Amtrak Train Bathrooms: A How To For Sleeper Guests

For New Years my family and I booked two Bedrooms aboard the Amtrak Crescent Line 19, traveling from New York City toa rs" and each comes with its own toilet/shower combo. We loved having our Bedroom to ourselves, especially since we had our own bathroom.

After spending 31 hours aboard our Amtrak, I used the bathroom multiple times and learned a lot about making it work. Here's a quick how-to guide on Amtrak bathrooms and some tips before you take your next Amtrak journey.

Chasin' Paper

Toilet paper on Amtrak trains is akin to camping paper or septic-safe paper. This one-ply toilet paper is built to breakdown easily, so it won't feel as nice as your favorite toilet paper brand. I recommend using the toilet paper, but also bringing along extra wipes for comfort. However, DO NOT dispose of those wipes down the toilet. There is a trash receptacle in your roomette, but I recommend carrying along a separate trash bag (or grocery bag) for depositing used wipes into.

Flushed Away

Amtrak toilets are similar to camper toilets in that they do not hold a water reservoir. When you're using the bathroom, you will be making your "deposit" into an empty toilet bowl. Once you're finished doing your business, close the lid on the toilet bowl, and locate the flush button, to the right or the left of the bowl. Push it all the way in once, and within moments you'll hear a loud rushing sound of water pushing the contents of the toilet down the hole that has now opened to carry your waste away from your room.

Wash Up

There is a sink located in the main cabin area of your Bedroom. To use the hot or cold water, simply press down on whichever temperature water you need. Be mindful that you have to continue pressing down on the faucet handle in order for it to dispense water. Bar soap and hand towels are available to you for washing and drying your hands.

So Fresh & So Clean

The toilet room doubles as a shower. This is a small space, but absolutely manageable if you're in desperate need of a shower on your journey. First, be sure the bathroom door is closed all the way. There is a lip you step over to get into the bathroom and a drain in the floor. Second, close the toilet lid. This will give you a place to sit or lean against if need be.

Water is dispensed through a detachable faucet head that can also be left attached to a height-adjustable bar. Turning the large knob will set the temperature for the shower. After your temperature is set, you'll press the smaller button above the knob. Showers are taken through short bursts of water. You will need to push the button multiple times, until you are fully washed. Please be aware that this isn't the kind of situation where you can lose yourself while taking a shower. Get in, get clean, and get out.

The Smell

Sharing a small space with a bathroom can get a bit smelly. I recommend carrying some sort of scented product with you but be mindful of overpowering scents. You aren't the only passengers aboard your train. Consider using natural oils or other fragrances less likely to cause substantial irritation to others around you. Thankfully, the air filtration system on Amtrak trains does a great job of filtering air out and around the cabin.

Hold On Tight...You're On A Train!

As if you could possibly forget, you are on a train. You're going to spend the majority of your time on the train jostling around, even when using the bathroom. For this reason, I recommended holding onto the bars in the bathroom whenever you need to steady yourself. Consider also waiting to shower until your train pulls into one of the stations. At some stations you may only be stopped for about 5 minutes, but at others you'll be stopped for up to 20 minutes while passengers load and unload. Take advantage of these breaks!

And that's it! My spouse and I shared our Bedroom bathroom for 31 hours and despite our shared genetic tummy troubles, we were able to share and use the bathroom easily over the course of our entire trip. If you've been on the fence about taking a lengthy Amtrak trip for yourself because of the bathrooms, rest assured knowing you can absolutely make it work for you!