How To Draw Amtrak Train

What You Need To Know About Amtrak

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The National Railroad Passenger Corporation is more commonly known as Amtrak, a combination of "America" and "Track". It serves on average 85,700 passengers a day on 300 Amtrak trains, employs over 20,000 people, is the only high-speed intercity passenger rail provider in the country and does not seem to be slowing down anytime soon. Amtrak train tickets, routes, services and schedules can all be found on their main website and blog, but here is a breakdown of what exactly this thriving company has to offer.

Routes

The Amtrak train routes are spread out across 46 states and three Canadian provinces, stopping at 500 destinations along the 21,300 miles of routes. These routes are broken down into three categories, short-haul service in the Northeast Corridor, state-supported routes outside of the Northeast Corridor and long-distance routes which are also known as the National Network. All of these routes can be found on the Amtrak train map on their website.

There are 15 long-distance trains that range in length from 764 to 2,438 miles. Don't worry about going hungry on these long routes though as Amtrak offers meals that are cooked-to-order including vegetarian options.

Stations

Amtrak stations are constantly busy but Penn Station in New York comes out on top having served 10 million people in 2015. This is followed by Union Station in Washington, D.C. which served five million, 30th Street Station in Philadelphia, PA with four million and Union Station in Chicago, Ill. with over three million using the service.

At many of the large stations, Club Acela and Metropolitan Lounges are available for passengers. This is the perfect place to relax in comfy chairs and couches before boarding the train. These stations often offer ticketing and baggage services as well which many of the smaller stations do not.

Every station has a three-letter station code, but not all stations are used throughout the year. Some are seasonal while others are open only for tours and events such as the Lexington Barbecue Festival and the New York State Fair.

Classes

Most trains, especially the long-distant ones, will offer different classes. First class is only available on the Acela Express and offers passengers larger seats and is located in a separate car at the end of the train where there is less foot traffic. The attendants also provide hot towel service, a complimentary meal and alcoholic beverages.

If you or your family members are hoping to get some shuteye during your trip, book sleeper service which offers private accommodation on long-distant routes. Full meals and attendant services are also included in the ticket price along with bottled water and complimentary juice and coffee. There are also warm shower facilities available with towels and soap for passengers to use.

Similar to First Class, Business Class has a dedicated car of the train and offers extra legroom for passengers while they enjoy their complimentary non-alcoholic drinks.

Coach Class is the standard ticket that is perfect for the short train journeys where you are hoping to relax and enjoy the scenery. They have reclining seats, individual reading lights and power outlets to make sure your electronics don't run out of juice on your journey. Coach Class on long-journey trains offer a little more legroom than the shorter journeys just to give that extra bit of extra comfort.

Prices

Amtrak train ticket prices vary depending on what type of ticket is being purchased and who it is for. Student and Veterans receive a 15% discount while seniors, active military adults and passengers with disabilities and their companions receive a 10% discount. Let's not forget about the children as well. Those between two and 12 receive 50% discount and children under two go free.

There is also an Amtrak Guest Rewards program where frequent passengers can accumulate two points for every dollar spent. They can then eventually use these points towards hotel stays, restaurants, cruises and shopping.

Schedule

With so many stations and trains, it can seem overwhelming to try and figure out the best way to get your destination. Thankfully Amtrak has a user-friendly website that lists their train schedule and provides customers with a plethora of information.

If you already booked your ticket and want real-time updates to keep track of your Amtrak train status, simply fill in the train number and destination on their website or their Amtrak app. The app also offers station information and an itinerary tracker.

Secrets

Amtrak also has an active blog that has a wide range of topics for customers to scroll through. These include everything from photography tips while on the train to how to pack for the daily commute. There is even a list of recommended podcasts that are great to listen to while relaxing on their train.