Amtrak Train Travel | Trip Planning Basics

Welcome aboard! This US train travel planning guide to Amtrak features train travel planning information for Amtrak USA travel deals and services in 2012. Information includes rail pass travel discounts and train ticket reservations plus accessible travel, Amtrak Superliner travel and Amtrak travel services.

For the best possible fare, book early, be flexible with travel schedule and avoid peak travel times. Amtrak's Fare Finder web tool lets website users compare fares and buy tickets online. Reservations may also be made at Amtrak ticket counters, by phone at 1-800-872-7245 or by TDD/TTY at 1-800-523-6590. All passengers are eligible to participate in Amtrak Guest Rewards, a complimentary program that awards points for Amtrak travel. Points are redeemable for rail travel, airline miles, gift certificates and more. Reservations for special needs, including wheelchair access or space, can not be processed online.

Age-based discounts are offered on senior and youth fares. Groups are eligible for reduced fares. Organizations like Veterans Advantage, Student Advantage and AAA offer Amtrak discounts to their members. And, Amtrak's website posts Weekly Specials on selected travel. Amtrak Vacations can arrange rail and air travel, hotel, car rentals, sightseeing and more. Most discount offers are available online. Reservations for all discounted travel may be made at Amtrak ticket counters, by phone at 1-800-872-7245 or by TDD/TTY at 1-800-523-6590.

Amtrak's USA Rail Passes give guests the flexibiity to visit multiple destinations over an extended period of time. Passes are available in three travel durations and travel segments (15 days/8 segments, 30 days/12 segments and 45 days/18 segments) and are valid for travel throughout the entire United States. USA Rail Passes are valid for travel on all Amtrak services except Auto Train, Acela Express, thruway motorcoach connections and the Canadian portion of trains operated jointly by Amtrak and VIA Rail Canada. USA Rail Passes are for regular Coach class travel. In some instances, travel class upgrades may be available for an additional charge.

No two Amtrak stations are exactly alike. Stations range from unstaffed facilities with few amenities to bustling terminals that house ticket and baggage services plus ATMs, restrooms, payphones and more. At selected stations, passengers may opt to have their baggage handled by uniformed Red Cap agents and many locations also provide luggage handcarts. While advance ticketing is advised, many larger stations staff ticket counters or house Quik-Trak self-service ticketing kiosk. Exclusive to First Class passengers are: Club Acela Lounges in Boston South Station, New York Penn Station, Philadelphia 30th Street Station and Washington DC Union Station; and Metropolitan Lounges in Chicago, Miami, New Orleans, Portland OR, Raleigh and St. Paul/Minneapolis. Internet and/or Wi/Fi access is available in some Lounges and at selected Acela Express stations.

Reserved Coach Class seating is offered on all routes except Acela Express (Metroliner) and a few short-distance trains with unreserved seating. Reserved Business Class, an upgrade on many trains, is standard on Acela Express. First Class upgrades are available for Acela Express passengers. On long-distance trains, Sleeper Service is equivalent to First Class. Seating is generally on a first-come, first-served basis. Onboard requests for upgrades are honored based to availability.

Amtrak is committed to meeting the needs of individuals whose eyesight, hearing, mobility or learning capacity is impaired. Most trains and stations are ADA compliant. Special provisions usually available include advance-boarding and assistance with boarding, detraining, meal service and baggage. Oxygen transport is restricted and requires 12-hours advance notice. Certified service animals are entitled to free travel. Reserve accessible seats or sleepers (at least 14 days in advance) at any Amtrak ticket counter or by phone at 1.800.USA.RAIL (1.800.872.7245); TDD/TTY, for hearing and speech-impaired individuals, at 1.800.523.6590.

Available on most long-distance trains, Sleeper Service options include Roomettes (two adults), Standard Bedrooms (two adults or one adult/two children), Bedroom Suites (four to six adults) and Family Bedrooms (Superliner only; two adults and two kids). Accessible Bedrooms are also available. A Sleeper supplement is charged in addition to basic rail fare. Regular meals a range of hotel-style amenities are included. Sleeper Service should be booked along with reservations.

Carry-on baggage is limited to two pieces excluding personal items such as briefcases and infant-care items. Items such as bicycles, golf clubs and musical instruments must be checked except on trains with special self-stow facilities. There is a three-piece limit on checked baggage. A fee is charged for additional pieces. Baggage should be checked at least 30 minutes prior to departure; allow 30 minutes for baggage claim. All bags must be tagged and none may weigh over 50 pounds/22 kilos/3.5 stone. Dangerous, fragile, valuable, oversized and overweight items are prohibited as are animals, except service animals. Allow 30 minutes before departure and after arrival for baggage check-in and pickup.

Pre-loaded digEplayer movie/music players are available for use on all long-distance trains (advance rental required). Some trains host Trails and Rails commentaries delivered by National Park Service rangers. Most First and Business Class seats and Sleepers -- and some Coach Class seats -- have standard 110-volt outlets to power personal electronic devices. And many trains feature Quiet Cars in which distractions are kept to a minimum. All trains welcome personal cell phones.

Most long-distance trains have full-service dining cars featuring open seating for traditional or Continental breakfast; reserve-only lunch and dinner with changing menu, wine list, desserts and children's selections. Sleeper and First Class fares include all meals. Most trains have Lounge, Dinette or Cafe Cars offering sandwiches, snacks and beverages. Kosher, vegan, vegetarian, low sodium, low fat and low cholesterol menus are generally available with 72-hour notice. (24-hours, Acela Express First Class). Special needs passengers may request in-room or at-seat tray meals; passengers in wheelchairs may be transfered to Lounge Cars in many instances.

Amtrak requires valid photo id (driver's license, passport, military, student or government issue) for ticket transactions, baggage checking and random id/ticket checks. Unaccompanied children must be at least 8 years old (15 or older to purchase tickets). A number of rules and restrictions apply. When reserving tickets, passengers crossing the Canadian/US Border must state date of birth, gender, country of citizenship and type of ID to be carried. A passport is preferred for US and Canadian citizens however a government-issued photo ID accompanied by a certified copy of one's birth certificate is acceptable. Passports are required for citizens of other countries as are visas in many instances. Children under 18, not crossing the border with both parents, must carry a notarized letter of permission signed by any parent or guardian not present. Children, age 15 or under, may not cross the border alone. Visitors to the US, carrying a foreign passport, will be enrolled in the US-VISIT identification program which entails a ten-finger-scan, digital photographing and a review of documents and trip plans. A two-finger scan is required for subsequent border crossings.