How to Travel on Amtrak
With concern about gas prices and energy shortages rising daily, Amtrak (the American passenger train system) is a better bargain than ever. Stations are typically located in the center of town, so travel brings you closer to your destination, eliminating the need for renting a car. In many cases, the cost of your ticket is less than the cost of buying gas for a long trip, with savings for the environment as well.
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Instructions
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Go online (see Resources) and click on "station" to see if there are stations at your starting point and destination.
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Enter the date and time you wish to travel, checking either the "one way" or "round trip" option.
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Make your reservation, paying by credit card. Tickets will be mailed to you or you may pick them up at the station.
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You will need identification before boarding, whether you already have your ticket or not.
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Determine in advance if there is a dining car or a lounge car and make plans accordingly.
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Find out how many bags you can carry on and how many you can check in the baggage car. Rules may differ according to the route and the station. Remember that you will have to lift your bags up fairly steep steps.
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A conductor will show you which car to enter and often will assign you a seat. Make sure there is a marker above your seat and that the conductor will call your destination.
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Tips & Warnings
If you don't have access to a computer, call 1-800-USARAIL and a computerized operator will guide you through this process.
There are often options for business class, which gives you access to a computer plug-in and extra sitting space. Check to see if there are outlets in regular coach class before spending the extra money.
Sleeper cars are also available for overnight trips. They add a significant amount of money to your ticket, but allow you to rest and shower. Typically, you are offered three free meals for each day that you travel in a sleeping car.
Check for special deals on the Amtrak website.
There's an "Autotrain" for snowbirds that transports you and your car or motorcycle from Lorton, Virginia, to Sanford, Florida.
Some Amtrak routes are notoriously late. Call 1-800-USARAIL to see if your train is on time before leaving for the station. Allow extra time for delays if you are on a less-traveled route, or one that makes many stops. High-speed commuter trains along the Northeast corridor are generally on time. If a train is more than three hours late, Amtrak generally sends a bus to replace it.
Resources
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