Rail passes are exciting ways to discover the beauty and serenity of the countryside or a city for travel enthusiasts. Neither bus nor air journeys allow you the freedom to explore the vast terrains and undiscovered land as trains do. The opportunities are endless when you cover a huge country like the US with 46 states and over 500 destinations on Amtrak’s rail network. The options are so many that you are literally spoilt for choice.
With Amtrak’s USA Rail Pass you enjoy 10 rides (segments) over 1 month to your choice of destination that are no less than 500 to choose from. The travel fares cost less than $50 per segment. Amtrak USA Rail Pass is an excellent deal breaker — multiple rides; an array of travel destinations to choose from; flexibility of travel; convenience; cost-efficient, and so much more.
A travel segment is when you board and disembark one of Amtrak’s scheduled train services. The USA Rail Pass allows you a multi-segment journey at a fixed but low price. You can start reserving seats once you purchase your pass by visiting Amtrak’s official website, www.amtrak.com, or from the Amtrak mobile app. The pass is valid for 30 days after you travel the first segment, and for 120 days after purchase.
If you are traveling in a group, each of you must purchase your own rail pass and must have separate seat reservations. If there are kids in the group, carry a pass for each and have an Amtrak agent book tickets for you.
On the Amtrak USA Rail Pass, you will be eligible for travel in the Coach class with wide, reclining seats and ample legroom, not to mention free WiFi as well. Travel is super comfortable and just as pleasant in a Coach class as it is in private accommodations or a Business class. Upgrades are not available at the time of writing.
The USA Rail Pass is available on all Amtrak services except for Acela, Auto Train, and Maple Leaf. Travel is restricted to two round trips or four one-way trips to the same destination and back. You must consider a multi-ride pass if you are planning multiple trips between two same stations.
After purchasing a pass, you can even request additional services like special assistance needed for people with disabilities by calling 1-800-872-7245.
By booking in advance you stand a chance of saving at least 20%-50% of your money on the pass. The USA Rail Pass offers great flexibility in travel as you can select the number of travel segments and corresponding pass duration. A travel segment is any time you get on and off the train.
How to Book a Pass
You can purchase your Amtrak USA Rail Pass on their website. The pass is not your ticket though. You will have to make separate seat reservations (free of cost though) on each of the trains that you plan to take during your sojourn. You must carry your identification, such as your passport, on the day of travel. If your ticketing has been done online, you will receive your e-ticket in a PDF format in your email.
It’s best to carry a hard/printed copy as well on the date of travel, or you may show the barcode of your e-ticket on your mobile to the conductor when he comes to check. Tickets can also be purchased from an Amtrak kiosk. You may even call the customer service number to book and receive an e-ticket via email. You will get a paper value ticket if you book through a travel agency or corporate travel office.
You can save at least $100 on Amtrak’s USA Rail Pass which allows you to book 10 rides over 30 days. Once you activate your pass, you will have to book and travel all 10 segments within 30 days. Chart out a clear travel plan so that you can make the most of the time you have in hand.
Info on Cancellation & Contact
If you have not used your pass then you can request a refund within the validity period, which is 120 days from the date of purchase, provided you have not booked any travel segment. However, the pass is fully refundable even if you have booked your travel but up to 48 hours prior to the scheduled departure of the first booked segment. A 25% cancellation fee is applicable if you request a refund within this period. Your pass is non-refundable after the scheduled departure of your first booked segment.
If you have missed your train and not used your pass, it expires after the scheduled departure; here you stand to lose one segment of your travel. You will, however, not miss any segment if there has been a service disruption on part of Amtrak. Get on the phone with an agent by dialing 1-800-USA-RAIL (1-800-872-7245), or ask an Amtrak staff member at the station office to rebook your travel. You can also reach the number for general enquiries or feedback.
