Boarding An Amtrak Train: What you need to know

If you’re reading this, you’re probably preparing for an Amtrak adventure, and I’m here to guide you through the Amtrak boarding process. Boarding an Amtrak train may seem daunting for your first trip, but with these tips, you can quickly become a pro.

Amtrak stations vary in size and style, from staffed hubs to unstaffed platforms and even mysterious flag stops. Your experience may differ from one station to another. This article will share my tips and tricks from years of Amtrak travel.

So grab a snack, get comfortable, and start your journey on the right track. I’m excited to have you along for the ride!

Preparing to board an Amtrak train starts at home.

Before heading to the station, I suggest completing a few tasks to simplify the process and minimize stress.

Buy your tickets before your trip.

Before leaving for your trip, the first thing you should do is buy tickets.

Purchasing your tickets in advance may get you a better price and provide peace of mind. Waiting until the last moment is an option, but you may pay more or deal with sold-out trains.

You can purchase them online, through the app, by phone, or at staffed stations.

If you are new to train travel, you will soon learn that not all stations have ticket agents, such as unstaffed stations. Many stations have Amtrak Quik-Trak machines where you can purchase a train ticket or print it if you already have one.

Do not attempt to purchase tickets on the train. While some trains may allow you to buy them on board, it is best to purchase them beforehand.

Most Amtrak trains do not allow ticket purchases on board. If you board a full train without a purchased ticket, you may be asked to disembark at the next stop. If you can buy tickets on the train, you must pay more; these transactions are cash only.

Do you need special accommodations?

If you need accessibility accommodations or help getting on, off, or onto the train, let Amtrak know when booking. If you have a service or comfort animal, ensure your animal qualifies and follows Amtrak’s service animal policy for booking.

Verify that everything is correct before boarding an Amtrak train.

One thing I do before my trips is log into my Amtrak account or app to verify my ticket information.

I look for any last-minute changes I may have missed and ensure everything is correct on my tickets, hotels, and schedule. I like to do this a day after I book things. I also check for any service advisories.

Sometimes, changes occur, such as departure times or rooms, that you may have missed. If the barcodes in the app do not appear, call Amtrak as soon as possible to find out what is going on with your trip.

Research your stations.

Many Amtrak stations, especially in small towns, are unstaffed and can range from a building to waiting on a platform with a bench and a sign. Either “station” could also be a flag stop. Amtrak has staffed stations throughout the system, especially in bigger cities; some have lounges.

Researching before you leave can save you from last-minute panic. This way, you know what to expect.

Suggested questions to research about your stations:

• What services do they offer?
• Can you park as long as you need?
• Do they have an indoor waiting area?
• Can you check our bags?
• Are there bathrooms?
• Other needs that you may have.

Making a dry run is an excellent way to familiarize yourself with a train station.

While this may not always be possible, especially at layover stations, it can be a worthwhile trip if it is your first time at a station and you can stop by.

If you plan to depart from a station staffed for your dry run, you can purchase your tickets there. This way, you can interact with someone at the station, ask questions, and become more familiar with the station layout.

I am giving you this advice because I did not do this on my first Amtrak trip! I turned off GPS and drove to where I thought the Sturtevant Station was. The station was no longer there, but they moved to where the train picked up people.

Luckily, I had enough time to turn the GPS on again, get to the current station, and get on my train.

When to Arrive for Boarding Your Amtrak Train

When planning your arrival at a train station, consider your experience, abilities, and familiarity with the process. It’s advisable to arrive earlier until you feel comfortable with the procedures.

Arriving early at the station helps you navigate the area and ensures you won’t miss your train.

For larger stations like Chicago Union, it is best to arrive 45 to 60 minutes before your train’s departure so you can navigate the station and check your bags if necessary. Some stations have lounges for sleeper passengers and first-class Acela passengers.

You should get there early if you need help or assistance at a staff station. Some stations have red cap service.

A 20 to 30-minute arrival window is usually sufficient for smaller stations, as boarding tends to be quicker.

If you plan to check your bags, most stations require you to do so at least 45 minutes before your train departs. Some stations may have more flexible policies. However, not all stations provide bag-checking services. Verify this when booking your Amtrak ticket; the system will indicate whether bag-checking is available.

Arriving early gives you extra time to handle parking, locate your platform, and be prepared when boarding begins. Remember, the train won’t wait!

Check the train’s status before leaving.

Before leaving for the station, check the status of your train using the Amtrak app, call Amtrak, or visit a few third-party sites. For more information, please see my article on Tracking Amtrak Trains.

Amtrak offers a delay alert service that texts or emails you if the train runs late. You can sign up for this when you purchase your tickets or later. You do not need a reservation to use this service, so people picking you up can also sign up.

Do I need to check in for my Amtrak trip?

You do not need to check in 24 hours before with Amtrak, like when you fly.

The only time you may need to check in is if you use a lounge, more on that later, or some station check to ensure you are where you need to be for your journey.

Getting your luggage ready for boarding an Amtrak train

Whether you carry on or check, all bags must have a tag with your name, phone, email address, or both.

Carry-on

Each passenger may carry on:

• One personal item, 25 lbs. (12 kg) and 14 x 11 x 7 inches
• Two carry-on pieces of luggage, 50 lbs. (23 kg) and 28 x 22 x 14 inches each

If you transfer to the Pacific Surfliner at some point along your journey, the baggage size for that train is up to 28 x 22 x 11 inches each.

Charges apply for additional and oversized luggage; check out Amtrak’s carry-on bag policy for more information.

Checked Bags

If your beginning and ending stations must have checked bagged service, you can check bags on many Amtrak trains. The app and train indicate if you can check bags on your journey.

Stations With Self-Service Checked Baggage

Self-serve trainside checked baggage service is available to and from the following stations only: Charleston, WV; Cincinnati, OH; Columbus, WI; Crawfordsville, IN; Dyer, IN; Hammond, LA; Lafayette, IN; Meridian, MS; Mount Pleasant, IA; Rensselaer, IN; Texarkana, AR; Tuscaloosa, AL; Winona, MN.

Checking your bags mid-route

I have an advanced Amtrak check-bag travel tip; you can check bags mid-route.

For example, if you travel from Sturtevant, WI, to DC, you must carry your bags onto the Hiawatha, but when you get to Chicago, you can check your bags there and grab them in DC. But be aware, in most cases, you need to do this 45 minutes before your train departure.

Boarding an Amtrak train at an unstaffed station

Check for signs with boarding instructions for unstaffed stations, but know there may be none. Especially if there is just one track for boarding.

If there is only one platform at the station, things are more straightforward: wait behind the yellow line for the train to come. If there are two, check for signs.

A few unstaffed stations have announcements, such as Sturtevant Depot, where there are two tracks.

At this station, conductors or other Amtrak staff can remotely inform passengers the train is coming, what train track it is on, or make other announcements.

Whatever the case, prepare your belongings and tickets when you see the headlights because the train will arrive soon!

At flag stops, the train only stops if you purchased a ticket before the train’s arrival.

As the train pulls up

Ensure you are in the right spot before the train arrives and visible to the crew; sometimes, two trains arrive at or close to the same time.

You want to board the one going in the right direction. Also, have your bags and ticket handy to speed things up!

To speed up the process, it helps to watch the train for your accommodations as it rolls in so you can head towards where you need to go when it stops.

Once the train stops, the conductors and attendants will open doors and step off the train, but be aware that not all doors will open. If you are trying to get off the train, do not open any doors; find an open door.

Depending on the train, you may be assigned a seat before boarding and told to go to a specific car based on your destination. When they ask, tell them the stop where you get off that train, not your final stop, if you are transferring. This information is on your ticket.

Boarding an Amtrak train at a staffed station

Where You Can Wait For Your Train

If you are in coach class, check for waiting areas. Check for a lounge if you are a sleeper passenger or first-class Acela. You will wait in the shared waiting area if there is no lounge. Sometimes, you can buy a lounge pass for the day if you have coach or business class reservations.

Some stations, mainly the larger ones, have food service areas or convenience stores where you can get something. Most staffed stations offer baggage storage for a fee, often $10 for 24 hours.

Red Cap or other assistance services are available at many stations to help passengers who need assistance to or from their train. These services could include a wheeled chair or a cart.

Verification & Checking Your Bags

Some smaller staffed stations like to verify that you are at the station at the right time for the train and on the travel date. I mainly experienced that in Omaha.

Reminder: If you want to check bags, Amtrak requires you to check your bag 45 minutes before your scheduled departure time.

Some stations may let this rule slide; it is best to assume they do not. Remember that both stations need to offer a check bag service.

As the train pulls up

When your train arrives, ensure you can hear announcements or that at least one person from your travel party can, so you know when to get ready and where to go. If you are at an originating stop, like Chicago, they can call you earlier than expected.

When it is time to board the train, the staff will help you get to the right spot on the platform or tell you what platform you need to use. While walking to the train, ensure your ticket is ready to be scanned.

Finally, it was time to board an Amtrak train.

The train is here, and it is time to board, or is it? It is!

Before I enter this section, I want to emphasize listening to the staff’s words to understand the process.

I often see people not listening to instructions, and then they slow down the boarding process.

The key points to listen for from station staff are the train’s number plus the gate and track information. Additionally, listen to instructions on the position of your accommodations.

Long-distance Trains Coach Class

Meet the train where the station staff tell you and look for the conductors and staff who will direct you to the right car. Coach passengers on long-distance trains often receive a seat check or tag, which is the seat assignment.

Long-distance Trains Sleeping Accommodations

If you have sleeper accommodation, you are assigned a car and room after completing your reservation, so check your tickets. There is no need to cut in line or push and shove. No one will take your room.

I have seen people rush because they didn’t want someone to take “their” room. (Eye roll)

Walk to the car that matches your reservation; the car number is four digits and displayed by the door.

The car attendant will often meet you at the door unless you are boarding late at night when a conductor may help you.

Regional Trains

Some regional trains have open seating, meaning you can enter through any door and sit anywhere. Occasionally, conductors will assign you a car; sometimes, due to short platforms, not all doors will open.

If you are a business class passenger, look for that car or ask a conductor. Often, business class is near the cafe car.

Acela

On Acela trains, when you book, you are assigned a car and a seat that you can change for free.

As you walk up, look for your car number, enter, and find your spot. Please do not ignore your assigned seat because you don’t like it or you don’t think it is essential. Another passenger may have picked where they wanted to work or to sit with a fellow traveler; this has happened to me.

When boarding an Amtrak train, do they need my ticket?

Conductors use an iPhone-type device with a scanner to scan your bar or QR code. Depending on the number of segments, the same barcode could get scanned a few times along your trip.

Depending on how many people are boarding, the conductors may scan your tickets before or as you board, or they may wait till you board the train and are seated.

There has been a time or two when I was the only one boarding the train, and the conductor looked at me and asked Kevin? I said yup, and he hit the button, and that was that.

If you are a sleeper car passenger, the conductor may consult your car attendant and lift your ticket manually, meaning they may never scan it.

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Boarding an Amtrak train wrap-up

Following these few steps will make boarding an Amtrak train easier:

• Be ready
• Pack light
  • Make sure your luggage is in good shape!
  • Plastic shopping bags and garbage bags are not great for luggage or approved.
• Research the stations you use to know what to expect.
• Have your tickets ready on paper or electronically to make the boarding process quicker.
• Listen to announcements, whether at a staffed station or an unstaffed station with a PA system.
• Keep an eye on the train’s status.
• Don’t push and shove; the train will leave after all passengers are onboard.

Boarding an Amtrak train is not complex when you know what is happening and are ready to go.

Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you found what you were looking for when boarding an Amtrak train.

Please check out my other article about riding Amtrak. If you found value in this information and want to ensure the site continues, help out here.

Safe Travels!

Kev