Is it better to sit on the top or bottom of a train?

Train Seating: Top Scenic Views vs Bottom Stability

Choosing where to sit on a double-decker train impacts your travel experience significantly. Passengers prioritizing panoramic scenery find upper levels advantageous, while those sensitive to movement find lower levels more comfortable. Understanding these distinctions helps travelers select is it better to sit on the top or bottom of a train for their specific needs, ensuring a pleasant and smooth journey throughout.

Is it better to sit on the top or bottom of a train?

Sitting on the top level of a double-decker train is generally better if you want superior views and less track noise. Choose the bottom level if you need easy restroom access, prefer a smoother ride with less swaying, or have mobility issues.

When you book your ticket, you are essentially choosing between a sightseeing experience and a highly practical one. Most people automatically assume higher is better. But there is one counterintuitive factor that 90% of first-time travelers overlook - I will explain it in the train motion sickness top or bottom section below.

The Upper Level: Panoramic Views and Peace

The upper level is elevated above the treeline, offering spectacular, panoramic views on scenic routes. If you are riding the California Zephyr through the Rockies or the Coast Starlight along the Pacific, the top level is where you want to be.

The windows often wrap slightly into the roofline. This gives you an unobstructed view of the mountains, valleys, and cityscapes. Plus, you are physically further away from the train wheels and the tracks. This distance significantly reduces the noise from the undercarriage compared to the lower level.^[1] That difference is massive when you are trying to sleep on an overnight journey.

I will be honest - on my first cross-country trip, I demanded a top-level seat. I thought I was getting the ultimate VIP experience. And the views? Absolutely stunning. But dragging a heavy suitcase up those narrow, winding stairs while the train was lurching out of the station? Utter nightmare. I nearly took out two other passengers. I learned very quickly to leave my big bags on the lower-level racks.

The Lower Level: Accessibility and Stability

Lower-level seats are ideal if you have heavy luggage, trouble with stairs, or are traveling with small children. Down here, you have immediate access to the ground-level exit doors. You are also just steps away from the lower-level restrooms.

Not having to navigate stairs in the middle of the night is a huge relief. However, the views are often blocked by trees, retaining walls, or station platforms. You may also experience more noise when the train is idling at stations, as you are right next to the platform activity.

The Motion Sickness Factor

Here is that counterintuitive factor I mentioned earlier. The lower level is significantly better for people who get motion sickness.

Some passengers experience some form of motion sickness on long rail journeys.^[2] Because the top level acts like an inverted pendulum, it sways much more from side to side as the train navigates curves. The bottom level stays planted. It is highly stable. If you get dizzy reading in a car, absolutely book the bottom level.

Amtrak Upper or Lower Level Seating: Specific Considerations

When looking specifically at amtrak upper or lower level seating cars, the layout forces you to make a definitive choice. The cafe car and the sightseeing lounge are always located on the upper level.

If you sit on the bottom, you will have to climb the stairs every time you want to buy a coffee or visit the observation car. But if you sit on the top, you have to go downstairs to use the restroom. You have to pick your poison. Do you want easy access to food, or easy access to the bathroom?

For elderly travelers or those with knee issues, the choice is simple. Book the lower level. The lower level train seats pros and cons are clear, as the Amtrak stairs are steep, and walking between moving train cars on the upper level requires decent balance.

Top vs Bottom: Side-by-Side Comparison

Upper Level Seating

• Pronounced side-to-side swaying on curves

• Same-level access to the cafe car and observation lounge

• Quieter, as you are further from the wheels and track

• Unobstructed, panoramic views above the treeline

Lower Level Seating

• Highly stable with minimal sway, great for sensitive stomachs

• Immediate access to restrooms and exit doors

• Slightly louder track noise and station chatter

• Views frequently blocked by terrain and station platforms

The Cross-Country Family Vacation

Mark, a 42-year-old father, booked upper-level seats for his family on a three-day journey from Chicago to Seattle. He wanted his kids to experience the best possible views of the mountains, assuming higher seats meant a better vacation.

The first afternoon was exhausting. Every time a child needed the restroom, Mark had to navigate them down the steep, moving stairs. Worse, his youngest daughter started feeling nauseous from the pronounced side-to-side rocking of the upper deck.

He spoke to the conductor and managed to swap their seats to the lower level for the remainder of the trip. The change was immediate. The swaying stopped, the nausea vanished, and bathroom trips became a 10-second walk.

By the end of the trip, Mark realized that while the upper level looks better in photos, the lower level actually saved their family vacation. Practicality completely beat the panoramic views.