How to Print Amtrak Schedules: A Step-by-Step Tutorial

The Amtrak website provides schedules and timetables that list the departure times for each stop. You can download or print Amtrak schedules for a specific route or customize them to fit your trip. If you’re returning to Amtrak travel, you might notice that the schedules vary slightly from those in the past, but the essentials remain the same.

In this post, I use the terms “timetable” and “schedule” interchangeably because they generally refer to the same concept nowadays. For those interested in the nuances, timetables denote fixed and regulated timings, particularly transportation. Conversely, a schedule is a broader term that includes plans and may not always adhere to strict time constraints. Nowadays, “schedule” is the more prevalent term commonly used by most transportation providers.

Do You Need a Printed Amtrak Schedule for Your Journey?

Opinions vary, but printing out an Amtrak schedule can enhance the travel experience for some passengers—myself included! I find it helpful when I don’t have cell service or want to know which stop comes before mine so I can prepare to get off.

Your ticket includes essential departure and arrival times, but a printed schedule provides additional details and convenience. It’s ideal for tracking stops, addressing the question, “What stop is that?” and gaining a clearer understanding of the route.

However, not everyone requires one. Many travelers appreciate the simplicity of depending on their ticket or enjoy the freedom of a less structured trip.

Whether you have a printed schedule or not, the choice depends on your travel style. For me, it’s a minor detail that brings clarity and comfort to the journey.

A Quick Guide to Printing Amtrak Schedules.

I created a cheat sheet for you; feel free to keep it with your travel documents as a reminder. Here are the basics on how to print your ticket. If you are tech-savvy, this section will help you, but the next sections will provide more details.

• Click the schedule button in the menu or go to the Amtrak schedule direct link.
• Choose your route for the complete option or provide your information for a personalized schedule, then click the Find Schedule button.
• Amtrak may provide you with one or more options depending on your situation. You can print all the selections or just one. Click the print button, then print the chosen route or all of them.
• After you click the print button, you will receive a PDF file to download or print out a hard copy.

The route schedule includes the train and related Amtrak connecting services. To conserve paper, select the pages you wish to print.

That’s all you need to do; continue reading if you want more information than that.

Where can I find schedules on the Amtrak website?

You can access Amtrak schedules from your computer, tablet, or phone. I suggest using the device that best suits your preferences for downloading or communicating with your printer effectively. Remember that things may change, as the screenshots are from the Amtrak website and are dated January 2024.

Visit Amtrak.com on a computer or mobile device.

Since many of us switch between computers and smart devices, I will detail how to perform this process for both and offer tips on transferring information from one to the other.

From your computer

I prefer using my computer because it’s easier, but you should use whatever works best with your printer to get a hard copy. To keep a digital copy, you can transfer files between your devices using a cloud-based system like Google Drive. Alternatively, you can download the Amtrak schedule onto your preferred device; using a tablet or iPad makes it more accessible.

Alright, here’s how you can obtain them using your computer.

Go to Amtrak.com

Check beneath the Amtrak logo for the menu bar.

You will find the Schedule button located between Deals and Guest Rewards.

Later, skip the following two sections and choose a route or a custom schedule.

Using a mobile browser

Visit Amtrak.com and select the “hamburger” icon in the upper right-hand corner.

Select “Schedule” from the drop-down menu.

Decide if you prefer a standard route or a custom route.

After that, bypass the next section and determine whether you prefer a route or a custom schedule.

From the Amtrak application

First, launch the Amtrak app on your device to view the Amtrak schedule.

After opening, tap the “More” button in the screen’s bottom right corner.

From the menu that appears, choose “Schedule.” You will then be taken to the schedule page on the Amtrak mobile site.

Here, you can select a predefined route or design a custom route.

You can choose how to print Amtrak schedules.

You can tailor your schedule to align with your booked trip or obtain one for particular routes.

Create a custom schedule or utilize stations.

If you’re seeking a schedule or personalized timetable for your trip that includes all your trains, this option is ideal! It offers an overview page that displays your layovers and a separate page for each train, showing only the times you’ll be onboard.

For example, if you book a trip from Sturtevant, WI, to Philadelphia, PA, you will take two or three trains. With this option, you can obtain all the stop times for your trip without any unnecessary extras.

• Enter your endpoints and the dates.
• Amtrak will give you options if available.
• Click on the route you want.
• Hit the printer icon.
  • You can select to print them all or just the one you need.
• After that, you will open a PDF file with icons on the upper right-hand side that allow you to download or print.

Route schedule

If you are in the planning stage or traveling from start to finish, you can utilize the route schedule, which includes all the connecting services.

• Hit the Route or train icon.
• Then, use the drop-down menu to select your desired route and hit the find schedule button.
• Select the date you want
• Hit the printer icon.
  • As of February 2024, when you hit this button, it only lets you print the timetable.
• After that, you will be taken to a PDF that you can print or download. The icons are in the upper right-hand corner.

Other Locations to Access and Print Amtrak Schedules.

There are other places to get and print Amtrak schedules, and here are all of the Amtrak schedule pages I made.

I have a section on Amtrak schedules for the majority of Amtrak trains. These posts include a PDF from the Amtrak website and additional train information.

Other resources, such as the Rail Passenger Association, offer timetables in a more traditional form.

The one thing to remember about my site and these other sites is that they are not official; they are not updated as quickly as Amtrak’s, and Amtrak does not always notify us when there are changes.

Kev’s ideas about printing Amtrak schedules.

Amtrak used to provide printed timetables at stations for passengers to take with them but eventually discontinued this service. I understand the reasoning behind that decision.

Printed timetables have several drawbacks: they can become outdated before printing, the cost of publishing and distributing printed materials is high, and keeping them current wherever they are displayed is challenging.

Moreover, ensuring that all stations have the most up-to-date timetables is challenging, which can be inconvenient when planning a trip.

Access to the latest information is now easier than ever as technology becomes more accessible.

Getting your Amtrak travel schedules directly from Amtrak’s website will provide you with the most current information, especially if you print the schedules the day before or the morning of your trip.

Although I have already reviewed the schedules for most Amtrak routes, it is challenging for me to keep all those pages updated 100% of the time, and the same applies to other websites that offer them.

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Safe travels and happy planning!

Kev