Amtrak is the biggest passenger train company in the United States, and helps travelers hit the rails to destinations throughout the country. Wanderu has the information you need for smooth travels with Amtrak!

Ready to book your ticket? Search away!

Know Before You Go

How much luggage can I bring on my Amtrak trip?

Amtrak allows 2 suitcases up to 50 pounds each and 2 small carry-on items up to 25 pounds each. Passengers can also check up to 4 additional bags (2 for free, 2 for $20 each) at some stations.

Bicycles may be carried on certain trains. See the Amtrak luggage policy for more details.

Does Amtrak have amenities on board?

Amtrak does offer WiFi, power outlets, bathrooms, and snacks for sale on board most of its trips. Please keep in mind that since these are complimentary it is within the carrier's rights to not offer them on specific routes or if there are technical issues outside of their control.

Does Amtrak have a discount for children or infants?

Amtrak offers a 50% discount for children between 2-12 years old. Child tickets must be purchased on www.amtrak.com with the adult ticket.

Infants are required to have a ticket, but there is no charge for an infant ticket. Infant tickets must be purchased on www.amtrak.com with an adult ticket.

Can minors travel alone on Amtrak?
Amtrak does allow unaccompanied minors ages 13 to 16 to travel, with restrictions. Children 16 and older may travel without restriction. See Amtrak's unaccompanied minors policy for details.

Reservations for unaccompanied minors must be made by calling Amtrak at 1-800-872-7245, and cannot be made online.

After Booking Your Ticket

I didn't receive my confirmation email or ticket from Amtrak!

Remember to check your email inbox/promotions or spam folder for your ticket email from Amtrak.

You can resend your ticket to yourself by going directly to www.amtrak.com and clicking "Modify Trip" in the menu above the search form. Follow the prompts to load your ticket information, and click "Send Itinerary" in the upper right hand corner. You can then enter the email where you’d like the ticket to be resent.

Do I need to print my Amtrak ticket?

Amtrak does not require a printed ticket to board the train. An E-Ticket is sent to you by email that you can load on most electronic devices.

For more information about reading your Amtrak ticket, see our blog post here.

How early should I arrive at the station?

We recommend arriving at least 20-30 minutes before the departure time to prepare for the boarding process. If you are unfamiliar with the departure station, it's always good to leave extra time to find your way around!

Do I need an ID to board my train?

Yes, Amtrak requires you to present an ID to an agent to be allowed to board the train. Make sure you have identification issued by a government agency that meets the carrier’s requirements. Alternative IDs, like a college ID, won’t work.

Cancelling or Changing Your Amtrak Reservation

Can I make changes to my ticket?
Can I cancel my ticket and get a refund?

As of October 25th, 2023 Amtrak has modified their fares, change and cancellation policies as follows:

All Fares

Full refund to original form of payment if changed or canceled within 24 hours of purchase, regardless of time elapsed between purchase and scheduled departure (within one hour for tickets on unreserved services).

“No Show” Policy: After departure, all fares are non-refundable and cannot be changed. Passengers who do not show or cancel prior to departure forfeit the entire amount of the "no show" trip segment.

Saver Fares

Classes of Service: Coach on Reserved Services & Acela Business Class

Refunds: Non-refundable 24 hours or more after booking but may receive a 75% non-refundable eVoucher.
Changes: 25% fee if changed more than 24 hours after purchase.

Value Fares

Classes of Service: Coach on Reserved and Unreserved Services, Acela Business Class

Refunds: Full refund to original form of payment with no fees if canceled 15 days or more before departure. 25% fee charged if canceled less than 14 days before departure. Tickets on unreserved services incur 25% fee if canceled an hour or more after purchase.
No change fee

Flexible Fares

Classes of Service: Coach on Reserved and Unreserved Services, Acela Business Class

Refunds: Full refund to original form of payment with no fees if canceled before departure.
No change fee

Business Fares

Classes of Service: Non-Acela Business Class

Refunds: Full refund to original form of payment with no fees if canceled before departure.
No change fee

First Class Fares

Class of Service: Acela First Class

Refunds: Full refund to original form of payment with no fees if canceled before departure.
No change fee

Class of Service: Private Rooms

Refunds: Full refund to original form of payment with no fees if canceled 121 days or more before departure. Refund to original form of payment with 25% fee charged if canceled 120 to 15 days before departure. Within 14 days of departure, only refundable to non-refundable eVoucher with a 25% cancellation fee.
No change fee

For more information on Amtrak's change and refund policies please see here.

Most tickets purchased online can be canceled and refunded online. To change or cancel your Amtrak ticket please go to www.amtrak.com and click on the "Modify Trip" tab (upper right hand corner) and follow the prompts, or call Amtrak directly at 1 (800) 872-7245. Refunds may also be processed at stations with Amtrak ticket offices.

Additional Information

Cancellation fees have a minimum of $5.00 and a maximum of $250.00 per transaction (maximum of $250.00 does not apply to monthly or multi-ride tickets).
An Amtrak ticket becomes non-refundable, not valid for carriage and has no exchange value, after one year from the date payment was made for that ticket (or other period if so endorsed on the ticket). An eVoucher or other exchange credit is valid for one year after issuance of the original ticket.
If a customer does not take the entire trip paid for, the remaining ticket value is calculated by subtracting the fare for any travel already taken from the total amount paid. The refund policy applies as soon as payment is made, whether or not any ticket is printed, and applies to entire fare paid including both rail fare and any accommodation charge. The Amtrak refund and cancellation policy is subject to change at any time.
eTickets and tickets purchased through other prepaid programs are considered "paid for" and subject to the refund and cancellation policies of any component rail fare, customer type discount, and/or promotional discount, even if paper value tickets have not yet been printed.

Please note, the Wanderu booking fee is non-refundable with the cancellation of your Amtrak ticket.

On Your Day of Travel

Where is the train?

Amtrak offers an online tracker to see when your train will arrive!

I missed my train! What do I do?

Usually, no refunds or credits will be given in instances where passengers miss the train, but you can always contact Amtrak to inquire at 1 (800) 872-7245.

If you purchased the optional travel insurance plan, you may be able to file a claim for reimbursement with Allianz if the reason you were unable to travel was covered by your plan; you can see additional details here.