USA Rail

Hello everyone, I’m providing an update regarding an issue I mentioned previously. I purchased a USA Rail Pass but had not made any bookings yet. However, at around 4:00 AM EST a couple of nights ago, multiple trips were booked using my rail pass without my authorization. I do...

This is mainly a PSA regarding recent changes at the Chicago Union Station Metropolitan Lounge operated by Amtrak. Around 12–18 months ago, Business Class passengers on Amtrak Midwest services were reportedly no longer allowed access to the more spacious two-story lounge, making...

I am currently stuck on Amtrak Silver Meteor Train 98 near DeLand, Florida. I boarded the train in DeLand at around 1:40 PM yesterday. Things were normal at first, but later we experienced major delays due to a fire south of Jacksonville. After waiting for about 6–7 hours, we...

I recently came across an interesting analysis of same-day pricing trends for Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor routes (Boston–NYC, NYC–DC, and DC–NYC), based on several days of systematic tracking. The data suggests that: A significant portion of trains (around 30–60%) saw price...

I recently traveled on an overnight train with Amtrak and saw something unusual. A passenger got into the empty luggage rack area and slept there during the trip. I could not decide if this was a clever solution or just uncomfortable and inappropriate. The context: I was also...

Background: I took the Amtrak Southwest Chief from Chicago to Albuquerque in April 2026 as a 30 year old solo female traveler. I have solo travel experience but this was my first time on a train. I tried researching beforehand, but some details like seat layout and comfort were...

I recently took the Empire Builder from Chicago to St. Paul and booked a roomette for one since I was extremely sleep deprived and wanted to rest. After boarding, I asked the sleeping car attendant if I could handle the turndown service myself. He said that was fine if I knew...

My partner and I are currently traveling north on the Coast Starlight and unfortunately left our phone charger behind at our hotel in Los Angeles. We spoke with a staff member, and it seems unlikely we’ll be able to get a replacement until we reach Portland tomorrow. This is a...

I’m planning a trip from Lawrence, KS to Kalamazoo, MI using the Southwest Chief with a connection in Chicago. I’ve made this trip before without major issues, but I know the Southwest Chief is often delayed. Recently, Amtrak reduced my connection time in Chicago from 3 hours to...

I recently took my 11-year-old daughter and her friend on a day trip from BWI to New York City and back on the Northeast Regional. The trains were quite crowded in both directions. On the way up, a kind passenger offered to switch seats so the girls could sit together, and...

i was traveling on an amtrak train from boston to new york and sat in the quiet car. shortly after boarding, two passengers who sat near each other began talking in low voices for an extended period of time, about 25 minutes. although they were speaking softly, their...

I recently traveled with my bike on an Amtrak Northeast Regional train from Philadelphia to Washington, DC, and wanted to share my experience. I arrived at the station about 45 minutes before departure with my bike prepared (front wheel removed and battery disconnected). At the...