It's uncommon for most Americans to take the train except for the comparative few who commute in and out of large metropolitan areas such as New York, Chicago or Boston--and these are primarily locally operated transportation networks. And yes, there are a hardy few who use Amtrak to commute between big cities, such as those lying along the famous (or infamous) Northeast Corridor, stretching from Washington, D.C. to Boston. We are wedded to our cars, otherwise.
But train travel, particularly for a vacation, can be pleasant, informative and just plain fun. The pure relief of sitting back and letting someone else do the driving is the number one reason to hit the rails.
You take in a lot of scenery at ground level (or even better, from the upper deck of a two-story sightseeing car), something you can't get from a plane 30,000 feet in the air, often above the clouds. And it's fun to ramble along inside the train, talking with fellow passengers (train riders are notoriously friendly), checking out the food service car--sometimes even a true dining car--and getting in your daily exercise. (Try walking on a crowded plane and see how far you can get!)
And Amtrak is trying harder, hoping people with long memories will forget the bad old days when many employees on trains behaved as though passengers asking questions were just wasting their valuable time, when cars weren't cleaned properly and when schedules were often considered a work of fiction.
The Web Site
Amtrak's Web site is fairly informative, and you can make reservations easily on it. Just go to www.amtrak.com. The site offers a variety of online packages and promotional fares for each region: South, Northwest, Northeast, Midwest, West and, in a category all its own, California.
On the site you can find trains, routes, timetables, accommodations, a guide to services for travelers with disabilities, station service (including checked baggage, boarding information, the Metropolitan Lounge, etc.), as well as data on international border crossings to Canada, schedules, fares and more.
Web Site Specials and Sales
Of most importance is Rail SALE, Amtrak's exclusive online savings program, where you can save on an ever-changing selection of coach fares. Some of the current notable sale fares include (all one-way coach):
Chicago to Detroit, $5.60, June 3 through June 13
DC to Chicago, $47.70, May 13 through 31
LA to Chicago, $87.60, May 29 through June 15
Discounts apply not only to travel between the two cities, but all stops in between, costing less the earlier you deboard. You can also upgrade your fare once you are on board the train, but not before. Year Round Discounts
To entice more customers to use its services, Amtrak is providing a whole bunch of year-round discounts. Here are the most important of the promotional fares:
1. Off Peak Travel. The lowest fares are off peak, and the prices vary by route, season, day of the week or time of day.
2. Children. If the kids are aged 2 through 15, they can ride half price when accompanied by a full-fare paying adult (maximum of two children per adult).
3. Seniors. Travelers aged 62 and over can get a 15% discount on most coach fares, any time during the year. The discount also applies to the North America Rail Pass, see below.
4. Students. If you are a junior or senior in high school or a college student, you can get a 15% discount on coach when you join the Student Advantage program. You can also use this student card for discounts at thousands of retailers around the country. The cost for joining is $20 for a year. To sign up, phone 800/96-AMTRAK.
5. North America Rail Pass. If you're planning to travel in both the US and Canada, you can buy this pass, which gives you 30 consecutive days of travel in the two countries, where there is a rail network of 28,000 miles and a list of over 900 destinations. You pay one low price, as long as your trip includes at least one segment of travel in each country. The pass is valid for coach, but you may upgrade for an additional charge. Children, students and seniors receive a 10% discount. The 30-day pass is $475 off peak, $674 peak (peak being from June 1 through October 15), and with the special 10% discount, that is $427 and $607, respectively. (There is a 15-day pass, too, but it is good only for overseas residents, not those who live in Canada or the USA.)
6. Veterans can get a pass card that gives them 15% off most regular coach fares. Until December 13, 2003, they can call 877/872-7245 to find out about special 50% discounts on selected routes, as well. These benefits can be booked online using a Veteran's Advantage Amtrak serial number issued to Veterans Advantage members on their membership card.
7. Group Fares. If you can get a group of 20 or more together, you can get discounts here, too. Phone their special fares department at 800/USA-1-GRP for more information.
8. Convention fares. If you are going to a convention and the organizers have made a deal with Amtrak, you will get a discount here, too. Phone their 800/USA-RAIL number.
9. Disabilities. Amtrak offers a discount (which varies) for passengers with disabilities. This requires written documentation, such as an ID card from a transit system, a membership card in a disability organization or a letter from a doctor, which you must bring to the ticket counter and when boarding the train. This discount cannot be combined with another discount (student, senior, etc.).
10. Florida Rail Pass. This is good for unlimited use during a one-year period and costs $249. It is valid between any and all the 33 cities Amtrak services in this huge state.
A Universal, Money Back Guarantee
In the summer of 2000 Amtrak embarked on a complete makeover of their image, claiming that they would no longer concentrate on merely operating the system, as in the past, but on providing good service to the customer. So intent are they on achieving better service that they state: "If any guests are not satisfied at any point in their Amtrak travel experience, they will be encouraged to bring their concerns to the attention of any Amtrak employee, who will try to make it right. If guests feel that the effort is not enough, they can call 800/USA-RAIL for a Service Guarantee Certificate (ask for Customer Relations and have the reservation number for the trip handy) which entitles them to equivalent free travel in the future."
If you have a complaint about the trip, such as being very late, simply phone the number. The representative will ask for your ticket number (so be sure to hang on to your stub), determine if a certificate should be issued and tell you on the phone when it will be sent to you. Certificates are valid for 18 months, so you'll have plenty of time to take a new trip.
Spokesperson Karin Van Veen said at the program's inauguration that most complaints, especially for long distance trains, concern on-time performance, especially outside the Northeast. Except for that part of the country, Amtrak does not own its rail lines and must run on other companies' tracks.
Again, to reserve any of these fares or to research your trip, go online to Amtrak.com or call 800/USA-RAIL.
