How do in-room showers on Amtrak Superliner trains work?

Question

I am looking into going on a cross country train trip with my friends, but we have concerns about the whole hygiene situation. On the Amtrak page it says that the Bedroom Suites have in-room showers, but when you look at the diagrams of the rooms, there is no visible shower. Can anyone tell me what these bedroom suites are like?

Answer 1

Ryan-

My wife and I are frequent travlers on the Coast Starlight here in California.  

We always get the Roomette for us.  

The showers that we use are downstairs in the cars.  However we are normally not on the train for more than 24 hours being that we only travel from San Jose, CA to Seattle, WA once per year to visit family.

I have only had a need to use the showers once, but they definately did the job.  As for the deluxe bedrooms and the family rooms, well they are definately nice, but they are nearly 3 times the cost of the roomette.

We normally shower and clean up about 45 minutes before the train is due to hit the station, (proposed times), unfortunately the Coast Starlight, (Starlate) is normally anywhere from 2 to 8 hours behind schedule.  Good Ol' Union Pacific!

But as the other person said, the meals are free and the view from the Parlour Car is great.

Above all, have fun.  Its going to be a fairly nice trip.  Just keep in mind though.  Build the time into your schedule for the train trip, as Amtrak is rarely in a hurry.  Its just a nice relaxing ride.

Oh yeah, lastly you might consider bringing a portable DVD player or Laptop.  You will have a power outlet in your room, and some of your travel will be done at night.  You are not going to be able to see very much at night from the window in your room.  Though you will have no internet connection, it does make a good time to watch movies and play games.

Finally be aware.  Since January 18th there has been a closure on the Coast Starlight beyond Sacramento California due to a large landslide in Chemult, Oregon.  So Amtrak is using the busses to handle the route from Sacramento to Portland, Oregon.  Passenger Rail Service is not scheduled to reopen until sometime in April.

Why Sacramento??  Sacramento is the last fueling, and crew changeover stop until Portland, Oregon.  Being that Chemult is the next stop after Klamath Falls, the train must terminate in Sacramento until Right of Way is restored.

Good Luck and have fun!

Answer 2

The bedroom suites are small, but much better than coach.  The bathroom in the bedroom suites that you may see in the diagrams is the same place where the shower is.  Both are in the same enclosed space.  The shower head is on a hose to make it a little bit easier to use, especially if you end up taking a shower when the train is getting into bumpy spots.

But THERE IS A SHOWER!  I would not ride Amtrak if there were not a shower!!!  Every time I have ridden Amtrak, I have stayed in the bedroom suites or the family bedroom on the lower level.  Even if you are in a roomette or this family bedroom, you still have access to a shower.  There are showers on the lower level that are bigger than those in the bedroom suites, but the shower system is still the same with the shower head being attached to a hose so you can use it a bit easier when the ride is not so easy :-)

Hope this helps!  Happy travels!!

Answer 3

Real men ride coach.

Answer 4

Hygiene is not a problem. Whenever I traveled coach, I simply brought along a couple changes of clothes and the necessary supplies to sponge-bath. (towel, washcloth, ziploc bag for wet washcloth.)  Some of the bathrooms downstairs are extra-large and excellent for doing this.  I preferred the first one on the left as it was kind of a "suite" with good handholds, and I wasn't tying up the handicap bathroom.

Answer 5

The deluxe bedrooms have a small room with a toilet, sink, and shower head over the toilet. I would hardly call it a "suite"! It's definitely a civilised way to travel though!

There's another shower room downstairs for people in roommettes without a shower.

Answer 6

The first man is right , even though i would hardly call it a suite, it's still much much better than in couch, also you don't have to pay for your meals cause theyre included , and they can run around 8-10 per meal. Also if it's your first time it's an adventure, and with beautiful scenery, just use the shower down the hall all the rest of the sleepers use, that's a ride too,

but it's kind of fun . I'll never forget my first time, it's cool really.

Have fun.