USA Rail Pass questions

[Asher]

On top of that, even tho Amtrak will eventually get you there you still have the next days plans that are all jacked up.

 

[Northwestern]

I wonder if the Amtrak Rail Pass could work not just for coach travel over a set number of days. Could Amtrak offer a Rail Pass for sleeping accommodations, on LD trains if you book 2 or more trains back to back, at the same time?

Lets say you book a sleeper in 3 different connecting Amtrak trains, say the Coast Starlight from the Bay Area to Seattle, the Empire Builder from Seattle to Chicago, and the Zephyr from Chicago back to the Bay Area. Considering the cost if you book sleepers on those 3 trains, I wonder if Amtrak could devise a discounted rail pass if you take 2 or more successive long distance trains with sleepers included?. A greater discount for 3 successive trains, even greater for 4. Have no requirement for travel times as long as you book each train, back to back, during the same year with booking at the same time. Allow several day layovers between each train. It might be difficult for peak season travel, but how about for the off season?

 

[caravanman]

I wonder if the Amtrak Rail Pass could work not just for coach travel over a set number of days. Could Amtrak offer a Rail Pass for sleeping accommodations, on LD trains if you book 2 or more trains back to back, at the same time?

I assume the rail pass is or was a way of trying to get passengers aboard the trains, rather than having empty seats?

Given the demand and high fares currently for sleeper rooms, I can't see Amtrak offering them instead for a discounted rail pass fare.

 

[zephyr17]

I wonder if the Amtrak Rail Pass could work not just for coach travel over a set number of days. Could Amtrak offer a Rail Pass for sleeping accommodations, on LD trains if you book 2 or more trains back to back, at the same time?

Lets say you book a sleeper in 3 different connecting Amtrak trains, say the Coast Starlight from the Bay Area to Seattle, the Empire Builder from Seattle to Chicago, and the Zephyr from Chicago back to the Bay Area. Considering the cost if you book sleepers on those 3 trains, I wonder if Amtrak could devise a discounted rail pass if you take 2 or more successive long distance trains with sleepers included?. A greater discount for 3 successive trains, even greater for 4. Have no requirement for travel times as long as you book each train, back to back, during the same year with booking at the same time. Allow several day layovers between each train. It might be difficult for peak season travel, but how about for the off season?

Until the Pass was reintroduced after COVID, sleeper upgrades were allowed on the USA Rail Pass on payment of the accommodation charges.

Amtrak has absolutely no incentive to discount sleepers. That their yield management has grown so aggressive in the last few years reflects the fact that the severely constrained sleeper inventory gives them almost completely unrestrained pricing power. That's been the subject of endless posts here, btw.

Discounts, such as RPA and Senior, only apply to rail fare, never the much greater accommodation charge. The relatively few sleeper sales are BOGO sales on rail fare only, they never offer sales on accommodation charges.

In short, Amtrak introducing a Pass program for discount sleeper access is improbable in the extreme. There is absolutely no reason to and every reason not to, at least unless sleeper inventory increases dramatically. At best, it is possible they could allow upgrades on the Pass again someday. Even that is probably unlikely since they've also jacked up the sleeper rail fares the last few years. They used to be the same as lowest coach Value fare. No longer.

 

[Northwestern]

I agree that Amtrak would have no incentive to discount sleepers. Why should Amtrak offer a discounted sleeper to a passenger when the sleeper is occupied by a passenger paying the normal (exorbitant) cost. However, how often do roomettes and bedrooms go unoccupied on a given train? Especially during off months such as late Sept. through early May. I think Amtrak would accept a passenger with a sleeper discount over having no occupancy in that sleeper. I guess it could depend on just how much of a discount would be acceptable to Amtrak.

 

[zephyr17]

I think Amtrak would accept a passenger with a sleeper discount over having no occupancy in that sleeper. I guess it could depend on just how much of a discount would be acceptable to Amtrak.

Otherwise known as BidUp.

Also helps to have good yield management that opens inventory in lower buckets when sales are not supporting higher buckets. Ideally, that happens enough in advance that inventory does not have to be fire saled through BidUp or a last minute drops to lowest bucket.

 

[anmldr]

Anyone know the longest trip ever done while using the USA Rail pass…which has to occur, completely, within 30 days? Remember, this is in coach only. If you do know, what was their itinerary?

 

[caravanman]

Anyone know the longest trip ever done while using the USA Rail pass…which has to occur, completely, within 30 days? Remember, this is in coach only. If you do know, what was their itinerary?

A few years ago, one could purchase an Amtrak rail pass that was valid for 15 days, or 30 days, and you could take as many Amtrak coach rides as you could fit into that 15 days. No "segment" rules, you just made your bookings and set off.
I used that pass several times on my visits to America, and remember travel distances of 12,500 miles over the ticket validity of 15 days.
I was just enjoying the train experience, mostly riding long distance routes back-to-back. Ridership was much lower back then, and I almost always had the two seats just for myself.

 

[anmldr]

A few years ago, one could purchase an Amtrak rail pass that was valid for 15 days, or 30 days, and you could take as many Amtrak coach rides as you could fit into that 15 days. No "segment" rules, you just made your bookings and set off.
I used that pass several times on my visits to America, and remember travel distances of 12,500 miles over the ticket validity of 15 days.
I was just enjoying the train experience, mostly riding long distance routes back-to-back. Ridership was much lower back then, and I almost always had the two seats just for myself.

Fantastic! The main thing that bothers me is the food selection. For microwavable hamburgers, etc. I realize that I could also occasionally pay for the diner too. So, I planned on taking a medium sized ice chest and have ingredients for sandwiches and fresh fruit, etc.

 

[Qapla]

I have been planning a rail pass trip for several years, but the pandemic and finances have gotten in the way. IF I ever get the chance, my "long" version of the trip would take me from Fl to NY, Chicago, with a dogleg to Lansing, to California and up to Washington and home through S. Paul, Ohio, Pittsburgh and home though Philly back to Fl

 

[Cal]

Anyone know the longest trip ever done while using the USA Rail pass…which has to occur, completely, within 30 days? Remember, this is in coach only. If you do know, what was their itinerary?

Last year two friends of mine did SWC-SL-CONO-CL-NER-DE, but they also have plans to do EB-CS-TE-CONO-CRES-CARD-CZ-CS-EB. You can do tons of itineraries if you are creative and include hotels. They are restricted by their starting point, but if your starting point is a hub you probably have more options. Be creative1

 

[caravanman]

Fantastic! The main thing that bothers me is the food selection. For microwavable hamburgers, etc. I realize that I could also occasionally pay for the diner too. So, I planned on taking a medium sized ice chest and have ingredients for sandwiches and fresh fruit, etc.

Have you taken multi day Amtrak train trips? I would recommend folk to "get a feel" for a long distance overnight ride before booking a very extended rail pass trip.
My thinking about food aboard the train is not to be too "fixed" on getting my regular foods, and accept that some "less healthy" options are not going to seriously damage me for a day or two. By planning ahead, as one has to do by reserving the trains anyway, one can buy some fresh food between rides even on back-to-back itineraries. (There are very few connections where one does not have several hours between them.) I have often seen coolers used on trains, that works for a lot of people. I tend to think that Americans worry overmuch about refrigeration of food items, but don't quote me if a food poisoning epidemic breaks out! .
The often quoted advice to brink plenty of snacks, (which can be healthy option snacks) is also important "just in case."
The diner food is edible, but with those coach passenger prices, I would rather bring a tin of caviar aboard with me...

 

[Bob Dylan]

When the North American Rail Pass included Unlimited Coach Rides on Amtrak and VIA, I spent a Month in 2004 riding all over North America, with a few nights in Hostels in Major Cities, and an occasional upgrade to Roomettes when Low Buckets were available.

My total Mileage was somewhere around 14,000.( when the Timetables still showed Mileage).

 

[Trollopian]

My thinking about food aboard the train is not to be too "fixed" on getting my regular foods, and accept that some "less healthy" options are not going to seriously damage me for a day or two. By planning ahead, as one has to do by reserving the trains anyway, one can buy some fresh food between rides even on back-to-back itineraries. (There are very few connections where one does not have several hours between them.)....The often quoted advice to brink plenty of snacks, (which can be healthy option snacks) is also important "just in case."

I'd think that lack of (ahem) fiber would become an issue if doing 15 or 30 days' near-nonstop travel. I'd make sure some of those snacks consist of, oh, fresh fruit and pumpkin seeds and peanuts and other minimally-processed foods, and do some energetic walking at the stopovers. Just my view. I'm neither a doctor nor do I play one on TV, or on TikTok.

 

[amtrack_lover]

Hello everyone,
My name is Sur and I’m excited to join this forum and connect with fellow train enthusiasts! I’m planning my very first USA Rail Pass trip, which I hope to complete before May 16 this year. This will be a solo adventure, and I’m really looking forward to exploring the country by rail.

Since this is my first experience with such an extensive train journey, I’m curious to know if anyone else is planning a similar USA Rail Pass trip this year. I’d love to exchange ideas, hear your stories, and perhaps connect if our schedules align!

For those of you who’ve already completed a USA Rail Pass trip, I’d greatly appreciate any tips or advice you can share. I’m especially interested in:

How to make the most of overnight trains (comfort tips!)
Best cities to maximize layovers
Navigating potential delays or missed connections
Thanks in advance for your advice! I’m looking forward to learning from all of you and sharing updates along the way.

 

[BCL]

Hello everyone,
My name is Sur and I’m excited to join this forum and connect with fellow train enthusiasts! I’m planning my very first USA Rail Pass trip, which I hope to complete before May 16 this year. This will be a solo adventure, and I’m really looking forward to exploring the country by rail.

Since this is my first experience with such an extensive train journey, I’m curious to know if anyone else is planning a similar USA Rail Pass trip this year. I’d love to exchange ideas, hear your stories, and perhaps connect if our schedules align!

For those of you who’ve already completed a USA Rail Pass trip, I’d greatly appreciate any tips or advice you can share. I’m especially interested in:

How to make the most of overnight trains (comfort tips!)
Best cities to maximize layovers
Navigating potential delays or missed connections
Thanks in advance for your advice! I’m looking forward to learning from all of you and sharing updates along the way.

The big thing would be to not use a segment for a relatively short bus trip or even a relatively short train trip. The prime example would be Emeryville or Oakland to/from San Francisco.

There used to be a common workaround by booking an inexpensive train-bus combo with a cash fare and throwing away the train segment. This would work even if the train segment was something like Capitol Corridor and the bus segment was something like EMY-SFC attached to the Coast Starlight or California Zephyr. Last time I tried, I couldn't get multi-city to work with certain combinations (anything with EMY-SFC) that used to work. All I get now is a message that it can't process the request.

It might be possible to separately book something like MTZ/BKY-SFC if you're going to San Francisco, and just ride a bus attached to Capitol Corridor or San Joaquins. Then throw away the train segment. Capitol Corridor is actually more expensive, but has less risk if your train is late. San Joqauins is reserved and if you can get to the bus in time, your trip is automatically cancelled unless you cancel ahead of time (and then take the cancellation penalty).

 

[amtrack_lover]

The big thing would be to not use a segment for a relatively short bus trip or even a relatively short train trip. The prime example would be Emeryville or Oakland to/from San Francisco.

There used to be a common workaround by booking an inexpensive train-bus combo with a cash fare and throwing away the train segment. This would work even if the train segment was something like Capitol Corridor and the bus segment was something like EMY-SFC attached to the Coast Starlight or California Zephyr. Last time I tried, I couldn't get multi-city to work with certain combinations (anything with EMY-SFC) that used to work. All I get now is a message that it can't process the request.

It might be possible to separately book something like MTZ/BKY-SFC if you're going to San Francisco, and just ride a bus attached to Capitol Corridor or San Joaquins. Then throw away the train segment. Capitol Corridor is actually more expensive, but has less risk if your train is late. San Joqauins is reserved and if you can get to the bus in time, your trip is automatically cancelled unless you cancel ahead of time (and then take the cancellation penalty).

Thank you for the helpful information

 

[Cal H]

Thanks in advance for your advice! I’m looking forward to learning from all of you and sharing updates along the way.

Hello, and welcome aboard Sur, we are glad to have you here
My wife & I used two rail passes last year - a test run from ATL-NYP-CHI-NOL-ATL and then the real honest to goodness run to California and back. We had two great trips!

That said, it would sure be easier if we knew where you might want to go, when you might want to go, what you might like to see, and what you might like to do. Also helpful would be your starting and ending points. If you are just totally unsure of where & what I would suggest watching a few youtube videos, there are tons of them out there. One youtuber we enjoy is "Grounded Life Travel" - they do a lot of Amtrak stuff.

Once you have an idea of the above share it with us and I am certain you will get a lot of great info to make your trip more better!