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Whether you’re new to Amtrak travel or need a quick reminder, this guide covers everything you need to know about printing out Amtrak tickets for your journey.

We’ll walk through when and where you can print your Amtrak tickets, how to access them electronically, and what to do if you need help retrieving them at the station. By the end, you’ll know if and when to print them, feel confident about your options, and be ready for a smooth trip!

Do you need to print out Amtrak tickets?

No, you don’t need to print Amtrak tickets. Conductors can scan tickets directly from your phone, other electronic devices, or paper tickets.

Some travelers prefer a printed ticket as a backup, especially if they’re worried about their phone’s battery life or prefer a paper copy for easy access.

When you approach the train, the key is to have your ticket ready—either printed or on your device. This way, the conductor can scan or reference it quickly and easily.

When and how do you receive your Amtrak tickets?

When you make a reservation, you will receive your tickets via email within a minute or two, regardless of whether you book over the phone, through the website, or using the Amtrak app. If logged into the app, your tickets should also appear automatically within that time.

Please check your spam or junk folder if you don’t see your tickets. If you still can’t find them, log back into your Amtrak account and request a resend. Amtrak sends tickets as PDF attachments, making it easy to save or print them if needed.

You will receive a printed paper ticket immediately when you purchase tickets at a station or from a ticket machine. If you ask, station attendants can also email you a backup copy. Additionally, if you have an Amtrak Rewards number, provide it to earn points!

Do Amtrak tickets have cash value?

Years ago, all transportation tickets had cash value, but in most cases these days, things have changed for the better. Nowadays, paper tickets do not hold cash value. That is great for those of us who tend to lose things.

So, if you leave your tickets at home, you will usually not run out of cash. You can reprint them at the station, use the app, or email them.

When printing out your Amtrak tickets, it makes sense.

Printing your tickets can be a good idea if you prefer having a paper ticket or if certain travel circumstances make it more convenient. Here are a few reasons why it might make sense to print them out:

• Transfers, Business Class, Checked Luggage, or Room Accommodations: A paper ticket can simplify booking transfers, business class, checked luggage, or room accommodations on your trip.
  • For example, agents may staple the claim check to your ticket when checking bags, making a printed copy more manageable. In some cases, tickets are automatically printed during this process.
• Room Accommodations: Passengers with room accommodations may find it easier to use station lounges by showing a paper ticket rather than scrolling through their phones.
  • A printed ticket can simplify viewing your room information during boarding, especially on long-distance trains.
• Business Class: If you’re traveling in business class, you may need to show your ticket to the café car attendant to claim complimentary beverages.
  • Conductors also find seeing your accommodation details on a paper ticket easier.
• Phone Issues: If your phone tends to run out of battery or you forget to charge it, printing your tickets ensures that you won’t face any delays when conductors scan your ticket.

When printing out Amtrak tickets might be overkill

Printing a ticket may not be necessary for short trips, like traveling from Sturtevant Depot to Milwaukee Airport on the Hiawatha line.

The ride is only 13 minutes so that a paper ticket can feel like overkill; besides, at that stop, I am often only one of a handful of people, and they may ask for my name.

If you buy your ticket at the last minute—say, ten minutes before departure—there may not be enough time to print it out. In those cases, it’s not worth stressing over.

Should I print tickets for everyone on the reservation?

Technically, no; unlike airlines, one printed ticket is valid, but that can depend on the train. If you booked more than one sleeper, I would print at least one ticket for each room to make things easier.

Although Amtrak will do its best to keep groups together, there may be instances when this is impossible. If you end up separated, a ticket for each person will make things easier, but others could use e-tickets.

The art of printing out Amtrak tickets

You can print tickets from your home or at many Amtrak stations.

Printing Out Amtrak Tickets At Home

If you prefer to print your tickets at home, open the email from Amtrak and print the attached PDF. These tickets will be on a full sheet of paper and will include additional travel information.

When printing at home, use white or light-colored paper to ensure the barcode is easy to scan. Darker colors may cause issues with the scanner. Some travelers even use different colors for each trip segment to stay organized—a great idea for keeping track of a journey’s multiple legs.

Kev’s Travel Hack

Use a plastic folder with flaps to keep your paper tickets safe if the folder drops or gets put in your bag upside down, and look for one with a pouch for transit cards and other tickets.

I love this idea because it helps keep you organized and makes it easier to find your tickets.

I recommend a folder with flaps to prevent everything from spilling out. If you can get a folder with an additional small pocket, I find it handy for storing boarding-pass-style tickets or transit cards for places you frequently visit.

Printing Out Amtrak Tickets At A Station

A station agent can print your tickets if you’re at a staffed station. In some locations, a lounge attendant may also assist with printing.

Many travelers don’t realize that Quik-Trak machines can print tickets and manage reservations.

To use the machine, swipe the credit or debit card you used to make your reservation or scan the barcode from your phone or a printed ticket.

The machine will prompt you to print, and your tickets will be ready in seconds.

Note: Quik-Trak machines only accept cards for ticket purchases.

Tickets printed at stations, whether from an agent or a machine, are similar to airline boarding passes. I like them because they are more durable than home-printed versions and easy to fold into a pocket for convenience.

Alternative ways to get Amtrak tickets

While working on this article, I learned a few things. According to Amtrak.com, you can receive your Amtrak tickets by mail or pick them up on the train. However, these methods have restrictions and may not always be available.

This section’s basis comes from the Amtrak website, with some light editing. If you are interested in one of these options, check Amtrak’s current terms and conditions.

Getting Amtrak Tickets by Mail

If you have booked a reservation and have yet to receive an eTicket, Amtrak will mail tickets to addresses in the U.S. and Canada for no additional fee.

If you want your tickets mailed to most addresses within the continental U.S., you must purchase them at least nine days before your departure date. For addresses in Alaska, Hawaii, and most of Canada, you must buy your tickets at least 15 days before travel.

Please note that the Ticket by Mail service is unavailable to locations outside the U.S. and Canada, including Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, or any other U.S. territory or possession, as well as APO/FPO addresses.

Express Delivery

In certain circumstances, you may request that your tickets be delivered by express delivery for an additional fee.

To be eligible for express delivery, you must make your reservations at least four days before travel for U.S. delivery and at least six days before travel for Canadian delivery. This option is available only for continental U.S., Alaska, Hawaii, and Canadian addresses. Delivery to P.O. boxes is not available. Deliveries are made Monday through Friday only, and someone must sign for them.

Special considerations for short-notice travel from unstaffed stations:

• If you depart from an unstaffed station and purchase your tickets within ten days of your departure date, you must select the express delivery option. An express delivery fee applies.
• If you are departing from an unstaffed station and purchasing your tickets within four days of your departure date, please call 1-800-USA-RAIL (1-800-872-7245) and speak with a reservations sales agent to determine what alternative ticketing options may be available.

Picking Up Paid Tickets On Board

You can only pick up your tickets from a conductor under limited circumstances.

For example, if you pay for your tickets before traveling, your departure station is closed at departure time, and no other delivery options are available.

Amtrak’s online booking system will determine your eligibility for onboard pick-up based on your itinerary. If you are eligible, you can choose to pick up your tickets onboard during the booking process. When making reservations by phone, your agent will inform you whether you are eligible for this service.

If you decide not to print out your Amtrak tickets, here’s what you can do.

You should have a smart device to access your tickets instead of printing them. There are no workarounds for this. Sometimes, you can use your computer, but it is often too bulky and could be damaged if dropped.

Here are a few ideas to help you go paperless. I often use more than one of these methods to ensure I have multiple ways to access my tickets, just in case I don’t have Wi-Fi or cell service.

Amtrak App

Smartphones are optimal due to their size and consistent internet access, which are essential for using the Amtrak app. The app facilitates paperless ticket management.

Alternatives to the Amtrak app

One thing that saves time is putting your tickets in an e-wallet. You may need the app to put your tickets in an e-wallet. If your phone does not have this option, you can use several third-party apps, such as Google Wallet.

The most significant advantage is that they often do not require the Internet to operate, so they load faster. Additionally, some of them provide a push notification that you can swipe for quick access.

The other trick is to take screenshots of your ticket from the app or email. This way, you don’t have to worry about the internet.

Printed tickets do not update, but the QR code still works.

Sometimes, travel plans change, and updating paper tickets requires reprinting. However, if your reservation number remains unchanged, your barcode will remain valid for the updated trip.

For example, suppose you initially booked a trip from Sturtevant, WI, to Omaha, NE, at 11:23 am on Hiawatha but decided to take the 8:23 am train instead. If you changed your ticket, your printed ticket should still work if the reservation number hasn’t changed.

Printing your ticket the day before or on your travel day is a good idea. Doing so ensures you have the most accurate information, especially since Amtrak may need to make last-minute schedule adjustments during your trip.

Kev’s Thoughts on Printing Out Amtrak Tickets

As a Gen X traveler, I grew up with catalogs arriving in the mail, but I also embrace technology. I feel comfortable in both worlds, and my approach to tickets reflects that.

I often skip printing tickets for short, last-minute trips like the Hiawatha without connections. However, I prefer having a printed ticket for long-distance trips or those with transfers—especially when lounge access is involved.

Sometimes, I print tickets at home or use the station’s Quik-Trak machine. I keep a digital version on my phone, just in case.

For long-distance travel, especially in a sleeper, I like to have my ticket in my pocket to easily reference my room and car number when heading to the dining car.

Printing Out Amtrak Tickets, Wrap-up

The moral of this article is to do what works best for you as long as you have a reservation barcode while traveling. The advantage of paper tickets is that you do not have to worry about battery life, screen brightness, or Wi-Fi.

I hope this article answers some of your questions so you don’t have to worry.

Safe Travels!

Kev