How are the coach seats on the Silver Star that runs up the east coast (looking at the Orlando to Philly trip). The train leaves in the evening and arrives 5 pm the next day. Going North in March shouldn't be too crowded as most are heading south, not north. But, sleeper rooms are pricey so wondering if the coach seat is comfortable enough to sleep in?? Do the arm rests in between raise? Do the rows of 2/2 face each other or is it similar to an airplane? My wife and a friend are taking the trip and think it'll be similar to a red-eye on a plane as far as sleeping in coach. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Seats are like airplanes, not facing, in most cars.

Will each of them get two seats to lie down in?

By March, especially late March, lots of people will be heading north. The Silver Star also carries a lot of regional traffic, people traveling for example from Raleigh to Richmond.

Will it be like sleeping on a redeye?

The train slows down and speeds up, stops and starts more, takes a lot longer. On the other hand, you aren't ever going to get a middle seat!

I like riding trains, it beats driving I-95, but I can't imagine it wouldn't be cheaper to fly.

My wife and a friend are taking the trip and think it'll be similar to a red-eye on a plane as far as sleeping in coach. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

No suggestions but, yes, it has all the charms of sleeping on a red eye. The seats and leg room are wider. The arm rests do lift. Don't know about the 2X2 facing seats. I've seen them on some cars but not others.

I'm trying to remember if they actually dim the lights in any of those coaches.

The train I was on did dim the lights. Seats have reading lights.

You will have a short delay in Washington DC while they switch from the diesel engines to the electric engines.
I've had many thousands of miles riding in Amtrak (and ViaRail) coach seats. Late at night a few people go up to the sightseer Lounge and find a place to stretch out.
My trick for sleeping in a coach seat is to bring a pillowcase with a lightweight blanket in it. Also wear a puffy coat. Depending on how chilly it is, either leave the blanket in the pillowcase to use as a pillow or pull out the blanket to put over you and stuff the coat in the pillowcase.
If you can fall asleep watching TV in your recliner, you should be able to sleep in the coach seat. The seat pitch is greater than most airplanes.
Bring a sleep mask and earplugs just in case.

They have quiet hours, usually from around 10 or 11 pm to 7 am when they dim the lights and don't make announcements over the PA. They also try to seat people so those getting on or off at night are in a different car than those going all the way through to the northeast, so while the train will stop multiple times there shouldn't be too many people walking through the car. The seats are roomier than airline coach seats, especially a lot more legroom on a train, but the setup is the same, nearly all the seats face forward, and there is a tray table that folds down from the seat in front of you, the seat reclines, reading light, usually window curtains, etc. There are a few sets of 4 facing seats in each car, but those are intended for groups of 3 or more. While you may get lucky enough to each have 2 seats to yourself, I wouldn't plan on it. So I'd say a bit more comfortable than a redeye, but remember you're on the train a lot longer. Remember to bring a blanket and pillow; they don't provide them anymore in coach. I love trains, and have taken both the Silver Star & Silver Meteor NY to Florida (in a sleeper), but Florida to/from the northeast is so heavily served by airlines (resulting in reasonable fares) that unless there was a really good reason for the train, I'd almost always choose a plane.

I have never travelled a long distance on Amtrak coach, but a few years back we had a sleeping room on the Empire Builder back and forth between Seattle and Chicago. The mattress was thin, the room was cramped, and the train loped along and rocked back and forth.

Perhaps coach is more comfortable.

HTtY

HTtY take my word for it, a roomette is much more comfortable than a coach seat even if you can spread out over 2 coach seats. Join Amtrak Guest Rewards ASAP and see if you can earn or buy enough points to get a roomette at least as far as Washington DC. Spend an hour or two in Washington and then take a coach seat from WAS to PHL on a NE Regional.
I was happy with my all roomette trip last March on the Coast Starlight, California Zephyr and Southwest Chief.
On the Southwest Chief I had a good breakfast with Mark Murphy who is the Amtrak VP in charge of Long Distance routes.

I will take your word for it and drive or fly.

HTtY

If you can leave 6 hours earlier, take the Silver Meteor instead of the Star. The Silver Star will not have a dining car during the month of March.
The coach seat fare is the same on each train.
The reason the roomette fare is cheaper on the Star is that they will not be feeding the passengers in a dining car.

Thanks for all the replies! It was very helpful.