Amtrak (2024)

FAQs

Can you tell how full an Amtrak train is? ›

Now, when booking, customers can easily see how full their reserved train will be (i.e. 20 % full). The percentage is displayed in real-time when customers search for their train.

Seniors Travel by Train - 10% Off for Passengers 65+ | Amtrak.

Spend as much time as possible in the observation car.

The natural light, scenic views, and conversations with other passengers in this section of the train make time fly by. Bring your laptop, a book, and some snacks to enjoy as you look out the windows.

You may bring your own food and beverages onboard for consumption at your seat or private Sleeping Car accommodations. However, you can only consume food and beverages purchased in Dining and Lounge Cars in those cars. Personal food and beverages are allowed in the upper level of Superliner Sightseer Lounges.

Before settling in for the night, take a few minutes to get up and stretch your muscles. Standing up in the aisle and recirculating is totally normal and encouraged on an Amtrak train.

On most Amtrak trains, only the full, undiscounted, unrestricted fare will be available for purchase onboard the train. This is regardless of reservations made or fares previously quoted by ticket agents, Amtrak.com or elsewhere. Higher fares usually apply when purchasing tickets onboard the train.

AAA members can receive exclusive discounts and special deals on Amtrak Vacations packages. By going through a AAA Travel Agent, members receive the same amazing choices and services offered by Amtrak Vacations but with less cost.

Standard Amtrak Discounts (Students, Seniors, etc.)

Seniors: Travelers 65+ receive a 10% discount (excludes Auto Train). There is no additional AARP discount.

Your seat will be automatically assigned when you complete your reservation. You may change your assigned seat at any time after your booking is complete using interactive seat maps on the Amtrak app or on Amtrak.com. There is no fee to change your seat. I prefer sitting forward.

Do they wake you up on Amtrak? ›

What happens if you fall asleep on Amtrak? The conductor will place a destination ticket in the holder above your seat. He will usually remind you within 30 minutes of your stop. If you are asleep, he will awaken you.

Does Amtrak have onboard and station security? Amtrak offers onboard and station security, but you may not always see its staff in action. That's because Amtrak has more than 400 employees both on the front lines and behind the scenes conducting safety measures.

A wide selection of wine, beer and spirits (the first one is on us during dinner), plus unlimited soft drinks throughout the journey. Exclusive onboard lounge to dine and socialize. Complimentary room service provided by your attendant. Flexible dining times without the need for reservations.

These include fresh linens and towels, a hot shower, complimentary bottled water ice, soft drinks, and hot coffee. Another thing to keep in mind is that all of your Dining Car meals (up to three full-service meals a day with water, soda or juice) are included in your ticket fare.

Customers on routes with traditional dining service can make reservations for lunch and dinner — served in the Dining Car or by complimentary in-room service.

For some railways, Google maps will tell you how busy a train is if you click on the journey you're travelling on at a station. The Trainline also gives you information if you book trains through them.

Amtrak will now allow customers to see how full trains are when they are booking online and through the mobile app, the company shared with Travel + Leisure. The new update will allow customers to see the percentage of seats that have been booked in real time and choose their train accordingly.

The train location tracking map on Amtrak.com gives you train statuses, estimates of arrival times and even station information for every Amtrak train across the entire Amtrak system. That means the map covers coast to coast movements, 365 days a year and can be accessed 24 hours a day with just the click of a mouse.

"Rule 261" is a reference to NORAC Rule 261. This refers to a track that is signalled for operation in both directions, which means that a traditionally westbound track can be used for either westbound or eastbound trains, as is the case with the ROW between Jamaica and Floral Park.