If he was traveling in coach, you are right. But if he was traveling in a sleeper, he got a local newspaper every morning.
I’ve traveled from Denver to Chicago via Amtrak numerous times. I’ve noticed that the folks in sleepers seldom venture into the coach section. Additionally, the folks in coach are not allowed in the sleeper area. They are divided by the food service car. I once utilized the coach section and actually slept undisturbed from Denver to Galesburg IL. I’ll bet not one person saw my face once on the train.