Smart Guide to Train Travel

11. Snag the best seat

Not all train seats are created equal — and we’re not just talking class level. Johnston shares this simple but valuable seat-selection advice: “You want to sit on the side opposite the sun,” he says. “It’s not just the fact it [would be] beating down on you. You also have to think like a photographer.” Sunrays make window dirt significantly more distracting. And, even if you’re not taking photos, it’s more enjoyable and comfortable to watch the landscape without eyestrain from the sun. 

12. Make unforgettable memories

Turn a regular train trip with kids and grandkids into a memorable one by not waiting until you get to the destination for fun. Johnston, who took his son on countless trips throughout his childhood, loved making memories along the way: “If you’re traveling with kids, it’s such a confidence-building and knowledge-building exercise,” he says, adding that the adventure can double as a multiday geography lesson. “Bring a map and follow your trip. Or with a smartphone, [use] the map app, and it will show you where you are.”  

13. Book a sleeping car

Sleeping-car options on overnight trains may cost more than a coach seat, but Johnston says these cozy, private train bedrooms are worth the splurge if your budget allows. “If you’re sleeping in your own bed at home, how many times do you have a chance to wake up to the sunrise? How many times do you actually look at the moon?” he says. “You don’t have this opportunity in a hotel room.” Like most things, sleeping-car options vary by line. Some include private bathrooms and an attendant, while others offer a simple bedroom with a bathroom down the hall.  

14. Use rail apps to make booking easy

While you can get a paper ticket at the station, smartphones make it easier than ever to travel by train. Download the Amtrak app to access your ticket, change your reservation (if you booked a ticket that can be modified), get up-to-date status including gate and track numbers, and alter seat assignments. In Europe, the Eurail app offers similar features for booking and monitoring train progress, along with offline functionality for accessing times. Most other rail lines around the world offer their own apps, too, whether it’s Norway’s Bergen Light Rail with the Skyss Ticket app or the New Jersey Transit Mobile App.

 

ALL ABOARD

15. When to arrive

Unlike flying, train travel comes with minimal check-in and security lines. (Some stations have bag checks and metal detectors, and others don’t.) Confirm your arrival time with the specific train line or your travel agent. Donnetta Byrd, the travel agent and rail-travel expert behind Byrd Adventures, offers some general parameters: “For Amtrak or VIA Rail, 30 minutes should be enough time if you already have tickets and no luggage,” she says. “Otherwise, try to arrive around an hour before.”

16. Luggage logistics

Baggage policies vary by train line. In Europe, you can bring larger bags, although you’re usually responsible for carrying and storing them on the train car’s luggage racks. In general, North American rail services like Amtrak and VIA Rail offer carry-on and checked-luggage options. But, Johnston says, you won’t find bag-check options at all Amtrak stations; it’s usually just the major ones. And, while some stations offer Red Cap service — Amtrak staffers in red caps and shirts who help passengers with their bags — it’s not available everywhere. “You have to be prepared to handle luggage, kind of like you would on and off an airplane with carry-ons,” he says. To avoid any issues, confirm luggage rules with your train line or travel agent ahead of time.

17. Look for lounges

Going to the train station early? Have a long connection between trains? Lounge access may make your trip more enjoyable, though  Byrd says availability “totally depends on the train.” Some Amtrak stations have lounges with free access for certain travelers (Amtrak Guest Rewards members with Select Plus and Select Executive status, or those in first class or private rooms, for example). You can also pay for lounge passes at certain stations, depending on availability (the same goes for stations in Europe and Canada), with prices ranging from $25 to $50 depending on the station.

18. Don’t miss the dining car

Loomis’ favorite part of any train trip? The dining car. “It’s part of what I enjoy most, because Amtrak’s practice is to seat you with fellow passengers. So you [go] in as a single person, and you’ll be seated at a table with three other people,” he says, noting that he’s shared meals with many interesting passengers, including one of only seven people in the world qualified to service and restore ancient pipe organs. “I absolutely look forward to the three meals a day when I’m on the train. That’s one of the most interesting parts of the whole experience.” If you’d prefer to eat meals alone, Reisig suggests you let your sleeping car attendant know: “All meals can be delivered and enjoyed in your private room accommodation.”

19. Explore the train

One of the biggest perks of train travel over air travel is the chance to soak in the ever-changing views. But Byrd says it’s important to seek out the best views early on, especially on a scenery-focused train like the Rockies to the Red Rocks line from Colorado to Utah. “Don’t be nervous about getting up to go to the viewing areas,” she says. “I waited quite a while on my first ride because I wasn’t sure where to go. When I finally got up and went between the trains, I’d wished I’d done it sooner.”  

20. Take the perfect train photo

In addition to Johnston’s advice — avoid the sunny side of the train — Smith shared his top train-photography tip: “Remember to switch your flash off!” If you want to get really creative, use your smartphone to capture a time-lapse video. It’s  available within the built-in camera on most Apple and Android devices. This is a great way to share the changing scenery with friends and family back home. Time-lapse videos require patience; roughly five minutes of video condenses down to just 20 seconds. It’s best to prop your phone on a book or pillow, or use a travel tripod, such as the compact Joby GorillaPod, the Peak Design travel tripod or the Vanguard VEO 3GO. That way, you can set it, forget it and enjoy the view yourself.  

21. A road- and train-trip pairing

When it comes to road trips and train travel, you can have your cake and eat it too — particularly with Amtrak’s lesser-known auto-train option from Washington, D.C., to Florida. With this auto-train option, your vehicle rides along to your destination in a special freight car designed for automobiles. “You get the same accommodations — a coach or [sleeping car] — but you put your car on the train,” Johnston says. This eliminates the need for rental cars or Uber and Lyft rides from the station, he adds. 

22. Pack slippers

Depending on the sleeping car you’ve booked, you might need to go down the hall to use the facilities. That’s why Loomis always packs bathroom-trip attire. “I … sleep in a pair of gym shorts and a T-shirt, and I bring my rubber slippers,” he says. “If I have to get up to go [to the bathroom] at two in the morning, I don’t have to get all dressed. People will find it makes their life on board a lot easier.” 

23. Keep your charger handy

Whether you’re following the train’s progress on a map app or capturing the stunning landscapes with your smartphone camera, Byrd says it’s important to stay ahead of dying phone batteries. “You may want to pack a mobile charger or backup battery [in your carry-on] for the time you’re on the train,” she says. “You don’t want your battery to die as you’re trying to photograph amazing scenery.” 

24. Stay healthy on the train

To avoid getting sick, wash your hands or use hand sanitizer regularly while on trains or in stations, and consider wearing a mask in congested areas. Additionally, if you’re prone to motion sickness, Reisig recommends planning ahead. “Travelers should bring along any medication they may need and keep it with them throughout the trip, and not in checked luggage,” he says. Also, peruse the train layout when booking your seat to avoid backward-facing positions — these can trigger motion sickness. That said, “our customers rarely report the kind of motion sickness you might get on a cruise or even in a car or bus,” Reisig says.

25. Organize with packing cubes

It’s tough to fully unpack in small sleeper-car spaces. That’s why Byrd suggests using packing cubes to keep your items organized. “I love to use packing cubes to pack items according to what day I plan to wear them,” she says. Byrd’s strategy works whether you’re on an overnight train trip or taking the train from city to city, with stopovers in each place. “This makes it more organized when you are changing hotels and repacking each day,” she says. 

26. Prepare to carry valuables

If you’ve booked a sleeping car, pack a bag for your valuables so you can keep them with you in the bathroom or dining car. “You can lock [your sleeping car] from the inside, but when you leave your room to go out to breakfast or lunch, you can’t lock your door,” Loomis says of Amtrak’s overnight trains. In his decades of train travel, he’s never had an issue with theft, he says. “When you leave your room to go to breakfast or dinner, close the door and pull the curtain so people can’t see. And don’t leave out [valuable] stuff.” Most rail lines in Europe and Canada also have the same inside-lock-only feature. (For extra precautions, you can bring a portable travel safe, available from brands like Pacsafe, TROVA or SafeGo.) 

27. More train-travel essentials

Stawski shared additional tips for optimizing  your time on the train: “My No. 1  tip is to dress comfortably and wear multiple layers, as trains can vary in temperature,” he says. “Beyond that, bring a travel pillow, blanket, eye mask, snacks and drinks [even if you plan to eat in the dining car], headphones, various forms of offline entertainment — books, cards and podcasts — toiletries and an extra set of clothes to change into upon arrival.” 

28. Tips on tipping

According to Abrams, Red Cap service is free for all Amtrak riders, “though you’re welcome to tip if you’d like,” he says. Additionally, each cafe car has a tip jar.  For longer trips, Reisig recommends bringing cash to tip sleeping-car attendants and dining-car staff. “Sleeping-car attendants are generally tipped near the end of the journey; the recommended amount is $10 per day, per room,” Reisig says. “For dining car staff, such as servers, we recommend $5 per person, per meal.”

 

BUCKET-LIST TRAIN TRIPS

Our rail-travel aficionados share their favorite rides to inspire your own train excursions.

Amtrak Borealis: Minneapolis to Chicago

In May 2024, Amtrak introduced its new Borealis line, which runs alongside bucolic Midwest farmlands and countryside while linking Minneapolis, Milwaukee and Chicago. 

Amtrak Empire Builder: Chicago to Portland, Oregon, or Seattle

Jim Loomis, author of All Aboard: The Complete North American Train Travel Guide, describes this three-day, two-night trip as a “glorious ride.” In addition to the scenery on both ends of the trip, travelers get to admire the sprawling North Dakota landscapes and Montana’s soaring mountains, including Glacier National Park. 

Amtrak California Zephyr: Chicago to San Francisco

Loomis also raves about the three-day, two-night California Zephyr. “It’s probably one of Amtrak’s most scenic trains,” he says, noting that the views of the Colorado River, Rocky Mountains and Sierra Nevada range are among the trip’s top attractions. 

Amtrak Coast Starlight: Seattle to Los Angeles

Bob Johnston, a correspondent for Trains.com, recommends this two-day, one-night route with  some of the West Coast’s best scenery. “It’s daytime between Seattle and Portland, then it’s overnight from the Cascade range around Eugene, Oregon, down to the Bay Area, then from San Francisco through Oakland, down to L.A.,” he says 

Caledonian Sleeper: London to Scotland

Mark Smith, founder of train-travel blog The Man in Seat 61, suggests the Caledonian Sleeper from England to Scotland, one of the most scenic two-day, one-night journeys in the U.K.. This route runs through iconic destinations like Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and the Scottish Highlands, with stunning views best enjoyed from the train’s cozy sleeping cars.

Bernina Express: Switzerland to Italy

The Bernina Express is another one of Smith’s favorite routes. This four-hour train ride goes from Chur, Switzerland, to Tirano, Italy, on the highest railway in the Alps. Much of this rail line has UNESCO World Heritage status, awarded for the civil-engineering mastery required to build the route along the Alps’ rugged terrain. Views transition from glaciers to palm trees on this journey, with sweeping windows that make jaw-dropping scenery the star of the show. 

The Canadian: Toronto to Vancouver

Spend four days and nights crossing Canada on VIA Rail’s The Canadian route, a trip that runs more than 2,500 miles between Toronto and Vancouver. See the snow-dusted Rockies, wide-open plains and landscapes with moose, deer and bears from a private sleeper car, the cozy dining car or the scenic skyline dome cars.