Amtrak Carry-on sizes

I only ride the Amtrak Cascades - but on there, my bigger bag (which is carry-on size) goes up on the racks. My smaller bag is a little Le Sportsac - much bigger than a purse - and it fits under the seat just fine. But I'm confused by what you're thinking is an underseat bag - do you really mean 18 inches wide? As in a case that is 25x18x9? That won't fit under the Amtrak seat. But if you mean something like 18x11x8 - well, you could push that under if it was soft-sided.

If not, I've never had a ride where we couldn't just put all of our stuff up on the racks - two carry-on suitcases, two Le Sportsacs. And then if we have a bag of books from Portland shopping, we can push it under the seats.

My spinner underseater is 30 liters and listed as 17.7 x 13.8 x 9 inches. It fits just fine under the seat on a 737.

The same company also has a 24 liter listed as 17 x 13 x 7.5 inches.

So even the smaller bag would not fit the dimensions listed on Amtrak's site for a personal item to go under the seat.

Like I said, I "assumed" that the underseat space on a train would be similar to a 737 plane.

I'm only familiar with Amtrak in the Northeast corridor, so no idea if it varies elsewhere.
I don't think I've ever put anything under the seat other than a handbag and my feet.

I have put a carryon or smaller bag on the overhead rack, and the occasional larger bag in the open floor space that's usually available at the end of the car. I don't recall anybody ever caring what I brought on board.

Well, for clarity's sake, are you asking the question because you are one person trying to bring two 28-in suitcases as carry-on and then you want to bring an additional 14-in suitcase?

Because, otherwise, I think you will be just fine with your luggage. You could just put your bigger bag and your smaller bag up top in the luggage rack and not worry about how much you can fit under the seat in front of you.

And although I am an absolute rule follower on baggage size with airlines, I will echo what LizinPA said. Nobody has ever looked at our bags getting on an Amtrak train and you should be ok:)

Posted by Valerie

Well, for clarity's sake, are you asking the question because you are
one person trying to bring two 28-in suitcases as carry-on and then
you want to bring an additional 14-in suitcase?

No, I would have one 21 or 22-inch carry-on suitcase and the underseater as a personal item. The suitcase would go to the luggage rack at the end of the car and the underseater would stay with me. Or if I had a roomette, I'd keep both with me if there were room for both.

14”x11x7” is definitely tote bag or purse range. About 15 - 17 liters. Not even backpack size. Options here include Vera Bradley small zip-top tote or llbean small or medium zip-top tote.

A 28” case is large enough for 2 people or a case for a small family. Better to stay with 25” or less for one person unless you are carrying bulk winter clothes, longer term travel, special needs or activities.

All train luggage is carry-on. I do believe some trains have a cargo area designated just for luggage and luggage can be checked. Check with Amtrak. Are you traveling overnight in a compartment or just day-tripping to another location? How you are using the train makes a big difference in packing.

How about this.....you have two bags right? One carry on and one, you call, your underseater.

Amtrak allows two carry ons plus a personal item. So, you "underseater" is your second bag and it goes in the rack above your seat if it doesn't fit underneath the one in front of you.

Last year AMTRAK Cascades was running the oldest train cars in the fleet. Everything still worked fine for luggage. Unfortunately the same could not be said for the restroom door. I felt a slight feeling of panic when the door seemed stuck which morphed into full scale panic when I realized I was trapped in the bathroom. A solo traveler, who would notice? I began pounding on the door. Soon some fellow passengers came and tried opening from the outside. No luck. Some kind person found a conductor who came with his fellow worker and a crow bar and finally got the door open. I stepped out with a great feeling of relief and to the applause of an entire car of passengers who had watched this drama unfold. I made note to self 1) check to see if they have switched to newer cars this year 2) avoid train restroom if at all possible.

Posted by Frank II

How about this.....you have two bags right? One carry on and one, you
call, your underseater.

Amtrak allows two carry ons plus a personal item. So, you
"underseater" is your second bag and it goes in the rack above your
seat if it doesn't fit underneath the one in front of you.

Oh absolutely. I could make it work.

But back to my original question,

the underseat space on an Amtrak train is really smaller than a 737 plane?

I guess if their website says 14x11x7-inches, I should take them at their word.

Just seems odd that there would be less room.

Was hoping someone here had actually traveled with an underseater on an Amtrak train or seen one placed under the seat.

YouTube Videos.
“Grounded Life Travel” puts out some fine Amtrak informational videos. I am sure there is one on packing. Again, really depends on how you are using the train for travel.

Posted by Sun-Baked in Florida

YouTube Videos. “Grounded Life Travel” puts out some fine Amtrak
informational videos.

That's the first place I checked. Nothing jumped out at me in their various articles.

I might send them an email.

Thanks.

I travel on the Amtrak Northeast Corridor. Underseat is almost never an issue. Usually my underseat bag goes on the floor somewhere near my feet or partly under my seat or the seat in front of me. Since there is no take off or landing check on how items are stowed, no one ever cares whether something on the floor fits under the seat. Only one time, on a busy holiday when many passengers had extra shopping bags, I had to sit facing two other people, with someone else beside me. Because there was so little floor space in that configuration, I did try to push my small softsided bag under my seat and was surprised it did not fit. It would have only had my laptop plus some food and water for the trip and maybe a book. I do remember thinking this doesn't make sense. I left the bag on my lap until I moved to a less crowded space but I could have put it in the overhead rack along with my carry-on bag. So yes, I believe it is smaller than underseat space on a 737.

Posted by CD in DC

So yes, I believe it is smaller than underseat space on a 737.

Thank you CD for sharing your experience.

Empire Service rider, just came home from JFK on it. And yes, the underseat is a little tighter than a 737. However, there's no entertainment box, etc., so compared to SOME under seat places on certain 737s, there might be more room.

But as mentioned, there's ZERO take off and landing, seatbelt fastened, tray table in an upright position check, so if it doesn't fit, then behind your feet or even on the seat next to you is fine.