Originally Posted by mith
has there ever been a couchette equivalent on Amtrak? I could imagine that lot of travellers (esp. European backpackers, etc...->big part of passengers on overnight trains!) would love it, if there are economy non-private sleepers (couchettes) that were available for a "hostel night" supplement like $20-30 per night.
I don't think that there was ever something similar on Amtrak.
During the early days of Amtrak (70's), there were single and double slumbercoaches (at least on the NY-FL trains) - but those were private rooms. I think the last time you saw anything similar were well pre-Amtrak (40's or 50's
) when railroads had "sections. (But that was before my time.
)
There is no real alternative between a seat which is not that much more comfortable than greyhound and the private Sleeper which is far from being affordable to many people.
IMHO, I find an Amtrak coach seat
FAR more comfortable than
ANY seat on Greyhound! When I'm traveling alone, and concerned with price, I'll go by coach. (Especially if it's a 1 night trip.)
As a couchette car can accomodate as many people as a normal seating car, I believe it would also be a good deal for Amtrak to introduce such an offer.
IMHO, I doubt you'll see anything like that on Atrak. Most Americans will not use it.