Tracking Amtrak Trains

As an Amtrak traveler, I like to stay updated on the status of my train. I often track my train days or weeks before my trips to see if there are any trends. On this page, I’ll show you how I monitor Amtrak trains and the tools I use, making it easy for you to do the same. There are multiple ways of tracking Amtrak trains, so you can choose the best method.

Staying updated can start with the booking process, but if you want to track more than just your day of travel, you can do that, too. Information is available on Amtrak’s website and app, but third-party options exist. To make things even easier, you can have information sent to your mobile device! I list all the tools I use, plus others so that you can find the best tools for you.

Tracking Amtrak Trains by phone

If technology is not your friend, traditional methods still exist for tracking your train’s progress.

You can call Amtrak at 1-800-USA-RAIL! Once you call, follow the prompts with your train’s number and station name, and you will get the information you need the fastest.

Some stations allow tracking Amtrak trains!

At most staffed and some unstaffed train stations, you can find screens that display the status of trains that arrive at that station. If you cannot find your train on the screen, you may have arrived too early, or other trains will come before yours.

Staying updated starts during booking

When booking with Amtrak, please provide a phone number or email address you can access while traveling.

Amtrak offers the option to receive texts and emails about significant delays, and they may call if your reservation changes. To get these updates, use a phone number and email you can access while traveling—your home or office contact info won’t help if you’re not near it during your trip.

I’ve had trips where I received timely updates while others didn’t. When they asked how I was getting these, I replied, “Amtrak sent them to me.” That’s when I realized the issue—they had given Amtrak office or home numbers or email addresses they couldn’t access on the go. Somehow, they expected Amtrak to know they wouldn’t be at their desks! I couldn’t help but be puzzled by their logic.

So, always provide a phone number and email address you can easily access during your travels!

Check before you go!

In most cases, Amtrak will let you know of any changes that occur after you book, but it never hurts to double-check, and you can do that by checking Amtrak’s Service Alerts & Notices.

The other way is to check your Amtrak account under My Trip or use the app to ensure your scheduled times have not changed.

Using one of the Amtrak tools or third-party apps to ensure your train runs on time is not a bad idea; I would even say it is necessary.

Sign up for text or email for tracking Amtrak trains.

You can do this while you book, but you can also use this option to track your train days or weeks in advance. I do this to see if there is a trend.

Additionally, if someone is picking you up, you can have them receive text or email alerts to inform them of changes; this can be helpful if you experience a cell phone dead spot and cannot reach them.

Here is how you can do this; it is easier than it looks:

1. Visit Amtrak’s alerts page.
2. Choose between receiving alerts via text or email.
3. Use the contact information you can access while traveling.
4. After entering your details, click the green “Continue” button. 
5. You can then enter the station and train number from which you’d like to receive information. 
6. Once you’ve selected it, click the “Set Delivery” button.
7. You can set up alerts for a single day or multiple days. If you select the multi-day option, you can also specify which day of the week you’d like to get notified. 
8. Then click the blue “Continue” button. 
9. Once you enter all the trains and dates you need, click the green “Done” button.

That’s it. If you sign up for alerts, you’ll get notifications about delays or changes to your train schedule. It is not as daunting as it sounds. After you enter everything, you will start getting texts or emails.

Tracking Amtrak Trains With The Amtrak Website & App

Why not start with the source? You can track Amtrak trains using their official website or mobile app. Based on my experience, the mobile app is more user-friendly than the website when you’re on the go. However, I will explain both methods in detail so you can choose the one that best suits you.

However, I will explain both ways in detail so that you can choose the one that best suits you.

Amtrak Website

The Train Status button on the website is in the menu bar on the left side of the screen. If you use a mobile browser, you can find it in the menu button (the two lines) on the upper right.

This feature lets you track your train by station or train number. You can also enter your starting and ending stations to see train options, showing all trains serving that route.

Using the app for tracking Amtrak trains

I have found that using the Amtrak app on your phone or tablet is the most convenient way to check the status quickly. The app offers several ways to do this.

Track your train by opening the app and finding your e-ticket on the travel day. Tap Trip Tools for quick access to key details. To refresh the information, tap the refresh button (a circle with an arrow).

You can also check your train’s status by tapping the Status button at the app’s top (a locomotive with a clock). Like the Amtrak website, you can search by station or train number or enter your starting and ending stations.

Third-Party Websites For Tracking Amtrak Trains

If you want more options, several third-party websites can help Amtrak trains. They get the information from Amtrak somehow; that info is out of my experience. 

Try different maps to find the best tracking tool and see which works best. While some of these tools may have a learning curve, you can pick up on things quickly as you get going.

I did not put these in any particular order.

Intercity Rail Map

Intercity Rail Map is a website that I frequently rely on because it is easy to use. I bookmarked it a year ago. This website allows you to view a map of all the trains, and you can click on the train you’re interested in to see how it is doing. The website uses color codes to indicate the train’s status and location. 

There is a search bar for those looking for a specific train. You can enter the train’s name or number to find it quickly and check its past performance.

If you dig into the site, you can look at a train’s on-time history. 

Amtraker

Amtraker is a website similar to Intercity Rail Maps, but it could be less overwhelming. 

One of the great features of this website is that you can save specific trains for faster viewing. The website will display only the train that you have saved. If you want to see all the other trains again, you can just hit the “show all” button. 

Please note that this website only shows departure times, not arrival times. While departure and arrival times are often very close, there may sometimes be a gap between the two. If you need arrival times, you will need to look for that information elsewhere.

Railnet

Railnet operates differently. One feature of this site is that it shows the number of trains available on a particular route and indicates the currently active ones.

Amtrak Status Maps

The Amtrak Status Maps website may look old-school but provides up-to-date information about train schedules. The site divides the train schedules into seven zones, which can help you find what you need quickly. Once you locate your train, click on the number to see a page showing each station’s arrival and departure times. The website updates the arrival and departure times as the train progresses.

You can use the Amtrak Status Maps Archive Database to check the train’s past performance.

Tips For Using These Sites

These websites depend on Amtrak to collect information about train status, updated approximately every five minutes. 

I prefer to use Intercity Rail Maps because they present information about my train in an easy-to-read manner. However, your preferences may differ.

Please note that you may need to refresh the page to stay updated. If it looks like nothing has changed, that could be the reason. 

Can You Trust Third-Party Sites to Track Amtrak Trains?

I was reading an Amtrak group discussion in which someone distrusted third-party sites for tracking Amtrak trains. While having reservations is perfectly fine, this skepticism might be misplaced. Third-party sites typically get their information from the same sources as Amtrak and do not alter the data.

What would these sites have to gain by changing the information? The main difference lies in its display since the data is consistent across platforms. You can compare third-party sites with the official Amtrak site to see if there are any discrepancies. In my experience, the only difference might be a slight delay in the information update.

Make sure you are tracking the correct train!

When tracking Amtrak trains, you will need some basic information, which you can find on your ticket. Firstly, you should know the train’s number, the name can also help. 

For those tracking an Amtrak long-distance train, the train number and a number in parentheses, such as 5(15). These trains run for a day or more, so tracking the correct one is crucial. The second number indicates the date of origin for that train.

If you need clarification on what day of the journey your train is on, you can refer to the schedule page on the Amtrak website. Alternatively, you can visit my page, where I list all the long-distance routes and break down the journey by day based on the stops.

Tracking Amtrak Trains Conclusion

Tracking Amtrak trains is a great way to stay informed about their status so you can plan your journeys and adapt to unexpected changes. It can also help those who are picking you up. For instance, if you’re in an area with poor cell service, your family or friends can monitor your train’s location using the official Amtrak website and app, third-party tracking tools, or text alerts for your driver. This way, you can decide when to arrive at your destination. 

Although it may seem like a lot of information, once you begin using these tools, you can determine which ones work best for you, and using them will become effortless. 

If I overlooked a website or tip, please let me know. I will do my best to provide you with the most accurate information. 

Safe travels and happy planning!

Kev