In 24 hours I will be on a train. Probably glaring at the "Out of service" sign on the snack car or the lavoratory, perhaps just pondering where to throw this or that Irritating Fellow Passenger out. Tunnel, or embankment?
Rivers add to the entertainment factor, in my experience.
As you already know, a book and a pair of iPod earphones are almost always a fine vaccination against social contact on public conveyances. If they do start talking to you, ignore them like you can't hear them at all.
In all seriousness, I don't know if the cafe car will be in operation the whole length of the trip; for parts of our Montréal trip, it was closed. Then again, those were around stops/changes and customs, so that may not apply here.