Overnight travel

[Rainbowcupcakes]

A few more questions about my upcoming trip.

Since I am traveling during the night hours can I talk in the train or do they frown upon that? Or play on my phone with the volume down and the brightness down low also?

Also If I am not able to seat next to my bf and I am in a window seat and I need to get up is there room not to bother the person next to me to get out into the aisle?

Do the bathrooms have running water or is it hand san?

Is the indianapolis station shady? We have reservations that day on arrival at the springhill suites and I was going to walk it but it'll be like 4-5am and I dont know indianpolis that well any help on this would be appreciated

What advice would you give for someone traveling on the overnight train? Or advice you wish you had as a first time traveler?

Thanks again everyone

 

[AmtrakBlue]

http://discuss.amtraktrains.com/index.php?/forum/78-amtrak-faqs-first-time-rider-info/

Above is a link, I hope, to the forum with helpful info for first time riders.

Though I haven't ridden coach on an LD train, I've heard the seats are very roomy, so you shouldn't disturb your seat mate too much.

Yes, the train has running water in the bathrooms. The sleeper cars even have showers for sleeper car passengers.

Most important thing to take is your sense of adventure.

 

[Texan Eagle]

A few more questions about my upcoming trip.

Since I am traveling during the night hours can I talk in the train or do they frown upon that? Or play on my phone with the volume down and the brightness down low also?

Also If I am not able to seat next to my bf and I am in a window seat and I need to get up is there room not to bother the person next to me to get out into the aisle?

Do the bathrooms have running water or is it hand san?

About talking at night hours, I'd say just use your common sense. If everyone around you is sleeping it may not be a great idea to talk at 2am. In the train generally you'll find some area where not everyone is in deep sleep, you might want to get up and go there to talk. Maybe go to the Cafe car if you are not getting sleep and want to talk. Same thing applies for playing on phone. Don't glare your screen into your sleeping neighbors and you should be fine. If you want to listen to music, please make sure you carry earphones. Nothing is more annoying than someone playing music on loudspeaker forcing everyone around to listen to their taste of songs.

The legroom on Amtrak LD trains is much greater than on airline seats, so it should not be a big bother if you want to step out in the middle of the night.

 

[Todd]

If you are staying at the Springhill Suites in downtown Indianapolis, it is very close to the station (5 to 10 minute walk). It is actually possible to walk almost the entire distance inside via skywalks at the convention center, although I'm not sure what hours the doors are open. Downtown Indianapolis is generally quite safe, but as with any big city, downtown seems to accumulate a few shady types at 4 AM. You could always grad a cab if you have a lot of luggage or feel at all uneasy. Cab fare would be cheap since it is so close.

 

[amamba]

You should always use headphones on the train with anything that is going to make noise. That means dvd players, phones, ipods, etc.

If it is night and people are sleeping, it would be polite to be quiet.

 

[Rainbowcupcakes]

thank you again everyone

And thanks for the information about the first timer thread didn't see that

 

[RampWidget]

Is the indianapolis station shady? We have reservations that day on arrival at the springhill suites and I was going to walk it but it'll be like 4-5am and I dont know indianpolis that well any help on this would be appreciated

The Indy station is on the southern edge of downtown. I have had no issues walking in the downtown Indy area at night; exercise normal caution as you would in any large city and you should have no problems. The Springhill Suites, if you mean the downtown location, is to the west-northwest of the Indy passenger station near White River Park & the Indiana State Museum. It's walkable, but if you have baggage, I'd call the hotel and ask if they have a shuttle van or take a cab. It's a longish walk if you have to carry (or drag) something.

edit - forgot to mention the shuttle bus

 

[SarahZ]

Technically, after 10:00 PM, Coach moves into "quiet hours". PA announcements will stop, and the lights are dimmed. They'll make an announcement advising people to go to the Lounge car to chat or take phone calls. Also, if you want to use your phone/computer, it's polite to use headphones. Sound tends to carry, and light sleepers like me can't sleep if people are whispering.

The Lounge car is open all night, and there are tables for using your computer or playing cards. They keep the lights on (low), so there's enough room to see what you're doing. BF and I are night owls, so we usually sit in there until we're tired enough to sleep. It's fun to sit there and look outside as you pass through towns in the middle of the night.

 

[ScottC4746]

You should always use headphones on the train with anything that is going to make noise. That means dvd players, phones, ipods, etc.

If it is night and people are sleeping, it would be polite to be quiet.

And as long as we are talking about phones...I hate when people carry on a conversation on their phone in public using the speaking...I don't need to be all up in your business, but when you do that, everyone is up in your business.

 

[MiRider]

You should always use headphones on the train with anything that is going to make noise. That means dvd players, phones, ipods, etc.

If it is night and people are sleeping, it would be polite to be quiet.

Not just 'should always use headphones' it's Amtrak's policy - not that there aren't people that violate it regularly (I have no problem speaking up though).

This is from the 'Plan Onboard' section of Amtrak's website which is another good place to get information about your trip.

Amtrak - Plan Onboard

Personal Electronic Devices

Be Considerate of Others, Please

To maintain a pleasant environment for all passengers, we require that when using radios, CD players, DVD players, TVs, and all other audio/visual devices, passengers use earphones or headphones, and that the volume be kept low.

​

Also, in consideration of others, please switch cell phones, electronic watches, pagers, and PCs to silent mode.

​

​

Have fun on your trip!

​

 

[printman2000]

If your seatmate has the leg rest up (which they will assuming it is not broken)) then it would be difficult to get out without asking them to move. Otherwise you will have to step over their legs.

 

[Swadian Hardcore]

The Amtrak seat on your train will have a pitch of 50''-55''. You would think that this would havre enough room to get out from the window seat, but this means the legrest is so huge that it may totally block your way. I would still recommend a window seat over an aisle seat because of the wndow and that you can lean on the wall.

 

[printman2000]

The Amtrak seat on your train will have a pitch of 50''-55''. You would think that this would havre enough room to get out from the window seat, but this means the legrest is so huge that it may totally block your way. I would still recommend a window seat over an aisle seat because of the wndow and that you can lean on the wall.

While the legrest comes out of the seat your sitting in, the foot rest in on the back of the seat in front of you. That means peoples legs usually extend all the way to the seat in front of them.

 

[MiRider]

The Amtrak seat on your train will have a pitch of 50''-55''. You would think that this would havre enough room to get out from the window seat, but this means the legrest is so huge that it may totally block your way. I would still recommend a window seat over an aisle seat because of the wndow and that you can lean on the wall.

While the legrest comes out of the seat your sitting in, the foot rest in on the back of the seat in front of you. That means peoples legs usually extend all the way to the seat in front of them.

Which is why, as a female who travels alone for the most part, I always choose an aisle seat.

You can get up when you please and since you have no control over who is seated next to you, you don't get hemmed in your window seat.

To me, it's not worth being imprisoned in my seat just so I have a wall to lean on.

I do most of my sightseeing in the Lounge so a window isn't important.

 

[printman2000]

The Amtrak seat on your train will have a pitch of 50''-55''. You would think that this would havre enough room to get out from the window seat, but this means the legrest is so huge that it may totally block your way. I would still recommend a window seat over an aisle seat because of the wndow and that you can lean on the wall.

While the legrest comes out of the seat your sitting in, the foot rest in on the back of the seat in front of you. That means peoples legs usually extend all the way to the seat in front of them.

Which is why, as a female who travels alone for the most part, I always choose an aisle seat.

You can get up when you please and since you have no control over who is seated next to you, you don't get hemmed in your window seat.

To me, it's not worth being imprisoned in my seat just so I have a wall to lean on.

I do most of my sightseeing in the Lounge so a window isn't important.

Course, the downside to that is the person in the window seat might need to get up while you are sleeping. Pros and cons to both seats!

 

[Swadian Hardcore]

The Amtrak seat on your train will have a pitch of 50''-55''. You would think that this would havre enough room to get out from the window seat, but this means the legrest is so huge that it may totally block your way. I would still recommend a window seat over an aisle seat because of the wndow and that you can lean on the wall.

While the legrest comes out of the seat your sitting in, the foot rest in on the back of the seat in front of you. That means peoples legs usually extend all the way to the seat in front of them.

Which is why, as a female who travels alone for the most part, I always choose an aisle seat.

You can get up when you please and since you have no control over who is seated next to you, you don't get hemmed in your window seat.

To me, it's not worth being imprisoned in my seat just so I have a wall to lean on.

I do most of my sightseeing in the Lounge so a window isn't important.

The problem is, the OP is riding the Cardinal, which does not have a Sightseer Lounge or even a full lounge.