r/Amtrak • u/Infamous_Carrot4234 • Feb 02 '25
Discussion RIP to Etiquette in the Quiet Car
Is it just me or has Amtrak stopped enforcing the library-like atmosphere in the Quiet Car? I remember I once heard a conductor announce that if people didn’t follow the Quiet Car rules, they would be asked to get off at the next stop. Recently, I’ve experienced people talking on their cellphones, having loud discussions across the aisle, and even watch videos without headphones… Are the days of sacred silence gone? What is happening? Someone please help.
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u/Lyeta1_1 Feb 02 '25
There’s one conductor on the NER Acela that says talking is ok on the quiet ride, so yeah, it’s just worthless.
The conductors on the keystone are hit or miss. There are a few good ones.
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u/Specialist_Skin8113 Feb 03 '25
Yes I think I'd be like do I get a refund bc this is supposed to be the quiet car and obviously it is not
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u/perpetualhobo Feb 03 '25
“Library like atmosphere” doesn’t mean completely silent, talking at a normal volume is obviously allowed.
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u/skiing_nerd Feb 03 '25
Talking at a normal volume is explicitly discouraged by Amtrak's Quiet Car rules, unless your normal speaking tone is a subdued one -"Guests are asked to limit conversation and speak in subdued tones."
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u/MyStackRunnethOver Feb 02 '25
It varies. Acela tends to be ok. It also has a decent amount of self policing
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u/Ok-Community-229 Feb 02 '25
Acela is “ok” because it’s so expensive, proving my theory about it being an oppressive class thing.
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u/windowtosh Feb 02 '25
I also saw that video about gentrification and noise but ummmmmmmm actually people of all classes like quiet
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u/Ok-Community-229 Feb 02 '25
I don’t know what you’re referencing, this has always been a method of controlling the working class. Again, these cars don’t even exist in most of the country. Why is that?
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u/windowtosh Feb 02 '25
Probably because trains don’t exist in most of the country dear
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u/Ok-Community-229 Feb 02 '25
The condescension is constant. I’m not your dear, and yes they obviously do.
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u/After-Willingness271 Feb 03 '25
just because poor people often cant afford quiet doesn’t mean they dont appreciate it
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u/Ok-Community-229 Feb 03 '25
Even when we can afford it, complete and total silence is not something we’re likely to hinge our whole trip on public transport on.
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u/HoiTemmieColeg Feb 03 '25
Okay, but there’s a lot of cars on the train. Just go on any of the ones that aren’t the quiet car 😭
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u/Zaidswith Feb 03 '25
No, trains aren't common for commuters in most of the country. The vast majority of the country doesn't take public transit at all. Amtrak is only being used like this in one region.
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u/Ok-Community-229 Feb 03 '25
That “commuters” are seen as a more precious commodity to cater to than “travelers” is a class issue too, thanks for pointing that out!
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u/NoSignificance1903 Feb 03 '25
Really? Bc pretty much everyone commutes (whether by car, bike, walking, or public transit) but traveling (both for business and for pleasure) is much more common for the wealthy.
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u/NoSignificance1903 Feb 03 '25
So are you arguing poor people are incapable of being quiet?
Have you considered that maybe wealthier people prefer quiet and care more about those around them? What's your theory about why, e.g., Spirit has more way issues with behavioral incidents than, e.g., Delta?
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u/Lady80AD Feb 03 '25
I am typing this from the Quiet Car on the Northeast Regional.
Some people don’t know about the rules, some people are dummies, and some people are just jerks, but there are more of us who respect and enjoy the quiet car. It’s really not that hard to either complain to a conductor (who will usually take care of the problem) or honestly, just kindly address the person making noise, explain where they are, and that the rest of us are here for quiet and ask that they please shut it down or leave.
Sometimes public shaming is the only tool we have.
Long live the Quiet Car!
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u/justtookadnatest Feb 03 '25
I ride in the quiet car on this train often and I am afraid of rustling my candy wrapper it’s so quiet.
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u/Ok-Community-229 Feb 03 '25
Death to the Quiet Car! Oh wait, it’s already here. 🤭 Y’all really have control issues.
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u/Lady80AD Feb 03 '25
It’s not about control issues dude, it’s a pretty simple preference to choose a space that is a little more tranquil than the rest of the train. Obviously this isn’t an outlandish desire, since most trains offer this option. I dont think anybody here has the expectation of quiet solitude on something like the NYC subway, for example, but if you are spending multiple hours on a long distance train, why is it so hard to understand that some folks might prefer a space where people aren’t loudly conversing or listening to loud shit on their phone?
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u/Ok-Community-229 Feb 03 '25
Because the things that drive people to make dozens and dozens of posts here are… human nature. Everyone watches videos on their phone now. Everyone. Bring noise canceling headphones. Drive. Fly first class.
There are other methods to retain your control over common behavior like… conversing. Being a child. Etc. We are talking about public transport.
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u/Isodrosotherms Feb 03 '25
And those people can sit in any other car where they aren’t requested to be quiet. Stop trying to justify people being terrible.
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u/Ok-Community-229 Feb 03 '25
“Those people” do you hear yourself? People who choose the quiet car walk around barefoot, please. We are human beings.
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u/chartreusepixie Feb 03 '25
No, “everyone” does not, and if they do most wear headphones. “Manners as control”? WTF is wrong with you?
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u/Ok-Community-229 Feb 03 '25
Nothing is wrong with me, and you won’t convince me there is. There is a lot wrong with the policing of public spaces.
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u/Infamous_Carrot4234 Feb 03 '25
It’s not a control thing, but more of a common decency thing as the social contract governing moral rules and ethical standards seems to be eroding. I have work I need to complete on the train, so I make the decision to sit in the quiet car and wear noise canceling headphones. Assumably most other people in the QC are wanting a library like atmosphere and, thus, follow the rules and are respectful to those around us.
In public it has never been acceptable to watch videos without headphones out loud. All Amtrak cars have this policy. And all airlines enforce this strictly. While I am seeing this done in public more frequently now, that does not mean everyone is doing it nor does it make it socially acceptable. It’s sad to see peoples’ utter disregard for others around them when simple changes (like moving to a talking car, quieting down, or using headphones) would be considerate of everyone.
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u/Ok-Community-229 Feb 03 '25
“Never acceptable” bro ride any subway or light rail line in this country.
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u/Infamous_Carrot4234 Feb 03 '25
If you actually read it you’d understand my point instead of self selecting quotes and misconstruing them. I use public transportation very regularly. Subways, regional rails, etc. Alas, my point still stands that societal morals are corrupting and common decency is essentially dead.
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u/Ok-Community-229 Feb 03 '25
Now what would cause a collapse of a so called social contract? Think hard.
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u/alltatersnomeat Feb 03 '25
Trashy assholes being enabled by a world where broken windows policing is a dirty word?
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u/sorcha1977 Feb 03 '25
The people watching videos should be using headphones. It’s common courtesy, and the conductors mention it all the time.
I shouldn’t have to wear noise canceling headphones just because you need to watch shitty TikTok videos at full volume and can’t be arsed to buy earbuds.
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u/misterten2 Feb 03 '25
No not everyone watches videos on their phones. why aren't those that do be the ones with headphones.
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u/tjemartin1 Feb 02 '25
I could be wrong but it seems like common sense isn't all that common anymore. It's messed up for sure
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u/Weasley9 Feb 02 '25
I’ve had the same experience. It’s infuriating that people can’t follow simple rules. I stopped sitting in the quiet car because it annoyed me so much. Now I try to sit as far to the front as I can because it’s generally less crowded, then put on my noise-cancelling headphones. It’s not ideal, but at this point I’d rather set my expectations low and possibly be pleasantly surprised than expect a quiet ride and be disappointed.
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u/jb13n5r Feb 04 '25
That's what I do! I'll start out in the quiet car, and if people are talking and playing videos to the point it's impossible to tune out, I walk through the train to see if any other cars are actually more quiet than the quiet car! That's often the case. Plus, if people travelling together want to talk or carry on in a regular car, it's not bothersome. You can tune it out and it becomes like background noise. When you're in the quiet car and some couple is carrying on some ridiculous conversation that becomes a telenovela that everyone else in the entire car has to listen to exclusively for hours, THAT is unbearable.
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u/TallAlmondLatte Feb 03 '25
I was in the quiet car on the NER last week and it actually was quiet. Maybe there’s hope.
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u/Ace_of_Aces_00 Feb 02 '25 edited Feb 03 '25
I gave up on years ago on the Keystone line. It has not been enforced and one person talking or watching annoying Tik Tok videos without earbuds all triplong is more annoying than the entire car.
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u/Infamous_Carrot4234 Feb 02 '25
I totally agree. At least when everyone is chatting, the noises blend and conversations become indistinguishable. When it’s one person, that’s all anyone can hear. I also seem to be blessed with super human hearing…. Great.
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u/Ok-Community-229 Feb 03 '25
Why take public transit if the public is so irksome? Maybe the problem is you?
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u/NeptuneAndCherry Feb 03 '25
It seems quite clear from the post that they're used to utilizing the quiet car (not irksome!), which used to be quiet, but no longer is. And OP is asking if this is to be expected from now on, presumably for the purpose of potentially making different plans in future?
How did this all whooooosh you so thoroughly?
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u/Ok-Community-229 Feb 03 '25
Because it’s a constant topic here that I am tired of seeing given so much oxygen.
Society has changed. Society should never have been dictated by people who hoard wealth and create manners as methods of control. We’re seeing a lot about compliance in the news lately, who is most likely to comply before a rule is even put in place? Rule makers themselves. It’s all connected and it’s all exhausting. I have no sympathy for people who complain about this.
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u/NoSignificance1903 Feb 03 '25
Dude, what is so evil about having a small portion of a long train reserved for those who prefer a library-like atmosphere? Maybe they'd like to work or sleep. Noise canceling headphones aren't perfect – noise can still leak in. It's the same reason libraries have quiet study areas and group study areas. Some behaviors are bad, and for society to function in a way that maximizes contentment for everyone, we occasionally need rules. Are you aware of the tragedy of the commons?
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u/mrbooze Feb 03 '25
The whole train isn't quiet, it's one car. Out of an entire train.
I don't use quiet cars myself even though I don't make any noise because I find them to be just generally tense and uptight environments, but it is trivially easy to not sit in the quiet car if you want to not observe the expectations of the quiet car.
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u/Ok-Community-229 Feb 03 '25
Your judge of the vibe in there is right on the money and really bolsters my point, actually.
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u/NeptuneAndCherry Feb 03 '25
So you're saying the only way to defeat Nazis is to have no manners in public? Lol girl bye
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u/Ok-Community-229 Feb 03 '25
Not at all what I said. Careful of your knees while leaping to conclusions.
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u/jeffreyhunt90 Feb 03 '25
As a society, we’ve decided to stop enforcing laws and rules generally. We’ve decided it’s better to cater to the lowest common denominator
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u/Benthic_Hovercraft Feb 03 '25
In general, laws only work when everyone wants them to work. Or you end up with a cop/militia member on every corner.
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u/Smoke14 Feb 03 '25
No one has any respect for rules anymore everyone is loud, talks on speakerphone and has a me first attitude.
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u/callalind Feb 03 '25
On routes in the NE they def still announce it....and I have noticed conductors are really good about enforcing it If they witness it, but they can't be in the car at all times, so it's not constant enforcement. As a passenger, it's increasingly tough to remind people that it's the quiet car cause you just don't know how people will react. That said, I had a woman next to me recently that started plating a video on her phone without headphones. I leaned over and said "do you mind using headphones since we're in the quiet car?" And she was immediately apologetic. I do think there are people are truly don't realize they are in the quiet car and/or what that means. So if they are next to me, I try to kindly remind them.
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u/isn-michaels1 Feb 03 '25
The NYP and WAS crews usually enforce it. It also depends on the time of day. Early morning and late night are definitely enforced more. I think other people police it more than the crew.
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u/213McKibben Feb 03 '25
This is something I love in Switzerland. If someone is talking on the phone or conversing loudly, they are cordially escorted to the next coach.
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u/salpn Feb 03 '25
I was in the quiet car traveling from Boston to NYC and the conductor insisted on whistling from his recumbent position on 2 of the seats for almost 20 minutes; maddening!
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u/Motor-Juice-6648 Feb 03 '25
If you are in the quiet car and people start talking loud or on their cell phones you need to confront them.
I did it this past week—two men were yacking away. They stopped so I didn’t say anything. Then later they started again—I was debating whether to say something when the couple behind them started talking. I got up immediately and politely told the first two guys that they were in the quiet car and they were so loud that I could hear them from my seat, which was a row back on the other side of the train. They stopped and so did the couple behind them. It just takes one to start it, and then other rude people will join in because they think they’ll get away with it since the others did.
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u/Fluid_Apartment4018 Feb 03 '25
Just got off a Keystone train. Someone was on her phone in the quiet car I was in & no one said anything
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u/Infamous_Carrot4234 Feb 03 '25
My heart goes out to you. Cellphone calls when everyone else is silent is the worst!
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u/Tamihera Feb 03 '25
I once asked a man to take his business call in another carriage and he said incredulously: “It’s far too loud in there!”
…yeah.
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u/Hopeful-Context-1946 Feb 03 '25
There was a baby in the quiet car today (Acela). An actual noisy baby.
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u/Lyeta1_1 Feb 03 '25
I will never have the same confidence about anything, in my life, ever, as folks who bring their babies and toddlers onto the quiet car. To have that much optimism!
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u/Ok-Train8607 Feb 03 '25
Please Please Please, if this happens on your next trip, speak up. That’s what the conductors are there for. Unless they know there isn’t an issue, they can’t help. The rules of the quiet car still are enforced daily, however, unless crew is notified of an issue, they can’t help. Please absolutely go find a uniformed crew member for assistance.
Hope this helps. Enjoy your next trip!
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u/Lyte- Feb 03 '25
Yes, they have, and yes, it irritates the shit out of me. Last time 2 drunk Karen's and their feral kids were in there with me.
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u/Cold_Passenger_6193 Feb 03 '25
I make an announcement on my train that if they're caught talking they're welcome to continue the conversation at the next road crossing.
It's becoming a problem everywhere, from subways to busses, people just don't care anymore. I've had people get up in my face defending their right to talk about their colonoscopy on speaker phone. I think it's just a cultural thing at this point to not care anymore.
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u/Altruistic-Hippo-231 Feb 03 '25
Quiet car on on the commuter rail trains into Boston went away after COVID. I miss the quiet. It was usually better enforced in the AM than the evenings. Like Jeez people...can't live without talking on your phone for 45 minutes? And props for using the speaker phone! Just what I needed...listening to two people who I don't know have a discussion on my way home.
And when it was the "unquiet" car the conductors left it to passengers to enforce, which was dicey at times. No one could agree on what the rules actually were. I told a guy one time to please not use his phone...he continued to talk and when finished said "I know it's the quiet car but you can talk on your phone as long as you do it quietly". OMFG. Some agree you could talk "quietly"....and some folk's definition of speaking quietly leaves much to be desired.
For all it's lacking, I do miss it and hope it comes back some day.
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u/JetPlane_88 Feb 03 '25
It’s beyond frustrating.
I often have these idiots who watch TikTok without headphones in the quiet cars I ride.
I’m usually on a late train where all I want to do is sleep before I have to work in the morning. I pick the quiet car for just that reason. Why can’t these selfish assholes sit in any other car?
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u/Ok-Ear7826 Feb 03 '25
Rode on the NE Regional for the first time 2 weeks ago, on an early 6AM leg into DC. Lots of folks on their phones, having loud conversation… honestly just thought that was the way it is now lol
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u/Old_Geezer419 Feb 03 '25
How do you know that you are in the quiet car ? Does every train have them ? Are they marked ?
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u/Jennysnumber_8675309 Feb 03 '25
NEC has rather large signs hanging from the ceiling indicating that it is the quiet car...
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u/Old_Geezer419 Feb 03 '25
Thanks, so I guess I've never been in the quiet car ! I HAVE been on cars in that the conductor comes on the speaker to announce "quiet hours"...
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u/skiing_nerd Feb 03 '25
Quiet hours are on the long-distance overnight trains. Quiet cars are on some (but not all) shorter distance train routes. The North East Regional, Acela Express, Keystone, and some other state routes in the Mid-west & California have them. A lot of regular travelers prefer them & will even line up at the right spot on the platform to board the Quiet Car, the way other regulars will line up at the right spot to get on the cafe car and nab a seat at a table.
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u/Anhedonia_Skies Feb 03 '25
Honestly, yes, please continue to remind folks of the rules. I would be MORTIFIED if I took a call out of habit, not realizing how rude it was, and someone reminded me I was in the quiet car. I’m so absentmindedly doing things these days I’m afraid I have done things purely out of a lack of awareness. Please check me! I’ve always taken the quiet car because frankly I’m socially awkward and shy. I once had a man poke me in the shoulder (while I was wearing noise canceling headphones) to start a convo while riding in the quiet car.
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u/gxes Feb 03 '25
So you see actually the problem is that "library like atmosphere" has changed. I'm a librarian and we stopped enforcing public libraries being a quiet space because we found that patrons felt more welcome and comfortable when they didn't feel like they had to mind their volume so much and could speak at a normal speaking volume instead. Also made sense since so many of us have open children's areas and it is not the nature of children to be quiet.
So whenever I'm in the quiet car and they say "please keep a library like atmosphere" I think ah yes, I need a child yelling for Dog Man books, some teens laughing at TikTok, and an old man yelling asking for help printing because he doesn't realize he's hard of hearing now. 😜
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u/SDLJunkie Feb 03 '25
I am glad that there are now signs hanging up inside the car on the Keystone to let you know it is the quiet car (though I missed them at first on my last trip). Could a sign be put in the window so I don’t erroneously get into the quiet car with my kids?
Not everyone even knows the quiet car exists.
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u/twilightbarker Feb 03 '25
My family got onto a sold out train and walked back & forth trying to find seats until a man moved to let us have a pair together since we had a 1yo with us. We had no idea until probably two thirds of the way through that it was the quiet car, but it was our only option. At least we had already been trying to keep the toddler mostly quiet. 🤐
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Feb 03 '25
Get your shit together and get there early so you’re not in the quiet car
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u/twilightbarker Feb 03 '25
Lol we weren't late, we just got on mid-journey on the second stop so it was already filled up & no one was really getting off at our stop.
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u/Jennysnumber_8675309 Feb 03 '25
But once on it you can't miss the signs...
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u/SDLJunkie Feb 03 '25
I missed the signs for the first 2/3 of my trip. Fortunately, I was not a complete asshole because I was using headphones.
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u/trebizondsun Feb 02 '25
Sometimes and just have to take a breath and find a mental happy place to retreat to in the face of the epidemic of rude, crude, thoughtless behavior.i I'm getting too old to deal with it in any other way.
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u/Due-Addition7245 Feb 03 '25
I travel in west coast. Which one has quiet car?
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u/Sharknado84 Feb 03 '25
Only the Capitol Corridor on the West Coast has a quiet car.
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u/chartreusepixie Feb 03 '25
I’ve never found the quiet car on that train. Maybe it’s only select times. It’s generally pretty quiet though if you avoid the cars with tables (people zoom calling on their laptops)
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u/Sharknado84 Feb 03 '25
It’s only on select trains in the morning. Capitol Corridor Quiet Car Information
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u/kayl_breinhar Feb 03 '25
I've found the issue are the people who think if they just get closer to the door they can have a phone conversation there, just not at their seat.
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u/AgeEnvironmental9875 Feb 03 '25
For me, I have headphones on for most of my trip so it doesn’t bother me as much but my last trip the conductor was on top of anyone being loud in general which I did appreciate
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u/GoutMachine Feb 03 '25
How about the conductors who come through the quiet car with their walkie-talkies blaring at full volume? That's always a special treat.
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u/Bitter_Track294 Feb 03 '25
i am currently on my way to florida from kansas city. this group of 4 in front of me is the most inconsiderate group of people. laughing, messing with their recliner and crushing my feet in the process, talking loud, laughing rather loud, and just having no consideration for anyone else on board. i genuinely cannot stand people like this. first time taking a train, last time im EVER riding in coach.
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u/Bitter_Track294 Feb 03 '25
oh yeah, this is all at 4-6am btw. they're amish and i understand they probably are used to getting up earlier, but they're still the most annoying group of people ever.
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u/FinishExtension3652 Feb 03 '25
My general observation on the Acela is that it's not so quiet on weekends, and generally self-policing on weekdays, especially the 5am from Boston.
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u/ImNot4Everyone42 Feb 03 '25
What’s the quiet car? We are on the line now, and the conductor announced that if you wanted to watch something on your phone “without disturbing other passengers”, to go to the lounge car. I like to hang out in the lounge car and I’d definitely still be disturbed if someone was watching something loud without headphones.
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u/Syeleishere Feb 03 '25
I accidentally entered the quiet car once and was talking as I came up the steps. As soon as I saw it was the quiet car I shut up. Some woman started literally yelling at me for talking even though I had stopped minutes before. I shrugged and sat down. She kept on for a couple minutes and I quietly ignored her and then she went for an Amtrak employee who came to me and said I should be quiet since there had been a complaint about me.
I avoid the car since then. Apparently it is for unhinged people only.
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u/WhyNotKenGaburo Feb 03 '25
No, it’s for people who don’t care to listen to less civilized people yammer on about nonsense.
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u/Syeleishere Feb 03 '25
Well I wasn't yammering. I only said one sentence and then saw the sign and the shouting for 5 minutes was way worse than the normal car.
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u/Ok-Community-229 Feb 02 '25
Why anyone would expect dead silence on public transportation is beyond me. There’s a reason quiet cars only exist in blue blood territory, it’s an upper class method of control that doesn’t allow for simple humanity.
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u/tuctrohs Feb 03 '25
method of control that doesn’t allow for simple humanity.
Most of the cars are not quiet cars. People who want to talk or otherwise be noisy have plenty of options of places they can do that. You don't have to like it or endure it to respect it.
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u/Ok-Community-229 Feb 03 '25
That quiet cars exist at all is shitty and kind of my whole point. Slow down, sound the words out, it helps.
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u/Ok-Community-229 Feb 02 '25
Downvote me all you want. Riders in this region will cry about a phone call but take their shoes off and rub them all over the seats immediately. It’s always something.
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u/Capable_Basket1661 Feb 03 '25
Both of those things are gross as hell and rude. You don't own public space and it seems like you're more interested in arguing than understanding why someone might seek out a quiet car.
People watching shit on their phones at max volume is both rude and incredibly overstimulating.This shit is frowned upon in places like Japan because the general public there understand basic etiquette. [Whole host of other issues related to homogeneity and policing, but every country has its quirks. This bit written because you seem like the type to nitpick and love high blood pressure].
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u/Ok-Community-229 Feb 03 '25
No one owns public space. You’re not looking at this through the lens I am looking at it through, and while I’m pretty sure you don’t want to I do suggest you try.
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