Quiet carriages are usually the first, last and two middle carriages of an 8-carriage train, the first and last carriages of a 4-carriage train, the last carriage of a 2-carriage train. Look for signs on the train or platform and listen to announcements for where to find these carriages.
Bottom line is you are much more prone to motion sickness facing backwards on these trains. This allows your brain to better grasp what is going on. Also looking out a window may help too, even if you are going really fast as it is not about the scenery as it is about helping your brain understand what is going on.
Aisle seats are safer than window seats because of broken glass and the possibility of being thrown from the train. Safety experts recommend rear-facing seats because passengers will be pushed into their seats instead of thrown forward, resulting in less injuries.
When booked on a Quiet zone: Travelers are not supposed to use their phones. The phone device should be kept on Silent mode once onboard the train. Speaking on the phone would be prohibited.
Travel tips
Quiet in the 'Quiet Carriage' – please do not talk loudly or play loud devices and keep noise to a minimum in all other carriages. Place your bag on your lap or under your seat. Get ready to disembark prior to your station. Please keep your feet on the floor, and not on seats.
Don't have loud conversations
According to etiquette coach William Hanson, when it comes to talking on the train, whether it's to your friend or on the phone, you need to check if you're in the quiet carriage first.
Guests are asked to limit conversation and speak in subdued tones. Phone calls are not allowed and all portable electronic devices must be muted or used with headphones (passengers using headphones must keep the volume low enough so that the audio cannot be heard by other passengers).
The Quiet Zone is normally in Coach M. Customers travelling in the Quiet Zone should observe the following rules: No making or receiving mobile phone calls in this carriage - use the vestibule at the end of the carriage to talk on your phone.
Train Speed.
Most U.S. freight trains are only allowed to go 60 mph max. In suburban areas they often go slower. Test suggest that they create an average of about 85 db of noise (at close proximity).
Each day, the North Shore Line clocks up more than 450 services from 4.30am to 1am. At Wollstonecraft station, noise from the trains often surpasses 100 decibels on the platforms – the sound of a jackhammer – resulting in many staff wearing ear plugs to block out the worst of the severe screeching.
Cars in the front of the train are usually more steady feeling than the cars near the end. The optimal seat to prevent motion sickness is a seat in the middle of one of the first train cars. Be sure to choose a forward-facing seat, and if you're riding a double-decker train, stay on the bottom level.
BE COMFY
Breathable, stretchy clothing and comfortable shoes are key to enjoying your experience on the train. Experienced riders recommend bringing a few small comforts from home too, like a blanket or throw and a pillow.
"Because if there is a front-end collision or a rear-end collision, the damages will be greater at those locations. The middle of the train is by far the safest for persons."
Your seat will be automatically assigned when you complete your reservation. You may change your assigned seat at any time after your booking is complete using interactive seat maps on the Amtrak app or on Amtrak.com. There is no fee to change your seat.
Upper level is safer - as you are away from the wheels, and easier to run thru upper level to the next coach in case of fire emergency or the like (no vestibule in lower level of superliners).
If you hear, two small horns, it means the motorman is asking the guard to direct the railway signal to start the train. In case you hear three smaller horns, it suggests that the motorman has lost control over the train. This also acts as a signal to pull the vacuum break immediately. This signal is rarely heard.
Anyway, don't blame the engineer: They're required to blow that horn. The regulation in question is called the Final Rule on the Use of Locomotive Horns—a name that strongly implies they've had just about enough of your bitching—and it requires four blasts 15 to 20 seconds before every crossing.
That leaves one explanation, which your question suggests: In the middle of the night, there are fewer sounds competing with the sound of the trains. So in the relative silence of the night, that train horn stands out.
That's because the noise a train makes is mainly projected to either side. When trains are moving directly towards you they are barely audible–until it's too late.” He adds: “It's surprisingly easy to overload the brain to the point where it can't triangulate where sound is coming from.”
Please note that if you are travelling in the Silent Carriage you must: Not hold mobile phone conversations. Wear headphones to listen to audio or video and always at volumes that do not disturb other passengers. Switch all electronic devices to silent mode.
Terrain can also add to the danger. If a locomotive passes through a corridor lined with trees, those trees act like sound baffles in a recording studio, Rangel says, suppressing the noise. The average railcar traveling at 50 mph measures in decibels between at "loud voice" and a "shout," according to the FRA.
Practice your breathing
Slow, deep breathing is one of the number one ways to help our brain calm down and de-stress, and is something you can practice easily on your train journey. If you're not used to breathing exercises, then there are a few simple techniques that you can use to get going.
Help absorb sound by adding dense hedges and shrubs to your yard. A fence can also help diminish train noise by 5-10 decibels while also reducing the sound of nearby traffic. Sound-blocking curtains: Your windows are one of the areas that let the most sound into your home.
It takes the average freight train traveling at 55 mph more than a mile to stop. That's the length of 18 football fields. So if you think a train can see you and stop in time, think again.