"Am I Too Fat For An Amtrak Train Ride?"
I've always wanted to ride a train overnight because I'm one of those people who loves trains. I'm fascinated by the way rail travel shaped the United States. Railroads are one of the most incredible inventions in human history! So, for New Years 2024 my family and I booked our very first train ride. And it was amazing.
I did go into the ride with some concerns. Namely, my size. I am a fat woman. I'm also tall. I'm a size 20-24 and I'm 5'10". I am hard to miss in a crowd and generally intimidated by being in tight spaces. I was afraid of how comfortable I would be on an Amtrak train ride, but I was willing to risk my comfort for the experience.
Thankfully, it was far better than I expected!
We chose to reserve a Viewliner 1 Bedroom for our trip, giving us considerably more space than the smaller Roomettes. If you're fat and planning an overnight ride, I highly recommend one of the Viewliner Bedrooms, or the larger Bedroom Suites or Family Rooms.
The height was never an issue, even when using the small, private bathroom. There is plenty of space to stretch out and up. At one point I stood on the bench seat and still couldn't reach the ceiling.
There are two beds in the Bedroom: a bench seat that transforms into a bed and a bunk bed that folds down. The bench seat was large enough for my average-sized spouse and I to share it. It was a tight fit, so we spooned most of the time, but the fact that it had room for a fat person and an average sized person was impressive to me. When we weren't sharing it, I had plenty of room to sleep comfortably.
Moving about the cabin wasn't as intimidating as I feared it would be. I had enough room to move through smaller areas without having to turn too far sideways. So, if you're larger than I am, you may have to turn to the side in one or two corners, but there is still enough room to move around.
The bathroom however is indeed a tight squeeze. When I sat down my thighs touched each side of the bathroom stall. Wiping required some maneuvering as well, so if you are larger than I am, I would be mindful of how the bathroom size might impact your ability to use the bathroom.
If you'd like a bit more room, the Viewliner 1 H Room or ADA Room has a much larger bathroom because it is wheelchair accessible. The bed size is the same and it also comes with a bunk, but now you've got the shower, toilet, and sink all in one area with a lot more room to move around in.
The only time my size was any kind of issue was when I sat on the bench side of the bedroom at the fold out table. My table was so close to the bench seat that it rested on my stomach. However, the Bedroom chair that swings out and folds down has two adjustable arms and much more room. I was able to sit on that side comfortably with my tray table flat before me!
Overall I'd say the Amtrak Viewliner 1 Bedroom is a great option if you're fat. I was treated very well by our First Class attendant and I felt completely at ease and comfortable the entire time. If your body is larger than mine, you still have a couple more options for your overnight trip with Amtrak, if you're worried the Viewliner 1 Bedroom isn't right for you.
This was our first overnight train ride, but it won't be our last. If you're fat or disabled and interested in riding the rail for yourself, Amtrak receives my Fat Girl seal of approval!!
Comments