Welcome to the Observation Car!

There’s lots of reasons why trains are better than cars for long trips, but the observation car has to be one of the best.

What’s that? Gasp! You don’t know what an observation car is?

Let us school you …

Our observation cars are part of our double-decker trains that run long distances mainly west of Chicago.

What makes the cars so cool is that they have floor to ceiling windows, giving them their nickname “sightseer lounges.” They bring daydreaming out the window to a whole new level … literally. That’s because when you’re in one you’re actually on the second floor of the train.

Meanwhile, back upstairs there’s no assigned seating and anyone can hang out in the observation car. There’s single seats, family seats for groups up to five and even tables for card games and laptops.Below the window-filled observation car is the café car. It (conveniently!) sells snacks like hummus, pizza, chips and beer and has its own booth seating area.

Thanks to the awesome views, it’s always a favorite for first-time riders and Instagramers. Try it out next time you ride one of our long-distance trains out West. And don’t forget to tag your pics with the hashtag #Amtrak!