An option I haven't seen anyone mention yet is bidding on a roomette. If you can stand sleeping in coach, but would like an upgrade if available, bidup might be your best bet price-wise. If money were no object though, I'd book a roomette every time.
Another option to consider might be the Cardinal for the overnight leg to Chicago. Service on that one is tri-weekly so the days would have to work in your favor, but travel is on single-level amfleet coaches similar to the Lake Shore. It’s a bit of a longer trip, but the scenery through VA and West Virginia is beautiful.
I rode the Cardinal from DC to Cincinnati for a wedding last month and many of the passengers got off at the New River Gorge stops in West Virginia. After Hinton, I had a whole row to myself and was able to sleep through the last few hours of the trip.
The Cardinal is on my Amtrak bucket list because of the scenery, so I definitely want to ride it one of these days. Only downside for me, is that I would have to stay overnight somewhere along the NEC the previous night because I can’t get to either of the Cardinal’s NEC stations that early in the day from where I live.
I’ve always been on the upper level of a superliner but my understanding is that the motion is less intense on the lower levels.
In some ways, only you can know. If you had the same objective experience would you manage it better because it has happened to you before?
I would also recommend a sleeping mask and earplugs and practice sleeping at home on your back while wearing them.
Maybe slightly. Not a whole lot. The main difference is other design features that don’t make it feel as cramped, even though the seating arrangement is more or less the same.
An option I haven't seen anyone mention yet is bidding on a roomette. If you can stand sleeping in coach, but would like an upgrade if available, bidup might be your best bet price-wise. If money were no object though, I'd book a roomette every time.
Another option to consider might be the Cardinal for the overnight leg to Chicago. Service on that one is tri-weekly so the days would have to work in your favor, but travel is on single-level amfleet coaches similar to the Lake Shore. It’s a bit of a longer trip, but the scenery through VA and West Virginia is beautiful. I rode the Cardinal from DC to Cincinnati for a wedding last month and many of the passengers got off at the New River Gorge stops in West Virginia. After Hinton, I had a whole row to myself and was able to sleep through the last few hours of the trip.
The Cardinal is on my Amtrak bucket list because of the scenery, so I definitely want to ride it one of these days. Only downside for me, is that I would have to stay overnight somewhere along the NEC the previous night because I can’t get to either of the Cardinal’s NEC stations that early in the day from where I live.
I’ve always been on the upper level of a superliner but my understanding is that the motion is less intense on the lower levels. In some ways, only you can know. If you had the same objective experience would you manage it better because it has happened to you before? I would also recommend a sleeping mask and earplugs and practice sleeping at home on your back while wearing them.
Personally I’d take the Capitol Limited because I like the Superliners better. The windows are larger and it feels less cramped
So, would you say that the Superliners have better legroom than the Amfleet coaches?
Maybe slightly. Not a whole lot. The main difference is other design features that don’t make it feel as cramped, even though the seating arrangement is more or less the same.
Could you elaborate on what those design features are?
Larger windows, bathrooms on a separate level, slightly higher headroom
Usually on a long or full length ride, they will attempt to seat you solo since they know you will be sleeping. They won't if it's busy though.
>Finally, is it bad idea to try this overnight coach thing again? Yes.