This is Part 2 of our series on the Auto Train.  Visit Part 1 here.

Amtrak’s Auto Train has reserved seating for all passengers.  This can be in lower or upper level Coach seats (all of the passenger cars have two levels to them) or sleeping accommodations.  There are three types of sleeping accommodations: Superliner Roomette, Superliner Bedroom, or Superliner Family Bedroom.

Superliner Roomette

The Superliner Roomette can accommodate two passengers and consists of two seats that face each other.  There is a table that folds down between the passengers, if desired.  The Roomette has lights, electrical outlets, and climate controls.  While you are away from the room (for dinner or otherwise), the room will be converted by your room attendant into a sleeping configuration that consists of a lower and upper berth, much like a bunk bed.  Once the beds are folded down, there is no space in the Roomette to sit down.  All the available space will be used by the beds.  There is space below the bottom bunk to store some items though.

We have stayed in a Roomette before (we split into two Roomettes, each adult taking one child).  We found them to be great for the price, but be warned that the space is small.  With the beds folded down, I had to open the door in order to get out of the bottom bunk.  It is very similar to being enclosed in a closet.  Luckily, there is lots of light from the window that enters the space, making it feel less claustrophobic.  The bathrooms for these accommodations are shared with the other Roomettes on the same car and the Family Bedroom.

Superliner Bedroom

The Superliner Bedroom can accommodate two (possibly three) passengers.  There is a seat and a sofa in the Bedroom.  The sofa will convert into a bed as well as a berth the will come down out of the ceiling to provide two beds.  These rooms also have a private bathroom, so no sharing is necessary.  We haven’t stayed in these rooms before, but they seem to have a lot of available space, even after the room has been converted for sleeping.

Superliner Family Bedroom

The Superliner Family Bedroom can accommodate two adults and two small children.  There is a really long sofa on one end of the space, with seats facing in the direction that the train moves.  Across from one side of the sofa is a single chair.  There is a table that folds down between the single chair and the sofa on one side of the car.  The oppose side of the compartment has a small closet across from the sofa.  The Family Bedroom has lights, electrical outlets, and climate controls.  Both sides of the car have windows with lots of light entering the compartment.  The room will be converted by your room attendant into a sleeping configuration that consists of  two lower and two upper berths.  Two of the berths are for adults (one on top of the other) and two are for children or smaller adults.  Note that the smaller-sized bunks would not work well for very tall children, such as some older teens.  Once the beds are folded down, there isn’t a lot of available sitting room in the compartment.  There is some space near the compartment entrance (and underneath the lower berths) that you can store items (and suitcases).  There are three toilet stalls and two shower stalls that are shared with the Roomettes in the same car.

We have stayed in the Family Bedrooms on two previous trips on the Auto Train.  There is a ton of room and everybody can really stretch out and relax, especially while the room is in its daytime configuration.  Two people usually sit at the little fold out table and watch movies or play cards.  The other two people can lay on the sofa and relax.  There is a great amount of sleeping space in the berths.  The upper berths have nets with them so people won’t fall out of them.

This is the end of part 2.  The last session will describe the journey!

* Please follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Email!