Insider Secrets From a Train Conductor

How to make the most of your rail journey, whether you’re a first-timer or an enthusiast

As told to

Laura Kiniry,

AARP

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Published May 30, 2025

An illustration shows a woman standing at a railroad crossing. Behind her is a collage of vignettes from train travel, including a woman in a window seat, a thermometer at 71 degrees and a train ticket.

Susan Haritos, a general manager with Florida-based passenger rail line Brightline, shares tips to make your train ride more enjoyable.

Amber Day

A 2025 AARP survey shows that 70 percent of travelers 50-plus plan on traveling this year. What’s more, 33 percent of those in the same demographic are somewhat or very likely to travel by train. With a growing number of people hitting the rails, we turned to Susan Haritos, 53, a general manager (the title is interchangeable with “conductor”) at Brightline, the privately operated U.S. passenger rail line that runs between Miami and Orlando, Florida. Haritos shared her tips on how guests can make the most of their train experience, whether they’re first-time riders or rail enthusiasts.

This “As told to” interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.

BEFORE BOARDING

There’s a difference between a train conductor and a train manager

[At Brightline] train conductors work in the front cab of the train, alongside the engineer, and are responsible for the train’s safety. A train manager oversees the train’s onboard attendants and customer service, as well as its food and beverage aspect, safety and compliance, and overall guest experience. [Our role is where] hospitality meets transportation. [After greeting the guests at the station,] we get them safely onto the train, and ... onto their final destination.

The best time of the day and week to travel

Our morning commuter trains are packed with business passengers. For a quieter time to travel, I would say the 10 o’clock, 11 o’clock or 1 p.m. hour during the week. We do have some cruise-ship days [days when cruise ships are docked and passengers are using the train to get to the port] that make the trains fuller; in Fort Lauderdale, it’s Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

Passenger rail lines mostly run on freight rail tracks, which can lead to delays

We share our rails with the [freight rail company] Florida East Coast Railway. We work closely with our dispatchers to make sure that we are all running in sync in a timely manner. We experience delays and we try to avoid them, but sometimes things don’t go as planned. Our guests should listen for in-station announcements, and onboard, for updates.

ONCE ABOARD

Wear layers

We keep our trains at a standard 71 degrees. In Florida during the warmer months, which is most of the year, it’s typically hotter outside when you’re standing on the platform.

When you come into the train from the platform, it's like a breath of fresh air, especially on the short rides. We always have the option of warming up with coffee.

Don’t put your feet on the seat

One of my biggest pet peeves is when guests put their shoes on our seats. Our seats are designed [by] the same maker as the Lamborghini [sports cars’] seats, so it’s high-quality leather. When I’m walking through the coaches, that’s the first thing I see … shoes on our furniture. I’m like, “Please keep your feet off the seat.”

If you’re in a car and [someone is] loud, our train attendants will politely go up to the guest and ask that they please put on headphones or step into the vestibule to finish watching whatever they’re watching on their phones.

Bring personal items to make your ride comfortable

Passengers can bring blankets and neck pillows. I would recommend chargers, because each of our seats has an outlet available. [Bring] headphones for private conversations and meetings or self-entertainment. If you forget it, you can purchase it at the market and on the trains. Try to arrive at the station early so that you don’t have to rush. Just take it in … it’s a relaxing ride, so just make the best of that.

Coach maintenance and restroom cleanliness

Train cars have their own maintenance schedule [overseen by the rail line’s] mechanical department that takes [some cars] out and puts them into rotation and does preventive maintenance. Restrooms are located inside the car’s vestibule and are cleaned both at their starting point and then again at their destination. Throughout the trip, our train attendants will do a spot-check, pick-up and clean-up of the bathrooms.

Availability of onboard food

Order your food by using the QR code at your seat, and a train attendant will bring it to you. Our food is restocked at the train’s two end stations, Miami and Orlando. It’s very rare that we run out of stock, but it does happen. The turkey sandwich is huge for us; the popcorn is a big seller as well.

If a car tries to beat the train over the track . . .

That’s why [there are] two people at the front of the train — an engineer and a conductor — because four eyes are better than two. We start blowing the horn as soon as we see [a car], and we don’t stop blowing it until it’s out of the way.

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Laura Kiniry is a San Francisco–based freelance journalist with a love of trains and the outdoors. Her next rail journey is aboard Vietnam’s Reunification Express.