Yes, Amtrak trains have outlets and charging ports on most of the modern, newly built trains, in the coach, business class, and First Class. There can be some exceptional older trains and routes that don’t provide ports onboard, or the ports may be broken, for example, the Northeast Corridor (Acela, Regional), the California Zephyr, the Coast Starlight, Empire Builder. These slots can usually be located under the windows, near seats, in public places, like cafes and lounges. Moreover, travelers must check the availability of amenities in the train before booking the tickets.
Outlets and Charging Ports by Amtrak Service Class
Amtrak charging port service varies by class: Coach, Business Class, and First Class. Carrying a personal adapter is mandatory if someone wants to charge their devices during the journey. The NextGen Acela trains are designed with both individual outlets and USB ports on each seat.
| Basis | Coach | Roomette (Business Class) | Bedroom (First Class) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Outlets | Two slots for every pair of seats. | One outlet in the Roomette. | One charging port in the bedroom. |
| Specific Location | Near the window | Near the attendant call button. | Over the sink in the bedroom. |
Where Are the Outlets Located on Amtrak Trains?
Charging outlets can be found at many places in the train. It can be in the coaches, at public places. However, there will be fewer in the public places, which can be accessed by fewer people.
- Under the windows
- Near the seats
- Cafes
- Lounges
- Outside of the washrooms
Amtrak outlets are generally shared ones, with the availability and exact number varying significantly by train model and class of service. Private rooms may have a separate outlet for charging, but coaches have outlets shared between passengers. New models of trains are now being designed in a way to provide individual charging ports, keeping the capacity of travelers as a priority.
NOTE: Not all coaches have outlets; some routes are there that provide less amenities to passengers. Hence, they have been advised to keep a power bank as a backup. In case they couldn’t find a charging slot, it would be beneficial if they had an option in the background.
Do All Amtrak Trains Have Outlets?
No, every Amtrak train doesn’t have a charging outlet, which can be older or regional. But most of the trains that travel long distances do have a charging port, either shared or single. That means travelers get a chance to utilize it. Occasionally, there is a complaint which have been raised, that is, the ports don’t work; they are present but are not operational.
- the Northeast Corridor (Acela, Regional),
- the California Zephyr,
- the Coast Starlight,
- Empire Builder.
The trains working on these routes are generally old-built, which is a potential reason for the unavailability of charging ports. While some are regional trains, which eventually diffuses the need for outlets.
Amtrak Outlets vs. Charging Ports: What to Use?
Amtrak offers both traditional outlets and charging ports on most of its trains. Passengers can use these slots to charge their phones, tablets, and laptops with a USB cable and using adapter with it. However, Some trains might contain only power sockets and carrying an adapter will be must. However, using public charging ports will have a suspicions and risk for data theft and transfer.
These outlets can be easily found on the seats on almost every Amtrak train. Each coach has a 120V electric outlet at each seat, while USB-C ports are also present on modern trains, but the voltage cannot be guaranteed. Sometimes it’s very high, while sometimes it’s low to an extent that one could manage to get 2 to 3% battery in half an hour.
Amtrak WiFi and Charging Onboard
Amtrak WiFi is free and accessible on both trains and stations. Similar to charging ports, the availability can vary from routes and trains. Furthermore, the range of this internet connection is unpredictable due to limited bandwidth and does not provide high-speed or support downloading large files and streaming videos. However, a basic speed is provided for general browsing and staying updated during the journey. Travelers must consider switching on their VPN while using this public internet to stay safe with their data.
For long-haul distances, Amtrak advises travelers to carry their portable adapters, power banks and utilize a hotspot as a backup, rather than relying on the onboard amenities.
Pro Tips for Charging on Amtrak Trains
Travelers must be cautious and check their devices before boarding their Amtrak trains to have an comfortable journey. Charging can be slow, hence, they should consider keeping some extra things in their bags as a backup.
- Pack a portable charger: It can help them charge their devices anywhere, at the station and in the trains, especially when they have multiple devices.
- Use adapters for charging: Using adapters on the train instead of USB ports can be much safer for travelers and can save them from potential scams.
- Safety measures: They should not charge large and heavy devices on the train as it can lead to possible accidents.
- Bring a long cable: Travelers in the Aisle seat must bring a long cable as they will be required to charge their devices through wall outlets near the window.
- Don’t Rely on Train Facilities: They should use their backups for both charging and wifi by bringing power banks and downloading content in advance or using a mobile hotspot during travel.
Conclusion
Amtrak charging ports and outlets are available and accessible, either through individual or shared outlets. The location of these ports is quite visible, being under the window or on the seats, while using the AC outlets is safer than the USB ports due to the risk of data transfer. On top, the availability can differ from routes to trains, like the Northeast Corridor. Just like charging ports, Amtrak wifi is also accessible, but not reliable enough due to limited and crowded usage. Hence, it is recommended to keep backups for both purposes.
FAQs
Yes, most of the Amtrak trains have charging ports of both types: AC outlets and USB ports for charging devices.
These power outlets on Amtrak trains can easily located under the windows, on the seats, cafes, lounges and sometimes even outside restrooms.
No, amtrak train power outlets are free to use for every passenger. There is no need for paying anything.
Yes, Amtrak offers both Wifi connection and charging outlets on their almost every train.
In an Amtrak coach, two outlets for every pair of seats are present, which means two slots on every two configured seats.
Generally, it’s safe, but it is not advisable when you have confidential data on your device, as the risk of data transfer is higher and easier.
Yes, in the modern-built trains, all ports work, but speed is unpredictable. However, it’s not guaranteed on old-style trains.
