I don’t recommend riding in the Coach Car for any long-distance journey, but due to the price of a private room, some people don’t have much of a choice.
If you are in the Coach Car, try for the lower level, if possible. It is probably the safest location, COVID-19 wise. Bring food and water with you. The Café Car has hot food that you can buy, but it is definitely worth your effort to bring lots of water with you, and snacks.
A few things you might think about bringing.
Come on board with a dinner, if you are leaving in the afternoon or evening. That way you are only buying one dinner on board, if you are taking one of the Long-Distance trains for its entire length.
Have a cooler or a backpack with drinks in it and also snacks. We usually bring small bags of chips with us, granola bars, and we bring Bumble Bee Snack on the run Chicken Salad and crackers. It needs no refrigeration and is small.
You can usually get hot water from the Café Car attendant, to make instant coffee, tea, or cup of noodles.
Candy, nuts, and popcorn, also travel well.
You might want to freeze or refrigerate some or all the bottles of water, to keep things cool.
As to dinner on the train, the Café Car’s Hamburger is not bad, and neither is the Hot Dog. Mac and Cheese or a Grilled Cheese sandwich are also good choices, if you are vegan.
You can not eat in the Diner Car, that is for passengers who are in the Sleeper Cars.
There are a few stops that take almost an hour (due to refueling). If you can set it up, you might be able to get a pizza delivered to the train. At least that is what I have heard from others.
All in all, you can make it work for you, with a little advance planning.
