Learn How To Ride Amtrak

If you want to ride Amtrak, it helps you know the basics, so I put this page together. Setting the right expectations is vital for any trip you want to plan. Finding good information can be challenging, so why not get it from someone who spent over a decade riding the rails?

My story and experiences

Over the years, I went from asking others questions to answering them for people like you.

My first Amtrak adventure took place in 2012, and back then, there were not many websites like this one outside of the Amtrak website, at least that I could find and connect with. I did find an Amtrak forum that is still around; albeit handy, it was also discouraging.

In 2013, I took my first long-distance train and fell in love with Amtrak Travel. That year, over two trips, I went from coast to coast in an Amtrak coach class. I could not get enough train travel, so I started riding the rails weekly! I would take short trips to Milwaukee or Chicago or go as far as St Louis, MO, Battle Creek, MI, and more for lunch.

In March 2014, I climbed onto the 421 Texas Eagle sleeper into roomette number 14 and found my happy place! I earned several free roomette rides because of my regional travels and learning to use Amtrak’s point program! One of those trips was from Charleston, SC, to San Fransico, CA, on the Silver Meteaor, Capitol Limited, Texas Eagle, Pacific Surfline, and an Amtrak connection service on one ticket!

Instead of hoarding my experiences, I want to share them on this website with my positive but honest take on Amtrak travel. At this point, I have over 200,000 miles on the rails and over 700 trains; I have experienced most things.

Helpful planning topics for your next Amtrak Adventure

This section could be great if you want to plan an Amtrak Adventure but do not know where to start. Or, if you have a specific question, this section may help you find that topic faster.

A few topics to explore

• Amtrak’s Long-Distance Route Guides
  • Get an overview of all the long-distance routes with links to more information.
• Printable Long-Distance Route Schedules Or Timetables
  • If you are looking for stop times for your next Amtrak Long-Distance trip, this page allows you to download the schedule to store on your device or print it out.
• How to print out Amtrak Schedules
  • Learn how to print out a route or custom schedule.
• Amtrak’s Acela
  • Amtrak’s high-speed train on the Northeast Corridor travels between Washington DC and Boston.

Amtrak Planning Trips

• Amtrak Schedules or Timetables can be great planning tools!
• What you need to know when Amtrak trains with multiple route numbers
  • If you plan a trip on the Texas Eagle, Lakeshore Limited, or Empire Builder and are unsure what train section you should book? This article will help you sort things out.
• How to save money on Amtrak tickets
  • If you want to save money with Amtrak, this page gives you the tools to save money on your next adventure.
• Amtrak gift cards
  • This article covers buying Amtrak gift cards and how to use them.
• Accessible travel services on Amtrak
  • If you need info on accessible travel, this link will take you to Amtrak’s page.
• How to track Amtrak trains
  • You can start tracking trains when booking using the Amtrak app, website, and third-party sites.
• Amtrak Points & Cash Program
  • You can now book with cash if you do not have enough points for your next trip or other reasons listed in the post.
• Amtrak Coach Fares Options
  • Learn the difference between Sale, Value, or Flex Coach fares.
• Amtrak and Daylight Saving Time
  • There are two times a year when Amtrak schedules when Daylight Savings upsets Amtrak train schedules.

Things you should know before your first Amtrak trip.

• Entertainment on Amtrak Trains
  • Amtrak offers views, but you may need to pack something else for entertainment. Find out a few of Kev’s suggestions.
• Amtrak Service Alerts and Notifications
  • Amtrak’s office resource for service alerts, weather impacts, passenger advisories, station advisories, plus links to Amtrak service-based Twitter handles.
• Boarding Amtrak Trains
  • You booked your tickets, packed your bags, and now it is time to board the train. Here is an article that will help you prepare for your trip.

• Amtrak Connecting and Thruway Services
  • Sometimes, Amtrak cannot take you by train to where you want to go.
  • These days, Amtrak charters a bus or van or books you on another transportation company as part of your reservation to get you where you need to go.

• Smoking, Vaping, & Marijuana on Amtrak Trains
  • This article covers the basics you need before your next trip.
• Amtrak Red Caps
  • Amtrak Red Caps help you to get to and from your trains at select stations.
• Printing Amtrak Tickets
  • Find out if you need to print them out and more.

Amtrak accommodations

For comprehensive information on Amtrak sleeping accommodations, start here.

• Coach Class 
  • The article covers coach class basics for your next regional or long-distance train adventure.
  • Coach class passengers have access to a Quiet Car on some select trains.
• Overview Of Amtrak Sleeping Accommodations
  • If you are new to Amtrak Long-distance trains, this page will give you a quick overview of what you can expect and links to put you in the right direction to get the info you need.
• Viewliner Roomette
  • The Amtrak Viewliner Roomette is a cozy accommodation in Amtrak’s single-level sleeping cars. This article will provide the basics and a few tips.
• Superliner Roomettes
  • The Amtrak Superliner Roomette is a cozy accommodation in Amtrak’s bi-level sleeping cars. This article will provide the basics and a few tips.
• Amtrak Bedrooms – Superline & Viewliner
  • Find out about the bedrooms, Amtrak’s largest sleeping accommodations.
  • The article covers both Veiwliner and Superliner sleeping cars.
• Amtrak Accessible Bedroom
  • This room could be great for those who have mobility issues.
• Amtrak Family Bedroom
  • A great room for those traveling with wee travelers.
• General Questions on rooms (sleeper cars)
  • An overview of Amtrak rooms and the top 21 asked questions answered.

Amtrak onboard experiences

Amtrak Wi-Fi

You can find Amtrak Wi-Fi on many regional and long-distance trains; this article will let you know what trains plus what you can expect.

Showers on Amtrak

Sleeping cars on long-distance trains offer several nice perks, including privacy, sleeping horizontally at night, and showers! This article covers everything you need to know to stay fresh while traveling.

Eating on as you ride Amtrak

Eating on Amtrak can be a fun experience, and knowing what to expect can help you plan what snacks you want or need to bring and how much money you need to set aside as you travel.

Eating on Amtrak Long-Distance Trains

Sleeper car passengers on the Auto Train and those trains that run for two nights use Amtrak’s traditional dining. The remaining long-distance trains offer sleeping car passengers Amtrak’s flex dining.

Amtrak provides a cafe car for coach and sleeper passengers who want to buy food, snacks, or drinks.

Food On Amtrak Regional Trains

Many regional trains offer food aboard the trains. Short routes like the Hiawatha do not provide food or beverage services. The cafe car is where you can find food on regional trains. This article covers the basics of what you need to know and the menus.

Stations: where you board Amtrak

The Amtrak system contains different station types, from a platform and a sign next to a cornfield to a beautiful station leftover from rail travel’s glory days.

These articles will prepare you for whatever station starts or ends your Amtrak adventure. You could encounter different types on a trip.

• Train Stations (General overview)
  • Unstaffed Stations
  • Platform Station
    • This article also covers Amtrak Connecting services.
  • Staffed station (coming at some point)
  • Amtrak Flag Stops
    • Flag stops include unstaffed or platform stations.

No matter what station, you need to know how to board Amtrak trains, and this article will help.

Amtrak lounges

Some of Amtrak’s stations have lounges for passengers to use. Do you qualify to go into an Amtrak lounge? Find out what stations have them, what you can expect, who has access, and more!

Learn How To Ride Amtrak Long-Distance Trains.

This page is an excellent starting point for learning about each train route. It includes articles I wrote about each route, or if I haven’t written about that route yet, I link to Amtrak’s page. You can also get schedules and route guides.

Amtrak’s Auto Train

The Auto Train runs on the East Coast instead of driving I-95. This train travels from the great DC area to the great Orlando area.

The Auto train allows you to ride comfortably and bring your car along. You do need a car to ride on this train.

There are two articles: the first is Auto Train basics, and the second gives an idea of where to find your room on the train.

Helpful tidbits & links to help you ride Amtrak

• Entertainment on Amtrak
• How to prevent your Amtrak points from expiring!
  • If you have traveled on Amtrak before and calculated points, find out when they expire and how to save them.
• Find Out Why Passenger Train Lights Go On And Off
• Amtrak route guides
  • Amtrak used to provide passengers with route guides while traveling on trains, but these guides are no longer available.
  • Route guides can enhance your trip by providing fun trivia and historical information about the various stops and towns you pass through.

This page is growing!

More stories and articles are coming! Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you can learn a thing or two about riding Amtrak.

Safe travels!

Kev