Amtrak is the only cross-country passenger railroad in the United States. Outside a few regions, Amtrak is usually the only way to travel state-to-state by rail, and is the only regular option for cross-country travel by rail. Amtrak operates the trains, and mostly runs on tracks owned by freight railroads. Amtrak is a quasi-governmental corporation, created in 1971 when the passenger railroads at the time wanted to get out of the passenger business.| www.complete.org
Note: this page was last updated in 2008. Some of these links are dated but the information they discuss is still online and discoverable via search. Amtrak Official Websites Amtrak homepage Amtrak reservation system Trip planning and background information from Amtrak En-route train status – on the Amtrak homepage Savings and specials index Amtrak Guest Rewards frequent traveler program. Amtrak Vacations - travel, hotel, and entertainment packages. Third-Party Information Sites Long-Distan...| www.complete.org
This was last updated in 2008 and may be dated. In general, Amtrak’s policies for carry-on baggage are more permissive than airlines. In particular, while Amtrak does have a limit on the number of carry-on bags, items such as purses, briefcases, laptop bags, strollers, diaper bags, car seats, and medical equipment do not count towards the limit. Please see Amtrak’s full baggage information & policy before you travel. Links to this note Amtrak Amtrak is the only cross-country passenger rai...| www.complete.org
Introduction A train station is simply a point where you get on or off a train. Train stations take many forms. Some are magnificent, massive, and historic buildings; others are cozy small-town stations; and still others are nothing but a shack or a roof by the rails. Some stations have restaurants, shopping, rental cars, and taxi stands within their walls. Most are downtown in the cities they serve, meaning that having a layover on Amtrak can be fun rather than tedious as it often is with ai...| www.complete.org
Train travel is a modern, fun, and fast way to travel all across the United States and the world. Here you can learn all about it. This page links you to information all about the nation’s cross-country passenger railroad, Amtrak. Why Take the Train? Did you know that it can be faster than air travel in some areas, offers one-of-a-kind scenery in others, and is usually surprisingly inexpensive? Amtrak On-Board Experience The experience on the train: what you’ll see, dining options, types ...| www.complete.org
General & First-Time Questions How much does it cost? Generally, I have found train travel to be competitive with iir, bus, or car travel. Of course, the specifics will vary depending on where you are going, when, and on what train. Check out the How to Travel by Amtrak page for information on getting fares online or by phone. Also, there are lots of discounts available. Where can I go? Amtrak has over 500 stations in 46 states.| www.complete.org
Let’s talk about what you can expect on the train. We’ll start with the layout of the train, and go on to describe different parts of it. Scroll down for more. The Train Itself Let’s start with the train itself. At the front of the train you’ll find one or more locomotives (engines) that power the train. In most of the country, the locomotives are diesel-electric, meaning they have diesel engines that generate electricity to power the motors that drive the train, as well as lights, ou...| www.complete.org
The North-East Corridor (NEC) is a section of rail running from Boston to Washington, DC. Unlike most of the rest of the country, Amtrak itself owns and operates the tracks in the NEC. The NEC is electrified, and is home to the fastest trains in the country, such as the Acela. Besides Amtrak, quite a few other regional railroads use parts of the NEC track. See also the Northeast Corridor Wikipedia page.| www.complete.org