Lower level coach ?

[caravanman]

Hi Folks,

What is the criteria for booking a lower level coach seat, where available? I have never used one before, and not taken much notice of them.

I am wondering if there is more space on the floor in the lower level to take a nap ?

As a 6' 2" tall male aged 63, I find trying to sleep in a coach seat pretty painful these days, and need to get more horizontal to sleep.

Anyone here used the lower level coach seats?

Thanks,

Ed.

 

[Ryan]

No criteria, other than availability.

 

[BoulderCO]

They should be available at the same price as the upper level. Unless you have a physical disability, however, I'm not sure why you would want to be down there. Less to see and more difficult access to lounge car, cafe, diner, etc.

 

[Paul CHI]

Also a little noisier down there, close to the rails. OTH it is close to the toilets.

 

[ABQFloridian]

Not clear what you are asking when you ask about room to sleep on the floor. Do you mean are the seats roomier on the lower level? From what I have seen, not really. There are fewer of them, though, so you have a better chance of nobody being behind, so you can recline with abandon. There also is some extra floor space in front of the front seats, but I think that's where they put wheelchairs.

It also occurred to me that you might actually want to sleep on the floor. Though I have heard of this happening on trains in India, I doubt Amtrak would allow it. Anyhow, if you are hell bent on trying it, I would say your best bet is actually the baggage area on a coach/baggage car, which, at least on the SWC, usually seems mostly empty.

 

[SarahZ]

Not clear what you are asking when you ask about room to sleep on the floor. Do you mean are the seats roomier on the lower level? From what I have seen, not really. There are fewer of them, though, so you have a better chance of nobody being behind, so you can recline with abandon. There also is some extra floor space in front of the front seats, but I think that's where they put wheelchairs.

It also occurred to me that you might actually want to sleep on the floor. Though I have heard of this happening on trains in India, I doubt Amtrak would allow it. Anyhow, if you are hell bent on trying it, I would say your best bet is actually the baggage area on a coach/baggage car, which, at least on the SWC, usually seems mostly empty.

First bolded: they do allow it. Plenty of people/kids sleep on the floor in coach. The trick is to keep your legs out of the aisle so you aren't creating a hazard.

Second bolded: they do not allow this. It is unsafe, and a conductor will toss you out if they find you in there.

 

[Bob Dylan]

Hi Eddie! The downstairs Coach areas must be reserved in advance, and are generally for handicap and elderly individuals! The fares are the same as upstairs, but if

IINM there is a Handicap discount available for those that meet the requirements!

You can also sleep upstairs in Coach on the floor in front of the Bulkhead seats behind the stairs, by the doors on the end of the Coach and as a "Lounge Lizard" in the Sightseer Lounge on Superliners! ( the lights aren't turned off @ night and usually people are around most of the night!)

A tip that I learned from an old Railroader, is to go down stairs to the cafe on Sightseer Lounge Cars after it closes, and sleep on the long couch by the bathroom that is seldom open!

The LSAs often place e a trash can on the stairs indicating that the cafe is closed, but I've done this many times.

If the Conductor rousts you, you'll have to go upstairs, but after 11pm they generally are hanging out in the Diner or Conductors office in the Transdorm!

 

[ABQFloridian]

Not clear what you are asking when you ask about room to sleep on the floor. Do you mean are the seats roomier on the lower level? From what I have seen, not really. There are fewer of them, though, so you have a better chance of nobody being behind, so you can recline with abandon. There also is some extra floor space in front of the front seats, but I think that's where they put wheelchairs.

It also occurred to me that you might actually want to sleep on the floor. Though I have heard of this happening on trains in India, I doubt Amtrak would allow it. Anyhow, if you are hell bent on trying it, I would say your best bet is actually the baggage area on a coach/baggage car, which, at least on the SWC, usually seems mostly empty.

First bolded: they do allow it. Plenty of people/kids sleep on the floor in coach. The trick is to keep your legs out of the aisle so you aren't creating a hazard.

Second bolded: they do not allow this. It is unsafe, and a conductor will toss you out if they find you in there.

First topic: I stand corrected, and now that you mention it, I have at least seen children sleeping on the floor.
Second topic: What if you make a luggage fort and hide in there?

 

[oregon pioneer]

Hi Ed,

The very first trip I took on the Empire Builder, the upstairs was fully occupied when we boarded, so the attendant put Hubby and me downstairs "temporarily" (we were in our late 40s, not elderly or handicapped by any stretch). The temporary seats turned into a whole trip, since we made ourselves useful ("I'm going to the cafe car -- does anyone want anything?") and they did not need the seats. It was actually quieter in there at night. Yes, you are closer to the wheels, but there are no crying babies and old people don't stir much at night. No one walks through the space on their way to the restroom or the next car. I seem to remember some extra space (I think between the seats and the door), which was undoubtedly for a wheelchair. But no one on our trip ever used that for anything except stacking extra luggage. Sometimes the car attendant put something ungainly like a stroller there.

Your white hair certainly qualifies you to book the downstairs space if you want to. It's kind of a gamble whether you can claim the space to lie down, but I don't think you'll be fighting anyone else for the privilege. I say go for it!

 

[caravanman]

I have actually slept upstairs on the floor behind the last row of seats in coach once, my son then had our two rear most seats to himself. It was the tail end coach, so no through pedestrian traffic.

I have slept in the lounge, and found that better than a single coach seat, and was thinking that the lower level coach might have more space to get comfortable.

Although I have slept on the floor of an Indian railway station many years ago, wrapped in a sheet, I have never seen that on a train there... people sleep in the linen cupboard, on the luggage racks, but not the floor, as far as I have seen!

Gosh, all this talk of sleep is making me tired, and it's 11.30 pm here. G'night !

Ed

 

[Railroad Bill]

Eddie, we always ride in the LL Coach seats when we do the CLE to TOL run before boarding sleepers in TOL (Otherwise known as the Toledo Shuffle ) It is much quieter in that room than the upstairs and if there is no one using a wheelchair, the area in front of the front seats in large enough to sleep in. If no one is in the seat next to you, you could stretch out on the two seats as well. (But the LL Seats tend to sell out early and usually must be reserved ahead of time to secure a spot. But since you and I are the same age, we definitely qualify as "elderly"

 

[NW cannonball]

Not clear what you are asking when you ask about room to sleep on the floor. Do you mean are the seats roomier on the lower level? From what I have seen, not really. There are fewer of them, though, so you have a better chance of nobody being behind, so you can recline with abandon. There also is some extra floor space in front of the front seats, but I think that's where they put wheelchairs.

It also occurred to me that you might actually want to sleep on the floor. Though I have heard of this happening on trains in India, I doubt Amtrak would allow it. Anyhow, if you are hell bent on trying it, I would say your best bet is actually the baggage area on a coach/baggage car, which, at least on the SWC, usually seems mostly empty.

First bolded: they do allow it. Plenty of people/kids sleep on the floor in coach. The trick is to keep your legs out of the aisle so you aren't creating a hazard.

Second bolded: they do not allow this. It is unsafe, and a conductor will toss you out if they find you in there.

Actually, I've slept on the filthy floor in the unused baggage part of the lower part of a coach-baggage on the Coast Starlight. My bad arthritis was acting up and couldn't sleep in my coach seat. The Conductor "could have" rousted us -- no worries -- but didn't. When I woke early (from joint pain) there were 5-6 others crashed on the coach-bag floor.

Not authorized, but possible to do, and the worst the conductor might do is herd you back to your coach seat.

The carpet is filthy, the wind leaks in, you could get rousted back to your coach seat, and the other sleepers might be undesirable.

But it is an option.

Wandering from the original topic.

 

[Everydaymatters]

Hi Ed,

I have seen the LL prices spike up higher than the upper level coach seats, but I'm not sure how that would apply to handicapped.

There is a floor space in front, which you will be asked to leave if a wheelchair comes in. I have been asked to go to the upper level when handicapped folks boarded. So if there is a need for the LL, you could be asked (required) to go upstairs. However, most of the time I have been able to stay put.

As far as "no crying babies", I have seen families with babies put in the LL, but the babies were quiet.

I didn't find the space between seats to be any wider than the upper level seats.

No, you don't get the same view as the upper lever, but this gives you a different perspective. Just as enjoyable, but in a different way.

 

[tommylicious]

i don't like it down there. noisy, and stinky by the bathrooms

 

[fairviewroad]

I have been asked to go to the upper level when handicapped folks boarded. So if there is a need for the LL, you could be asked (required) to go upstairs.

Asked? Sure.

Required? If you have a LL ticket you should never be required to go upstairs. There may be plenty of reasons why someone

has purchased a LL ticket, many of which do not involve a visible handicap.

 

[Everydaymatters]

I have been asked to go to the upper level when handicapped folks boarded. So if there is a need for the LL, you could be asked (required) to go upstairs.

Asked? Sure.

Required? If you have a LL ticket you should never be required to go upstairs. There may be plenty of reasons why someone

has purchased a LL ticket, many of which do not involve a visible handicap.

I did/do have a bad lung situation which is not visible. I did have a LL ticket. Well, this is old history. No sense in rehashing it now. In a perfect Amtrak situation it would not have happened. But it did. And it could happen again.

 

[caravanman]

Thanks for the input, seems a worthwhile option to try at least once. I am used to the lower level in sleepers, the last goodness knows how many roomettes I booked, all were on the lower level, it has been years since I snagged an upper level.

Cheers,

Ed.

 

[railiner]

Yes...you hear more track noise on the lower level, but on the other hand, as mentioned, less "through traffic".

Another factor...the ride is smoother down below...being closer to the cars center of gravity means less "rolling" (side-to-side swaying) motion. Also, since the lower level only occupies the center third of the car, more or less, there is somewhat less pitching and yawing motion as well....

 

[Headache]

Railiner I almost felt like I was on a boat with the way you described that!

 

[railiner]

Railiner I almost felt like I was on a boat with the way you described that!

Well, as they say on the airliner's....in the unlikely event of a 'water landing', your seat cushion may be used for floatation purpose....

Actually, the train motion is not as exaggerated as a boat or ship in rough seas, but there is definitely some motion in all three axes. It is more common in rough trackage, and at certain speeds that can cause some 'harmonic' rocking of the coach.