Amtrak (2024)

FAQs

Can you tell how full an Amtrak train is? ›

Now, when booking, customers can easily see how full their reserved train will be (i.e. 20 % full). The percentage is displayed in real-time when customers search for their train.

Due to liability concerns, Amtrak only allows passengers to be put off at a staffed station.

RANDOM PASSENGER AND BAGGAGE SCREENING

Passengers failing to consent to security procedures will be denied access to trains and refused carriage, and a refund will be offered.

4. 900 host-responsible delay minutes per 10,000 train-miles is generally correlated to performance that results in Amtrak trains that are 80% on-time.

For some railways, Google maps will tell you how busy a train is if you click on the journey you're travelling on at a station. The Trainline also gives you information if you book trains through them.

Fact #4: Trains Can Stop, But Not Quickly

So if you think a train can see you and stop in time, think again. Trains cannot stop quickly enough to avoid a collision, which is why vehicles should never drive around lowered gates or try to “beat” a train.

In most circ*mstances, you must purchase a ticket before you board a train. Most trains require reservations and you should not board reserved trains without a reservation. Passengers who do so are not guaranteed a seat and may be instructed to get off the train at the next station stop.

In sum, Amtrak police officers have the same police authority as a local or state law enforcement officer, within their jurisdiction.

Unlike at airports, there is usually no security check before boarding the train. This can be disconcerting for some, since it means there is no one reviewing what travelers bring aboard.

Can I bring my vape on Amtrak? ›

All Amtrak trains, Thruway buses and stations are entirely non-smoking. No one may smoke anything in any area on trains, on Thruway services, in stations or in any other location where smoking is prohibited. This includes: Electronic smoking devices, such as electronic cigarettes.

It is your constitutional right to say no to a search. Refusing a search protects you if you end up in court. In court, the officer will have to prove that there was probable cause to do a warrantless search and this will give your lawyer a good chance to win your case.

As other posters have indicated, you should be fine riding AMTRAK solo on an overnight run. Being in a confined space with no escape route tends to deter would-be criminals.

It's no secret that Amtrak is often significantly slower than driving: Rochester to Toledo is 6.75 hours on the Lake Shore Limited vs 5.75 on the I-90 and Jacksonville to Columbia is 5 hours on the Silver Star vs 4.25 hours via car.

This is not an exaggeration. I found both trips as bumpy as a flight with turbulence where the seat-belt sign is on from start to finish. The motion sickness and terrible sleep were too much for me, and had I known this before my trip, I might have packed some medicine to prevent motion sickness.

Amtrak will now allow customers to see how full trains are when they are booking online and through the mobile app, the company shared with Travel + Leisure. The new update will allow customers to see the percentage of seats that have been booked in real time and choose their train accordingly.

"Rule 261" is a reference to NORAC Rule 261. This refers to a track that is signalled for operation in both directions, which means that a traditionally westbound track can be used for either westbound or eastbound trains, as is the case with the ROW between Jamaica and Floral Park.

Standard class seats are arranged in a 2+2 configuration. The trains have an average of 66 standard seats per car. There is not much additional space for luggage. This will be crucial for trains covering longer distances or for airport services.