Don't feel silly, questions are good. As you learned, "Reserved" merely means that (usually) the train won't be oversold and everybody will get A seat.

Boarding setups are very different in DC from in NYC. The setup at Union Station is like an airline gate, with seats and the boarding doorway right near the track, on the same level. At the DC gates, people will sit near the doorway, ready to jump up and get in line (or sometimes just swarm) the minute it seems worth the effort. It's like boarding at Southwest but without the grouping.

If somebody is around who might know which car is the quiet car, you can just ask them which one it is.

P.S. You must really hate taking the bus!

Thanks again! Who knows, maybe I will take the bus back! I love trains so am looking forward to the ride...will get to Penn early to investigate seating options!

Uh-oh, I'm pretty sure that at Penn there is no way for you to "investigate seating options."

The train waiting area is a huuuge lobby, above the tracks. Each track is served by escalators. The track for your train isn't announced until it's ready to board; otherwise, the arriving passengers would get trampled. It is such a zoo, it will make the boarding system at Union Station look like a dainty tea party.

The red caps at any Amtrak Station (NYC/DC) will get you to the train to pre-board, if it is just you and one small suitcase, I would say 8-10, or if he is taking a few people, then you could get away with $5 perhaps -

The Red Caps get a call as to which track the train is going to be on about 5 minutes before it pulls in, so instead of battling the crowds at Penn down to the track, you will already be standing on the track when the train pulls in - they stand there with you until the people who are getting off are off, and then they put your luggage on for you and they will show you where the quiet car is and have a better chance of getting on the quiet car if that is what you want (no cell phones, loud conversations, etc) - or at least you are in your seat and settled before the crowds even arrive once the track is posted upstairs.

Up to you if it is worth the tip or not -

If you go it on your own, my recollection is hearing an announcement regarding car locations - but maybe not on the regional and only on the acela -

I have boarded the train when it was sold out, to the point once where my son had to sit on that little seat by where there used to be a phone (if that makes sense) for one stop out - and where my suitcase had to end up on a different car than I was for a few stops, until some room cleared out, which aggravated me - since then, I go down to the track early -to me, it is worth the extra for a quiet, comfortable trip

"Reserved coach" only means that you will have a spot on the train, not a particular seat. I guess they theoretically only sell as many tickets as there are seats.

"reserved" means that they will not sell more tickets than there are seats. There was a time that there were "unreserved" trains on the Northeast Corridor, which could result in standing or not having a seat. Those unreserved trains have been eliminated.

The quiet car is usually the last or first car, in order to avoid having people walk through it on the way to the Cafe Car. When they say quiet, they mean quiet including conversations.

Reserved means you have a seat - but not an actual assigned seat -

but it also means, especially at peak times, that Amtrak has been known to overbook just like an airline -

-it is unusual on the train (on the leg I use frequently between bos and nyc - but it does happen that there is an occasion where someone does not have a seat until the next stop - but I have only seen that happen a rare few times in over five years. I've seen it happen both in first class or business - but I would not worry about that

Just remember if you , for whatever reason, change seats mid-trip, to take the ticket stub with you that they leave in the tab on the back of your seat.

Have fun - I love the train (but the bus would make me car sick) - don't forget something to eat, drink and read -

Thanks again. I am looking forward to the train trip. I will only have a small backpack. Will look for a porter and try to get a decent seat if possible...will bring books, snacks, etc. And will buy the return once in DC. You have all been very helpful!

BTW: For anyone planning a similar trip, in order to get AAA discount of 10%, you need to book 3 days out.

Reporting back: Train ride was very comfortable! Mad rush getting to the track once the number was announced. Porters on the main level were very friendly and amenable to questions. No quiet car on trains traveling south of DC (mine terminated in Richmond).

EK -- Followed this thread with great interest, planning to go by train for a few hundred miles could be as complicated as planning to fly a few thousand miles! Glad you had a good trip.

Hi S!!!

Just arrived back in New York. The return train from DC broke down outside the station!! We had to return and switch to another (packed) train so arrived almost two hours late into NYC!! Did I mention that the ride from NYC-DC was also late? (But only by a few minutes).

I would counsel bringing food on board rather than buying in the "cafe car."

Not to mention that this train cost me more than double ($98 EACH way and that does not buy a reserved seat!) the price I paid for a private sleeping car on the Deluxe Beijing-Shanghai Z train!!

But once we got moving, it was comfy..I really do like trains!!

Trains on the northeast corridor are typically on time (that's anything within 15 minutes) - but a breakdown can cause delays.

And yes, a reserved seat means they won;t sell more tickets than there are seats. (They used to sell unlimited tickets, and on popular trains - out fri night or back Sunday night you would have dozens of people standing or sitting on tier bag the entire trip.)