When is Amtrak the least busy? (2024)

FAQs

When is Amtrak the least busy? ›

Re: When is Amtrak the least busy? Longer answer: it depends on the route. Most long distance trains map to the national travel trends, so the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas is about the slowest of the year. Second week of January through March is also slow.

Travel during peak travel periods will usually see you paying more as there is more demand for tickets. For that reason, the best days to buy tickets are generally in the middle of the week between Tuesday and Thursday, the former considered the best of all by several sources.

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. When searching for travel, customers will see a volume percentage next to each route.

Arriving at the Station

Plan to arrive at the station at least 30 minutes before your train is scheduled to depart (Auto Train passengers should arrive at the station at least two hours prior to departure).

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.

Most long distance trains map to the national travel trends, so the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas is about the slowest of the year. Second week of January through March is also slow.

In general, Off-Peak hours begin at 09:30 from Monday to Friday in cities and large towns, and at 09:00 everywhere else. If your train is scheduled to depart after this time, you can travel with an Off-Peak ticket. Weekends and bank holidays are Off-Peak all day.

For a truly unique experience when traveling in First Class, Amtrak offers private rooms on many routes across the country. A private room is the perfect option for customers seeking privacy and space on a short trip and added comfort and amenities when traveling overnight.

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.

Does Amtrak offer senior discounts? ›

Seniors Travel by Train - 10% Off for Passengers 65+ | Amtrak.

Your seat will be automatically assigned when you complete your reservation. You may change your assigned seat at any time after your booking is complete using interactive seat maps on the Amtrak app or on Amtrak.com. There is no fee to change your seat. I prefer sitting forward.

You may bring your own food and beverages onboard for consumption at your seat or private Sleeping Car accommodations. However, you can only consume food and beverages purchased in Dining and Lounge Cars in those cars. Personal food and beverages are allowed in the upper level of Superliner Sightseer Lounges.

Does Amtrak have onboard and station security? Amtrak offers onboard and station security, but you may not always see its staff in action. That's because Amtrak has more than 400 employees both on the front lines and behind the scenes conducting safety measures.

Unlike your standard road trip, you won't have to plan out pit stops to use the restroom or grab food; all Amtrak trains have at least one bathroom in each car and most have onboard food options available for the majority of your ride.

Boarding gates are usually posted 15 minutes prior to a train's departure. Many stations have monitors and signs that display the boarding gate locations for each train. At many stations, Amtrak customer service representatives will make announcements about boarding times and gate locations.

Tickets are usually cheaper during quieter times on weekdays and weekends than during Peak times. Use our Journey Planner at the top of the page to start your search and we'll highlight the cheapest Off-Peak tickets for you. Learn more about Off-Peak train tickets.

On most Amtrak trains, only the full, undiscounted, unrestricted fare will be available for purchase onboard the train. This is regardless of reservations made or fares previously quoted by ticket agents, Amtrak.com or elsewhere. Higher fares usually apply when purchasing tickets onboard the train.

Book weeks ahead for the cheapest fares

Contractually, Network Rail must usually have the timetable set that far ahead, and rail firms commonly release advance tickets shortly after. If you've less time before you go, it's usually best to book ASAP, as the longer you leave it, the pricier it tends to be.

And since Amtrak travelers 65 years of age and over are eligible to receive a 10% discount on most trains, it becomes an affordable alternative.