Riding Amtrak is not hard if you prep for your adventure with a little research. Planning your first Amtrak adventure could lead to some questions; I had several when I started. After riding Amtrak for hundreds of train trips covering thousands of miles, I went from having inquiries to answers. Instead of hoarding that information, I wanted to share it with you.
In 2012, when I started, the only resources available to me were the Amtrak website and an online forum. The Amtrak’s site answered the big pitcher questions, and the panel answered the experience questions I had. When I posted a question on the forum, I found people were more excited to share their negativity than to answer questions. I hope you find this site to give you honest and informative answers to your questions.
If you can’t find your topic, please reach out, and I will try to help! With over 120,000 miles on the rails and over 600 trains, I have experienced most things.
Here the main topics I have up now. Feel free to search my blog posts, for they may have useful information among my travel stories. If you have any questions, please reach out.
Riding Amtrak During COVID-19
Amtrak has made service reductions due to COVID-19. Here is a list of regional trains with service reductions. Long-distance trains have also been hit by cuts too, here are the days you can catch those trains.
Riding Amtrak Topics
Trip Planning For Planning Amtrak
- Amtrak’s Long-distance train schedules
- This article includes the days the trains run.
- Downloadable schedules are available in this article.
- 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 not for sure what train you should book? This article will help you sort things out.
- How to save money on Amtrak tickets
- Want to save money with Amtrak? This page gives you the tools.
- Amtrak gift cards
- Covering where to buy Amtrak gift cards and how to use them, and more.
Coach Class & Sleeper Accommodations
- Coach Class
- The basics you need to know for coach class on regional and long-distance trains.
- Superliner Roomettes
- This article covers Amtrak’s most common booked accommodation, from size to what you need to know. The information is similar to the Viewliner Roomettes.
- Amtrak Bedroom
- Find out what you need to know about Amtrak’s largest accommodations, the bedroom.
- General Questions on rooms (sleeper cars)
- An overview of Amtrak rooms, and the top 21 asked questions answered.
Other Onboard Experiences
- Showers on Amtrak Trains
- This post goes over what you need to know about bathing on an Amtrak long-distance train.
Eating On Amtrak
Due to the pandemic, Amtrak is temporarily using flex dining on all long-distance trains but for the Auto train. Dining cars are closed to coach passengers. Amtrak trains and stations are cards only at this time; you need a credit or debit card.
- Eating On Amtrak Trains
- Regional trains have a Cafe Car for food service.
- Food on Long-Distance Trains
- Traditional Dining Car (Trains West of the Mississippi River and the Auto Train)
- Only the Auto Train has traditional dining; all other trains temporarily switch to flex dining due to the pandemic.
- Contemporary/Flex Dining (Trains East of the Mississippi River)
- These trains also have a cafe car for both coach and sleeper car passengers to use.
- Traditional Dining Car (Trains West of the Mississippi River and the Auto Train)
Information On Train Stations
As you travel on the Amtrak system, you will encounter several different types of stations. Stations can range from a platform and sign next to a cornfield to a beautiful station leftover from the glory days. These articles will prepare you for whatever station starts or ends your Amtrak adventure.
- Train Stations (General overview)
- Unstaffed Stations
- Platform Station
- This article covers what you need to know about Amtrak Connecting services.
- Staffed Station (coming soon)
- Amtrak Flag Stops
- Flag stops can be unstaffed or platform stations.
Amtrak Lounges
Some Amtrak major stations have lounges for select passengers. Find out what stations have them, what you can expect from an Amtrak lounge, and find out who has access.
Riding Amtrak: Auto Train
The Auto Train runs on the east coast as an alternative to driving I-95. This article will give you the basics you need to know to plan a trip. This train goes from the great DC area to the great Orlando area.
There are two articles the first covers the basis what you need to know about Amtrak’s Auto Train and an article that will give you an idea as to where your room is on Amtrak’s Auto Train
Other Helpful Tidbits & Links
- Why do the lights go off and on while on the train?
- Amtrak route guides
- This link takes you away from my site, but these guides can add a lot to your trips if you like trivia and learning. These guides will let you know the history of many of the stops and towns you pass through along your journey.
More articles are coming! Thanks for stopping by, and I hope that you learned a thing or two about riding Amtrak. If you have questions, please reach out and let me know!