Sleeping Car Comfort

[gr8reader@embarqmail. com]

Having spent four nights on Amtrak  recently,  I have

this question:  Any suggestions for making the sleeping berths

more comfortable and easier on the back?  Thanks in advance!

[blue streak 1]

so we must wonder at the comfort of these new russian sleepers.  note number of passengers per car in this railwaygazette article ---.

http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/passenger/single-view/view/double-deck-sleeping-car-on-test-in-russia.html

maybe AMTRAK needs some of these high capacity sleepers. can anyone find a diagram ??

[Anonymous]

gr8reader@embarqmail. com

Having spent four nights on Amtrak  recently,  I have

this question:  Any suggestions for making the sleeping berths

more comfortable and easier on the back?  Thanks in advance! 

It would be helpful to know what type of accommodation you were in, i.e. Viewliner roomette or bedroom or Superliner roomette or bedroom, and whether you occupied the upper or lower bed?  Also, it would be helpful to know your height?

[travelingengineer]

Welcome to the Forum! As previously responded, please give us some indication of your discomfort. Most of us have experience, and even solutions, mine being exclusively on Superliner Sleeping Car Bedrooms. Perchance you had a roomette thereon, I can resonate with your discomfort, though roomettes are certainly cost-effective. If you were in a full Bedroom, say using the lower berth, the only problem that you might have had was the quality of bed linen. Sheets are oft well-worn and thus thin. Blankets are too small and oft quite pungent with their required sanitizing solutions. Even so, one blanket isn't ever enough, and these blankets oft come untucked, so you are left with your legs sticking out, blankets sliding to the deck, etc. Otherwise, a Bedroom (not roomette) is really neat. Hints: Always request (and get) a 2nd blanket, and tuck both deeply into the seam behind the mattress and backrest. As far as helping your back, I myself would: 1) not sleep on stomach, 2) put pillow between legs forcing sleep on sides, and 3 take an ibuprofen before bedtime with some food (I am not a medical professional, nor giving medical advice.).

[gr8reader@embarqmail. com]

The pad on the bottom bunk in the Superliner bedroom is too thin to provide padding between me and the seats upon which it rests.  That makes the bed so hard that my back hurts, I can't get comfortable and I can't get to sleep.  

[travelingengineer]

Yes, you are right about the lower bunk mattress (not much more than a pad as I agree). Only solution there, I think, would be to: 1) by yourself, take the pad from the upper bunk and put in on your lower bunk (unless, of course, you've got someone using the upper bunk!); or 2) ask the car attendant if there are any unused lower bunk pads from other unused Bedrooms (not likely in the summer), and beg him/her to let you borrow it to put on top of yours (if done, tip generously).

[gr8reader@embarqmail. com]

That's a great idea, but my spouse is in the upper bunk, so I can't use that pad. Are there any commercially available pads that could be fit into luggage that would make the lower bunk more comfortable?

[CMStPnP]

Last time I rode in a Amtrak Sleeper the linens were yellowed.     Which I think is gross.   So my vote would be for them to buy new linens at least.    I plan to travel Chicago to DC by rail next year and I might also book Amtrak Dallas to Milwaukee for Christmas this year.

[travelingengineer]

Well, the only other sugggestions that I can offer are: 1) investigate the handicapped Bedroom on each Sleeping Car; 2) use Coach seating, which (despite its disadvantages but less expense) might be more comfortable; 3) call Amtrak and discuss the matter with its nice customer service representatives; and finally 4) talk with your doctor about overnight sleep or pain medication. Good luck. Don't give up!