Amtrak Quiet Car

The Amtrak Quiet Car is a designated car on many Amtrak trains in the United States, in which passengers are asked to remain quiet and maintain a "library-like atmosphere." Amtrak began the Quiet Car program in the early 2000s and it is available on most short-distance trains.[1]

Quiet Car on Amtrak's Northeast Regional with Quiet Car sign in the top center.
Quiet Car on Acela with Quiet Car sign in the top right.

Origin

In early 2000, regular commuters between Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. on Amtrak 151, an early morning Northeast Regional train from New York City to Washington, became frustrated with excessive noise emanating from fellow passengers talking on the phone. The conductor decided to implement a "Quiet-Zone." Soon after, it became Amtrak's official policy to designate an official quiet car.[2]

Usage

Most corridor trains, such as the Northeast Regional and Acela have a designated quiet ride car. The location of the quiet car varies from train to train. On Acela trains, the quiet car is adjacent to first class and is typically the second car on the train.[1] On Northeast Regional trains the location of the quiet car can vary but it is usually adjacent to the business class car.[1] On some overnight Northeast Regional trains, the quiet car is not adjacent to business class but is instead the first car behind the locomotive. On Keystone Service trains the quiet car is the car adjacent to the locomotive regardless of the direction in which the train is travelling.[1] On Hiawatha Service trains the quiet car is always the rearmost car.[1] On Blue Water trains and select Capitol Corridor trains the car can vary from train to train and passengers are instructed to ask a member of the crew as to the location of the quiet car.[1] Lastly, on Select Empire Corridor trains the quiet car is adjacent to the locomotive.[1]

Incidents

In October of 2015, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie was asked to leave the Acela quiet car after he began talking on his cellphone.[3]

References
  1. "Amtrak Quiet Car". www.amtrak.com. Retrieved 2023-04-02.
  2. "Sound of Silence: The Amtrak Quiet Car - Amtrak Blo". Amtrak. 2014-11-14. Retrieved 2023-04-02.
  3. Bradner, Eric (2015-10-25). "Noisy Christie exits Amtrak 'quiet car' after complaints | CNN Politics". CNN. Retrieved 2023-04-02.
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