Question about Bathing on the Amtrak train.?

Question

I'll be taking the Amtrak from Chicago to Los Angeles. It'll last approximately 43 hours, and I'll be taking the Southwest Chief on a Lower Level Coach Seat. The website says that the amenities include: dining car, lounge, checked baggage, and onboard wheelchair ramp.

My question is, since the ride will be 43 hours long, I want to be CLEAN when I arrive and see my relatives by the end of the trip. Will I have the chance to shower on the train? I'm kind of big on cleanliness and freshness =)

Any other advice would be much appreciated! Thanks!! =)

Answer 1

Me too.   I travel with a towel, washcloths and ziploc bags to put wet washcloths in.

On Superliners downstairs are 5 bathrooms:

- 2 very small airline size bathrooms

- 1 large handicap size bathroom, first right.

- 1 women's changing room, end of the hall

- 1 small "suite" bathroom with room to change, first left.

So I go into one of the bathrooms, usually the last one, and spongebath with the washcloth.  I can't wash my hair, but I otherwise get nice and clean.

I can certainly relate to wanting to be at my best when a mob of relatives meets you at the train station.  However this is a bad idea for two reasons.  

#1, the train can possibly be late -- VERY late.  Transcontinental trains are just like that - and it is such a great experience, you shouldn't ruin it by worrying about lateness.  So >PLAN< for it being 2, 3, 5 hours late, and that means not having a mob of relatives waiting at the train station.  What's more, don't plan some busy social itinerary starting the moment you arrive.  Give yourself 6-8 hours of slack time after scheduled arrival, in case it's late and to freshen up.

#2.  It is just not practical in coach to freshen up to high female standards.  Pick your most trusted friend or relative to be the one to pick you up at the train station (someone who won't mind if you're not ready for the red carpet at the Oscars) and have her take you to her house to freshen up.

Answer 2

No - no showers, just toilets and hand washing basins.

Take the plane.

Good Luck...

Answer 3

coach passengers do not have access to the showers on the train.

if you go in sleeper cars, the deluxe rooms and the handicap room have showers within the room, while standard rooms have access to showers that are down the hallway (1 on upper level, 1 on lower level).

for coach passengers, i strongly strongly suggest, take a travel pack of baby wipes.

  then you can go into the bathroom and wipe yourself down, especially under your arms.  that way, you get refreshed, get rid of odour, get travel grime and bacteria off of your skin, and dont make a mess bcs you are not using water to splash all over the floor, and you dont have to repack a wet washcloth either, you just throw the wipes away.

most bodies take about 4-6 wipes per session, and those travel packs usually include 20 wipes, and you can get them for 1$ in the hba travel section in your walmart or walgreens.

Answer 4

Some of the sleepers do have little shower stalls.  

http://studenttravel.about.com/od/usstud...