The Velcro strips on the door frames/curtains are the dumbest idea possible: every time we travel on Amtrak our clothes get snagged on the damn stuff! The old snaps work well and on VIA, even the new heavy duty curtains have well aligned snaps: they work but, they have to be made correctly and installed correctly which seems above Amtrak’s pay grade. I have also been puzzled by the sliding doors on Amtrak sleepers which seem to have the potential to jam in an accident. Why not doors such as used on airplane lavatories, less moving parts, no slamming into people like the swing doors on the Amtrak lavatories.
I’ll be riding City of New Orleans in July so have to see how it’s done. My first time to book a roomette, but it’s only one night so figured I didn’t need a bedroom. Cashing in points for a free trip and didn’t want to use any more than needed. At least it will be quieter and more private than coach and not share the toilet with so many people. Rode many coaches with my parents “back in the day” and rarely slept, someone was always roaming around, especially since they allowed smoking in those days, a steady stream of smokers going to the lounge, my Dad was one of them. UP had the best footrests, they rolled out from under the seat and hooked over the reg footrest to make it like a bed, you could stretch out your legs and have support. Never saw that on any other railroads.