wearing: tweed blazer / nail polish / earrings / tee shirt / classic cut jeans / black loafers / backpack (similar here)

Are you wondering how to travel by train and how it is different than traveling by airplane? I recently went on a work trip to Sacramento via Amtrak and since it was my first time traveling by train instead of car or airplane, I had a few questions.

Can you carry-on a suitcase on Amtrak? Yes! Yes you can! If you bring the suitcase you typically carry-on for air travel, it should be the right size for train travel, but always check the train you plan to take in order to ensure the dimensions are correct.

If you have a favorite bag you typically use as a personal item for air travel, and it fits under the seat on an airplane, it should be good for a train too. My trusty backpack fit nicely under the seat in front me on the train, just like on a plane. Love that!

When it comes to carry-on storage on Amtrak, there are suitcase racks near the ends of the train cars where you can store your suitcase or large bag. For smaller luggage, you can put your carry-on in the overhead bins. If you have a large suitcase or luggage, you can check them at the train station. Be sure to allow extra time for checking your baggage.

Can you bring full-size beauty products on a train? Yes! Yes you can! Since there aren’t stringent tsa requirements on a train, you can bring your full-size beauty products with you in your carry-on.

The Amtrak train I took also had 120 volt plugs which were great for plugging in a phone or laptop. Some of the coach seats had tables, and some of the seats were regular, airplane style seating, as shown in the photo of me above. If you have an open seating coach ticket, you can pick the style of seat you want to travel in when you board the train. We ended up moving upstairs to the tables and it was nice because those seats are quite roomy.

The train trip I took was a roughly three-hour ride, if you have an overnight train trip, things could be a little different. Check with your train’s website for additional rules.

We found the train leaves on time, if not a minute or two early. Make sure you arrive on time with extra time to spare. At some stations, the walk from the entrance of the station to where you board the train can take up to ten minutes. Give yourself extra time!

Enjoy your trip by train and let me know if you have any questions!