Travel comes in many forms. With all the covid safety in place, it makes me wonder how safe travel is in general. If you haven’t read my post on Alaska Air and their safety practices, feel free. It will give you a lot of insight into how safe flying is a the moment. Other airlines like American Air is also killing it when it comes to safety and coronavirus. However, airlines and flight schedules seem to come with a fair amount of volatile changes. So I got to thinking, how safe is train travel?

This train travel adventure took me from Union Station in downtown LA to San Luis Obispo. It’s a five hours long train ride.

Union Station has excellent parking options. Nevertheless, I opted for an Uber ride instead.

Considering there’s no traffic due to covid, we got there faster than normal.

Union Station is a beautiful and historic station. The art deco chandeliers and finishes keep your eyes darting across the vast open spaces in search of the next beautiful thing.

Types of cabins

The first thing I should talk about is the types of tickets available to you as a train rider. You have a basic economy ticket, a business class ticket, and a first-class ticket.

The basic economy ticket is basically a seat on the train. A business class ticket is a wide seat for you and a friend. A first-class ticket is an actual cabin room. 

Each type of train ticket will give you separate types of option meals.

My partner and I purchased a first-class ticket. To start with, a first-class ticket gives you access to a private cabin with plenty of room to stretch out. They have two beds, a table for eating, and its own private restroom.

Therefore, if you’re trying to socially distance during these times, this is the safest option.

The first-class ticket also gives you access to the train lounge at Union Station. I didn’t know this existed. However, my partner read up on it and decided we needed to head straight to it.

The lounge itself is big enough to stay separated from other people in the room.

They offer you coffee, tea, and a snack pack. The snack pack has cookies, jerky, peanuts, crackers, cheese, and a wet napkin.

To top it off, you’re escorted to the train before the boarding starts. So you avoid all people rushing to the train trying to board.

So far, I am very impressed with this type of first-class travel.

The First Class Cabin on the Amtrak

The best part about this first-class cabin experience is the price. So, they charge you about $150 for the private room itself and then charge you per person. It’s $55 per person. For two people, we paid roughly $250 in total.

I know that sounds like a lot for a train ride, but here is how I’m comparing it. 

If you want a private first-class cabin with your own private shower, sink, and bed on a plane, it will cost you thousands. 

Below are a few random first-class tickets from Los Angeles International Airport to Haneda Airport in Tokyo, Japan. The prices here are from multiple airlines. The cheapest is $16k. I don’t know about you, but I don’t have $16k to spare on a flight. Also, I’m not even sure these flights have all the amenities I’m looking for (like a shower and a bar area.) That might be another $15k.

So, $250 is looking pretty good and affordable.

What does my First Class Cabin Look Like?

Have you ever wanted to fly first class in a private cabin on a fancy airline like Singapore or Etihad? I never have, but I would love to. So when I arrived at my private cabin on this train, I was surprised and very impressed. Everything is incredibly cute, but it made me feel like I was flying again.

Upon opening the door, you immediately see a giant couch to the left. This couch flattens out to become a bed. Right above it, there is a bunk bed that’s folded up against the wall. The giant window is incredible, and the view is spectacular.

Directly connected to the window, there is a small table you can unfold. It’s big enough for two. You can use this table to eat or work. There’s a singular seat on the opposite side of the couch, in front of the table.

Opposite that, there’s a private toilet. If you enter the toilet, you’ll see that it’s also a shower. It’s brilliant.

Outside of the private toilet, there’s a tiny but effective sink. There’s a mirror and even a medicine cabinet with more toilet paper and face towels, and soap.

You also have regular and expected amenities like bottles of water, a thermostat to adjust the AC. A small closet to hang your sweater. Pillows and blankets on the couch bed. Reading lights above the seats. You will feel pampered.

The main reason we chose a private first-class cabin is to feel safer during these times of covid-19. I felt so safe and secure during this train ride. I’ll do it again.

Safety during train travel

Everyone is required to keep their facemask on during the train ride. For example, if you’re in a public section of the train, like the cafeteria or observation deck, you’re required to keep your mask on.

The train is kept clean. The staff does their best to stay far from passengers.

If you’re in a first-class cabin, you can remove your mask since you can literally close yourself off from the rest of the train.

When they take your order for lunch, the train attendant doesn’t enter your private cabin. Everything is done from the door and as far away as possible.

Meal Service on train travel

They have a cafeteria on the train where you can order from a menu. However, if you’re seated anywhere on the train, they’ll come around with a snack tray for purchase.

If you’re seated in first class, you also have a menu to select from.

The menu is not extensive, but they have a good assortment of options. I chose the Chicken Fettuccini option, and my partner chose the Meatball plate.

It comes with a drink and one free alcoholic beverage. You also get a side salad, choice of dessert and bread.

In all honesty, the food itself is just okay—however, its a lot of food. So, if you’re hungry, it will fill you up.

If I have one criticism

The only thing I was disappointed by is the wifi. Maybe they’re having difficulties, but I couldn’t find the wifi signal. Perhaps not all Amtrak trains have wifi. Nevertheless, I had a lot of non-internet-related things to complete during this 5-hour train ride. This isn’t a complaint. I just want my readers to be aware of the wifi situation.

Let me break it down for you:

For around $250 for two people, a first-class train ride with a private cabin is totally worth it. I highly recommend it, especially when everyone is looking for a way to travel safely. I felt totally safe. If you’re still wondering if it’s safer than air travel, I would say, first-class train travel is definitely safer.

You get a great meal. Your first alcoholic beverage is free. The couch bed is big enough to spread out and get comfortable.

If that’s not enough, you’re completely separated from other people, and you get your own shower and toilet. It’s pretty amazing for the price.

Would you ever consider train travel like this? I would love to know.