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Questions tagged [amtrak]

A government-owned passenger rail corporation in the United States.

The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, Amtrak, is a government-owned corporation that provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. Amtrak operates more than 300 trains each day connecting more than 500 destinations in 46 states and three Canadian provinces.

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Should I tip on the Amtrak train?

I've never rode on an Amtrak train before- in this case I'll be riding the Silver Star which allows for checked luggage and has a dining car. Is it customary to tip Amtrak personnel? For example- is it customary to tip the server or personnel at the…
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What is the state of train travel in USA?

I'm planning to go to the USA for some months. I'd like to travel there by train, but I heard that trains aren't really widely used in USA. So my questions are: How is the rail network in the USA? Is it possible to reach the big cities and also…
RoflcoptrException
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Amtrak Cascades from Seattle to Vancouver - What is the border crossing like northbound?

I'm pondering using the Amtrack Cascades train to get from Seattle up to Vancouver. The ticket price seems pretty good, the views are supposed to be great, and it seems to be fairly quick too! When travelling southbound (i.e. into the USA), Pacific…
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Are there electrical outlets in the sleeper cars of the California Zephyr?

I will be taking the California Zephyr the entire journey, and I planned on getting a lot of work done on my laptop during the journey. I will be staying in a roomette, I've taken Amtrak on the North East Corrider, both coach and Acela before and I…
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Is it worth booking Amtrak in advance?

Do Amtrak prices vary depending on how far in advance you book them, or are they the same price up until the day of travel?
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When does Amtrak assign reserved seats?

I just booked my first Amtrak ticket ever for a trip in mid-September, and the email I got says I have "1 reserved coach seat," but I don't see a seat number or anything to give me a unique seat anywhere. When, if ever, will that happen? Do I get…
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In 1 inch (2.5 cm) of snow, would Amtrak be much faster than a bus?

Traveling from Boston to New York Tuesday night. Light snow forcasted. (What speed would a bus drive? MPH. What speed would a train ride? MPH)
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Map showing what parts of an Amtrak route are traversed during daylight

I remember seeing a map of individual Amtrak routes that showed which parts of the train route were traversed in daylight for each direction. I've looked on Amtrak's website and checked the schedules and route guide PDFs but can't find it. Are these…
Jeff B
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How rigorous are Amtrak in enforcing luggage rules?

Looking at Amtrak trains between NY and Boston, I found that all had "no checked luggage" save for a midnight train (less than ideal for a relaxing vacation). Looking at this reference, it's not really that restrictive as you can take bags on to the…
dlanod
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Unlimited Greyhound or Amtrak trips in US/Canada?

I've heard mention of 'limitless' tickets in North America, either by bus or train. Do these exist? What are the conditions and prices?
Mark Mayo
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Does Amtrak send passport information to the CBP so exits from the US can be recorded?

I am considering flying to New York, spending a week there, and then going to Montreal or Toronto for a week before flying home. For those who don't know, when entering the US by air, the CBP (US border agency) records your entry electronically,…
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Will Amtrak honor a saver ticket from an earlier station when other saver tickets are sold out?

I'm buying a train ticket on the long-distance Amtrak Empire Builder train that runs Chicago-Milwaukee-...-St. Paul-... I'm traveling from Milwaukee to St. Paul. All the saver tickets are sold out. Value tickets are sold out for Milwaukee-St. Paul,…
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How safe is Baltimore Washington Airport Amtrak station at night?

I am taking Amtrak train from New York Penn Station to Baltimore Washington International Airport Amtrak station next month. I am reaching BWI Airport Amtrak station at 2AM. After getting down from the train, I plan to take a cab to one of the…
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Can I bring a bear spray from the US to Canada?

While hiking in the US, I bought a bear spray. However, I never used it. Now I'm taking an Amtrak train from the US to Canada and I'd like to take the bear spray with me. Am I allowed to do that? Does it matter whether the bear spray is in my big…
RoflcoptrException
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Amtrak shared roomettes — am I allowed to sell the unused bed to another traveller?

In Europe, a common option on sleep trains is to book night accommodation in space shared with one or more strangers. This is cheaper than a private compartment, but more expensive than having only a seat. Amtrak does not officially offer this…
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