Amtrak Faces Criticism Over Missing A Family-Friendly Feature On Trains

Traveling with a baby is rarely stress-free. They cry, they touch random objects, and when they're hungry, they're not really concerned with whether the flight attendant is coming with their cart. This can become a major headache on all the modes of transport, but trains have historically been a fairly pleasant way to travel with tiny humans since you can stretch your legs whenever you want and look out the window — an especially rewarding perk if you're on one of the most scenic train routes in America. When all else fails, a trip to the dining car is a nice diversion.

But as some Amtrak passengers have discovered, not every train is equipped to handle babies. GBH News reported that Amtrak (and all commuter rails) "aren't required" to install changing tables in their cars. These trains do require restrooms, and every one of Amtrak's 1,100 passenger cars has at least one. But the story quoted several parents who endured multi-hour trips without the aid of a changing table. Instead, they switched out diapers on luggage shelves and even on the bathroom floor. No mention was made of how they disposed of the used diapers.

In response to the article, GBH reporter Meghan H. Smith — who didn't produce the story — expressed her solidarity with these parents. "On a recent Amtrak trip, I was surprised that we couldn't find a changing table anywhere on the train for my sister's baby," Smith tweeted on X. Such criticism doesn't bode well for a system that is supposed to be designed for accessibility, families with young children included.

Amtrak has never had it easy. With the proliferation of interstate highways in the 1950s and '60s, America's robust passenger rail service nearly collapsed from lack of use. In 1970, Congress passed the Rail Passenger Service Act, which led to the creation of Amtrak and saved the intercity system from going bust. Since then, Amtrak has hobbled along, falling far behind systems in Japan, Germany, and China, where shiny bullet trains whisk passengers from one station to the next. For U.S. travelers who don't want to or can't drive, planes and buses are far more common. While traveling with Amtrak may or may not be cheaper than flying, it's mostly seen as a novelty depending on what part of the country you're in since it tends to be more prevalent on the East Coast. Perhaps it comes as no surprise that a seemingly obvious amenity like changing tables wouldn't necessarily be present.

But Amtrak is making improvements. In the Northeast Corridor, Amtrak is upgrading sections of track for faster trains and building new platforms. Passenger cars across the country have a new bike-storage system, which enables cyclists to ride more easily. Most relevant to these flustered parents, Vermont Senator Peter Welch drafted the Baby Changing on Board Act, which would require passenger cars to maintain diaper-changing stations. If it passes, these little tables could radically improve the quality of life aboard a train and encourage families to hop aboard. Until then, riding the rails may continue to be difficult for families with young children.