Amtrak Premium
Sleep-First Train Car Redesign
Winter 2025 | 10 Weeks
Amtrak Premium is an overnight rail experience designed to support rest, comfort, and personal space on long-distance journeys.
Disciplines
Industrial Design
Spatial Design
Physical Prototyping
credits
Sarah Serpanos
‍‍Professor
Teague DNR
Mockup Vehicle and Support
Design Brief
Design an overnight rail experience for Amtrak focused on sleep.
Team
Nate Spurling, Alex Orelind, WWU ID Cohort 2025
Traveling overnight usually comes at the cost of sleep.


Trains are well-suited for overnight travel — but remain underutilized.
Design Brief
Client: Amtrak
Framing: Long haul trip (8-12 hours)
Focus: Passenger sleep experience within the train
Brand Audit of Amtrak
We began with a strategic brand audit, identifying what Amtrak currently conveys, where the brand could evolve, and how design can support that shift.
We developed five guiding principles to translate strategy into design decisions. They shaped how we approached form, materiality, interaction, and user comfort.
Intentional Affordances
Allowing passengers to lay fully horizontal for a full night's rest.
Restful Rhythms
Echo the train’s motion through form, light, and sensory flow.
Secure Comfort
Support privacy, rest, and a sense of safety through soft elements.
Enduring Styles
Use clean, timeless forms and durable, calming textures.
Supportive Technology
Keep tech discreet — there when needed, invisible when not.
Part of a full redesign by a 12 person team...
Coach
Premium
Roomette
Lavatory
Creating privacy in the seated position
A lay-flat experience balancing privacy and efficiency
A private room to accommodate a traveling pair
A lavatory experience that elevates personal routines
My team of 3 reimagined Premium Class — a new tier between Coach and Roomette
What makes it premium?
Lay Flat
Allowing passengers to lay fully horizontal for a full night's rest.
Adaptive Space
Giving passengers control over their immediate environment and flexible storage.
Balanced Privacy
Creating a sense of security and safety without relying on fully enclosed spaces.
Process
Guiding passengers into their space
Toe-kick lighting provides a clear path into each pod.
Seat indicators assist wayfinding.
Transitioning into sleep
Upright posture for arrival and transition
Reclined posture for winding down
Sleeping posture for full rest through the night
Privacy considerations
Focused on security and safety without relying on fully enclosed spaces.
Canopy
Creates a subtle shell around each passenger, offering privacy and a sense of personal space without feeling restrictive.
Interior vs. Exterior
CMF separates the space into a durable, protective exterior and a soft, inviting interior.
Personal Control
A minimal panel allows passengers to adjust lighting and airflow.
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