Amtrak Recommends Booking Early For The Holidays

In anticipation of the busiest travel period of the year, Amtrak is encouraging those considering Thanksgiving travel by train to book now for the best seats and prices.

Last year, more than one million people rode Amtrak during its Thanksgiving Holiday travel period, reaching 97 percent of 2019 ridership levels. As these tickets sell quickly, Amtrak recommends that customers plan and book early.

“Amtrak provides guests the opportunity to reach holiday gatherings in comfort, relaxed and far removed from the stress of congested highways and crowded airports,” said Amtrak Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer Eliot Hamlisch. “Whether you’re a current customer or joining us for the first time, we invite you to experience Amtrak’s world-class service on your journey to friends, family and festivities.”

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Amtrak Recommends Booking Early For The Holidays
Image: Amtrak train parked at a station. (Photo Credit: Adobe Stock/Bruce Leighty)
Image: Amtrak train parked at a station. (Photo Credit: Adobe Stock/Bruce Leighty)

Rich Thomaselli
by Rich Thomaselli
Last updated: 9:50 AM ET, Fri October 25, 2024
The nation’s rail service, Amtrak, is sending out a friendly reminder to would-be train travelers: book now for the holidays.

In anticipation of the busiest travel period of the year, Amtrak is encouraging those considering Thanksgiving travel by train to book now for the best seats and prices.

Last year, more than one million people rode Amtrak during its Thanksgiving Holiday travel period, reaching 97 percent of 2019 ridership levels. As these tickets sell quickly, Amtrak recommends that customers plan and book early.

“Amtrak provides guests the opportunity to reach holiday gatherings in comfort, relaxed and far removed from the stress of congested highways and crowded airports,” said Amtrak Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer Eliot Hamlisch. “Whether you’re a current customer or joining us for the first time, we invite you to experience Amtrak’s world-class service on your journey to friends, family and festivities.”

Train travel has increased significantly due to fluctuating gas prices and crowded airports. And Amtrak is prepared.

To accommodate the expected surge of customers during Thanksgiving week, Amtrak is deploying all available equipment — adding extra cars to Northeast Regional and Midwest trains and increasing trip frequencies between November 25 and December 2 between a number of popular destinations along the Northeast Corridor (NEC), including Washington, DC, Philadelphia, New York City and Boston, among others.

Amtrak recently announced more flexible and affordable fares.