5 Things Not To Do On Amtrak

A trip to visit the  National Museum of African-American History & Culture in Washington, D.C. is an easy 3 day trip from Tampa on Amtrak. Riding the train is a fun way to see the United States. Not only do you not have to deal with the security lines at the airport (worth the price of the ticket right there), but you get to do some great people-watching. You can see the landscape of the country. And if you are asking yourself if you can bring food on Amtrak trains? Yes, yes, you can. It can be a lot of fun to ‘ride the rails,’ but there are some rules you should follow while on the train. Okay, they’re not Amtrak rules. But they’re standard courtesy rules. So here are some tips for train travel. 

 

Phone Calls

Don’t talk on your cell phone for extended periods while sitting in your seat. And by extended periods, I mean more than 2 or 3 minutes. No one wants to hear your personal stories. I promise. If you need to make a longer call, go into the club car. That’s the car where you can chat with people, play card games, etc. And don’t me started on phone calls in the Quiet Car.

Cursing

I love cursing as much as the next person. The correctly placed curse word can emphasize the point you’re trying to get across, in my opinion. What I don’t want to hear, and your train mates don’t either, is to hear cursing in public settings. Even worse? Repeated cursing. There are children, older people and even younger people who don’t swear on the train with you. It’s a small, enclosed space. Have courtesy and respect for the people around you. For me, this is one of the top tips for train travel. 

Litter

Have you heard the story of how the 1960’s tv show Gilligan’s Island is a representation of the 7 Deadly Sins? It’s an interesting theory. Gillian is supposed to represent ‘sloth.’ He’s lazy, doesn’t care about much and wants people to fix his mistakes and pick up after him. Well, on Amtrak, the conductors are there to collect trash and clean the bathrooms. But they shouldn’t have to pick up wrappers and cans you leave on the floor. Most times, once you get to your destination, someone else gets on at the same spot and takes the seat where you were sitting. No one wants to sit with trash on the floor and in the seat pocket. So don’t be Gilligan. Carry a small plastic bag to hold your trash for the ride, or get up and throw it in the trash bins at either end of the car.

Sleeping

Of course, you’re going to sleep on the train. Believe it or not, there are some rules about sleeping in your seat. Don’t sneak into another seat and stretch out, especially at night. People are getting on at all spots and get assigned a seat. When you’re sleeping across two chairs that aren’t yours, it’s awkward (for you) to have the conductor wake you up and tell you to move.

Also, don’t encroach on your seatmate’s space. On one trip, my husband and I and our daughter took the train to New York. I sat with our daughter and he sat with a woman who fell asleep on his shoulder. All. Night. Long. And not in a good Lionel Richie way.

On our trip to D.C., two men behind us got into a verbal altercation because one kept falling asleep on the other, and after asking a few times, the guy who was the pillow got upset. If you are one of those who fall over when you sleep sitting up, a good tip for train travel: consider purchasing a small sleeper room.

If you can handle sleeping mostly upright without disturbing your seatmate, Amtrak seats have plenty of legroom and recline far back without interfering with the person behind you. I take my earplugs, a small travel pillow and a face mask to help me sleep a little better. And my daughter changes into pajamas to help her get comfortable. Besides the argument that happened behind us (which the conductors quickly de-escalated), we slept very well.

Listening to Music/Watching Movies Without Headphones

See Phone Calls — same general idea. No one wants to hear your favorite movie or song blasting. Cheap earbuds are available at the dollar store. Grab a pair before your trip.

Bonus Tip: Wearing a Mask

Due to COVID-19, Amtrak currently requires riders to wear a mask over their nose and mouth in train stations, on the train or on the transfer buses that take you from the station. If you have a private room, you can remove the mask in there. The dining and beverage service is limited, so be prepared. You can have your face mask off when eating or drinking, but don’t push this. The tip is: don’t try to take your mask off or refuse to wear it. We’re in a public health crisis currently in the United States. Some people still must travel because of work or family issues. Don’t ignore your fellow passengers’ health and cause the conductors to have to speak to you. You also risk punishment by being removed from the train before you reach your destination. 

These rules are super simple and boil down to common courtesy. Be respectful to the other passengers and the crew. Don’t get into arguments with others. Keep what’s coming out of your audio devices to yourself. Wear your mask. Everyone will have a more enjoyable trip!

Do you have any tips for train travel that we missed? Share in the comments!