Amtrak is the United States’ national passenger rail operator, providing long-distance routes, regional services, and high-frequency corridors. Its network connects major cities with rural areas and national landmarks, and includes some of the country’s most iconic and scenic train journeys.
Amtrak is the largest intercity passenger rail network in North America is the country’s national passenger rail operator, connecting over 500 communities across more than 22,000 mi of track offering high speed, intercity, regional, long-distance, transcontinental routes.
Tickets
The most direct way to book is with Amtrak or by calling one of their reservation lines.
Fares
Amtrak (mostly) uses dynamic pricing depending on demand (similar to airlines) so book earlier. Remote services are the exception to this.
For international tourists: private excursions companies like Railbookers and Amtrak Vacations offer packaged deals and tours including hotels, flights, and transfers.
Services
Amtrak routes can be divided into the following categories:
- Northeast Corridor (NEC)
- Frequent and high speed trains along the Northeast megalopolis region of the U.S.
- State-Supported
- State pays Amtrak to operate train through their states connecting major cities to the hinterland
- Long Distance
- Multi-state and transcontinental services connecting remote communities that are popular with tourists
Northeast Corridor (NEC)
- Acela
- Carolinian
- Northeast Regional
- Vermonter
State-Supported
- Adirondack
- Berkshire Flyer
- Borealis
- Capitol Corridor
- Carolinian
- Cascades
- Downeaster
- Empire Service
- Ethan Allen Express
- Gold Runner
- Hartford Line
- Heartland Flyer
- Hiawatha
- Illini and Saluki
- Illinois Zephyr and Carl Sandburg
- Keystone Service
- Lincoln Service
- Maple Leaf
- Mardi Gras Service
- Missouri River Runner
- Pacific Surfliner
- Pennsylvanian
- Pere Marquette
- Piedmont
- Valley Flyer
- Winter Park Express
- Wolverine
Long Distance
- Auto Train
- California Zephyr
- Cardinal
- City of New Orleans
- Coast Starlight
- Crescent
- Empire Builder
- Floridian
- Lake Shore Limited
- Palmetto
- Silver Meteor
- Southwest Chief
- Sunset Limited
- Texas Eagle
Of these routes the most popular to remember (for tourists and visitors) are:
Acela – Premium high-speed train service on the Northeast Corridor.
Northeast Regional – Daily, frequent service between Boston and Washington (Amtrak’s busiest route). With routes branching off to smaller cities in Virginia and New England.
California Zephyr – Chicago to the San Francisco Bay Area via the Rocky Mountains and Sierra Nevada.
Empire Builder – Chicago to Seattle/Portland through the northern United States.
Coast Starlight – Los Angeles to Seattle along the Pacific Coast.
Southwest Chief – Chicago to Los Angeles across the Southwest.
Auto Train – Overnight Virginia to Orlando, Florida service that transports your car skipping the highway.
Destinations
The vast majority of Amtrak trains operate on the Northeast Corridor between Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, D.C. and branching off to smaller destinations.
Chicago is the major terminus for Long Distance services westbound and southbound as well as State-Supported routes throughout the Midwest.
The Adirondack, Cascades, and Maple Leaf services cross the border into Canada.
Baggage
Amtrak’s baggage policy.
Each travaler is allowed 2 checked bags included with ticket. Plus 2 more at $20 a bag.
Classes
Pros
- Comfortable seating with more space than most airlines
- Scenic routes through mountains, deserts, forests, and coastlines
- Downtown-to-downtown travel on many routes
- Flat beds and the ability to move around the train during the journey
- Environmentally friendly with some routes fully electric
- Major hubs offer convenient connections to regional and rapid transit system
Cons
- Many trains operate on tracks owned by freight railroads, which can lead to delays.
- Outside of the Northeast Corridor (NEC), service frequency is often limited to one train per day on long-distance routes.
- Travel times can be significantly longer than flying.
- Infrastructure in many parts of the network is aging, though major modernization projects are underway. Most notably is the North River Tunnel under the Hudson River which needs major repairs with no backup route.
Notes
- Amtrak has a very extensive network for those wanting to avoid flying but beware of the long, overnight travel times.
