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Do you have to buy a train ticket before getting on the train?

In most circumstances, you must purchase a ticket before you board a train.



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October 2023) Fare evasion or fare dodging is the act of travelling on public transport without paying by deliberately not buying a required ticket to travel (having had the chance to do so).

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Higher fares usually apply when purchasing tickets onboard the train. To secure the best available fare, passengers should purchase tickets prior to boarding the train.

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Generally, train fares go up in price, right up until the day you travel. So, one secret to finding cheap train tickets is booking Advance tickets. Our Journey Planner tells you live train times, ticket costs and route stops.

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Getting Your Ticket
  1. You'll receive your eTicket as a PDF attachment to your emailed receipt. You can even retrieve your eTicket in the app.
  2. Open the eTicket PDF on your mobile device. You can even print your eTicket before arriving at the station.
  3. Simply show the eTicket barcode and your ID to the conductor.


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Reserve Early The earlier you book your tickets, the more likely you are to get the lowest fare available for the dates you want on the routes along your journey. You may book your travel up to 11 months in advance.

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Yes, it is often cheaper to buy train tickets online. In fact, Saver Fares—the most discounted Amtrak fares—almost always require that you purchase in advance, which is easiest to do online. In general, prices fluctuate based on availability and demand, but tend to spike as you get closer to your departure date.

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In most circumstances, you must purchase a ticket before you board a train. 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.

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Some trains require them. A reservation is good for a specific seat in a specific car, on a specific train on a specific date between 2 cities. Seat reservations aren't always necessary, if you don't like to plan ahead, but be prepared not to have a seat on a crowded train.

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Many of the lines don't make any money or are operated at a loss. To accommodate the money-losing routes, Amtrak uses profits from its popular lines, such as the Northeast Corridor. Since this is one of the most popular routes, Amtrak can charge higher prices and send those profits to other, less profitable lines.

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There are a few ways to sleep comfortably on a train. Try booking a private cabin, bringing comfortable sleepwear, and using earplugs or noise-canceling headphones to block out noise. Bringing a travel pillow and blanket and avoiding caffeine and alcohol before bed can also help.

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Likewise, did you know that transit fare evasion falls under petit theft? Below is a brief explanation of this crime, as well as the elements that constitute theft.

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