Anybody Travel in an Amtrak Family Bedroom with Young Kids?

[umsami]

I'm due to give birth in August, and have a 6 year old, 4 year old, and 3 year old. We'll be moving shortly after the birth, and rather than driving the entire way we'll probably take the Auto Train (Amtrak) to make the move easier. I've been thinking of reserving a Family Bedroom, which has two adult beds and two child beds. Two of the kids would end up in Upper Berths. I'm a little worried that they don't seem to have any railing on the upper berths (at least in the animated tour), and wonder if they're still safe for kids.

Have you ever had a Family Room on Amtrak? Would you recommend it?

TIA

[Artichokie]

I have traveled in a Bedroom with my 2 yr old and my dh. We love the train! The room availability really depends on what route you will be riding. Our route (Lakeshore Limited) does not have the family bedrooms that are shown online. The bedroom option on our route has upper berths with fabric straps that go across the side of the bed to keep anyone from rolling out. Our bedroom option also has a toilet (which i HIGHLY recommend - public toilets on the train are gross ime). If a Bedroom Suite is available, that would be a much better option ime.

IDK if that was actually helpful since i've not experienced the Superliner

[umsami]

Thanks Artichokie. It's good to know about the fabric strap... I'm assuming that's pretty standard. I've only traveled in a sleeper as a single person, and had a Roommette... so it's good to know about the differences. I think my kids would love the whole train experience... plus it slashes two days off of my drive, which is definitely a good thing.

[NiteNicole]

I will be watching this. I have never traveled by train and would really like to.

[Artichokie]

the upper berth of the roomette (which you may not have opened since you were alone) has the same fabric strap.

My DD asks at least once a week if it is time to take the train again. We have only had wonderful experiences, although we always get a room. I traveled coach a lot as a child and it is quite uncomfortable mostly because the heat and ac are very inconsistent. In the room you have some control over that yourself.

One other thing that occurred to me - on our route, the tracks are VERY rough westbound and the ride is not smooth at all. My dd was about 6 mo old the first time we rode with her and I was convinced she was going to get shaken baby syndrome. I sat up and held her all night because it was way too bouncy and there was NO WAY i could lie her down on the bed. On many routes they have upgraded the tracks and it is a very nice ride. But on routes where they use old tracks, it is really so rough you'd think something was really, horribly wrong. Nothing is, of course; but it makes it very hard to sleep.

[maddymama]

Hi Mama,
We've only traveled sleeping in the bedroom suite (big lower birth, small upper birth, private bathroom) with two little kids and we've loved it. We're spending a night in a Family Bedroom on our trip this fall.
I don't know about the family bedroom or anything, but sometimes the attendants are strict on no children sleeping in the upper bunk for safety reasons. Other attendants don't care....
For the record, on our lower bunk, I slept comfortably with my 3 year old and my 6 month old.
~maddymama

[eepster]

Though I've never been in that particular room, I have slept on top bunks on a wide variety of trains in Canada and across Europe as a child and teen. They always felt very secure and not at all like I might fall out.