Amtrak (2024)

FAQs

Is it cheaper to take Amtrak or fly? ›

For shorter trips, it is definitely cheaper to take Amtrak than it is to fly. There is also a much smaller chance your Amtrak trip will be negatively impacted by bad weather. Last, you'll be able to redeem your Amtrak points as opposed to your Delta Skymiles sooner.

Travel during peak travel periods will usually see you paying more as there is more demand for tickets. For that reason, the best days to buy tickets are generally in the middle of the week between Tuesday and Thursday, the former considered the best of all by several sources.

In 1997, federal seed money was made available for passenger rail in South Dakota, but the state declined to start the process. Instead, it spent the money on other forms of transportation, Stevenson said, because “the state was not desirous of passenger rail.”

Three Amtrak routes travel to Texas: Texas Eagle, Sunset Limited and Heartland Flyer. Trains stop in most major cities, including Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin, El Paso and San Antonio. Learn more about planning a train trip to Texas below.

The long distance trains are multi-day affairs, and to be comfortable you really want a sleeper car. They are quite expensive— comparable to first class airfare. And they often run late. They start out on time, but the farther down the line they get, the more likely they are to be behind the published schedule.

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.

Traveling by train is easy, comfortable and safe. Many stations are located in or near downtown for convenient heart-of-the-city arrivals and departures. And since Amtrak travelers 65 years of age and over are eligible to receive a 10% discount on most trains, it becomes an affordable alternative.

Reserve Early

You may book your travel up to 11 months in advance.

The AAA discount will only be available on the Capitol Corridor, the San Joaquins, and the Pacific Surfliner; it will not be good on long-distance Amtrak routes that travel through California, such as the Coast Starlight or Zephyr.

Routes. Amtrak is required by law to operate a national route system. Amtrak has presence in 46 of the 48 contiguous states, as well as the District of Columbia (with only thruway connecting services in Wyoming and no services in South Dakota).

Why does no one use Amtrak? ›

Amtrak isn't ideal, but it's nonideal in a unique way. The trains don't go to enough places; they don't go often enough; they take too long; they can be more expensive than the faster alternatives. And then sometimes there's something on the tracks. Don't miss what matters.

Sanderson is the least-used Amtrak stop in its national system, fewer than one boarding or alighting per train visit on average, attributed to the surrounding area's small population.

Their speed, however, will be limited by the complexities of the 457-mile route, which is old, curvy and carries a mix of freight, commuter and intercity trains. Most Amtrak trains travel between 110 mph to 145 mph in the corridor, depending on the track and proximity to stations.

Dogs and cats up to 20 pounds (combined weight of pet and carrier) are welcome on trips up to seven hours on most routes (some restrictions apply*). Our check-in process is simple, making traveling with your four-legged friend easy and enjoyable. * Only dogs and cats are allowed to travel as pets.

Unlike during a flight, train rides are not only relaxing and turbulence-free, but under most circ*mstances, 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.

Generally, short trips cost less by train, but it's more economical to fly for long journeys.

Along the eastern corridor, there's a good bit of demand for Amtrak tickets, which pushes those prices up. And that's partly because Amtrak knows being able to travel between cities such as New York and D.C. without the hassle of driving to the airport, going through security, getting on a plane, etc.

Depending on the itinerary and season, traveling by train can be more affordable than driving. Between gas prices and rental-car charges, road trips can be expensive ventures.