Amtrak USA Rail Pass now available to U.S. and Canadian residents

Posted by admin on Dec 10, 2008

Amtrak now offers its USA Rail Pass to U.S. and Canadian residents, after years of offering the pass exclusively to travelers from outside the region.

A useful tool for passengers looking to use Amtrak’s network for long-term, long-distance travel, the USA Rail Pass enables riders to visit any destination in Amtrak’s system, choosing from three fixed-price passes, at any time of the year.

USA Rail Passes are available in three levels of travel durations and travel segments (which are counted each time a passenger boards a train or Thruway bus):

Adults

• $389 for 8 segments of travel within 15 days
• $579 for 12 segments of travel within 30 days
• $749 for 18 segments of travel within 45 days

Children ages 2-15 (with paying adult)

• $194.50 for 8 segments of travel within 15 days
• $289.50 for 12 segments of travel within 30 days
• $374.50 for 18 segments of travel within 45 days

The pass entitles passengers to travel in regular coach class seats. On some trains, it is possible to upgrade a coach seat to business class or sleeping car accommodations with an additional surcharge.

The USA Rail Pass is valid for travel on all Amtrak trains except Auto Train, Acela Express, Thruway motorcoach connection (7000-7999 series), and the Canadian portion of trains operated jointly by Amtrak and VIA Rail Canada.

Passes may be purchased online, or by calling 1-800-USA-RAIL from the U.S. or (001) 215-856-7953 internationally.