I used Amtrak to explore 4 states with my family for $22 per person. Here's what it was like and why it beat flying or driving. (2023)

FAQs

Is Amtrak cheaper then flying? ›

Train travel is often cheaper than flying, in part because you can generally take more with you before paying extra baggage fees. It can also be more convenient and relaxing than driving, especially if you'd be driving in an unfamiliar place or driving for many hours nonstop to get to your destination.

Round-trip tickets allow you to ride from departure station to your destination and back. Tickets are valid on board any Capitol Corridor train/bus at any time between the stops noted on the ticket. There is a multi-city booking option as well if your plans include more than one destination.

Can I choose a specific seat? Not while you're making a reservation. 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.

Unlike during a flight, train rides are not only relaxing and turbulence-free, but under most circumstances, it is stress-free. There are no take-off, landing, or seat belt signs, and for most of the journey, you are free to get up and walk around instead of being stuck in your seat for endless amounts of time.

A general rule of thumb is that Off-Peak will begin at 09:30 Mondays to Fridays in cities and large towns, and 09:00 across the rest of the network. Weekends and Bank Holidays are Off-Peak all day.

"The safest spot in a train, during an accident, is the center of the train," said Mann, who was the principal author of the Federal Railway Safety Act in 1970. "Because if there is a front-end collision or a rear-end collision, the damages will be greater at those locations.

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.

You get to pick your seat because there are no seat assignments, and there are no middle seats. SCORE! There are two outlets at every seat pair.

Redeeming your points is easy and exciting—with reward travel starting at just 800 points to over 500 destinations. Ready to ride?

What is a senior on Amtrak? ›

Passenger Discount for Seniors

Amtrak travelers 65 years of age and over are eligible to receive a 10% discount on most rail fares on most Amtrak trains. On cross-border services operated jointly by Amtrak and VIA Rail Canada, a 10% Senior discount is applicable to travelers aged 60 and over.

The accidents may raise questions about the safety of train travel. While flying on an airplane is the safest mode of long-distance travel, according to the International Air Transport Association, trains are your best option on the ground.

"The safest spot in a train, during an accident, is the center of the train," said Larry Mann, a rail safety lawyer who was the principal author of the Federal Railway Safety Act in 1970. In the event of a front-end or rear-end collision, the damage will be worse in those areas, Mann said.

Complimentary meals are one of several amenities you'll enjoy when traveling in a private room. Learn more about your onboard dining options. Do private rooms have bathrooms and showers? Yes.

Room to Roam

Enjoy the spirit of a road trip without the hassles. Instead of being confined to a cramped, uncomfortable seat for your entire trip, a train lets you get up to stretch your legs and walk around to other parts of the train. That's not even an option when you fly, ride a bus or drive a car.

Our advice, don't be a loud talker. By all means chat it up (not if you're in the quiet car… obvi), just do so quietly. All the space on Amtrak trains is a bit intoxicating in all the best ways.

Typically, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Saturday is the cheapest day to fly. If you can structure your travel schedule around these days, these will likely be the best days to fly – both for a lower cost and a less-hectic airport experience.

Most people know if you book early, you can get cheaper train tickets, yet often these vanish quicker than empty seats on a peak-time journey. To ensure a bargain, the key is to start looking for tickets about 12 weeks before you want to travel. Network Rail must – usually – have the timetable set 12 weeks in advance.

How can I save money on train tickets? ›

Sit in the center-most train car

When choosing a seat on a train, try to get one in the center-most car, or one of the central cars. This will put you as far as possible from the most common points of issue for collisions or derailment, namely the front and end of the train.

A good booking officer will be able to tell you teh good and bad seat numbers. Forward facing is always best, by a country kilometre.

On a train, if you get a seat in the centre then it would be relatively a safe one, opine some experts, citing laws of physics. For example, a seat in the middle or central coaches, preferably 6th, 7th, or 8th are good bets (If it is a 13-15 coach train).

The following items are prohibited onboard the train: non-service animals, firearms and ammunition, hover boards, corrosive or dangerous chemicals and materials, incendiaries, martial arts and self-defense items, archery equipment, devices containing propellants, sharp objects, and similar items.

Yes, all meals are included with the purchase of sleeping accommodations aboard the train as well as several other perks including; a picture window, showers and toilets, electrical outlets, climate...

On Amtrak trains, while you can bring your own liquids, including alcoholic liquids, on board with you, you can only drink your own alcohol inside a sleeper car. Drinking in any public space, including your own seat, is a no no.

The best place to sit in Amtrak Coach Class is on the upper level. It's all about the view on the upper level. This is the biggest advantage of sitting in the upper level. You can also move from car to car more freely as there is access from each car on the upper level.

For the most enjoyable experience, especially during a long-distance journey, you'll want to wear clothing that is super comfortable, along with warm socks. Oftentimes, the train cars can get cold, even if you're not seated by the doors that connect the cars together.

For customers traveling with kids in First Class, Family Rooms span the width of the car with ample space for two adults and two children (aged 2 - 12) and feature: Seating for four by day transformed two upper and two lower beds by night. Newly upgraded bedding, pillows, towels and linens.

How much should I tip my Amtrak attendant? ›

The Complete North American Train Travel Guide,” recommends $5 per passenger per night for sleeping-car attendants, and the standard 15 percent of what the meals would cost if you paid (prices are on the menu) outright. Come prepared with a stash of small bills.

Unlike many transportation options, traveling with Amtrak is twice as nice with our generous baggage policy. When you travel with us, you can carry-on two free pieces of luggage. Each item should not exceed 50 lbs. (23 kg) and needs to be 28 x 22 x 14 inches in size.

1/3 off rail travel and so much more...

But with a Senior Railcard, it's also the starting point for travelling many more miles too. That's because it gives you 1/3 off Standard and First Class Anytime, Off-Peak and Advance fares.

General Guidelines: Tipping is NOT required, but is considered correct for the service crew personnel on the train. Recommendations: Snack bar attendant: roughly 10%. Dining car: 15% of menu prices (sleeping car passengers may want to note this when ordering their meals).

While tipping isn't required, leaving a gratuity is the norm. Usually, for one night in a sleeper, I suggest about $10 per person/per night. If your room attendant brings your meals to you in your room, then think about adding more to the tip as you would have left a tip anyway for the dining car waiter.

Also: Round-trip fares are cheaper, too, on Amtrak, but the margin is much smaller.

Conclusions. Commercial flights are the safest transport mode. In the past decade, there hasn't been a single full plane crash in the US. The fatalities rate during this past decade so low that even if you fly your during your entire life, you only have 1 out of 1,500 chances of dying.

After reading the preceding information in this article, it is obvious that air travel is the safest mode of transportation. Our aircraft dispatcher training center would like to point out that all of the professionals surrounding the industry are highly trained and happy to be part of this industry.

In almost all cases, Amtrak seats are not assigned. The exception is Acela Express route seats and business class seating on the Northeast Regional, Carolinian, Palmetto, and Vermonter. Otherwise, Amtrak has a first-come, first-serve seating policy for coach seats.

What part of a train is least crowded? ›

In both, on average the last carriage is the least crowded. Obviously this will vary line-by-line, and even service-by-service.

Just like a hotel! Facial, hand and body towels are all included, and your train attendant will make your bed for you at night and put it away for you in the morning whenever you want. We also provide pillows, but you're free to bring additional ones.

Passenger rail cars are a special type of water system, called an Interstate Carrier Conveyance (ICC), covered under the Safe Drinking Water Act. Amtrak is based in Washington, D.C., and works directly with EPA's Mid-Atlantic Region for drinking water compliance.

Most Amtrak trains travel between 110 mph to 145 mph in the corridor, depending on the track and proximity to stations.

It IS possible to sleep in a coach seat. Our wide reclining chairs with tons of legroom and adjustable footrests will have you sleeping like a … well … you know. This gives you that warm and cozy feeling even as you're traveling across America! Load up your cell phone or tablet with a few movies.

For customers seeking plenty of comfort and room, Bedrooms provide twice the space as a Roomette and feature a sofa and armchair by day and upper and lower berths by night. Each room includes a big picture window, fresh towels and linens, and an in-room sink, restroom, and shower.

AMTRAK'S COAST STARLIGHT. Amtrak's Coast Starlight is considered one of the most scenic routes in the Amtrak system, offering the very best views of the Pacific Coast, from the cliffs of Pacific Coast Highway to the peaks of the Cascade Mountains.

Conclusion: The Cost of Train Travel

Taking trains in America is often much more expensive than flying because railways are owned by freight companies and charge Amtrak for their use. In addition, the government hardly subsidizes any part of passenger rail, which drives up prices.

The travel search website Hipmunk, which displays train options alongside flight results, found that on the top 100 Amtrak routes booked over the past year, train travel was cheaper 80 percent of the time. Travelers choosing the train saved an average of $132.

Many of the lines don't make any money or are operated at a loss. To accommodate the money-losing routes, Amtrak uses profits from its popular lines, such as the Northeast Corridor. Since this is one of the most popular routes, Amtrak can charge higher prices and send those profits to other, less profitable lines.

How early should you arrive at Amtrak? ›

Plan to arrive at the station at least 30 minutes before your train is scheduled to depart (Auto Train passengers should arrive at the station at least two hours prior to departure).

An analysis by Randal O'Toole found that only four Amtrak routes earn an operational profit. Some Amtrak routes lose hundreds of dollars per passenger and fill fewer than 40 percent of their seats. The few routes that earn a return are in the Northeast, while the biggest money losers are the long‐distance routes.

Standard Amtrak Discounts (Students, Seniors, etc.)

Seniors: Travelers 65+ receive a 10% discount (excludes Auto Train). There is no additional AARP discount. Military: 10% discount for military personnel plus their spouses and dependents.

It says the cheapest time of year to fly is January and February. (Well, less that little bit at the beginning of January after New Year's Day.) The site says that "virtually overnight," around January 8, prices swing from the most expensive three-week stretch of the year to the cheapest.

Public transportation – buses, metros, and trains are often the cheapest type of transportation available. Carpooling services – if you're traveling long-distance consider using apps like BlaBlaCar or Moovit to cut down on costs. Renting bikes – keep fit and save money by cycling around the town.

Tickets can be purchased in person at any staffed Amtrak station. You can pay with your credit card, cash or personal check ($25 minimum purchase and two forms of ID and credit card required).

There are many reasons for this. There is limited service between cities (Amtrak says it runs 300 trains with about 87,000 passengers per day), freight is often prioritized over passenger service in the U.S., and trains and facilities are often outdated.

Heavy demand for private rooms on many routes has prompted Amtrak to charge the highest fares that passengers will pay.