the 70's or a Superliner from the second batch built in the 80's.

I have found in life that a positive expectation seems to be self fulfilling, while a negative expectation is also self fulfilling.

 

[amtkstn]

Depends if you are traveling during the night or day. I will always travel coach during day trip. Sleeping at night in coach can be done, but can be hard. Most cars are in great shape and for the most part have outlets next to each seat set. The second class of Superliners were built in the 1995-1996 time period.

 

[Devil's Advocate]

I have found in life that a positive expectation seems to be self fulfilling, while a negative expectation is also self fulfilling.

I fail to see how a positive attitude would have any chance of impacting the functionality of stationary hardware like a chair.

 

[Metra Electric Rider]

I have found in life that a positive expectation seems to be self fulfilling, while a negative expectation is also self fulfilling.

I fail to see how a positive attitude would have any chance of impacting the functionality of stationary hardware like a chair.

I can, but I'm simply going to add that the glass is neither half full nor half empty, it's just time to order another....

 

[Everydaymatters]

I have found in life that a positive expectation seems to be self fulfilling, while a negative expectation is also self fulfilling.

I fail to see how a positive attitude would have any chance of impacting the functionality of stationary hardware like a chair.

Thanks, DA. I am asking this question because the last time I was overnight in coach was back about ten years ago and yes, the coaches were in a bad state at that time. I wanted to know because a very dear friend is going to go overnight in coach and I want to be truthful in telling her what it's like.

 

[PVD]

Like everything else Amtrak, the answers will be all over the map. Cars will range very good to shopworn depending on cleaning and rehab cycles. Just did a roundtrip to ATL a few weeks ago, Southbound the car was very fresh, Northbound, was clean but shabby. You can be on a packed train one day, and an empty the next. Certain parts of certain routes may be heavily traveled, other stretches (or certain times of year) not so. Think of a Northbound AutoTrain versus a Southbound when the cold weather hits for good. As a general rule, Amtrak coach seats are way better than airline coach seats, on LD trains they are closer to business class or domestic F/C on many airlines, but with more leg room. Since lots of people have trouble sleeping reclined rather than flat, that may or may not matter.