What to do if late for Amtrak train?

Please call Amtrak 1-800-USA-RAIL or your travel agent if your planned itinerary includes a shorter connection. A guaranteed connection does not ensure that such a connection will always be made. In the case of a missed guaranteed connection, Amtrak will provide assistance at Amtrak's discretion.



People Also Ask

In air travel, a plane is considered “late” by the U.S. Department of Transportation if it arrives 15 minutes or more after its scheduled time. Amtrak stretches that to 29 minutes. Yet, even with that half-hour grace period, the nation's passenger-rail system has had trains arrive later and later over the last decade.

MORE DETAILS

Unlike airplanes, trains do not perform a head count or check a passenger manafest before departure. They may check that those present have tickets (not always) but they do not check that all tickets sold are present. When it is time for the train to leave a station, it leaves, with or without you.

MORE DETAILS

Advance train tickets aren't flexible, so you must catch the train specified on your ticket. If you catch an earlier train, you may have to pay additional fees, so please check with ticket staff at the station.

MORE DETAILS

Check your train company's website to find out if they offer Delay Repay (they might call it 'delay compensation'. You're legally entitled to compensation of: 50% of your ticket price if you get to your destination between 30 minutes and an hour late. a full refund if you arrive more than 1 hour late.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

If the passenger does not produce a valid ticket or proof of payment, the conductor may ask them to pay the fare or exit the train at the next station.

MORE DETAILS

Claims for lost checked baggage must be submitted within 30 days of the date of the incident to the Office of Customer Relations (Attn: Baggage Claims, Amtrak, 1 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001). For more information, call us at 1-800-USA-RAIL (1-800-872-7245) and ask for Customer Relations.

MORE DETAILS

If you miss your connecting train This means you'll usually be permitted to travel on the next available train free of charge if your first train is delayed. They do not entitle you to a full refund of your order. You may need to show your tickets on later services as evidence of the delay.

MORE DETAILS

If your train is cancelled, you can use your existing ticket to travel on the next available service... Advance Singles – hop on the next available train with the same train operator. Flexible tickets – such as Off-Peak and Anytime tickets offer flexibility and you can travel at various times of the day.

MORE DETAILS

Information is also available at 1-800-USA-RAIL, Amtrak.com and the Amtrak app. You may also check the status of your train or view its location on a map. Stay up to date on any travel advisories that may impact train travel, including track closures, service updates, and planned construction.

MORE DETAILS

Do trains usually run late? The national on-time performance (OTP) average for Amtrak is about 70-75%. Each trains OTP varies, mostly in part to the host railroad it runs over. The earliest a train can arrive is about 15-30 minutes ahead of schedule.

MORE DETAILS