JasonVG
Train Attendant
I am taking the train from LAX to CHI this summer and I was wondering if the new cars have outlets at all seats.
Unfortunately, the Superliner cars don't have an outlet at every seat, in spite of recent refurbishments done on many of these cars. There are a couple of service outlets in each car, but they are difficult to find.
There is an outlet in the lounge car, but you'll find it to be very popular among everybody trying to charge cell phones.
Dan
AlohaFailing that, check seats 19 and 55. Those are the two that I remember usually have outlets on Superliners.
On the Capitol Limited, I sat in the row just in front of seat 55 (or whatever it was) and strung my laptop's power cable behind the seat and into the plug. The plug was not terribly restricted, although the cord did have to sort of wrap around the foot rest, I think.also I believe these outlets are located in a hard-to-reach location; something like you have to put the seat back all the way and squeeze your hand down a bit to reach them; I'm sure if you were to swivel the seat 90 degrees it would be easier to access.
peter
As far as I know all of Amtrak's equipment has swiveling seats except for special cars like diners, lounges, etc.. This is mainly used to turn trains where the locos run arround the consists. They swivel the seats to face the direction of travel rather than wyeing or ballooning the train. If at all possible they try to turn the train rather than swivel every seat in the consist.On the Capitol Limited, I sat in the row just in front of seat 55 (or whatever it was) and strung my laptop's power cable behind the seat and into the plug. The plug was not terribly restricted, although the cord did have to sort of wrap around the foot rest, I think.also I believe these outlets are located in a hard-to-reach location; something like you have to put the seat back all the way and squeeze your hand down a bit to reach them; I'm sure if you were to swivel the seat 90 degrees it would be easier to access.
peter
When others wanted access to the plug, someone whipped out a power strip and shared the love!
I wasn't aware that Superliner coach seats swiveled. Are you positive?
Ahh. One exception to your exception on lounges and diners, though, would be Superliner lounges--most of those seats most definitely do swivel! (Not that it would matter, since they mostly face outward, not forward or backward...)As far as I know all of Amtrak's equipment has swiveling seats except for special cars like diners, lounges, etc.. This is mainly used to turn trains where the locos run arround the consists. They swivel the seats to face the direction of travel rather than wyeing or ballooning the train. If at all possible they try to turn the train rather than swivel every seat in the consist.On the Capitol Limited, I sat in the row just in front of seat 55 (or whatever it was) and strung my laptop's power cable behind the seat and into the plug. The plug was not terribly restricted, although the cord did have to sort of wrap around the foot rest, I think.also I believe these outlets are located in a hard-to-reach location; something like you have to put the seat back all the way and squeeze your hand down a bit to reach them; I'm sure if you were to swivel the seat 90 degrees it would be easier to access.
peter
When others wanted access to the plug, someone whipped out a power strip and shared the love!
I wasn't aware that Superliner coach seats swiveled. Are you positive?
Actually Amtrak has been eliminating the ability to swivel the seats in the Sightseer Lounges. In part because the mechanisms are hard and expensive to maintain, in part because unsupervised kids play games with them, and in part because if they get turned too far it makes it almost impossible to walk down the center aisle.Ahh. One exception to your exception on lounges and diners, though, would be Superliner lounges--most of those seats most definitely do swivel! (Not that it would matter, since they mostly face outward, not forward or backward...)
in the new lounge cars aren't there outlets at the boothsActually Amtrak has been eliminating the ability to swivel the seats in the Sightseer Lounges. In part because the mechanisms are hard and expensive to maintain, in part because unsupervised kids play games with them, and in part because if they get turned too far it makes it almost impossible to walk down the center aisle.Ahh. One exception to your exception on lounges and diners, though, would be Superliner lounges--most of those seats most definitely do swivel! (Not that it would matter, since they mostly face outward, not forward or backward...)
And of course if Amtrak continues on the path of converting the lounges to lounge-diners, all those seats will go away.
I thought that was only for a handful of trains, and that the CL and transcons would continue to run Diner and Lounge cars.And of course if Amtrak continues on the path of converting the lounges to lounge-diners, all those seats will go away.
Sadly, we don't really know what the actual plan is. When Diner-Lite was first announced there are supposed to be 10 dining cars converted and 40 Sightseer Lounges converted. Then suddenly the entire lounge program was put on hold while Amtrak reviewed the ideas. Then without any warning, or statement what-so-ever, the employee newsletter reports that the first lounge car is in BG and undergoing conversion, although it is being converted to a Lounge-Diner a new term that we've not heard before.I thought that was only for a handful of trains, and that the CL and transcons would continue to run Diner and Lounge cars.And of course if Amtrak continues on the path of converting the lounges to lounge-diners, all those seats will go away.
I was recently on the Captal Limited in Feb and it had outlets at every seat. I was shocked but glad. I didn't have to run around looking for a seat with one to plug my laptop into. It was a nice surprise.Unfortunately, the Superliner cars don't have an outlet at every seat, in spite of recent refurbishments done on many of these cars. There are a couple of service outlets in each car, but they are difficult to find.
There is an outlet in the lounge car, but you'll find it to be very popular among everybody trying to charge cell phones.
Dan
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