Away luggage – Away and Amtrak are rolling out train-friendly luggage with wheel brakes, smart access, and modular storage, as Amtrak seeks a premium image.

A sleeker way to travel is arriving on the rails: Away’s new luggage is being marketed specifically for train trips, aiming to solve one of the most common annoyances of rolling bags in tight cars.

As Amtrak continues to expand its fleet with new high-speed trains. the company is also tackling another friction point for riders—how difficult it can be to manage bulky luggage in narrow corridors and crowded spaces.. The latest effort is a new partnership with Away. centered on a luggage collection designed for the realities of moving through train cars.

A key feature is a brake system intended to keep a suitcase from rolling away when a traveler needs to stand in a corridor before disembarking—or when someone has to balance in a packed subway-like setting.. Away vice president of design Hannah Clayton said the goal is to address the moment when luggage “shifts or rolls away” right when people need it to stay put.

Away’s design team created a wheel brake that locks both the wheels and the suitcase’s fork. with the aim of preventing the drifting and shifting that can occur with many other brake designs.. The switch to engage or release the brake is built to be easy to reach. located on top of the suitcase where the brand previously had a battery pack.. Clayton emphasized that the controls were designed to feel intuitive while people are navigating transit environments.

Getting access to the contents is also redesigned for small spaces.. Instead of requiring travelers to lay the bag flat to unzip it. the luggage includes a second entry route: a vertical opening on the front that allows users to reach the main compartment while the suitcase remains upright.. The collection is named “Topside” after this feature, and the lid includes an interior laptop sleeve and additional storage.

To make the suitcase easier to roll down aisles and fit into overhead or luggage racks. Away says the design focuses on being as compact as possible while still providing usable room.. Clayton described the approach as maximizing capacity while minimizing footprint. adding that the result is more depth within a smaller overall size—intended to better suit dense urban spaces and public transportation.

The internal layout is built around deeper vertical packing, supported by a main compartment that allows more depth than a typical 50/50 split suitcase. The top lid is positioned to allow easier access when compared with a more traditional arrangement.

Away is releasing the luggage in three sizes, priced from $375 to $475.. Beyond the suitcase itself. the company has also developed a separate “closet” system of inserts with hooks and compartments that can be packed vertically.. Those inserts can then be removed from the suitcase and hung up in tight spaces. such as a sleeper car—aiming to reduce the need for travelers to live out of an open bag.

For Amtrak, the partnership was positioned as a natural fit.. Whitney Cripe. Amtrak’s senior director of brand marketing. said the luggage partnership “just felt logical.” She noted that when the collaboration began. Away had already designed the collection. meaning Amtrak did not shape the feature set at the outset.. However, Cripe indicated that there could be input on future products.

The branding alignment matters for Amtrak’s broader strategy.. Cripe said the partnership supports efforts to elevate perceptions of rail travel as a more premium, modern experience.. The message. she said. is to show up differently—giving people reasons to talk about train travel and potentially reconsider taking the train.

Amtrak is also using the partnership as part of its customer outreach.. Away offered early access to Amtrak customers before the luggage launched to the broader public. and discounts are being provided to some Amtrak customers for a limited time.. For Amtrak, the goal is to attract new—and potentially younger—customers while it works to reposition the rail brand.

Amtrak’s marketing push extends beyond luggage. Cripe said more partnerships are coming, and earlier this year the company launched a limited edition “Trak Suit” developed through a collaboration with students at the New York School of Design.

Still, the question is whether marketing improvements alone can shift ridership behavior.. In theory. trains offer advantages over flying for many short trips: travelers typically do not have to arrive hours early. and train stations are often more centrally located than airports.. In some cities. reaching the station can also be faster. and riders avoid the need for long security lines and screening—though the report noted that Amtrak has considered letting riders put guns in onboard lockboxes. which complicates the assumption that the lack of screening is necessarily a plus.

Once onboard, the experience is also different. Riders can move around rather than remaining seated for long stretches, and many train routes include options such as a dining car or a lounge car with panoramic views, depending on the train.

There is also an environmental angle frequently associated with rail travel. The report noted that carbon footprints are lower than flying or driving, particularly on Amtrak’s electric trains, where it was stated emissions are 72% lower than planes.

Even so, for more people to view trains as a better choice, the “fundamentals” still need to meet expectations. Despite the rollout of newer equipment, the report said Amtrak’s average equipment is still decades old, with many cars dating to the 1980s or 1970s.

Rider feedback on recent upgrades has been mixed as well.. The report described that Acela trains have drawn complaints, including issues with uncomfortable seats and “interrogation-style” lighting at night.. That matters because comfort and onboard environment often determine whether travelers consider switching modes for repeat trips.

Relative to the global high-speed rail market, Amtrak’s progress is also seen as incomplete.. The report contrasted U.S.. speed with other countries, noting that high-speed rail networks in places like China now cover more than 30,000 miles.. It also highlighted that the new Acela trains lack what was described as the “vintage-inspired. high-tech charm” of France’s newest trains. and that many smaller cities still don’t have access to Amtrak service.

Amtrak is not dismissing the problem, and its recent performance gives it room to push for bigger goals.. The report said Amtrak achieved record ridership of 34.5 million passengers last year and record-high revenue of $3.9 billion.. With faster, more comprehensive service, the logic follows that ridership could grow further.

That growth, however, would likely require investment beyond consumer-facing improvements.. The report noted that Amtrak’s previous CEO said federal funding—referencing the $66 billion for rail in the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act—is a “rounding error” compared with what would be needed to build a rail system comparable with Europe or Asia.

Even with those structural challenges. the report suggests a more immediate possibility: in some cases. better-designed luggage could be enough to encourage some travelers to try the train. especially for trips where ease of movement through stations and cars can make the difference between intent and action.

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