 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Reservations and Ticketing
Seating Accomodations
Baggage Policy and Information
Departure Times, Connections, and Late Trains
Personal Food, Beverages and Medication
Personal Electronic Devices and Cell Phones
Printer friendly version.
(pdf 374 kb)
Reservations
& Ticketing
How do I buy tickets?
The easiest way to buy tickets is to use our online reservation system at
Amtrak.com. You can also purchase tickets:
-
By phone at 1-800-USA-RAIL (1-800-872-7245)
-
In many Amtrak stations from a Quik-Trak Kiosk or a ticket agent
-
From a qualified travel agent
I didn't receive an e-mail confirmation after booking online — what do I
do?
If you have not received a confirmation e-mail within 24-hours of making a
reservation online, call 1-800-USA-RAIL (1-800-872-7245) and
speak to a Reservation Sales Agent. The agent can find out whether the
reservation was successfully booked. If the reservation was completed, they can
e-mail a copy of the confirmation to you.
How far in advance can I reserve travel?
Reservations for Amtrak travel can be made up to eleven months in advance of
the travel date.
What are Multi-Ride Tickets?
Frequent travelers on Amtrak Cascades can save money with Multi-Ride
Tickets. These tickets allow you to ride multiple times within a set period of
time. Types of multi-ride tickets include “Ten Trips in 45 days” or an
“Unlimited Monthly Pass”. Call 1-800-USA-RAIL or ask Amtrak
ticket agents at staffed stations for detailed information.
What should I do if I lose my tickets?
Your tickets have value
Please safeguard your tickets as you would cash. Amtrak is not liable for lost,
stolen, misplaced or destroyed tickets.
Tickets are required for travel
You cannot travel on lost tickets. To be able to travel, you must repurchase
your tickets.
Refund for lost tickets
You may apply for a refund for lost or destroyed tickets. To do so,
please download, print out, complete, and sign the
Lost Ticket Refund Application form available at
Amtrak.com. Please mail the completed form to the
address indicated on the form. Terms and conditions apply. Sorry, refunds may
not be applied for online.
Is special identification required to cross the U.S./Canada border when
traveling on Amtrak Cascades?
Passengers traveling on Amtrak Cascades across the U.S./Canada border
are subject to inspection by Canadian and American law enforcement officials.
We strongly recommend that U.S. and Canadian citizens carry a passport.
To cross the U.S./Canada border, the following forms of identification are required
:
-
Certified copy or original birth certificate and
-
Current and valid government-issued photo identification
Or
Citizens of all other countries must carry a valid passport. Please note you
must carry the original, valid identification document. Copies, expired or
otherwise invalid documents will not be accepted. Each passenger must have his
or her own ID. Travelers holding passports and citizenships from other
countries may be required to have both a passport and a Visa.
Passengers under 18 years old (if not traveling with both parents) must carry a
notarized letter from any parent or legal guardian not present which gives
permission for the child to cross the border. This letter must include the
address and telephone number of the parent or parents not present. If one
parent is deceased, a copy of that parent's death certificate will minimize
questions and delay.
Amtrak policy does not allow children 14 and under to travel unaccompanied into
Canada, regardless of ID or notarized letter.
Does Amtrak Cascades have a “frequent riders” program?
Amtrak Guest Rewards is a loyalty/rewards program similar to an airline’s
frequent flyer program. Members can earn points with Amtrak Cascades tickets.
Points can be redeemed for free Amtrak travel, hotel and car rental awards, and
retail certificates from a wide variety of participating companies. Visit
AmtrakGuestRewards.com for more information.
Seating Accommodations
What types of seating are available?
Amtrak Cascades offers Coach Class and Business Class seating. Coach
Class features unreserved seats that are available to boarding passengers on a
first-come, first-served basis.
Amtrak Cascades Business Class offers relaxation and roomier seats —
all for only a few dollars more than a standard coach ticket. Business Class
amenities include:
-
Complimentary newspapers
-
Priority boarding and detraining
-
Wider seats with more legroom
-
Fewer passengers in each car
-
Coupon for $3 off any menu item
What accommodations does Amtrak Cascades have for people with
disabilities and special needs?
Our goal is to provide safe, efficient and comfortable service to all of our
passengers. We are pleased to provide additional services to passengers with
disabilities. Each Amtrak Cascades train has space for at least four
mobility-impaired passengers. Braille signage is available throughout the train
and audio and open captioning for travel information is provided on all
overhead monitors.
Most Amtrak Cascades stations are wheelchair accessible. Please
inquire about station access by calling 1-800-USA-RAIL or by
visiting www.amtrakcascades.com/Accessibility.
Baggage Policy
and Information
How much baggage can I bring on the train?
Amtrak Cascades allows for carry-on and checked baggage.
Carry-on baggage
Each passenger may bring aboard a maximum of two pieces of carry-on baggage.
Not included in this limit are personal items such as briefcases, purses,
laptops, and baby items such as strollers, diaper bags and car seats. Each
carry-on bag may weigh no more than 50 lbs. and may not exceed 28 x 22 x 14
inches in size. Each carry-on bag must be visibly tagged with the name and
address of the passenger. Free identification tags are available at stations,
from crew members, or you may use your own.
Checked baggage
Each ticketed passenger may check up to three pieces of luggage at no charge.
Up to three additional pieces may be checked at a cost of $10.00 per piece.
Each checked bag may weigh no more than 50 lbs. and may not exceed 36 x 36 x 36
inches in size. Checked baggage is subject to available space and must be
checked at least 30 minutes prior to departure - longer for special items.
Baggage checked less than 30 minutes prior to departure may be delayed. This
applies only to staffed stations at origin and destination.
Are bicycles allowed on the train?
Yes. You can choose to box your bicycle or use one of our onboard bike racks.
Important information when bringing a bike on board:
-
Reservations are required for bike racks and will cost an additional $5 - $10 each
way.
-
Boxed bicycles do not require a reservation and can be checked as baggage.
There is a nominal handling fee for checking a boxed bike.
-
Don’t have a bicycle box? Bicycle boxes are available for purchase at staffed
Amtrak stations with checked baggage service.
-
Recumbent or tandem bikes must be boxed.
-
Bring your own tools to prepare your bike for shipping.
-
Check in with Amtrak staff at least one hour prior to departure.
Are special items such as sports equipment, strollers, etc. allowed on the
train?
Yes. Amtrak accepts a number of special items such as baby strollers, golf
bags, musical instruments, snowboards and skis (one board or set per
bag/container). In most cases there is a handling charge of $5.00 per special
item. Contact 1-800-USA-RAIL for more information.
What items are not allowed on the train?
The following kinds of items are prohibited as both checked
and carry-on baggage:
-
Any type of gun, firearm, ammunition, explosives, or weapon.
-
Incendiaries, including flammable gases, liquids and fuels.
-
Large, sharp objects such as axes, ice picks and swords.
-
Corrosive or dangerous chemicals or materials, such as liquid bleach, tear gas,
mace, radioactive and harmful bacteriological materials.
-
Batteries with acid that can spill or leak (except those batteries used in
motorized wheelchairs or similar devices for mobility-impaired passengers).
-
Club-like items, such as billy clubs and nightsticks.
-
Fragile and/or valuable items, including but not limited to electronic
equipment. (Laptop computers and handheld devices may be carried onboard;
however, Amtrak accepts no liability for damage.)
-
Animals (except service animals).
-
Oversized and/or overweight items.
Please note: This is not an exhaustive list. Any item similar to those
listed, even if not specifically mentioned here, is prohibited from being
carried onboard or checked as baggage.
Departure Times, Connections,
and Late Trains
How early do I need to arrive at the station to catch my train?
We recommend that you arrive at the station at least 30 minutes
before your train is scheduled to depart. Allow more time if you are planning
to bring your bike aboard or check baggage, are traveling on a cross border
train, or have other special needs.
What happens if the train is late?
Unfortunately, the train you're waiting to board may arrive at your station
behind schedule. In such cases, the amount of time the train remains in the
station may be less than what is shown in the timetable. Be aware of such
contingencies and plan accordingly.
How can I find out if my train is going to be late or if the schedule has
changed?
Since schedules are subject to change, you should reconfirm your departure
times the day before travel, particularly if you purchased tickets long in
advance. Call 1-800-USA-RAIL for information on scheduling and
delays.
Personal Food, Beverages and
Medication
Can I bring my own food and beverages on board?
You may bring your own food and non-alcoholic beverages onboard. However, you
can only consume food and beverages purchased in the Bistro Car in that car.
Federal health regulations prohibit Amtrak personnel from handling your food,
heating it in our ovens, or storing it in our refrigerators.
What types of food and beverages are available to purchase on Amtrak Cascades?
The Bistro Car offers a variety of fresh, local foods and beverages including
soups, sandwiches, sweets and snacks, as well as alcoholic and non-alcoholic
beverages. The Lounge Car offers dining tables and is open to all passengers on
a first-come basis. Personal food items are not allowed in the Bistro.
Personal Electronic Devices
and Cell Phones
Are personal electronic devices allowed on the train?
Yes. You may bring onboard and use personal electronic devices such as PCs, DVD
players, and CD players. Standard 110-volt electrical power outlets are
available to supply power to your electronic devices. To maintain a pleasant
environment for all passengers, we require that when using radios, CD players,
DVD players, TVs, and all other audio/visual devices, passengers use earphones
or headphones, and that the volume be kept low.
Does Amtrak Cascades allow cell phones to be used onboard trains?
Yes. We do ask that you be considerate of your fellow passengers and restrict
your phone calls to those of short duration and speak in a quiet tone. For
those calls requiring longer duration and louder tone, we ask that the calls be
conducted in the train vestibules between train cars.
|
|
