Taking Amtrak During a Heatwave: What You Need to Know
I’m sensitive to heat, so when I heard about an Amtrak train that broke down in a tunnel during a heat wave it sounded like my personal nightmare. And unfortunately, it’s not an isolated incident. A quick spin through online discussion groups found other anecdotes of trains breaking down, losing power, or traveling for hours without air conditioning, making it easy to worry about taking Amtrak during a heatwave.
So is avoiding train travel in the summer months the only option? Not at all. Here’s what to know about taking Amtrak during extreme heat events.
Prepare for Delays
While being stranded on a hot train is the worst-case scenario, delays are the more common problem.
Both Amtrak and freight trains restrict speed during extreme heat for safety reasons (heat can actually warp the rails and cause derailment). High heat can also affect train power wires and interfere with the movement of drawbridges along the route, potentially interrupting your trip.
Knowing that heat increases risk of delays, reduce your stress by planning ahead. Pad your schedule with plenty of extra time to avoid missed connections, and pack extra books, activities, and snacks — just in case.
What About Air Conditioning?
Amtrak trains are climate controlled and are supposed to be maintained at a comfortable temperature.
However, like the story that made news this summer, there have been anecdotal reports of trains losing air conditioning, or malfunctioning AC that might be working but not strong enough to keep the car comfortable in an extreme heat event.
Amtrak says that crew members monitor conditions on board, keep extra drinking water for emergencies, and take steps to identify passengers with special needs who may need extra assistance. Crews are also supposed to make regular announcements to update passengers on what’s happening.
What To Do If It Gets Hot
If you’re taking Amtrak during a heatwave and the car gets uncomfortably hot, don’t panic! There are a few things you can do:
1. Talk to the attendant
First and foremost, ask the car attendant if it’s possible to crank up the AC any higher. They may be able to! Especially if you’re in a roomette, they may not realize the temperature in your room was getting too warm. As always, be polite.
2. Improve airflow if you can
If you’re in a roomette, leave the door open and adjust any vents to improve the airflow as much as possible.
3. Move to another car
It’s possible the AC is working better in another part of the train, so check out the lounge car, cafe car, or just take a leisurely stroll down the length of the train. If you are in coach and find cooler air in another car, you should be able to move to another open seat within your service class — just make sure to take the slip of paper above your seat with you and place it in the slot above your new seat.
4. Dress in layers
Plan ahead by wearing layers, with lightweight or cooling layers underneath like a tank top or cami you can strip down to if it gets really hot. Now is the time to break out those dorky pants you can zip off at the knees and turn into shorts. Counterintuitively, it’s also smart to pack a warm layer, like a hoodie, in case you find yourself in a car where the AC is working a little too well!
5. Pack cooling supplies
If you know you’ll be taking Amtrak during a heatwave, pack accordingly. Knowing you have supplies like water, a small handheld fan, a bandana you can wet and apply to your skin, even a small cooler with gel packs, can give you peace of mind if you’re sensitive to heat.
Should You Still Take Amtrak In Summer?
I say yes! While a heatwave can make travel more complicated, horror stories like that broken down train are the exception. Remember that other modes of transportation, including air travel and cars, can also be affected or delayed by extreme heat — it’s not just Amtrak.
Plus, longer summer days can mean better views, especially when traveling in northern states. This past winter I took the evening Cascades from Seattle to Vancouver, and was disappointed that the sun set before we reached some of the most beautiful scenery of the trip. I’ll definitely be making the trip again in the summer!
So plan ahead, stay flexible, and keep your cool — literally. With a little preparation, summer train travel can still be one of the most relaxing and scenic ways to get where you’re going.
Want more Amtrak travel trips? Pick up All Aboard: The Complete North American Train Travel Guide for all the information you need to plan the perfect train trip.