NARP Amtrak Travel Tips

This information is offered by the National Association of Railroad Passengers (NARP) to make your trip aboard Amtrak more enjoyable and affordable. Many thanks to ProRail in Madison, Wisc. for providing much of the text for this pamphlet.
 

All Aboard!

Planning Your Train Trip

Scenery In planning your trip, be aware that some trains go through the best scenery by day in one direction only.

Reservations You can make reservations through a travel agency (preferably one with Amtrak experience), a station ticket agent, an Amtrak reservations clerk (toll-free: 800/USA-RAIL), or Amtrak's reservations web site. Tickets reserved by phone may be picked up and paid for at a travel agency or Amtrak station, or you may charge them over the phone and ask Amtrak to mail them to you. Tickets generally must be paid for within one week after making a reservation - no matter how far in the future travel will be. Amtrak will cancel your reservation if you miss the payment deadline.

Amtrak's long-distance trains are extremely popular, especially during the holidays and summer months; some types of accommodations often are sold out months in advance. Make your reservation EARLY. During off-peak times (usually Labor Day-December 15 and January 5-April 30, except around Easter), fares frequently are lower.

If the space you want is sold out, don't despair. Continue calling Amtrak from time to time, preferably between 5 and 8 am (ET). During the night, Amtrak's computer cancels expired reservations, freeing up space you may want.

Changes and Refunds Amtrak may charge you $30 ($15 for a child's ticket) if you cancel or change a long-distance ticket. Some discount fares restrict your ability to make changes, and some are not refundable. There is no charge if the reason for the change was an upgrade in accommodation, or an Amtrak schedule change.

Tickets bought at an Amtrak station usually can be exchanged or returned for refund at any Amtrak station if you are the purchaser and you show identification. Amtrak stations can also refund most tickets paid for with credit cards. If your ticket came from a travel agent, make your request to that agent. Other requests for ticket refunds must be made to Amtrak by mail -- if Amtrak authorizes a refund, it may mail the refund to you. Read the refund notice in Amtrak's Northeast or National timetables for more information on refunds.

In some unusual situations, Amtrak may not be able to guarantee your entire trip will be by train. Amtrak reserves the right to provide substitute transportation in such cases, and may not be willing to refund part or all of your fare.

Canceling Accommodations If you cancel your sleeping car reservation at least 24 hours before train departure, you can get a full refund of the accommodations charge. If it's less than 24 hours, you get a full-value credit for future travel. But if you don't cancel sleeper space by train departure, you get nothing. Club seats canceled more than one hour before train time are refundable; otherwise, those canceled by train time can be applied to another train on the same day only.

Lost Tickets Amtrak disclaims liability for lost, stolen or destroyed tickets and will not refund them.

Split Tickets In rare instances during heavy travel periods, you may be sold a "split" ticket, which means you may not have the same space or car for the entire trip. Ask your conductor for details.

Air, Sea, Vacation Packages Amtrak's Great American Vacations service (800/321-8684) can tell you about traveling by air one way and train the other, or about rail - cruise and other vacation packages.

Accommodations For privacy and a good night's sleep, consider travel on an Amtrak sleeping car. Sleeping cars have compact, private rooms with seats during the day that convert into beds at night. All bedding and towels are provided. Sleeping car tickets include all meals, wake-up coffee, tea or juice and newspapers. Coach passengers pay separately for their meals.

Some eastern overnight routes (New York-Florida, New York/Boston-Chicago, New York-New Orleans, Boston-Newport News) use single-level Viewliner cars, with standard bedrooms (1 or 2 persons), deluxe bedrooms (2 persons) and accessible bedrooms (for passengers with disabilities). Each Viewliner room has a video screen, sink, toilet and shower (except standard - bedroom passengers use a shower down the hall).

All other overnight routes with sleeping cars use bi-level Superliner equipment. These sleepers have standard bedrooms (1 or 2 persons), deluxe bedrooms (2 persons), family bedrooms (3 or 4 persons) and accessible bedrooms (for passengers with disabilities). Deluxe bedrooms have a toilet, sink and shower; accessible bedrooms have a toilet and sink. The rest don't, but such facilities are available within the same car.

Special Needs Amtrak can accommodate persons with disabilities and those with special dietary needs; call Amtrak's toll-free number (800/USA-RAIL) for information.
 

Planning Connections

Thruway Bus This service connects with Amtrak trains at many stations, especially in California. You may get Thruway Bus tickets when you get your Amtrak train tickets.
 

Packing For Your Trip

Amtrak provides route guides for long-distance trains. You also may want to take a road map with you if you like to follow your route.

Extra Items Games like Scrabble, checkers and backgammon are good fun in the lounge car or at your seat. When using a radio or personal stereo, use headphones so as not to disturb others. Amtrak sells cards on many trains; they may run out, so you may wish to bring your own. And trains are great for catching up on reading.

Travel Lightly As much as possible, pack items you will use on the train into one carry-on bag. You are allowed two carry-on bags; the rest should be checked (see section on Baggage).
 

At the Train Station

Stations The 500 - plus stations served by Amtrak range from bus-stop shelters to 24-hour, full-service temples of architecture. Your travel agent or Amtrak's toll-free number (800/USA-RAIL) can tell you if the stations you will use have Amtrak staff, checked baggage service, redcaps, food service, local transit service, cabs, car rentals, etc. Some major stations have "Metropolitan Lounges," providing extra amenities to passengers arriving or departing by sleeping or club car.

Baggage If you have only one or two pieces of hand luggage, save time by carrying them aboard. Otherwise, consider checking some of your luggage.

Checked baggage service is available on long-distance trains (and a few short-distance trains), mostly at larger stations. We recommend using this service if you have heavy or bulky items, and if redcap service is not available at your station. Arrive at the station at least 40 minutes before train time to check your baggage. Baggage usually is available at your destination shortly after you arrive, but allow up to 30 minutes at larger stations. Checked bags are not accessible during the trip - carry essential items (like prescription drugs) with you.

If checked baggage service is not available at your station, and you are using more than one train on your trip, you may be able to check your bags at the station where you connect to your next train.

Amtrak asks passengers to take only two carry-on bags per person onto the train. Superliner coaches and sleepers have lower-level storage space for larger bags; smaller bags can be carried to your seat or accommodation.

Be sure your luggage is labeled with your name tag on the outside. For extra security, in case your bags are lost, also have a tag inside the bag with your name, address, and phone number on it.

Redcaps Redcap service is available at major stations to carry your luggage to the train for you. This service is provided for free, but most passengers tip a redcap $1 a bag, or more. Luggage carts and wheelchairs are also available at major stations.

Bicycles Generally, standard bikes are allowed only as checked baggage (on trains and at stations with such service) for a $5 charge each way. They must be boxed (pedals removed, handlebars turned) and checked in one hour before departure. You can use your own box, or buy one from Amtrak for $7 (boxes in good shape can be reused).

Certain Amtrak routes allow carriage of unboxed bikes, with varying policies on where to put the bike and whether a reservation is needed or a fee paid - check with your travel agent, Amtrak's toll-free number (800/USA-RAIL), or click here for more details.
 

Aboard the Train

On long-distance trains, attendants will be at trainside when you board and will see to it that you get off at your stop. Coach attendants also provide pillows and generally keep the cars clean. In sleeping cars, attendants make up beds, and - upon request - will bring you items from the lounge and bring meals to your room. Coach attendants also bring meals for passengers with mobility problems.

Smoking Smoking is prohibited on short-distance trains. Amtrak has designated smoking areas on most long-distance trains - on the others, announcements are made where passengers may smoke on the platform while stopped at a station. Click here for more details.

Coach Seating Amtrak does not assign a seat number when you buy a ticket. Instead, on most trains, you pick your seat when you come aboard the train (Amtrak attendants can assist you). You can tell that a seat is already occupied if a seat check (a small paper stub) is present on the overhead luggage rack immediately above the seat.

The seat check often bears a three-letter code representing the passenger's destination. The conductor places a seat check above your seat when your ticket is taken. The seat check "keeps" your seat for you, even if you visit another part of the train - except in the Northeast Corridor, where you will be instructed to carry your seat check with you. In any event, keep your ticket stub (the part the conductor punched and returned to you) in case another conductor needs to check it down the line.

Dining "Nothing could be finer than dinner in the diner." Dining cars run on most long-distance trains. Most dishes are prepared on board. Reservations - often necessary for dinner - can be made on the train. Passengers dining early are more certain of having the full selection of menu items. Sleeping car passengers receive meal vouchers from the chief of on-board services or their car attendant. Space is at a premium in the dining car, and - unlike in a regular restaurant - different parties are seated at the same table. Some of your more pleasant experiences on board may be your conversations with others over meals.

Almost all Amtrak trains traveling over 100 miles have some food and beverage service. If your train does not have a full-service dining car, it probably has a snack bar offering light meals, hot and cold sandwiches, hot and cold drinks, snacks, and alcoholic beverages.

Lounge Cars Don't forget to enjoy the lounge cars, where you can talk to fellow passengers and enjoy the scenery - especially in Superliner lounges, which have windows that curve up into the ceiling. Lounge cars are open to everyone, and the seats are not reserved. Current movies are shown in most long-distance trains in the evening (in Superliner lounges).

Tipping It is customary to tip your lounge car or dining car attendant for service by the same amount you would in a restaurant. It is also customary to tip your sleeping car attendant at the end of your trip. A suggested tip might be $3 to $5 per night traveled - if the attendant provided good service. Never tip the conductor.

Restrooms Superliner coaches have lower level restrooms; sleepers do too, plus one on the upper level, and a lower level shower for standard - bedroom passengers. Superliner restrooms include diaper changing tables (also handy for spreading out your toiletries). Most other coach cars have at least two unisex restrooms, at least one of which allows space for changing clothes, dressing small children, and changing diapers. There are no shower facilities in coach. Carry your own face cloth and - if you dislike paper towels - a hand towel. Passengers should leave the restroom as clean as they found it, for the attendant can't be in there between each use!

Sleeping in Coach Coach seats provide more room and recline more than do airplane or bus seats. Many Amtrak trains sell light blankets with the Amtrak logo (about $8). These can be used aboard the train and kept as a souvenir of your trip. Consider buying one soon after boarding in case they sell out quickly.

Late Trains If your train is running late enough to jeopardize your connection, let the conductor or chief of on-board services (on long-distance trains) know. Connecting trains are sometimes held. If you miss your connection because of a late train - if it is a guaranteed connection - Amtrak will provide alternate transportation to your destination, or lodging and food until the next available train. But Amtrak does not accept responsibility for missing connections you have arranged with other carriers at the destination city to which Amtrak has ticketed you.

When You Get Home We hope you have a fine trip. Should you experience problems, particularly failure to get a seat, overbooking, on-time operation, employee services, or train or station conditions -- and could not resolve them on the spot with an Amtrak employee -- call Amtrak at 800-USA-RAIL to discuss the Service Guarantee. Have your ticket stub in front of you; an Amtrak agent will discuss your trip and discuss a credit good for future travel. Otherwise, if you are requesting a full or partial refund, write to Amtrak Customer Satisfaction Service Center; 60 Massachusetts Ave., N.E.; Washington, DC 20002. Include your ticket stubs (but keep a copy). Send a copy of your letter to NARP at 900-2nd St., N.E., #308; Washington, DC 20002. Letting Amtrak (and NARP) know about your experience can help make it better for you and the next passenger. NARP will acknowledge receipt of such letters when acknowledgment is requested.
 

About NARP

NARP EXISTS TO PROMOTE TRAIN TRAVEL AS PART OF A BALANCED NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM. It is made up of people who enjoy traveling by train and are dedicated to preserving passenger rail service and improving the quantity and quality of trains nationwide. Visit the NARP website for more information about traveling by rain in the United States.

All Aboard!