Amtrak

Dogs and cats up to 20 pounds (combined weight of pet and carrier) are welcome on trips up to seven hours on most routes (some restrictions apply*). Our check-in process is simple, making traveling with your four-legged friend easy and enjoyable.

* Only dogs and cats are allowed to travel as pets. Travel with pets in Canada not available on Adirondack, Maple Leaf and Amtrak Cascades; not available on Auto Train, Keystone Service, Pennsylvanian, San Joaquins, Capitol Corridor or Thruway Connecting Services.

Amtrak does offer WiFi on most of their trains and some stations.

Amtrak's onboard WiFi network relies on bandwidth provided by cellular carriers who have towers along their routes. The bandwidth available from these towers is limited and our speed may not match what you are used to receiving from stationary WiFi networks such as your home or office. Engaging in web activities that use large amounts of bandwidth will negatively affect the online experience of other passengers. When using Amtrak's network, keep this in mind and be respectful of your fellow passengers.

Amtrak has undertaken heightened security measures for the benefit of our customers.

Valid Photo ID Required
Amtrak customers 18 years of age and older must produce valid photo identification when:

Exchanging, refunding or reprinting Amtrak travel documents

Purchasing documents with a stored eVoucher or Transportation Credit

Traveling as a Pass Rider (active or retired)

Storing baggage at stations

Checking baggage (including firearms)

Sending Amtrak Express shipments

Asked onboard trains by train crew members, other Amtrak or operating railroad employees

Asked any time by Amtrak police or any law enforcement officer

Traveling into Canada

Guardian purchasing an unaccompanied minor travel documents or signing the release form

What is a Valid ID?

To be valid, your identification must be current and in-force. The following forms of identification are acceptable for persons 18 and older:

One piece of photo identification issued by a government authority, or

Two pieces of identification, at least one of which is issued by a government authority

Examples of acceptable forms of ID include:

State or provincial driver's license

Passport

Official government-issued identification (federal, state, city or county government or foreign government)

Canadian provincial health card ID card with photo

Military photo ID

Student identification (university, college or high school photo ID)

Job Corps photo ID

Random Ticket/ID Checks

Following federal Transportation Security Administration (TSA) guidelines, we regularly conduct random ticket verification checks onboard trains to ensure that passengers are properly ticketed. Please be prepared to show valid photo identification to a member of the onboard crew upon request.

The Amtrak app makes contact-free travel easy. Booking, boarding, train status and the information you need all from the convenience and safety of your own mobile device.

Download the Amtrak App Today

Download on the App Store

Get it on Google Play

A $20 excess baggage fee will be charged for each carry-on and personal item above the quantity and size limits. A maximum of two excess bags are permitted per passenger. Fees will be collected at the station or onboard the train if the station is unstaffed. If checked baggage is available, you can check two bags through to your final destination free of charge.

Please visit Amtrak'a website for their Accessible Travel Services available.

From full meals to more informal café service, many trains have one or more options for onboard dining. If you're not hungry now, you might hear your stomach rumbling after looking at their menus. Find out more about the meals available on overnight trains, onboard Café services and the enhanced dining options for Acela customers.

Visit Amtrak's Onboard Dining for more information.

Amtrak offers two outlets at every seat pair. The outlets are located near the window. Aisle seat lovers, if you need some juice for your device, kindly tell your seatmate before you reach over to use it.

Each passenger may bring two personal items, 25 lbs. (12 kg) and 14 x 11 x 7 inches each, and two carry-on items, 50 lbs. (23 kg) and 28 x 22 x 14 inches each, onboard. Make sure you have a tag with your name and address on the outside of all your bags

Amtrak is waiving all change fees for reservations made by October 31, 2022, including reservations booked with points. Cancellation fees may still apply depending on the type of fare purchased. To modify a reservation, log in to your account, go to ‘Modify Trip’ on Amtrak.com, or find your reservation from your account on the home screen in the Amtrak app. A fare difference may apply to your new itinerary. The change fee waiver does not apply to a previously purchased fare rebooked for the same train, date and origin/destination to a lower fare.

Please visit Amtrak's Refund and Cancellation Policies on their website.

Booking Tickets for Unaccompanied Minors

To make reservations for unaccompanied minors you must call us at 1-800-USA-RAIL (1-800-872-7245). You may not book reservations for unaccompanied minors on Amtrak.com.

Children age 12 and under may not travel unaccompanied. They must travel with another person who is at least 18 years old (see *exception below).

Children 13, 14 and 15 years old may travel unaccompanied in accordance with the Amtrak Unaccompanied Minor Policy, which includes the following conditions:

Travel is permitted only on Amtrak trains. Travel is not permitted on Thruway motorcoach service, or on any other connecting services.

Both boarding and arrival stations must be staffed. (Please note that even certain staffed stations do not allow for unaccompanied minors.)

All travel must take place on the same day with the scheduled departure time no earlier than 5:30 am and the scheduled arrival time no later than 9:30 pm. Overnight travel is not allowed.

No transfers of any kind are permitted.

All travel must be within the United States. Unaccompanied minors may not cross the US-Canadian border.

For each unaccompanied minor traveling alone, the adult (at least 18 years old) bringing the child to the departure station must complete and sign a release form. Both the adult and the minor must be at the boarding station at least 30 minutes before the train's departure time.

The child must be interviewed by station personnel to determine if the child is capable of traveling alone.

The child must wear an Amtrak issued wristband for the duration of travel. The adult must remain at the station until the train has departed.

At the arrival station, the adult picking up the child must check-in with station personnel prior to the train's expected arrival time. The adult must display valid current identification meeting the Amtrak ID policies.

Children traveling alone are not entitled to a children's discount; full adult fares are charged and no additional discounts are permitted.

Tickets for unaccompanied children may not be purchased online.

Because there are not at least two staffed stations along several routes, unaccompanied minors may not travel between any stations on the Downeaster (Boston, MA - Portland, ME), Heartland Flyer (Oklahoma City, OK - Fort Worth, TX) and Pere Marquette (Chicago, IL - Grand Rapids, MI).

Children 16 and over may travel without restriction.

*Exception: A minor who is 16 or 17, who is a parent to children of any age, may bring those children without restriction. The 16- or 17-year-old must bring proof that he or she is the parent of the children.

If a group of children are traveling, and some are 16-17, some are 13-15, and some are under 13:

The 16-17 year olds may travel without restriction.

The 13-15 year olds must travel as unaccompanied minors because no one is 18 or over. The Unaccompanied Minor Policy applies.

The children under 13 may not travel because no one is 18 or over. The Unaccompanied Minor Policy applies.

Take Precautions for Allergies

Because Amtrak is unable to guarantee a peanut-free or allergen-free trip, we strongly encourage unaccompanied minor passengers to take all necessary medical precautions to prepare for the possibility of exposure.

Parents/guardians must ensure that the unaccompanied minor travel with all necessary medications for food allergies (including epinephrine auto-injectors) and is properly trained to self-administer these medications.

What else should I do before buying tickets for unaccompanied minors?

It is extremely important to make sure that every segment of the unaccompanied child's trip can be accommodated before completing travel plans, purchasing a ticket, and arriving at the station. Additional restrictions may apply. Please call 1-800-USA-RAIL (1-800-872-7245) for further details.

Unless you're taking the Auto Train, plan to arrive 30 minutes before your scheduled departure. If you need assistance with baggage and/or ticketing, we recommend you arrive 60 minutes early.

There are special boarding procedures and check-in times for Auto Train, so passengers should arrive at the station at least two hours prior to departure.